ALLTEL CORP.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-123596
Bellevue, Washington
June 24, 2005
Dear Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of
shareholders of Western Wireless Corporation (Western
Wireless) on July 29, 2005, at 8:00 a.m.
(Pacific Time) at the Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th
Avenue East, Seattle, Washington. Directions are provided on the
back cover of this document.
On January 9, 2005, the board of directors of Western
Wireless unanimously approved an agreement authorizing the
merger of Western Wireless with and into a wholly-owned
subsidiary of ALLTEL Corporation (ALLTEL). ALLTEL
will acquire Western Wireless through the merger of Western
Wireless with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL that
will survive the merger. As a result of the merger, the separate
corporate existence of Western Wireless will cease and Western
Wireless shareholders will no longer be able to trade shares of
Western Wireless Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Stock
Market or any other exchange. At the annual meeting you will be
asked to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the merger.
At the annual meeting, you will also be asked to consider and
vote on a number of other regular annual meeting proposals,
which we describe in the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders on the following page. At the annual meeting, we
will also report on Western Wireless operations and
respond to any questions you may have.
In the merger, Western Wireless shareholders may elect to
receive for each of their shares of Western Wireless common
stock: (1) a combination of $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock, (2) $40 in cash,
subject to proration, or (3) 0.7 shares of ALLTEL
common stock, also subject to proration. The cash and stock
elections are subject to proration to preserve an overall mix of
$9.25 in cash and approximately, but not less than,
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for all of the
outstanding shares of Western Wireless common stock taken
together. As a result, even if you make the all cash or all
stock election you may receive a prorated amount of cash and
ALLTEL common stock. Western Wireless shareholders who fail to
make an election will be deemed to have made the mixed election.
A discussion of the proration mechanism as well as examples of
hypothetical prorations can be found in the proxy statement/
prospectus under the heading The Merger
Agreement Merger Consideration.
ALLTEL common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and
the Pacific Stock Exchange under the trading symbol
AT. Western Wireless Class A common stock is
listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol
WWCA. On June 23, 2005, the closing prices of a
share of ALLTEL common stock and Western Wireless Class A
common stock were $60.30 and $41.40, respectively. It is
anticipated that ALLTEL will issue up to an aggregate of
approximately 59.3 million shares of its common stock to
Western Wireless shareholders pursuant to the merger agreement,
representing approximately 15% of the shares of ALLTEL common
stock outstanding immediately after the merger. The approximate
value of the transaction is $6 billion, taking into account
(i) the issuance of up to an aggregate of approximately
59.3 million shares of ALLTEL common stock,
(ii) payment by ALLTEL of approximately $1.0 billion
in cash to shareholders of Western Wireless, and (iii) the
assumption by ALLTEL or its subsidiaries of approximately
$2.1 billion of Western Wireless debt.
Before deciding how to vote on the merger, you should
consider the Risk Factors beginning on page 26
of the proxy statement/prospectus.
Your board of directors has unanimously determined that the
merger agreement and the merger are advisable, fair to and in
the best interests of Western Wireless and its shareholders and
unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the
approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger.
The merger cannot be completed unless holders of outstanding
shares of Western Wireless Class A and Class B common
stock, voting together as a single class, representing at least
two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast by such holders
vote to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the merger.
You should be aware that certain shareholders that hold an
aggregate of approximately 41% of the aggregate number of votes
entitled to be cast have already agreed with ALLTEL to vote or
cause to be voted all of the Western Wireless shares they own in
favor of the approval and adoption of the merger agreement and
the merger.
No vote of ALLTEL shareholders is required to complete the
merger.
The proxy statement/ prospectus provides you with detailed
information about the annual meeting, the proposed merger and
certain other information. You may obtain additional information
about us and ALLTEL from documents we and ALLTEL have filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. See Where You Can
Find More Information in the proxy statement/ prospectus.
We strongly encourage you to read the proxy statement/
prospectus carefully.
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John W. Stanton |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved the shares of
common stock to be issued by ALLTEL under the proxy statement/
prospectus or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the proxy
statement/ prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The proxy statement/ prospectus is dated June 24, 2005, and
is being first mailed to Western Wireless shareholders on or
about June 27, 2005.
Western Wireless Corporation
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JULY 29, 2005
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION:
Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of shareholders
of Western Wireless Corporation will be held at the Museum of
History and Industry, 2700 24th Avenue East, Seattle, Washington
on July 29, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time), to
consider and act upon the following matters:
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1. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and
adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
January 9, 2005 (referred to in the proxy statement/
prospectus as the merger agreement), by and among
ALLTEL Corporation, a Delaware corporation (ALLTEL),
Wigeon Acquisition LLC, a Washington limited liability company
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL (Merger
Sub), and Western Wireless Corporation, a Washington
corporation (Western Wireless), and to approve and
adopt the merger contemplated thereby (referred to in the proxy
statement/ prospectus as the merger), pursuant to
which Western Wireless will merge with and into Merger Sub,
after which Merger Sub will survive the transaction and continue
to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL and the separate
corporate existence of Western Wireless will cease. |
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2. To elect nine directors to serve until the next annual
meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected
and qualified or until the consummation of the merger. |
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3. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
Western Wireless independent registered public accounting
firm for 2005. |
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4. To approve the Western Wireless Corporation 2005
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. |
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5. To adjourn or postpone the annual meeting, if necessary,
to solicit additional proxies for the approval and adoption of
the merger agreement and the merger. |
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6. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the annual meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
Western Wireless board of directors has fixed the close of
business on May 24, 2005, as the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the annual meeting or any adjournments or postponements of
the annual meeting.
The accompanying proxy statement/ prospectus describes the terms
and conditions of the merger agreement and includes, as
Annex A, a copy of the merger agreement. We urge you
to read the enclosed materials carefully for a complete
description of the merger. The accompanying proxy statement/
prospectus is a part of this notice.
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Your
proxy is being solicited by Western Wireless board of
directors. Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting, we
urge you to submit a valid proxy promptly. If your shares of
Western Wireless common stock are registered in your own name,
you may submit your proxy by signing, dating and returning the
proxy in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if
mailed in the United States. If your shares are held in
street name you should follow the directions your
broker or bank provides.
Granting your proxy will impact your dissenters rights in
respect of the merger. Under Washington law, only Western
Wireless shareholders who do not vote in favor of the approval
and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger and who
deliver to Western Wireless before the annual meeting a written
notice of dissent and otherwise comply with the provisions of
Chapter 23B.13 of the Washington Business Corporation Act
will be entitled, if the merger is completed, to statutory
appraisal of the fair value of their shares of Western Wireless
common stock as discussed in the proxy statement/ prospectus
under the heading Dissenters Rights.
Your vote is very important. We urge you to review the
enclosed materials and return your proxy card. Your board of
directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote
FOR the approval and adoption of the merger
agreement and the merger. The Western Wireless board of
directors also unanimously recommends that Western Wireless
shareholders vote FOR each of the director nominees
listed under the heading Election of Directors
Information about the Nominees, FOR the
ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
Western Wireless independent registered public accounting firm
for 2005 and FOR the approval of the Western
Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Jeffrey A. Christianson |
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Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Bellevue, Washington
June 24, 2005
REFERENCES TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This proxy statement/ prospectus incorporates important business
and financial information about ALLTEL Corporation and Western
Wireless Corporation from documents previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission that are not included in or
delivered with this proxy statement/ prospectus. This
information is available to you without charge upon your written
or oral request. You can obtain documents incorporated by
reference in this proxy statement/ prospectus by requesting them
in writing, by telephone or by e-mail from the appropriate
company with the following contact information:
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Western Wireless Corporation:
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ALLTEL Corporation: |
Investor Relations
3650 131st Avenue SE
Bellevue, Washington 98006
(425) 586-8700
email address: investor.relations@wwireless.com
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Investor Relations Department
One Allied Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
(877) 446-3628
email address: alltel.investor.relations@alltel.com |
If you would like to request any documents, please do so by
July 22, 2005 in order to receive them before the annual
meeting.
See Where You Can Find More Information for more
information about the documents referred to in this proxy
statement/ prospectus.
In addition, if you have questions about the merger you may
contact:
Mellon Investor Services
44 Wall Street - 7th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: 1-888-566-9471
INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS
REGARDING ALLTEL AND WESTERN WIRELESS (INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL
ADVISOR TO WESTERN WIRELESS) WAS PROVIDED BY ALLTEL AND WESTERN
WIRELESS, RESPECTIVELY. NEITHER COMPANY WARRANTS THE ACCURACY OF
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OTHER COMPANY.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
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vi
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND THE
MERGER
The Merger
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Q: |
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What is the proposed transaction? |
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A: |
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You are being asked to vote to approve and adopt an agreement
and plan of merger among ALLTEL, Merger Sub and Western Wireless
and approve and adopt the merger contemplated by the agreement
and plan of merger (in this proxy statement/prospectus, we refer
to the agreement and plan of merger as the merger
agreement and the merger contemplated thereby as the
merger). In the merger, Western Wireless will merge
with and into Merger Sub, a newly formed limited liability
company and wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL. After the merger,
Merger Sub will be the surviving entity and the separate
corporate existence of Western Wireless will cease. |
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What will I be entitled to receive pursuant to the merger
agreement? |
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A: |
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The basic consideration in the merger is $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each share of
Western Wireless Class A and Class B common stock
(which are collectively referred to in this proxy
statement/prospectus as the Western Wireless common
stock) outstanding immediately prior to completion of the
merger, and you are entitled to elect to receive this basic mix.
Alternatively, you may elect to receive either $40 in cash or
0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each share of Western
Wireless common stock that you own by making a cash
election or a stock election, respectively. The cash
and stock elections are subject to proration to preserve an
overall mix of $9.25 in cash and approximately, but not less
than, 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for all of the
outstanding shares of Western Wireless common stock taken
together. As a result, even if you make the all cash or all
stock election you may receive a prorated amount of cash and
ALLTEL common stock. If you fail to make an election, you will
be deemed to have made the mixed election. A discussion of the
proration mechanism as well as examples of hypothetical
prorations can be found in this proxy statement/prospectus under
the heading The Merger Agreement Merger
Consideration.
You will not be entitled to receive any fractional shares of
ALLTEL common stock. Instead, you will be entitled to receive
cash, without interest, for any fractional share of ALLTEL
common stock you might otherwise have been entitled to receive
based on the closing price of the ALLTEL common stock on the
date the merger occurs. |
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Do I have dissenters rights in respect of the
merger? |
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Yes. If you do not vote in favor of the approval and adoption of
the merger agreement and the merger, deliver to Western Wireless
before the annual meeting a written notice of dissent and
otherwise comply with the requirements of Washington law, you
will be entitled to assert dissenters rights. A copy of
Chapter 23B.13 of the Washington Business Corporation Act,
which sets forth the requirements for perfecting
dissenters rights, is attached as Annex D to this
proxy statement/ prospectus. If you hold your shares in the name
of another person, such as a broker or nominee, you must act
promptly to cause the record holder to follow the steps
identified properly and in a timely manner (or, alternatively,
submit the record holders written consent to your dissent
prior to or at the time you submit your notice of dissent) to
perfect dissenters rights. See Dissenters
Rights beginning on page 79.
If any Western Wireless shareholder who demands
dissenters rights under Washington law withdraws and does
not duly reassert the right to dissent prior to the annual
meeting or loses (through failure to perfect or otherwise) the
right to dissent, then such shareholders shares will no
longer be dissenting shares and will automatically be converted
into the right to receive $9.25 in cash and 0.535 shares of
ALLTEL common stock for each of his or her shares of Western
Wireless common stock. |
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What are the material United States federal income tax
consequences of the merger to me? |
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A: |
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The transaction is intended to be tax-free for United States
federal income tax purposes, except with respect to any cash
received by Western Wireless shareholders. See The
Merger Material United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences of the Merger beginning on page 54. |
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Q: |
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When do you expect the merger to be completed? |
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We expect to complete the merger promptly after Western Wireless
shareholders approve and adopt the merger agreement and the
merger at the annual meeting and after the satisfaction or
waiver of all other conditions to the merger, including the
receipt of all regulatory approvals that are required to be
obtained pursuant to the merger agreement. We currently expect
this to occur in the third quarter of 2005. |
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When must I elect the type of the merger consideration that I
prefer to receive? |
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If you are a holder of Western Wireless common stock and wish to
elect the type of merger consideration you prefer to receive in
the merger, you should carefully review and follow the
instructions set forth in the form of election provided to
Western Wireless shareholders together with this proxy
statement/ prospectus. These instructions require that a
properly completed and signed form of election be received by
the exchange agent by the election deadline, which we will
announce before the expected completion of the merger. If you do
not submit a properly completed and signed form of election to
the exchange agent by the election deadline, then you will be
deemed to have elected to receive $9.25 cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock in exchange for each of
your shares of Western Wireless common stock. |
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Should I send in my stock certificates with my proxy card? |
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No. Please DO NOT send your stock certificates with your
proxy card. Rather, prior to the election deadline, you should
send your Western Wireless common stock certificates to the
exchange agent, together with your completed, signed form of
election. If your shares are held in street name,
you should follow your brokers or bankers
instructions for making an election with respect to your shares. |
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Can I change my election after I submit an election form? |
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You may revoke your election of merger consideration with
respect to all or a portion of the shares of Western Wireless
common stock subject thereto by delivering written notice
thereof to the exchange agent prior to the election deadline. If
you instructed a broker to submit an election for your shares,
you must follow your brokers directions for changing those
instructions. In addition, any election of merger consideration
you make will automatically be revoked if the merger agreement
is terminated. |
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If an election is properly revoked with respect to shares of
Western Wireless common stock represented by stock certificates,
the certificates representing such shares will be promptly
returned to the holder that submitted them to the exchange agent. |
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Who can help answer my questions? |
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A: |
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If you have any questions about the merger or if you need
additional copies of this proxy statement/ prospectus or the
enclosed proxy card you should contact: |
Mellon Investor Services
44 Wall Street - 7th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: 1-888-566-9471
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Q: |
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Where can I find more information about Western Wireless and
ALLTEL? |
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A: |
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You can find more information about Western Wireless and ALLTEL
from various sources described under the heading Where You
Can Find More Information on page 144. |
The Annual Meeting
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Q: |
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What matters will we vote on at the annual meeting? |
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A: |
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You will vote on the following proposals: |
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to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the
merger; |
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to elect nine directors to serve until the next
annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are
elected and qualified or until the consummation of the merger; |
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to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP as Western Wireless independent registered public
accounting firm for 2005; |
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to approve the Western Wireless Corporation 2005
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan; |
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to adjourn or postpone the annual meeting, if
necessary, to solicit additional proxies for the approval and
adoption of the merger agreement and the merger; and |
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to transact such other business as may properly come
before the annual meeting. |
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Q: |
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What is the required vote to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger? |
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A: |
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The merger agreement and the merger must be approved and adopted
by the holders of shares of Western Wireless Class A and
Class B common stock outstanding as of the record date,
voting together as a single class, representing at least
two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast by such holders.
Abstentions from voting and broker non-votes (shares held by a
broker or nominee as to which a broker or nominee indicates on
the proxy that it does not have the authority, either express or
discretionary, to vote on a particular matter), since they are
not affirmative votes, will have the same practical effect as a
vote against the proposal to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger.
You should be aware that shareholders who hold an aggregate of
approximately 41% of the aggregate number of votes entitled to
be cast on the record date have already agreed with ALLTEL to
vote in favor of the approval and adoption of the merger
agreement and the merger at the annual meeting of shareholders.
No vote of the shareholders of ALLTEL is required. |
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What is the required vote for the other matters at the annual
meeting? |
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A: |
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Ratification of the selection of the independent registered
public accounting firm, and approval of the Western Wireless
Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, require the
affirmative vote of holders of shares of Western Wireless
Class A and Class B common stock outstanding as of the
record date, voting together as a single class, representing a
majority of the votes present at the meeting, in person or by
proxy. For the election of directors, if a quorum is present, a
nominee for election to a position on the board of directors
will be elected as a director if the votes cast for the nominee
exceed the votes cast against the nominee and exceed the votes
cast for any other nominee for that position. For the election
of directors, abstentions from voting and broker non-votes
(shares held by a broker or nominee as to which a broker or
nominee indicates on the proxy that it does not have the
authority, either express or discretionary, to vote on a
particular matter) will have the legal effect of neither a vote
for nor against the nominee. For all other matters, abstentions
from voting and broker non-votes, since they are not affirmative
votes, will have the same practical effect as a vote against the
respective matters. |
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Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting? |
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Holders of record of Western Wireless common stock at the close
of business on May 24, 2005, which is the date Western
Wireless board of directors has fixed as the record date
for the annual meeting, are entitled to vote at the annual
meeting. |
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Q: |
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What does the Western Wireless board of directors
recommend? |
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A: |
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The Western Wireless board of directors has unanimously approved
the merger agreement and the merger and has also unanimously
determined that the merger agreement and the merger are
advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Western Wireless
and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Western Wireless board
unanimously recommends that Western Wireless shareholders vote
FOR the approval and adoption of the merger
agreement and the merger at the annual meeting. |
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The Western Wireless board of directors also unanimously
recommends that Western Wireless shareholders vote
FOR each of the director nominees listed under the
heading Election of Directors Information
about the Nominees, FOR the ratification of
the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Western
Wireless independent registered public accounting firm for |
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2005 and FOR the approval of the Western Wireless
Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan at the annual
meeting. |
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What do I need to do to vote my shares at the annual
meeting? |
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A: |
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After carefully reading and considering the information included
and incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus, please submit your proxy as soon as
possible so that your shares may be voted at the annual meeting.
If your shares of Western Wireless common stock are registered
in your own name you may submit your proxy by filling out and
signing the proxy card, and then mailing your signed proxy card
in the enclosed envelope. |
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If your shares are held in street name, you should
follow the directions your broker or bank provides in order to
ensure your shares are voted at the annual meeting. |
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Your proxy card will instruct the persons named on the proxy
card to vote your shares at the annual meeting as you direct. If
you sign and send in your proxy card and do not indicate how you
want to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR the
approval and adoption of each of the proposals being considered
at the annual meeting, including the merger agreement and the
merger. |
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May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy
card? |
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A: |
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You may change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted
at the annual meeting. If your shares of Western Wireless common
stock are registered in your own name, you can do this in one of
three ways. First, you can deliver to Western Wireless prior to
the annual meeting a written notice stating that you want to
revoke your proxy. Second, you can complete and deliver to
Western Wireless prior to the annual meeting a new proxy card.
If you choose either of these two methods, Western Wireless must
receive your notice of revocation or your new proxy card prior
to the annual meeting at the following address: Western Wireless
Corporation, Attn: Investor Relations, 3650 131st
Avenue SE, Bellevue, Washington 98006. Third, you can
attend the Western Wireless annual meeting and vote in person.
Simply attending the meeting, however, will not revoke your
proxy, as you must vote at the annual meeting in order to revoke
a prior proxy. |
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If you have instructed a broker or bank to vote your shares, you
must follow the directions you received from your broker or bank
to change your vote. |
4
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this proxy
statement/ prospectus about the proposed merger. It may not
contain all of the information that is important to you. You
should read carefully the entire proxy statement/ prospectus and
the additional documents referred to in it to fully understand
the merger.
The Companies (See Page 23)
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ALLTEL Corporation |
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Wigeon Acquisition LLC |
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Western Wireless Corporation |
One Allied Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
(501) 905-8000 |
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One Allied Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
(501) 905-8000 |
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3650 131st Avenue, S.E., Suite 400, Bellevue,
Washington 98006
(425) 586-8700 |
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ALLTEL is a customer-focused communications company that
provides, among other things, wireless and wireline local,
long-distance, network access and Internet services. |
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Merger Sub was organized solely for the purpose of effecting the
merger with Western Wireless. |
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Western Wireless is one of the largest providers of rural
wireless communications services in the United States. |
Recent Developments
On May 17, 2005, ALLTEL completed the settlement of the
purchase contract component of the equity units that were
originally issued by ALLTEL in an underwritten public offering
in 2002. In the settlement, ALLTEL received cash proceeds of
approximately $1.385 billion and delivered approximately
24.5 million shares of ALLTEL common stock in the aggregate
to the holders of the equity units. The proceeds from the
settlement are expected to finance the payment by ALLTEL of
approximately $1.0 billion in cash to shareholders of
Western Wireless in the merger and the repayment of a portion of
the $1.2 billion of borrowings outstanding under Western
Wireless credit facility that, as a result of a change in
control, will become due immediately upon the closing of the
merger. The settlement of the purchase contracts completed
ALLTELs obligations under the equity units.
While the settlement of the purchase contracts provided
additional liquidity to ALLTEL, the issuance of ALLTEL common
stock in connection therewith increased the total number of
shares of ALLTEL common stock outstanding. The merger
consideration will not be adjusted as a result of the issuance
of these shares. As a result, Western Wireless shareholders
receiving ALLTEL common stock in the merger will own a smaller
percentage of ALLTEL than they would have owned if the
settlement of the purchase contracts had not occurred.
Additionally, the market price of ALLTELs common stock
could be negatively impacted by the issuance of the additional
shares pursuant to the purchase contracts, which would reduce
the value of the ALLTEL common stock Western Wireless
shareholders receive as a portion of their merger consideration.
What You Will Be Entitled to Receive Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement (See Page 59)
The basic consideration in the merger is $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each share of
Western Wireless common stock outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger, and you are entitled to elect to
receive this basic mix. Alternatively, you may elect to receive
either $40 in cash or 0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock by
making a cash election or a stock
election. AS EXPLAINED BELOW, HOWEVER, THE CASH AND STOCK
ELECTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PRORATION TO PRESERVE AN OVERALL MIX OF
$9.25 IN CASH AND APPROXIMATELY, BUT NOT LESS THAN, 0.535 SHARES
OF ALLTEL COMMON STOCK FOR ALL OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
WESTERN WIRELESS COMMON STOCK TAKEN TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, EVEN
IF YOU MAKE THE ALL CASH OR ALL STOCK ELECTION YOU MAY
5
RECEIVE A PRORATED AMOUNT OF CASH AND ALLTEL COMMON STOCK. If
you fail to make an election, you will be deemed to have made
the mixed election.
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Consideration to be Received per Share of |
Type of Election |
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Western Wireless Common Stock |
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Mixed
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$9.25 in cash and 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock |
Stock
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0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock, before proration |
Cash
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$40 in cash, before proration |
The total amount of cash that will be paid and the total number
of shares of ALLTEL common stock that will be issued in the
merger to holders of Western Wireless common stock outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger will be the
product of $9.25 and between 0.535 and 0.538 shares of
ALLTEL common stock, respectively, multiplied by the total
number of shares of Western Wireless common stock outstanding
immediately prior to completion of the merger. The stock and
cash elections are subject to proration to preserve an overall
mix of $9.25 in cash and between 0.535 and 0.538 shares of
ALLTEL common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Western
Wireless common stock taken together. Therefore, unless the
number of stock elections is significantly greater than the
number of cash elections, Western Wireless shareholders making
the cash election will not receive $40 in cash, but instead will
receive a mix of cash and stock calculated to preserve the
overall cash and stock mix described above, after taking into
account all of the elections made by all of the Western Wireless
shareholders. In all cases, the cash election will include at
least as much cash as the mixed election. The formula that will
be used to determine the actual amount of proration is described
on page 60. Similarly, if the number of stock elections is
significantly greater than the number of cash elections, Western
Wireless shareholders making the stock election will not receive
0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock, but instead will receive
a mix of cash and stock calculated to preserve the overall cash
and stock mix described above, after taking into account all of
the elections made by all of the Western Wireless shareholders.
In all cases, the stock election will include at least as much
stock as the mixed election.
You will not be entitled to receive any fractional shares of
ALLTEL common stock. Instead, you will be entitled to receive
cash, without interest, for any fractional share of ALLTEL
common stock you might otherwise have been entitled to receive,
based on the closing price of the ALLTEL common stock on the
date the merger occurs.
In Order to Make an Election, You Must Properly Complete and
Deliver the Form of Election and Your Western Wireless Common
Stock Certificates (See Page 64)
You are receiving together with this proxy statement/ prospectus
a form of election with instructions for making your merger
consideration election. You must properly complete and deliver
to the exchange agent your form of election along with your
stock certificates (or a properly completed notice of guaranteed
delivery). Do not send your stock certificates or form of
election with your proxy card. Once you deliver your stock
certificates to the exchange agent, you may not transfer your
Western Wireless shares, unless you revoke your election by
written notice to the exchange agent that is received prior to
the election deadline.
Forms of election must be received by the exchange agent by the
election deadline, which we will announce before the expected
completion of the merger. If you fail to submit a properly
completed form of election prior to the election deadline, you
will be deemed to have made the mixed election to receive $9.25
cash and 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock in exchange
for each of your shares of Western Wireless common stock.
6
Generally, you may revoke or change your election, but only by
submitting written notice that is received by the exchange agent
prior to the election deadline. If you properly revoke your
election, or the merger agreement is terminated, and you have
transmitted certificates to the exchange agent, the exchange
agent will promptly return those certificates to you. You will
not be entitled to revoke or change your election following the
election deadline. As a result, if you make an election you will
be unable to revoke your election or sell your shares of Western
Wireless common stock during the interval between the election
deadline and the date of completion of the merger.
If you own shares of Western Wireless common stock in
street name through a bank, broker or other
financial institution and you wish to make an election, you
should seek instructions from the financial institution holding
your shares concerning how to make your election.
The Annual Meeting (See Page 138)
The Western Wireless annual meeting will take place at the
Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Avenue East, Seattle,
Washington, on July 29, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific
Time). At the annual meeting, the holders of Western Wireless
common stock will be asked to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger. The holders of Western Wireless common
stock will also be asked to elect nine directors to serve until
the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their
successors are elected and qualified or until the consummation
of the merger, ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP as Western Wireless independent registered public
accounting firm for 2005 and approve the Western Wireless
Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. The close of
business on May 24, 2005 is the record date for determining
if you are entitled to vote at the annual meeting. On that date,
there were 93,875,487 shares of Western Wireless
Class A common stock outstanding and 6,668,794 shares
of Western Wireless Class B common stock outstanding. Each
share of Western Wireless Class A common stock is entitled
to one vote at the annual meeting and each share of Western
Wireless Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes at
the annual meeting. The affirmative vote of holders of shares of
Western Wireless Class A and Class B common stock
outstanding as of the record date, voting together as a single
class, representing at least two-thirds of all the votes
entitled to be cast by such holders, is required to approve and
adopt the merger agreement and the merger. Ratification of the
selection of the independent registered public accounting firm,
and approval of the Western Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term
Equity Incentive Plan, require the affirmative vote of holders
of shares of Western Wireless Class A and Class B
common stock outstanding as of the record date, voting together
as a single class, representing a majority of the votes present
at the meeting, in person or by proxy. For the election of
directors, if a quorum is present, a nominee for election to a
position on the board of directors will be elected as a director
if the votes cast for the nominee exceed the votes cast against
the nominee and exceed the votes cast for any other nominee for
that position. On the record date, directors and executive
officers of Western Wireless beneficially owned and had the
right to vote 9,269,214 shares of Western Wireless
Class A common stock and 6,393,968 shares of Western
Wireless Class B common stock, entitling them to cast
approximately 44.54% of the number of votes entitled to be cast
at the annual meeting.
Certain shareholders that hold an aggregate of approximately 41%
of the aggregate number of votes entitled to be cast have agreed
with ALLTEL to vote, or cause to be voted, all of their shares
of Western Wireless common stock to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger. See Voting Agreement.
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board Regarding the
Merger; Western Wireless Reasons for the Merger (See
Page 138)
Western Wireless board of directors has unanimously
approved the merger agreement. Western Wireless board has
also unanimously determined that the merger agreement and the
merger are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of
Western Wireless and its shareholders and unanimously recommends
that you vote FOR the approval and adoption of the
merger agreement and the merger. In reaching its decision, the
Western Wireless board considered a number of factors that are
described in more detail in The Merger
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board; Western
Wireless Reasons for the
7
Merger beginning on page 35. The Western Wireless
board of directors did not assign relative weights to the
factors described in that section or the other factors
considered by it in reaching its decision. In addition, the
Western Wireless board did not reach any specific conclusion on
each factor considered, but conducted an overall analysis of all
of these factors as a whole.
Opinion of Financial Advisor to Western Wireless (See
Page 38)
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. delivered its written opinion,
dated January 9, 2005, to Western Wireless board of
directors that, subject to the assumptions and conditions
contained therein, as of the date thereof, the consideration to
be received pursuant to the merger is fair, from a financial
point of view, to the shareholders of Western Wireless.
The full text of the written opinion of Bear, Stearns &
Co. Inc., dated January 9, 2005, which sets forth the
assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and
limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the
opinion, is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement/
prospectus. You should read the opinion in its entirety. Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc. provided its opinion for the
information and assistance of Western Wireless board of
directors in connection with the boards consideration of
the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement. The Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc. opinion is not a recommendation as
to how you should vote with respect to the proposal to approve
and adopt the merger agreement and the merger.
ALLTELs Reasons for the Merger (See Page 50)
The board of directors of ALLTEL met several times to review the
merger and unanimously approved the merger agreement on
January 9, 2005 after ALLTELs senior management
discussed with the board of directors the potential benefits and
risks of the transaction. As a result of the merger, ALLTEL
expects to increase its wireless revenue mix from approximately
60 percent to nearly 70 percent of its total
consolidated revenues. The merger will also permit ALLTEL to
increase its retail position in Western Wireless rural
markets where it can bring significant value to customers by
offering competitive national rate plans. In addition, ALLTEL
will diversify its wireless roaming revenue sources and become a
leading independent roaming partner for the four national
carriers in the markets served by ALLTEL. For a discussion of
additional reasons of ALLTEL for the merger see The
Merger ALLTELs Reasons for the
Merger beginning on Page 50.
Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger (See
Page 50)
Some of Western Wireless directors and executive officers
may have interests in the merger that are different from, or in
addition to, the interests of Western Wireless shareholders
generally. The Western Wireless board of directors was aware of
these interests and considered them in approving the merger
agreement and the merger. These interests include the
requirement of ALLTEL to honor Western Wireless severance
program in which executive officers participate, the
establishment of a $20 million retention pool in which
executive officers will be eligible to receive a cash retention
bonus in certain circumstances, ALLTELs agreement to
appoint John W. Stanton to ALLTELs board of directors
following the merger, the acceleration of certain stock option
awards in connection with the merger and rights of directors and
executive officers to continued indemnification and insurance
coverage by ALLTEL after the merger for acts or omissions
occurring prior to the merger.
Conditions to the Merger (See Page 75)
The obligations of each party to complete the merger are
conditioned upon the other partys representations and
warranties being true and correct, subject to certain
materiality and other exceptions, and the other party having
complied in all material respects with such partys
covenants. In addition, among other things, ALLTELs and
Western Wireless obligations are conditioned on:
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the approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger
by Western Wireless shareholders; |
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the absence of any statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction prohibiting the consummation of the
merger; |
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the continuing effectiveness of the registration statement of
which this proxy statement/ prospectus forms a part; |
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the approval of the shares of ALLTEL common stock to be issued
in connection with the merger for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange; |
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the termination or expiration of the applicable waiting periods
pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended; |
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the obtaining of any other regulatory approvals of Western
Wireless or ALLTEL required to be obtained for the consummation
of the merger, other than regulatory approvals the failure to
obtain which would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on
Western Wireless or ALLTEL; |
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the obtaining of all necessary Federal Communications Commission
approvals and consents other than any such consents the failure
to obtain which would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on Western Wireless or ALLTEL, on terms
that would not, subject to certain exceptions described under
the heading The Merger Agreement
Covenants Filings; Other Actions, require
ALLTEL to divest itself of any businesses, assets or product
lines; and |
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the receipt by each of ALLTEL and Western Wireless, from its
respective legal counsel, of an opinion substantially to the
effect that the merger will be treated as a reorganization under
section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
In addition, ALLTELs obligation to complete the merger is
also conditioned on the absence, since January 9, 2005, of
any event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or
facts that would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on Western Wireless following the date of the
merger agreement, except as disclosed to ALLTEL prior to the
date of the merger agreement.
Termination (See Page 76)
The merger agreement may be terminated by the mutual consent of
ALLTEL and Western Wireless. Additionally, either ALLTEL or
Western Wireless may terminate the merger agreement if:
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the merger is not consummated by August 31, 2005 (which
date can be extended by ALLTEL or Western Wireless to
November 30, 2005 if, as of August 31, 2005, all
conditions to closing other than certain regulatory approvals
have been satisfied) through no fault of the party seeking to
terminate the merger agreement; |
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there are final, non-appealable legal restraints preventing the
merger, through no fault of the party seeking to terminate the
merger agreement; |
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Western Wireless shareholders fail to approve and adopt the
merger agreement and the merger at the annual meeting, except
that Western Wireless will not be permitted to terminate the
merger agreement because of the failure to obtain such
shareholder approval if such failure was caused by
(i) Western Wireless actions or inactions that
constitute a material breach of the merger agreement or
(ii) a breach of the voting agreement by any party thereto
other than ALLTEL; or |
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the other party has materially breached a representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement of that party contained in the
merger agreement, resulting in a failure of a condition to the
non-breaching partys obligation to effect the merger and
such breach cannot be cured by August 31, 2005 (or
November 30, 2005, if extended). |
Western Wireless must pay ALLTEL a termination fee of
$120 million if:
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Western Wireless terminates the merger agreement because the
merger has not been completed by August 31, 2005 (or if
either party has properly extended the termination date under
the merger |
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agreement, by November 30, 2005), which failure to complete
was not proximately caused by ALLTELs breach in any
material respect of its obligations under the merger agreement,
or either Western Wireless or ALLTEL terminates the merger
agreement because the Western Wireless shareholders fail to
approve and adopt the merger and the merger agreement at the
annual meeting, and |
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prior to the termination of the merger agreement, a Company
Alternative Proposal (defined as any bona fide proposal or offer
made by any person, prior to the approval of the merger by
Western Wireless shareholders, for the
(i) acquisition of Western Wireless by a merger or business
combination transaction or for a merger of equals
with Western Wireless, (ii) acquisition of more than 20% of
the assets of Western Wireless and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, or (iii) acquisition of more than 20% of the common
stock of Western Wireless) shall have been commenced, publicly
proposed or publicly disclosed prior to, and in each case, not
withdrawn at the time of, the annual meeting, and |
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Western Wireless enters into an agreement regarding the
acquisition of Western Wireless by merger or business
combination, or a merger of equals, or the
acquisition of 40% or more of its assets or shares of common
stock with the third party making such Company Alternative
Proposal within nine months after the termination or Western
Wireless enters into an agreement regarding the acquisition of
Western Wireless by merger or business combination, or a
merger of equals, or the acquisition of 40% or more
of its assets or shares of common stock with any other party
within six months after the termination. |
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences (See
Page 54)
The United States federal income tax consequences of the merger
to a holder of Western Wireless common stock will generally
depend on the form of consideration the holder receives in the
merger:
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if the holder receives only shares of ALLTEL common stock, it
will generally not recognize gain or loss; |
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if the holder receives both shares of ALLTEL common stock and
cash, it will generally not recognize any loss and will
generally recognize gain in an amount not exceeding the amount
of cash received; and |
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if the holder receives only cash, it will generally recognize
gain or loss. |
Comparison of Rights of ALLTEL Shareholders and Western
Wireless Shareholders (See Page 88)
After the merger, Western Wireless shareholders (other than
shareholders who properly exercise their dissenters rights
or who make valid cash elections that do not become subject to
proration) will become ALLTEL shareholders and their rights as
shareholders will be governed by the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of ALLTEL and the general corporation
law of the State of Delaware. There are a number of differences
between the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of ALLTEL,
the articles of incorporation and by-laws of Western Wireless
and the general corporation law of the State of Delaware and the
business corporation act of the State of Washington. These
differences are summarized under the heading Comparison of
Rights of ALLTEL and Western Wireless Shareholders.
Comparative Market Price Information (See Page 21)
ALLTEL common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and
the Pacific Stock Exchange under the trading symbol
AT. Western Wireless Class A common stock is
listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol
WWCA. On January 7, 2005, the last full trading
day prior to the public announcement of the execution of the
merger agreement, the closing price of Western Wireless
Class A common stock was $36.52 per share and the
closing price of ALLTEL common stock was $56.12 per share.
On June 23, 2005, the most recent practicable date prior to
the printing of this proxy statement/ prospectus, the closing
price of Western Wireless Class A common stock was
$41.40 per share
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and the closing price of ALLTEL common stock was $60.30 per
share. We urge you to obtain current market quotations.
Listing and Trading of ALLTEL Common Stock (See
Page 53)
Shares of ALLTEL common stock received by Western Wireless
shareholders pursuant to the merger will be listed on the New
York Stock Exchange.
After completion of the merger, shares of ALLTEL common stock
will continue to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, but
shares of Western Wireless common stock will no longer be listed
or traded.
Regulatory Approvals (See Page 57)
A condition to the obligation of ALLTEL and Western Wireless to
complete the merger is that the requisite Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) consents be granted regarding the
transfer of control to ALLTEL of the FCC licenses and
authorizations held by Western Wireless. On January 24,
2005, Western Wireless and ALLTEL jointly filed FCC
applications, seeking the requisite FCC approvals.
In addition, Western Wireless and ALLTEL must make certain
filings and registrations with, and seek, consents, permits,
authorizations and approvals from, state or foreign governmental
entities, including, without limitation, such entities
regulating competition and telecommunications businesses.
As a condition to the merger, The Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
HSR Act), requires Western Wireless and ALLTEL to
observe the HSR Acts notification and waiting periods.
Western Wireless and ALLTEL each filed notification and report
forms with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on
January 24, 2005. On February 23, 2005, Western
Wireless and ALLTEL each received an additional request for
information and documentary materials (a Second
Request) from the DOJ. The HSR Act provides that the
transaction may not close during a waiting period of 30 calendar
days following certification by Western Wireless and ALLTEL that
they have substantially complied with the Second Request.
Litigation Regarding the Merger (See Page 58)
A purported class action has been filed against Western
Wireless, ALLTEL and Western Wireless directors, alleging,
among other things, that the directors of Western Wireless
breached their fiduciary duties in approving the merger. The
complaint seeks various forms of relief, including, without
limitation, injunctive relief decreeing that the merger
agreement is unlawful and unenforceable. Western Wireless and
ALLTEL believe the allegations of the complaint are without
merit.
Dissenters Rights (See Page 79)
Under applicable Washington law, you have the right to dissent
from the merger and to receive payment in cash for the appraised
value of your shares of Western Wireless common stock. The
appraised value of the shares of Western Wireless common stock
may be more than, less than or equal to the value of the merger
consideration. Each Western Wireless shareholder seeking to
preserve statutory dissenters rights must:
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deliver to Western Wireless, before the vote is taken at the
Western Wireless annual meeting regarding the merger agreement
and the merger, written notice of such shareholders intent
to demand payment for such shareholders Western Wireless
common stock if the merger becomes effective; |
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not vote such shareholders shares of Western Wireless
common stock in person or by proxy in favor of the proposal to
approve and adopt the merger agreement; and |
11
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follow the statutory procedures for perfecting dissenters
rights under Washington law, which are described in the section
of this proxy statement/ prospectus entitled
Dissenters Rights. |
Chapter 23B.13 of the Washington Business Corporation Act
is reprinted in its entirety and attached as Annex D to
this proxy statement/ prospectus. Failure by a Western Wireless
shareholder to comply precisely with all procedures required by
Washington law may result in the loss of dissenters rights
for that shareholder.
12
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF ALLTEL
The summary below sets forth selected historical consolidated
financial data for ALLTEL. This data should be read in
conjunction with ALLTELs consolidated historical financial
statements and related notes included in ALLTELs Amendment
No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2004 and ALLTELs Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005. See
Where You Can Find More Information.
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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Year Ended December 31, | |
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| |
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| |
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2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
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2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2000 | |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
(Millions, except per share data) |
|
(Unaudited) | |
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|
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Revenues and sales
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$ |
2,126.0 |
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$ |
1,961.2 |
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$ |
8,246.1 |
|
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$ |
7,979.9 |
|
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$ |
7,112.4 |
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$ |
6,615.8 |
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$ |
6,308.9 |
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|
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|
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|
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Operating expenses
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1,656.7 |
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|
1,514.6 |
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|
6,273.6 |
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6,062.9 |
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5,322.8 |
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|
4,990.8 |
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|
|
4,757.4 |
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Restructuring and other charges
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|
|
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|
51.8 |
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|
|
50.9 |
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|
|
19.0 |
|
|
|
69.9 |
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|
|
76.3 |
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|
15.3 |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Total costs and expenses
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|
1,656.7 |
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|
|
1,566.4 |
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|
|
6,324.5 |
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|
6,081.9 |
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|
|
5,392.7 |
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|
|
5,067.1 |
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|
4,772.7 |
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|
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|
|
|
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Operating income
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|
|
469.3 |
|
|
|
394.8 |
|
|
|
1,921.6 |
|
|
|
1,898.0 |
|
|
|
1,719.7 |
|
|
|
1,548.7 |
|
|
|
1,536.2 |
|
Non-operating income (expense), net
|
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|
113.1 |
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|
2.3 |
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|
22.9 |
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(3.2 |
) |
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|
(5.3 |
) |
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|
(14.1 |
) |
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|
27.6 |
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Interest expense
|
|
|
(86.7 |
) |
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|
(91.7 |
) |
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|
(352.5 |
) |
|
|
(378.6 |
) |
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|
(355.1 |
) |
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|
(261.2 |
) |
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|
(284.3 |
) |
Gain on disposal of assets, write- down of investments and other
|
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|
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|
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17.9 |
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|
1.0 |
|
|
|
357.6 |
|
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|
1,928.5 |
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Income from continuing operations before income taxes
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495.7 |
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|
305.4 |
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|
1,592.0 |
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1,534.1 |
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|
1,360.3 |
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|
1,631.0 |
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|
3,208.0 |
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Income taxes
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|
182.7 |
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|
115.6 |
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|
565.3 |
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|
580.6 |
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510.2 |
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653.0 |
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1,325.3 |
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Income from continuing operations
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|
313.0 |
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|
|
189.8 |
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|
1,026.7 |
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|
953.5 |
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|
850.1 |
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|
978.0 |
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|
1,882.7 |
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Discontinued operations, net of tax
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|
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19.5 |
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|
361.0 |
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74.2 |
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69.5 |
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82.7 |
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Income before cumulative effect of accounting change
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313.0 |
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|
189.8 |
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|
1,046.2 |
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1,314.5 |
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|
924.3 |
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|
1,047.5 |
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|
1,965.4 |
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Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
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15.6 |
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19.5 |
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(36.6 |
) |
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Net income
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313.0 |
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|
189.8 |
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|
1,046.2 |
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|
1,330.1 |
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|
924.3 |
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|
1,067.0 |
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|
1,928.8 |
|
Preferred dividends
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|
|
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|
0.1 |
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|
0.1 |
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|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
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Net income applicable to common shares
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$ |
313.0 |
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|
$ |
189.8 |
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|
$ |
1,046.1 |
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$ |
1,330.0 |
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|
$ |
924.2 |
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|
$ |
1,066.9 |
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$ |
1,928.7 |
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Basic earnings per share:
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|
|
|
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|
|
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Income from continuing operations
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|
$ |
1.04 |
|
|
$ |
.61 |
|
|
$ |
3.34 |
|
|
$ |
3.06 |
|
|
$ |
2.73 |
|
|
$ |
3.14 |
|
|
$ |
5.99 |
|
|
Income from discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.06 |
|
|
|
1.16 |
|
|
|
.24 |
|
|
|
.22 |
|
|
|
.26 |
|
|
Cumulative effect of accounting change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.06 |
|
|
|
.(12 |
) |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Net income
|
|
$ |
1.04 |
|
|
$ |
.61 |
|
|
$ |
3.40 |
|
|
$ |
4.27 |
|
|
$ |
2.97 |
|
|
$ |
3.42 |
|
|
$ |
6.13 |
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|
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|
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|
13
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2000 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
(Millions, except per share data) |
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Diluted earnings per share:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Income from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
1.03 |
|
|
$ |
.61 |
|
|
$ |
3.33 |
|
|
$ |
3.05 |
|
|
$ |
2.72 |
|
|
$ |
3.12 |
|
|
$ |
5.94 |
|
|
Income from discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.06 |
|
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
.24 |
|
|
|
.22 |
|
|
|
.26 |
|
|
Cumulative effect of accounting change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.06 |
|
|
|
(.12 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
1.03 |
|
|
$ |
.61 |
|
|
$ |
3.39 |
|
|
$ |
4.25 |
|
|
$ |
2.96 |
|
|
$ |
3.40 |
|
|
$ |
6.08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends per common share
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
1.49 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.37 |
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
1.29 |
|
Weighted average common shares:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
Basic
|
|
|
302.2 |
|
|
|
311.5 |
|
|
|
307.3 |
|
|
|
311.8 |
|
|
|
311.0 |
|
|
|
311.4 |
|
|
|
314.4 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
303.5 |
|
|
|
312.5 |
|
|
|
308.4 |
|
|
|
312.8 |
|
|
|
312.3 |
|
|
|
313.5 |
|
|
|
317.2 |
|
Balance sheet data:
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
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Total assets
|
|
$ |
16,773.2 |
|
|
$ |
16,539.6 |
|
|
$ |
16,603.7 |
|
|
$ |
16,661.1 |
|
|
$ |
16,244.6 |
|
|
$ |
12,500.7 |
|
|
$ |
12,087.2 |
|
Total shareholders equity
|
|
$ |
7,240.1 |
|
|
$ |
6,898.5 |
|
|
$ |
7,128.7 |
|
|
$ |
7,022.2 |
|
|
$ |
5,998.1 |
|
|
$ |
5,565.8 |
|
|
$ |
5,095.4 |
|
Total redeemable preferred stock and long-term debt (including
current maturities)
|
|
$ |
5,599.3 |
|
|
$ |
5,886.4 |
|
|
$ |
5,578.3 |
|
|
$ |
5,859.4 |
|
|
$ |
6,641.1 |
|
|
$ |
3,913.0 |
|
|
$ |
4,673.3 |
|
Cash flows provided by (used in):
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
|
$ |
778.7 |
|
|
$ |
551.5 |
|
|
$ |
2,466.8 |
|
|
$ |
2,474.7 |
|
|
$ |
2,392.2 |
|
|
$ |
1,882.1 |
|
|
$ |
1,429.0 |
|
Investing activities
|
|
$ |
(307.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(201.8 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,258.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,265.9 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,494.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(427.0 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,158.1 |
) |
Financing activities
|
|
$ |
(67.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(370.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,381.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,218.2 |
) |
|
$ |
2,079.5 |
|
|
$ |
(1,479.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(182.1 |
) |
Notes to Selected Financial Information:
|
|
|
A. |
|
Net income for the first quarter of 2005 included a special cash
dividend of $111.0 million received on March 28, 2005
related to ALLTELs investment in Fidelity National
Financial, Inc. (Fidelity National) common stock.
The special cash dividend increased net income
$69.8 million or $.23 per share. Net income for the
first quarter of 2005 also included a pretax charge of
$19.8 million primarily related to a change in accounting
for operating leases. This charge decreased net income
$12.1 million or $.04 per share. |
|
B. |
|
Net income for the first quarter of 2004 included pretax charges
of $29.3 million related to a planned workforce reduction
and the exit of its competitive local exchange carrier
operations in the Jacksonville, Florida market. In addition,
ALLTEL recorded a $2.3 million reduction in the liabilities
associated with various restructuring activities initiated prior
to 2003. ALLTEL also recorded a write-down in the carrying value
of certain corporate and regional facilities to fair value in
conjunction with the proposed leasing or sale of those
facilities of $24.8 million. These transactions decreased
net income $31.7 million or $.10 per share. |
|
C. |
|
On April 1, 2003, ALLTEL completed the sale of the
financial services division of its information services
subsidiary, ALLTEL Information Services, Inc., to Fidelity
National for $1.05 billion, received as $775.0 million
in cash and $275.0 million in Fidelity National common
stock. As part of this transaction, Fidelity National acquired
ALLTELs mortgage servicing, retail and wholesale banking
and commercial lending operations, as well as the
community/regional bank division. In January 2003, ALLTEL
completed the termination of its business venture with
Bradford & Bingley Group. The |
14
|
|
|
|
|
business venture, ALLTEL Mortgage Solutions, Ltd., a
majority-owned consolidated subsidiary of ALLTEL, was created in
2000 to provide mortgage administration and information
technology products in the United Kingdom. As a result of these
transactions, the financial services division and the operations
of ALLTEL Mortgage Solutions, Ltd. have been reflected as
discontinued operations for all periods presented. Accordingly,
consolidated cash flow information presented above for the year
ended December 31, 2000 differs from the amounts reported
in ALLTELs Annual Reports on Form 10-K for each of
the three years ended December 31, 2002 through
December 31, 2000. |
|
D. |
|
Net income for 2004 included pretax charges of
$28.4 million related to a planned workforce reduction and
the exit of ALLTELs competitive local exchange carrier
operations in the Jacksonville, Florida market. In addition,
ALLTEL recorded a $2.3 million reduction in the liabilities
associated with various restructuring activities initiated prior
to 2003. ALLTEL also recorded a write-down in the carrying value
of certain corporate and regional facilities to fair value in
conjunction with the proposed leasing or sale of those
facilities of $24.8 million. These transactions decreased
net income $31.1 million or $.10 per share. Net income
for 2004 also reflected a reduction in income tax expense
associated with continuing operations of $19.7 million, or
$.06 per share, resulting from ALLTELs adjustment of
its income tax contingency reserves to reflect the results of
audits of ALLTELs consolidated federal income tax returns
for the fiscal years 1997 through 2001. |
|
E. |
|
Net income for 2003 included pretax charges of $8.5 million
primarily related to the closing of certain call center
locations and the write-off of $13.2 million of certain
capitalized software development costs with no alternative
future use or functionality. ALLTEL also recorded a
$2.7 million reduction in the liabilities associated with
various restructuring activities initiated prior to 2003 to
reflect differences between estimated and actual costs paid in
completing the previous planned restructuring activities. These
transactions decreased net income $11.5 million or
$.04 per share. Net income for 2003 also included a pretax
gain of $31.0 million realized from the sale of certain
assets of the telecommunications information services
operations, partially offset by pretax write-downs totaling
$6.0 million to reflect other-than-temporary declines in
the fair value of certain investments in unconsolidated limited
partnerships. In addition, ALLTEL incurred pretax termination
fees of $7.1 million related to the early retirement of
long-term debt. These transactions increased net income
$10.7 million or $.04 per share. Effective
January 1, 2003, ALLTEL adopted SFAS No. 143 in
accounting for asset retirement obligations. The cumulative
effect of this accounting change resulted in a one time non-cash
credit of $15.6 million, net of income tax expense of
$10.3 million, or $.05 per share. |
|
F. |
|
Net income for 2002 included pretax charges of
$34.0 million incurred in connection with restructuring
ALLTELs competitive local exchange carrier, call center
and retail store operations and with the closing of seven
product distribution centers. ALLTEL also incurred integration
expenses of $28.8 million related to its acquisitions of
wireline properties from Verizon Communications, Inc. and
wireless properties from CenturyTel, Inc. ALLTEL also recorded
write-downs in the carrying value of certain cell site equipment
of $7.1 million. These charges decreased net income
$42.3 million or $.14 per share. Net income for 2002
included a pretax gain of $22.1 million realized from the
sale of a wireless property, partially offset by pretax
write-downs of $16.3 million related to investments in
marketable securities. ALLTEL also recorded a pretax adjustment
of $4.8 million to reduce the gain recognized from the
dissolution of a wireless partnership that was initially
recorded in 2001. These transactions increased net income
$0.6 million or less than $.01 per share. |
|
G. |
|
Net income for 2001 included pretax gains of $347.8 million
from the sale of PCS licenses, a pretax gain of
$9.5 million from the dissolution of a wireless partnership
and a pretax gain of $3.2 million from the sale of certain
investments. Net income also included pretax termination fees of
$2.9 million incurred due to the early retirement of debt.
These transactions increased net income $212.7 million or
$.68 per share. Net income also included pretax charges of
$61.2 million incurred in connection with the restructuring
of ALLTELs regional communications, product distribution
and corporate operations. ALLTEL also recorded write-downs in
the carrying value of certain cell site equipment totaling
$15.1 million. These charges decreased net income
$45.3 million or $.14 per share. Effective
January 1, 2001, ALLTEL changed its method of accounting
for a subsidiarys pension plan to conform to |
15
|
|
|
|
|
ALLTELs primary pension plan. The cumulative effect of
this accounting change resulted in a non-cash credit of
$19.5 million, net of income tax expense of
$13.0 million, or $.06 per share. |
|
H. |
|
Net income for 2000 included pretax gains of
$1,345.5 million from the exchange of wireless properties
with Bell Atlantic Corporation and GTE Corporation, pretax gains
of $36.0 million from the sale of certain PCS assets and
pretax gains of $562.0 million from the sale of
investments, principally consisting of WorldCom, Inc. common
stock. Net income also included a pretax write-down of
$15.0 million in ALLTELs investment in an Internet
access service provider. These transactions increased net income
$1,124.3 million or $3.58 per share. Net income also
included integration costs and other charges of
$15.3 million primarily incurred in connection with the
acquisition of wireless assets. ALLTEL also incurred a pretax
charge of $11.5 million in connection with a litigation
settlement. These charges decreased net income
$16.1 million or $.05 per share. Effective
January 1, 2000, ALLTEL changed its method of recognizing
wireless access revenues and certain customer activation fees.
The cumulative effect of this accounting change resulted in a
non-cash charge of $36.6 million, net of income tax benefit
of $23.3 million or $.12 per share. |
|
I. |
|
On May 17, 2005, ALLTEL completed the settlement of the
purchase contract obligation under its equity units by issuing
approximately 24.5 million shares of ALLTEL common
stock in exchange for ALLTELs receipt of cash proceeds of
approximately $1,385.0 million. The shares outstanding and
per share information shown as of March 31, 2005 do not
reflect the 24.5 million shares of ALLTEL common stock that
were issued on May 17, 2005 in settlement of the equity
units. |
16
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF WESTERN
WIRELESS
The summary below sets forth selected historical consolidated
financial data for Western Wireless. This data should be read in
conjunction with Western Wireless consolidated historical
financial statements and related notes included in Western
Wireless Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004 and Western Wireless
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
March 31, 2005. See Where You Can Find More
Information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months Ended | |
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
For the Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002(1) | |
|
2001(1) | |
|
2000 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
(Millions, except per share data) |
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
Consolidated statements of operations data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
520.2 |
|
|
$ |
446.5 |
|
|
$ |
1,917.7 |
|
|
$ |
1,503.7 |
|
|
$ |
1,186.6 |
|
|
$ |
1,038.0 |
|
|
$ |
835.0 |
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
(445.6 |
) |
|
|
(364.8 |
) |
|
|
(1,609.3 |
) |
|
|
(1,343.4 |
) |
|
|
(1,135.2 |
) |
|
|
(1,016.8 |
) |
|
|
(666.1 |
) |
Other expenses
|
|
|
(29.6 |
) |
|
|
(33.4 |
) |
|
|
(155.1 |
) |
|
|
(128.0 |
) |
|
|
(151.7 |
) |
|
|
(176.3 |
) |
|
|
(105.5 |
) |
Minority interests in net (income) loss of consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
(3.8 |
) |
|
|
(2.5 |
) |
|
|
(11.5 |
) |
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
|
|
17.8 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for
income taxes and cumulative change in accounting principle
|
|
|
41.2 |
|
|
|
45.8 |
|
|
|
141.8 |
|
|
|
36.9 |
|
|
|
(92.2 |
) |
|
|
(137.3 |
) |
|
|
65.5 |
|
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
|
|
|
(35.9 |
) |
|
|
(9.6 |
) |
|
|
91.1 |
|
|
|
(37.4 |
) |
|
|
(121.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative
change in accounting principle
|
|
|
5.3 |
|
|
|
36.2 |
|
|
|
232.9 |
|
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(213.4 |
) |
|
|
(137.3 |
) |
|
|
65.5 |
|
Total discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.6 |
|
|
|
(5.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Cumulative change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$ |
5.3 |
|
|
$ |
36.2 |
|
|
$ |
232.9 |
|
|
$ |
(2.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(183.8 |
) |
|
$ |
(148.8 |
) |
|
$ |
65.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations before cumulative change in accounting
principle
|
|
$ |
.05 |
|
|
$ |
.39 |
|
|
$ |
2.46 |
|
|
$ |
(.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.71 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.74 |
) |
|
$ |
.84 |
|
|
|
Discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.38 |
|
|
|
(.08 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.02 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.07 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic income (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
.05 |
|
|
$ |
.39 |
|
|
$ |
2.46 |
|
|
$ |
(.03 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.33 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.89 |
) |
|
$ |
.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations before cumulative change in accounting
principle
|
|
$ |
.05 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
2.27 |
|
|
$ |
(.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.71 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.74 |
) |
|
$ |
.81 |
|
|
|
Discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.38 |
|
|
|
(.08 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.02 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.07 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted income (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
.05 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
2.27 |
|
|
$ |
(.03 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.33 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.89 |
) |
|
$ |
.81 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated balance sheets data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
2,955.3 |
|
|
$ |
2,564.4 |
|
|
$ |
3,118.8 |
|
|
$ |
2,539.1 |
|
|
$ |
2,421.5 |
|
|
$ |
2,400.3 |
|
|
$ |
2,018.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt, net of current portion
|
|
$ |
2,046.0 |
|
|
$ |
2,167.6 |
|
|
$ |
2,013.2 |
|
|
$ |
2,172.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,317.1 |
|
|
$ |
2,215.6 |
|
|
$ |
1,926.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity (deficit)
|
|
$ |
266.3 |
|
|
$ |
(195.0 |
) |
|
$ |
264.0 |
|
|
$ |
(230.8 |
) |
|
$ |
(476.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(293.1 |
) |
|
$ |
(138.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated cash flows provided by
(used in):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
|
$ |
124.5 |
|
|
$ |
95.1 |
|
|
$ |
478.3 |
|
|
$ |
317.8 |
|
|
$ |
155.0 |
|
|
$ |
80.8 |
|
|
$ |
167.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities
|
|
$ |
(138.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(97.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(532.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(179.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(308.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(440.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(644.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities
|
|
$ |
(180.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.6 |
) |
|
$ |
193.6 |
|
|
$ |
(98.4 |
) |
|
$ |
162.8 |
|
|
$ |
382.0 |
|
|
$ |
468.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares (thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
100,168 |
|
|
|
91,708 |
|
|
|
94,665 |
|
|
|
81,248 |
|
|
|
78,955 |
|
|
|
78,625 |
|
|
|
77,899 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
102,106 |
|
|
|
101,425 |
|
|
|
103,932 |
|
|
|
81,248 |
|
|
|
78,955 |
|
|
|
78,625 |
|
|
|
80,303 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Certain amounts in 2002 and 2001 consolidated financial data
have been reclassified to properly reflect the discontinued
operations of TAL, Western Wireless Icelandic subsidiary. |
17
SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
DATA
The summary below sets forth selected unaudited historical pro
forma financial data for ALLTEL after giving effect to the
merger for the period indicated. The unaudited historical pro
forma data presented below for the three months ended
March 31, 2005 combines selected unaudited historical
financial data of ALLTEL and Western Wireless for the three
months ended March 31, 2005. The unaudited historical pro
forma data presented below for the year ended December 31,
2004 combines selected audited historical financial data of
ALLTEL and Western Wireless for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004. The following table should be read
together with the consolidated financial statements and
accompanying notes of ALLTEL and of Western Wireless included in
the documents described under Where You Can Find More
Information and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements and accompanying discussion and notes set
forth under the heading Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Financial Information included herein. The pro
forma amounts in the table below are presented for illustrative
purposes only and do not indicate what the financial position or
the results of operations of ALLTEL would have been had the
merger occurred as of the date or for the period presented. The
pro forma amounts also do not indicate what the financial
position or future results of operations of ALLTEL will be. No
adjustment has been included in the pro forma amounts for any
anticipated cost savings or other synergies. See Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three | |
|
For the Year | |
|
|
Months Ended | |
|
Ended | |
|
|
or as of | |
|
or as of | |
|
|
March 31, 2005 | |
|
December 31, 2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Millions, except per share data) | |
Revenue and sales
|
|
$ |
2,641.9 |
|
|
$ |
10,151.0 |
|
Operating income
|
|
$ |
497.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,054.8 |
|
Net income from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
301.4 |
|
|
$ |
1,191.7 |
|
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.79 |
|
|
$ |
3.09 |
|
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.78 |
|
|
$ |
3.04 |
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
380.7 |
|
|
|
385.8 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
388.8 |
|
|
|
393.6 |
|
Dividends per common share
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
1.49 |
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
23,160.0 |
|
|
$ |
23,274.5 |
|
Total shareholders equity
|
|
$ |
11,956.7 |
|
|
$ |
11,845.3 |
|
Total redeemable preferred stock and long-term debt (including
current maturities and short-term debt)
|
|
$ |
6,689.2 |
|
|
$ |
6,943.7 |
|
Book value per common share
|
|
$ |
31.38 |
|
|
$ |
31.11 |
|
18
COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA
The summary below sets forth certain audited historical per
share information for ALLTEL and Western Wireless and unaudited
pro forma information as if ALLTEL and Western Wireless had been
combined for the period shown (pro forma combined).
The unaudited pro forma combined per share data presented below
for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and for the year
ended December 31, 2004 combines certain per share
financial data of ALLTEL and Western Wireless. No cash dividends
have ever been paid on the Western Wireless common stock. The
historical data is derived from, and should be read in
conjunction with, the consolidated historical financial
statements and related notes included in each of ALLTELs
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
March 31, 2005 and Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004 and
Western Wireless Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended March 31, 2005 and Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. See
Where You Can Find More Information. The pro forma
amounts in the table below are presented for illustrative
purposes only and do not indicate what the financial position or
the results of operations of ALLTEL would have been had the
merger occurred as of the date or for the period presented. The
pro forma amounts also do not indicate what the financial
position or future results of operations of ALLTEL will be. No
adjustment has been included in the pro forma amounts for any
anticipated cost savings or other synergies.
ALLTEL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended |
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
or as of |
|
or as of |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
December 31, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
ALLTEL Historical (a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
1.04 |
|
|
$ |
3.34 |
|
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
1.03 |
|
|
$ |
3.33 |
|
Book value per share
|
|
$ |
23.93 |
|
|
$ |
23.58 |
|
Cash dividends declared per share
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
1.49 |
|
|
|
(a) |
All historical per share information for ALLTEL as of
March 31, 2005 does not reflect the 24.5 million
shares of ALLTEL common stock that were issued on May 17,
2005 in settlement of the equity units. |
WESTERN WIRELESS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended |
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
or as of |
|
or as of |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
December 31, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Western Wireless Historical
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share
|
|
$ |
.05 |
|
|
$ |
2.46 |
|
Diluted earnings per common share
|
|
$ |
.05 |
|
|
$ |
2.27 |
|
Book value per share
|
|
$ |
2.66 |
|
|
$ |
2.64 |
|
Cash dividends per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
ALLTEL AND WESTERN WIRELESS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended |
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
or as of |
|
or as of |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
December 31, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma Combined
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.79 |
|
|
$ |
3.09 |
|
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.78 |
|
|
$ |
3.04 |
|
Book value per share
|
|
$ |
31.38 |
|
|
$ |
31.11 |
|
Cash dividends declared per share
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
1.49 |
|
Western Wireless Pro Forma Per Share Equivalents(a)(b)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.66 |
|
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.63 |
|
Book value per share
|
|
$ |
16.84 |
|
|
$ |
16.69 |
|
Cash dividends per share
|
|
$ |
.20 |
|
|
$ |
.80 |
|
|
|
(a) |
The Western Wireless pro forma per share equivalent amounts are
calculated by multiplying the pro forma combined per common
share amounts by a fraction equal to 0.53656. The actual number
of shares of ALLTEL common stock to be issued in the merger will
equal a fraction ranging from 0.535 to 0.538 multiplied by all
of the outstanding shares of Western Wireless common stock taken
together. See The Merger Agreement Merger
Consideration. Western Wireless shareholders receiving
ALLTEL common stock as part of the foregoing exchange ratio will
also be entitled to receive $9.25 per share in cash in
exchange for their Western Wireless shares. |
|
(b) |
Solely for illustrative purposes, the Western Wireless pro forma
per share equivalent amounts that would result from multiplying
the pro forma combined per common share amounts by the fraction
equal to 0.7 (representing the exchange ratio, before proration,
of the stock election), are as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the |
|
For the |
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
|
or as of |
|
or as of |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
December 31, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.55 |
|
|
$ |
2.16 |
|
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
.55 |
|
|
$ |
2.13 |
|
Book value per share
|
|
$ |
21.97 |
|
|
$ |
21.78 |
|
Cash dividends per share
|
|
$ |
.27 |
|
|
$ |
1.04 |
|
20
COMPARATIVE STOCK PRICES AND DIVIDENDS
ALLTEL common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
(the NYSE) and the Pacific Stock Exchange under the
symbol AT. Western Wireless Class A common
stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol
WWCA. The following table sets forth the dividends
declared on the ALLTEL common stock and the high and low
intra-day sales prices per share for the ALLTEL common stock and
the Western Wireless Class A common stock, each as reported
on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape and the Nasdaq Stock
Market, respectively, for the periods indicated. No cash
dividends have ever been paid on the Western Wireless
Class A common stock. There currently is no established
public trading market for Western Wireless Class B common
stock; however, such shares generally convert automatically into
shares of Western Wireless Class A common stock on a
share-for-share basis immediately upon any transfer of the
Class B common stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Western Wireless | |
|
|
ALLTEL | |
|
Class A | |
|
|
Common Stock | |
|
Common Stock | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Fiscal Year |
|
High | |
|
Low | |
|
Dividends | |
|
High | |
|
Low | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$ |
56.22 |
|
|
$ |
40.68 |
|
|
$ |
.35 |
|
|
$ |
7.91 |
|
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$ |
49.68 |
|
|
$ |
43.62 |
|
|
$ |
.35 |
|
|
$ |
12.50 |
|
|
$ |
4.55 |
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$ |
50.31 |
|
|
$ |
44.51 |
|
|
$ |
.35 |
|
|
$ |
21.08 |
|
|
$ |
11.13 |
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$ |
49.98 |
|
|
$ |
43.75 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
21.20 |
|
|
$ |
16.69 |
|
2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$ |
53.28 |
|
|
$ |
46.65 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
27.40 |
|
|
$ |
18.30 |
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$ |
51.95 |
|
|
$ |
48.63 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
33.51 |
|
|
$ |
20.46 |
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$ |
55.80 |
|
|
$ |
49.23 |
|
|
$ |
.37 |
|
|
$ |
29.29 |
|
|
$ |
23.75 |
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$ |
60.62 |
|
|
$ |
53.40 |
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
29.95 |
|
|
$ |
25.89 |
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$ |
59.85 |
|
|
$ |
54.20 |
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
39.63 |
|
|
$ |
30.21 |
|
Second Quarter (through June 23, 2005)
|
|
$ |
61.59 |
|
|
$ |
54.82 |
|
|
$ |
.38 |
|
|
$ |
42.10 |
|
|
$ |
37.96 |
|
Set forth below are the last reported sale prices of ALLTEL
common stock and Western Wireless Class A common stock on
January 7, 2005, the last trading day prior to the
execution of the merger agreement, and on June 23, 2005, as
reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape and the Nasdaq
Stock Market, respectively. The table also presents implied
equivalent per share values for Western Wireless Class A
common shares by:
|
|
|
|
|
multiplying the price per ALLTEL common share on each of the two
dates by the stock election exchange ratio of 0.7, assuming no
proration; and |
|
|
|
multiplying the price per ALLTEL share on each of the two dates
by the mixed election exchange ratio of 0.535 and adding $9.25. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Western | |
|
Implied per | |
|
Implied per | |
|
|
ALLTEL | |
|
Wireless | |
|
Share Value of | |
|
Share Value of | |
|
|
Share Price | |
|
Share Price | |
|
Stock Election | |
|
Mixed Election | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
January 7, 2005
|
|
$ |
56.12 |
|
|
$ |
36.52 |
|
|
$ |
39.28 |
|
|
$ |
39.27 |
|
June 22, 2005
|
|
$ |
60.30 |
|
|
$ |
41.40 |
|
|
$ |
42.21 |
|
|
$ |
41.51 |
|
You are urged to obtain current market quotations for shares of
ALLTEL common stock and Western Wireless Class A common
stock before making a decision with respect to the merger.
21
No assurance can be given as to the market prices of ALLTEL
common stock or Western Wireless Class A common stock at
the closing of the merger. Because the exchange ratio will not
be adjusted for changes in the market price of ALLTELs
common stock, the market value of the shares of ALLTEL common
stock that holders of Western Wireless common stock will receive
at the effective time may vary significantly from the market
value of the shares of ALLTEL common stock that holders of
Western Wireless common stock would have received if the merger
were consummated on the date of the merger agreement or on the
date of this proxy statement/ prospectus.
22
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE
MERGER
(PROPOSAL NO. 1)
Introduction
We are asking Western Wireless shareholders to approve and adopt
the merger agreement and the merger, pursuant to which Western
Wireless will merge with and into Merger Sub, after which Merger
Sub will survive the transaction and continue to be a
wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL and the separate corporate
existence of Western Wireless will cease. In the merger, Western
Wireless shareholders may elect to receive for each of their
shares of Western Wireless common stock: (1) a combination
of $9.25 in cash and 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock,
(2) $40 in cash, subject to proration, or
(3) 0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock, also subject to
proration. The cash and stock elections are subject to proration
to preserve an overall mix of $9.25 in cash and approximately,
but not less than, 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for
all of the outstanding shares of Western Wireless common stock
taken together. As a result, even if you make the all cash or
all stock election you may receive a prorated amount of cash and
ALLTEL common stock. Western Wireless shareholders who fail to
make an election will be deemed to have made the mixed election.
A discussion of the proration mechanism as well as examples of
hypothetical prorations can be found in this proxy statement/
prospectus under the heading The Merger
Agreement Merger Consideration.
The Companies
ALLTEL Corporation
ALLTEL is a customer-focused communications company. ALLTEL owns
subsidiaries that provide wireless and wireline local,
long-distance, network access and Internet services.
Telecommunications products are warehoused and sold by
ALLTELs distribution subsidiary. A subsidiary also
publishes telephone directories for affiliates and other
independent telephone companies. In addition, a subsidiary
provides billing, customer care and other data processing and
outsourcing services to telecommunications companies. For the
three months ended March 31, 2005, ALLTEL had
$2.1 billion in revenues, $470 million in operating
income and $313 million in net income. For the year ended
December 31, 2004, ALLTEL had $8.2 billion in
revenues, $1.9 billion in operating income and
$1.0 billion in net income.
As of March 31, 2005, ALLTEL provided wireless
communications services to approximately 8.8 million
customers in 24 states. At March 31, 2005,
ALLTELs wireless penetration rate (that is, the number of
its customers as a percentage of the total population in its
service areas) was approximately 13.8%. Wireless revenues and
sales comprised 62% of ALLTELs total operating revenue
from business segments in the first quarter of 2005 and
comprised 60% of ALLTELs total operating revenues from
business segments in 2004. As a result of ALLTELs recent
acquisition of properties from Cingular Wireless LLC, it
currently owns a majority interest in wireless operations in
96 metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, covering a
population of approximately 43.9 million potential
customers, or POPs. ALLTEL also owns a majority interest in
wireless operations in 156 rural statistical areas, or
RSAs, representing approximately 22.5 million wireless
POPs. ALLTEL holds minority interests in operations in
30 other wireless markets, including, without limitation,
the Chicago, Illinois and Houston, Texas MSAs.
ALLTELs wireline operations consist of subsidiaries that
are incumbent local exchange carriers, or ILECs, and competitive
local exchange carriers, or CLECs. Through these subsidiaries,
ALLTEL provides local telephone service to approximately
3.0 million customers primarily located in rural areas in
15 states. Wireline services include basic dial-tone, DSL,
or Digital Subscriber Line, Internet and other enhanced services
including, without limitation, call waiting, call forwarding,
three-way calling and voicemail. ALLTELs local telephone
subsidiaries also offer facilities for private line, high-speed
data transmission and other communications services. Wireline
revenues, which consist of local service, network access and
long-distance and miscellaneous revenues, comprised 27% of
ALLTELs total operating revenues from business segments in
the first quarter of 2005 and comprised 29% of ALLTELs
total operating revenues from business segments in 2004.
23
ALLTELs communications support services consist of its
long-distance and network management services, communications
products, directory publishing operations and the retained
telecommunications information services operations of ALLTEL
Information Services, Inc. that were not sold in 2003. As of
March 31, 2005, ALLTEL provided long-distance service to
nearly 1.8 million customers. As of that date,
ALLTELs directory publishing business coordinated
advertising, sales, printing and distribution for 412 telephone
directory contracts in 37 states. ALLTELs product
distribution business distributes telecommunications equipment
and materials. ALLTELs telecommunications information
services operations, or the telecom division, are primarily
engaged in the development and marketing of billing services and
customer care software to local telephone, wireless and personal
communications services, or PCS, companies. Communications
support services revenues comprised 11% of ALLTELs total
operating revenues from business segments for both the first
quarter of 2005 and the year of 2004.
ALLTEL is incorporated in Delaware. ALLTELs principal
executive offices are located at One Allied Drive, Little Rock,
Arkansas 72202, and its telephone number is (501) 905-8000.
ALLTELs website is located at www.alltel.com. Information
on ALLTELs website is not incorporated into this proxy
statement/ prospectus.
ALLTEL common stock is listed on the NYSE and the Pacific Stock
Exchange under the trading symbol AT.
Wigeon Acquisition LLC
Wigeon Acquisition LLC, a Washington limited liability company
and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL, was organized on
January 7, 2005 solely for the purpose of effecting the
merger with Western Wireless. It has not carried on any
activities other than in connection with the merger agreement.
Wigeon Acquisition LLCs principal place of business is
located at One Allied Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, and
its telephone number is (501) 905-8000.
Western Wireless Corporation
Western Wireless is one of the largest providers of rural
wireless communications services in the United States. Western
Wireless domestic wireless operations are primarily in
rural areas which it believes provide growth opportunities
greater than those that exist in more densely populated urban
areas. Western Wireless network covers approximately 25%
of the continental United States in 19 western states. Western
Wireless operates in 88 rural service areas and 19 metropolitan
statistical areas, representing approximately 11.5 million
potential customers. As of March 31, 2005, Western Wireless
provided wireless services, under the CellularONE® and
Western Wireless® brand names, to approximately
1.5 million subscribers in the western United States. For
the three months ended March 31, 2005, Western Wireless had
$520.2 million in revenues, $41.2 million in income
before provisions for income taxes and $5.3 million in net
income. For the year ended December 31, 2004, Western
Wireless had $1,917.7 million in revenues,
$141.8 million in income from continuing operations before
provision for income taxes and cumulative change in accounting
principle and $232.9 million in net income.
Western Wireless provides voice and data services to both
businesses and consumers including its own subscribers and other
companies subscribers who roam through its service areas.
Western Wireless domestic networks support the four
leading technology platforms currently used by the national
cellular and PCS carriers. As a result, Western Wireless
believes it is well positioned to be the roaming partner of
choice for national carriers whose customers roam throughout its
service areas. Western Wireless has roaming agreements with most
of the major wireless carriers in North America, including
Cingular, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS. In
addition, Western Wireless believes that its 800 MHz band
licenses, utilizing multiple digital and analog technologies,
give it superior coverage and efficiency characteristics at
these frequencies in rural service areas. Western Wireless has
also acquired certain 1900 MHz PCS licenses to supplement
its coverage in certain markets.
In addition, through its subsidiary, Western Wireless
International Holding Corporation, or WWI, Western Wireless is
licensed to provide wireless communications services in seven
countries, representing
24
approximately over 56 million potential customers. The
primary business of WWI is the delivery of mobile
telecommunications services in countries outside of the United
States, including Austria, Ireland, Slovenia, Bolivia, Haiti,
Ghana and Georgia. In certain regions, WWIs operating
companies also provide other telecommunications services,
including fixed line, wireless local loop, international long
distance and mobile data services. As of March 31, 2005,
WWIs consolidated subsidiaries served, in aggregate,
approximately 1.9 million mobile subscribers. Historically,
WWI has focused its investments in regions characterized by
inadequate local landline telephone service and areas where
local landline telephone service is unavailable to a majority of
the population. Western Wireless believes that wireless
technology is a more economic means of delivering telephone
services in these regions. In addition to investments in
underserved regions, WWI has increasingly focused its
investments in countries with a more developed
telecommunications infrastructure and wireless competition, but
where the low entry costs and strong subscriber growth potential
provide an attractive investment opportunity. These countries
include Austria and Ireland.
Western Wireless was organized in 1994. It is a Washington
corporation. Western Wireless principal corporate office
is located at 3650 131st Avenue S.E., Bellevue, Washington
98006 and its phone number is (425) 586-8700. Western
Wireless website is located at www.wwireless.com.
Information on Western Wireless website is not
incorporated into this proxy statement/ prospectus.
Western Wireless Class A common stock is listed on the
Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol WWCA.
25
RISK FACTORS
You should consider the following risk factors in evaluating
whether to vote in favor of the merger, together with the other
information contained in this proxy statement/ prospectus and
the annexes to, and documents incorporated by reference in, this
proxy statement/ prospectus.
Risks Related to the Merger
The exchange ratio will not be adjusted in the event the
value of ALLTEL common stock declines before the merger is
completed. As a result, at the time you vote on the merger
and/or make your merger consideration election you will not know
the value you will receive for your Western Wireless
shares.
The exchange ratio for the portion of the merger consideration
to be paid in ALLTEL common stock will not be adjusted in the
event the market price of ALLTEL common stock declines. If the
market price of ALLTEL common stock declines after you vote
and/or make your merger consideration election, and you receive
ALLTEL common stock as a portion of the merger consideration,
you will be receiving less value than you expected when you
voted and/or made your merger consideration election. Neither
ALLTEL nor Western Wireless is permitted to terminate the merger
agreement or resolicit the vote of Western Wireless shareholders
because of changes in the market prices of their respective
common stocks.
You may not know the exact form of consideration you will
receive and might not be able to exchange your Western Wireless
common stock in an entirely tax-free transaction.
The consideration to be received by Western Wireless
shareholders in the merger is subject to proration to preserve
the overall mix of $9.25 in cash and approximately, but not less
than, 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for all
outstanding shares of Western Wireless common stock.
Accordingly, you may not receive the type of consideration you
elect to receive in the merger. If you elect to receive all of
the merger consideration in cash and the all cash election is
oversubscribed, then you will receive a portion of the merger
consideration in shares of ALLTEL common stock. Similarly, if
you elect to receive all of the merger consideration in shares
of ALLTEL common stock and the stock election is oversubscribed,
then you will receive a portion of the merger consideration in
cash. In addition, because the receipt of cash in the merger may
be taxable to a Western Wireless shareholder, you might not be
able to exchange your Western Wireless common stock in an
entirely tax-free transaction. A discussion of the proration
mechanism as well as examples of hypothetical prorations can be
found under the heading The Merger Agreement
Merger Consideration.
Regulators may impose conditions that could prevent
completion of the merger or reduce the anticipated benefits from
the merger. As a result, the price of ALLTEL common stock may be
adversely affected.
As a condition to ALLTELs and Western Wireless
respective obligations to complete the merger, the approval of
various regulatory authorities, including, without limitation,
the FCC, the DOJ and the FTC, must be obtained. Any of these
regulators could object to the merger and/or impose conditions
or restrictions on their approvals that are materially adverse
to ALLTEL and the combined company. Depending on their nature
and extent, any objections, conditions or restrictions of
regulatory authorities may jeopardize or delay completion of the
merger or may lessen the anticipated potential benefits of the
merger.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Western Wireless and
ALLTEL are obligated to use all reasonable efforts to resolve
any such objections to permit the merger. In no event will
ALLTEL be required to, nor will Western Wireless be permitted
to, agree to any condition imposed by a regulator that would
require ALLTEL to divest itself of any businesses, assets or
product lines, including any businesses, assets or product lines
it acquires from Western Wireless following completion of the
merger, except that ALLTEL is required to, and Western Wireless
is permitted to, agree to divest spectrum licenses or systems
assets of itself or any of its subsidiaries, and agree to the
imposition of any limitation upon such licenses, assets or
operations, in any service area in which there is a spectrum
overlap where at least one of
26
the parties or their respective subsidiaries holds a cellular
license in the 850 MHz spectrum band. In connection with
the foregoing, subject to the requirements of the relevant
regulator in connection with the foregoing, solely as between
ALLTEL and Western Wireless, ALLTEL has the right to determine
which assets are divested or which licenses become subject to
limitation and make all determinations with respect to the terms
of any such divestiture or limitation, provided that neither
ALLTEL nor Western Wireless, nor any of their respective
subsidiaries, shall be required to make any divestiture or agree
to any limitation that is not conditioned upon occurrence of the
closing of the merger.
ALLTEL may waive its rights and take actions that it is not
otherwise required to take in connection with receipt of the
necessary regulatory approvals, to proceed with the completion
of the merger. If ALLTEL were to proceed with the merger despite
the imposition of these conditions or restrictions,
ALLTELs business, operating and financial results and the
price of its common stock could be adversely affected.
The merger is subject to certain conditions to closing
that could result in the merger being delayed or not completed,
which could negatively impact Western Wireless stock price
and future business and operations.
Failure to complete the merger could negatively impact Western
Wireless stock price and future business and operations.
The merger is subject to customary conditions to closing, as set
forth in the merger agreement. If any of the conditions to the
merger are not satisfied or, if waiver is permissible, not
waived, the merger will not be completed. If the merger is not
completed for any reason, Western Wireless may be subject to a
number of material risks, including the following:
|
|
|
|
|
if the merger agreement is terminated and Western Wireless
thereafter enters into an alternative transaction, Western
Wireless may be required, in specific circumstances, to pay a
termination fee of $120 million; |
|
|
|
the price of Western Wireless common stock may decline to
the extent that the current market price of Western
Wireless common stock reflects an assumption that the
merger will be completed; and |
|
|
|
Western Wireless must pay its expenses related to the merger,
including substantial legal, accounting and financial advisory
fees, and employee retention bonuses, even if the merger is not
completed. This could affect Western Wireless results of
operations and potentially its stock price. |
Uncertainty about the effect of the merger could adversely
affect Western Wireless business. This uncertainty could
increase churn, decrease Western Wireless ability to
attract new customers and have a negative impact on subscriber
growth, revenue, and results of operations. Similarly, current
and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their
future role with Western Wireless until ALLTELs strategies
with regard to Western Wireless are announced or executed. This
may adversely affect Western Wireless ability to attract
and retain key personnel.
Further, if the merger agreement is terminated and Western
Wireless board of directors determines to seek another
merger or business combination, it may not be able to find a
partner willing to pay an equivalent or more attractive price
than that which would have been paid in the merger with ALLTEL.
See The Merger Agreement beginning on page 59
of this proxy statement/ prospectus for a further description of
the terms of the merger agreement, conditions to the merger and
termination fee and expenses.
Failure to successfully integrate Western Wireless on a
timely basis could reduce ALLTELs profitability and
adversely affect its stock price.
ALLTEL and Western Wireless expect certain benefits to arise
from the merger, including, without limitation, revenue and
market penetration improvements, and certain operating
efficiencies and synergies. See The Merger
Western Wireless Reasons for the Merger; ALLTELs
Reasons for the Merger. Achievement of these benefits in
the amounts and time periods expected will depend in part upon
how and when the businesses of ALLTEL and Western Wireless are
integrated. ALLTELs success in integrating
27
the businesses will involve, among other things, the conversion
of network and billing systems, changes in branding and product
offerings, and combining ALLTELs and Western
Wireless operations. If ALLTEL is not successful in this
integration, its financial results could be adversely impacted.
Additionally, integrating Western Wireless business will
expose ALLTEL to risks associated with conducting international
operations, including, without limitation, increased challenges
to maintaining adequate internal controls over geographically
dispersed operations, enhanced regulatory risks, exposure to
foreign currency fluctuations, and political, social and
economic risks associated with foreign countries such as
expropriation of assets, natural disasters, and terrorism.
ALLTELs management may be required to dedicate significant
time and effort to this integration process which could divert
their attention from other business concerns.
ALLTEL expects to incur significant non-recurring expenses
related to the merger.
ALLTEL is developing a plan to integrate the operations of
Western Wireless after the merger. In connection with that plan,
ALLTEL anticipates that certain non-recurring charges such as
branding expenses and billing system conversion costs will be
incurred in connection with this integration. ALLTEL cannot
identify the timing, nature and amount of all such charges as of
the date of this proxy statement/ prospectus. However, any such
charge could affect ALLTELs results of operations in the
period in which such charges are recorded.
The price of ALLTEL common stock may be affected by
factors different from those affecting the price of Western
Wireless common stock.
Holders of Western Wireless common stock will be entitled to
receive cash and ALLTEL common stock in the merger and will thus
become holders of ALLTEL common stock. ALLTELs business is
different in certain ways from that of Western Wireless, and
ALLTELs results of operations, as well as the price of
ALLTEL common stock, may be affected by factors different from
those affecting Western Wireless results of operations and
the price of Western Wireless common stock. The price of ALLTEL
common stock may fluctuate significantly following the merger,
including as a result of factors over which ALLTEL has no
control. For a discussion of ALLTELs and Western
Wireless businesses and certain factors to consider in
connection with such businesses, including Risk Factors for
Western Wireless, see ALLTELs Amendment No. 1 to
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and Western
Wireless Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004 and Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2005,
which are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/
prospectus.
If you deliver shares of Western Wireless common stock to
make an election, you will not be able to sell those shares
unless you revoke your election prior to the election
deadline.
If you are a holder of Western Wireless common stock and wish to
elect the type of merger consideration you prefer to receive in
the merger, you must deliver your stock certificates (or follow
the procedures for guaranteed delivery) and a properly completed
and signed form of election to the exchange agent prior to the
election deadline, which we will announce before the expected
completion of the merger. You will not be able to sell any
shares of Western Wireless common stock that you have delivered,
unless you revoke your election before the deadline by providing
written notice to the exchange agent. If you do not revoke your
election, you will not be able to liquidate your investment in
Western Wireless common stock for any reason until you receive
cash and/or ALLTEL common stock in the merger. In the time
between delivery of your shares and the closing of the merger,
the trading price of Western Wireless or ALLTEL may decrease,
and you might otherwise want to sell your shares of Western
Wireless to gain access to cash, make other investments, or
reduce the potential for a decrease in the value of your
investment.
28
The date that you will receive your merger consideration depends
on the completion date of the merger, which is uncertain. The
completion date of the merger might be later than expected due
to unforeseen events, such as delays in obtaining required
consents and approvals.
Risks Related to ALLTEL
ALLTEL faces intense competition in its businesses that
could reduce its market share or adversely affect its financial
performance.
Substantial and increasing competition exists in the wireless
communications industry. Multiple wireless service providers may
operate in the same geographic area, along with any number of
resellers that buy bulk wireless services from one of the
wireless service providers and resell them to their customers.
In January 2003, the FCC lifted its rule imposing limits on the
amount of spectrum that can be held by one provider in a
specific market. Competition may continue to increase as a
result of recent consolidation in the wireless industry and to
the extent that there are other consolidations in the future
involving its competitors.
A majority of ALLTELs wireless markets have multiple
carriers. The presence of multiple carriers within ALLTELs
wireless markets has made it increasingly difficult to attract
new customers and retain existing ones. While the recent
consolidation in the wireless industry may reduce the number of
carriers in ALLTELs markets, the carriers resulting from
such consolidation will be larger and potentially more effective
in their ability to compete with ALLTEL. As a result of
increased competition, ALLTEL anticipates that the price per
minute for wireless voice services will decline while costs to
acquire customers, including, without limitation, handset
subsidies and advertising and promotion costs, may increase.
ALLTELs ability to continue to compete effectively will
depend upon its ability to anticipate and respond to changes in
technology, customer preferences, new service offerings,
demographic trends, economic conditions and competitors
pricing strategies. Failure to successfully market its products
and services or to adequately and timely respond to competitive
factors could reduce ALLTELs market share or adversely
affect its revenue or net income.
In the current wireless market, ALLTELs ability to compete
also depends on its ability to offer regional and national
calling plans to its customers. ALLTEL relies on roaming
agreements with other wireless carriers to provide roaming
capabilities in areas not covered by its network. These
agreements are subject to renewal and termination if certain
events occur, including, without limitation, if network
standards are not maintained. If ALLTEL is unable to maintain or
renew these agreements, its ability to continue to provide
competitive regional and nationwide wireless service to its
customers could be impaired, which, in turn, would have an
adverse impact on its wireless operations.
Some of ALLTELs incumbent local exchange carrier
(ILEC) operations have begun to experience competition in
their local service areas. Sources of competition to
ALLTELs local service business include, but are not
limited to, resellers of local exchange services, interexchange
carriers, satellite transmission service providers, wireless
communications providers, cable television companies,
competitive access service providers, including, without
limitation, those utilizing Unbundled Network Elements-Platform
or UNE-P, and voice-over-Internet-protocol, or VoIP, providers
and providers using other emerging technologies. To date, this
competition has not had a material adverse effect on
ALLTELs results from operations. However, competition,
mainly from wireless and broadband substitution, has caused a
reduction in the number of ALLTELs access lines. In the
future, ALLTEL expects the number of its access lines served to
continue to be adversely affected by wireless and broadband
substitution.
ALLTEL is subject to government regulation of the
telecommunications industry.
As a provider of wireless communication services, ALLTEL is
subject to regulation by the FCC. The FCC has rules governing
the construction and operation of wireless communications
systems and licensing and technical standards for the provision
of wireless communication services. The FCC also regulates the
terms under which ancillary services may be provided through
wireless facilities. While the FCC has
29
authority to regulate rates for wireless services, it has so far
refrained from doing so. States are also permitted to regulate
the terms and conditions of wireless services which are
unrelated to either rates or market entry. The FCC and various
state commissions regulate ALLTELs status as an Eligible
Telecommunications Carrier (ETC), which qualifies ALLTEL to
receive support from the Universal Service Fund. In addition,
the FCC and Federal Aviation Administration regulate the siting,
lighting and construction of transmitter towers and antennae.
Tower siting and construction is also subject to state and local
zoning as well as federal statutes regarding environmental and
historic preservation. The future costs to comply with all
relevant regulations are to some extent unknown and could result
in higher operating expenses in the future, and changes to other
regulations (such as those relating to qualification as an ETC)
could result in loss of revenue in the future.
Licenses granted to ALLTEL by the FCC to provide wireless
communications services were originally issued for 10-year terms
and may be renewed for additional 10-year terms subject to FCC
approval of the renewal applications. Failure to comply with FCC
requirements in a given service area could result in the
revocation of its license for that area or in the imposition of
fines.
As a provider of wireline communication services, ALLTEL has
been granted franchises by each of the 15 states in which
it operates. ALLTEL is subject to regulation from the regulatory
commissions in each of these 15 states as well as from the
FCC. State regulatory commissions have primary jurisdiction over
local and intrastate rates that ALLTEL charges customers,
including, without limitation, other telecommunications
companies, and service quality standards. The FCC has primary
jurisdiction over the interstate access rates that ALLTEL
charges other telecommunications companies that use its network
and issues related to interstate service. Future revenues,
costs, and capital investment in its wireline business could be
adversely affected by material changes to these regulations
including but not limited to changes in inter-carrier
compensation, state and federal USF support, UNE-P pricing and
requirements, and VOIP regulation.
Rapid and significant changes in technology could require
ALLTEL to significantly increase capital investment or could
result in reduced demand for its services.
Technologies for wireless and wireline communications are
rapidly changing. In the majority of ALLTELs wireless
markets, it employs Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA,
which is a second-generation digital technology providing
expanded channel capacity and the ability to offer advanced
services and functionality. ALLTEL is currently deploying CDMA
2000 1XRTT and EV-DO technologies, which are third-generation
technologies that increase voice capacity, allow high-speed data
services and are capable of addressing more complex data
applications. Deployment of third-generation digital
technologies will require ALLTEL to make additional capital
investments.
New communication technologies may also impact ALLTELs
wireline business. For example, ALLTEL may be unable to retain
existing wireline customers who decide to replace their wireline
telephone service with wireless telephone service. Furthermore,
the development and deployment of cable and DSL broadband
technology will likely result in additional local telephone line
losses for ALLTEL as its customers shift from dial-up data
services to high-speed data services. In addition, VOIP
technology, which operates on broadband technology, now provides
ALLTELs competitors with a low-cost alternative to access
the home and provide local telephone voice services to
ALLTELs wireline customers.
The need to deploy new technologies in its wireless business, or
the proliferation of replacement technologies impacting its
wireline business, could require ALLTEL to make significant
additional capital investment or could result in reduced demand
for its services, both of which could adversely impact its
financial performance and results of operations.
30
THE MERGER
General
On January 9, 2005, Western Wireless board of
directors unanimously approved the merger agreement that
provides for the acquisition by ALLTEL of Western Wireless
through a merger of Western Wireless with and into Merger Sub, a
newly formed and wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL. After the
merger, Merger Sub will be the surviving entity and the separate
corporate existence of Western Wireless will cease. The basic
consideration in the merger is $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each share of
Western Wireless common stock outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger, and each Western Wireless shareholder
is entitled to elect to receive this basic mix. Alternatively,
Western Wireless shareholders may elect to receive either $40 in
cash or 0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock by making a
cash election or a stock election. THE
CASH AND STOCK ELECTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PRORATION TO PRESERVE AN
OVERALL MIX OF $9.25 IN CASH AND APPROXIMATELY, BUT NOT LESS
THAN, 0.535 SHARES OF ALLTEL COMMON STOCK FOR ALL OF THE
OUTSTANDING SHARES OF WESTERN WIRELESS COMMON STOCK TAKEN
TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, EVEN IF WESTERN WIRELESS SHAREHOLDERS
MAKE THE ALL CASH OR ALL STOCK ELECTION THEY MAY RECEIVE A
PRORATED AMOUNT OF CASH AND ALLTEL COMMON STOCK. Western
Wireless shareholders who fail to make an election will be
deemed to have made the mixed election. A discussion of the
proration mechanism as well as examples of hypothetical
prorations can be found in this proxy statement/ prospectus
under the heading The Merger Agreement Merger
Consideration.
Background of the Merger
During the past few years, Western Wireless board of
directors has sought to expand the geographic scope of, and
enhance the services provided by, its wireless business to
enable it to compete more effectively against national wireless
carriers. While Western Wireless is a leader in the rural sector
of the U.S. wireless industry, Western Wireless board
of directors and management have come to believe that Western
Wireless size and financial resources relative to national
wireless carriers are a disadvantage. Western Wireless needs to
make significant capital expenditures to expand coverage and
offer next-generation services to continue to provide a
competitive range of products and services to its customers. The
capital required to expand Western Wireless business to
compete more effectively would be costly and would expose
Western Wireless to significant business and financial risks.
During this period, the board of directors of Western Wireless
periodically reviewed the state of the wireless industry and
considered whether a business combination would be in the best
interest of Western Wireless and its shareholders.
As part of the continuous evaluation of its business and plans,
ALLTEL regularly considers a variety of strategic options and
transactions. During the past few years, executive management at
ALLTEL has periodically engaged in discussions with John W.
Stanton, Western Wireless chairman and chief executive
officer, regarding the telecommunications industry, including a
potential acquisition of Western Wireless by ALLTEL. During this
time period, management of ALLTEL also considered other
acquisition opportunities.
Following the public announcement of the Cingular and AT&T
Wireless merger agreement, ALLTELs executive management
determined again to approach Mr. Stanton to discuss a
purchase of Western Wireless by ALLTEL. On September 1,
2004, Scott T. Ford, president and chief executive officer of
ALLTEL, and Mr. Stanton agreed to meet to discuss the
ongoing changes in the telecommunications industry.
On September 7, Mr. Stanton and Mr. Ford met in
person in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and engaged in wide-ranging
discussions regarding the telecommunications industry in
general, both within the United States and globally, and the
history, current status and culture of their respective
companies. On September 16, 2004, in executive session at a
regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors of Western
Wireless, Mr. Stanton informed the Western Wireless board
of directors regarding the
31
September 7 meeting with Mr. Ford and described his
plans to continue discussions with Mr. Ford. On
September 22, 2004, Mr. Stanton and Mr. Ford met
again in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and discussed various
consolidation opportunities in the wireless industry. At this
meeting, Mr. Stanton and Mr. Ford discussed a possible
strategic combination of ALLTEL and Western Wireless.
Mr. Stanton provided Mr. Ford a brief overview of
Western Wireless management team and international
operations, and they discussed other issues associated with a
possible combination of their respective companies.
Mr. Stanton and Mr. Ford met briefly in New York, New
York on October 4 and 5, 2004 at a financial
conference and in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 12, 2004 at
an industry conference. There were no substantive discussions
during those meetings regarding consolidation opportunities in
the wireless industry or a possible combination of ALLTEL and
Western Wireless. On November 22, 2004, Mr. Stanton
and Mr. Ford met in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During this
meeting, Mr. Ford indicated ALLTELs interest in
acquiring Western Wireless by way of a merger in which holders
of shares of Western Wireless common stock would receive
shares of ALLTELs common stock as consideration.
Mr. Ford also indicated that ALLTEL could not make an offer
to acquire Western Wireless without conducting a preliminary due
diligence investigation. Mr. Stanton advised Mr. Ford
that he would be willing to support a transaction at a value of
$40 per share of Western Wireless common stock and would
recommend approval of a transaction at such value by Western
Wireless board of directors. Mr. Stanton and
Mr. Ford discussed an exchange ratio of approximately
0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each share of Western
Wireless common stock, which would result, based on the
then-prevailing market prices of the common stock of Western
Wireless and ALLTEL, respectively, in a value per share of
Western Wireless common stock of approximately $40. This
represented a premium of approximately 40% over the
then-prevailing market price of the common stock of Western
Wireless. They also discussed ALLTELs desire for the
execution of a voting agreement by Mr. Stanton and certain
of his affiliates that would obligate them to vote in favor of
the merger. On November 24, 2004, Western Wireless and
ALLTEL entered into a non-disclosure agreement in connection
with the possibility of further exploring a potential
transaction, and to permit the exchange of confidential
information. On November 29, 2004, Western Wireless
retained Bear Stearns to advise it in connection with a
potential transaction with ALLTEL and on potential strategic
alternatives. Western Wireless and ALLTEL then began exchanging
non-public information regarding each other. On December 1
and 2, 2004, members of management from Western Wireless
and representatives from its financial advisor, Bear Stearns,
and several of ALLTELs executive officers and
representatives from its financial advisor met in Seattle,
Washington and Western Wireless management team made
presentations on its business to the ALLTEL executives.
On December 6, 2004, Western Wireless board of
directors met. Senior members of Western Wireless
management and representatives of Bear Stearns also attended. At
this meeting, Mr. Stanton advised the board of his recent
discussions with Mr. Ford and the possible timing of a
proposal from ALLTEL.
On December 15 and 16, 2004, Mr. Stanton and
Mr. Ford met in Phoenix, Arizona, to continue their
discussions regarding a possible business combination.
Mr. Ford indicated that he was satisfied with what ALLTEL
had learned in the discussions on December 1 and 2,
2004 and from the information exchanged and that ALLTEL desired
to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Western
Wireless common stock at an exchange ratio of
approximately 0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each
share of Western Wireless common stock subject to due diligence,
negotiation and documentation of the terms of the transaction,
and the consideration and approval of the ALLTEL board of
directors. Mr. Stanton and Mr. Ford discussed in
general certain other potential terms, pursuant to which ALLTEL
would acquire Western Wireless through a merger, including the
possible structure of the transaction, the form of
consideration, the possibility of the execution of a voting
agreement by Mr. Stanton and certain of his affiliates that
would obligate them to vote in favor of the merger, the possible
use of a price protection mechanism, the possibility of setting
aside a pool of money for retention, severance and performance
bonus payments in connection with the potential transaction, and
the possibility of an agreement by ALLTEL to certain limitations
on entering other strategic transactions prior to the closing of
the potential transaction with Western Wireless.
32
Following the meetings in Phoenix, on December 16, 2004,
ALLTEL sent to Western Wireless a draft merger agreement, as
well as a draft voting agreement that ALLTEL required
Mr. Stanton and certain of his affiliates to enter into as
a condition to ALLTELs agreement to enter into the merger
agreement.
On December 17, 2004, Western Wireless board of
directors met. Senior members of Western Wireless
management also attended. At this meeting, Mr. Stanton
reviewed with the board the terms proposed by Mr. Ford
during his latest meeting with him in Phoenix. Western
Wireless legal advisors also reviewed with the board the
legal standards applicable to the boards decision-making
process and the key points of the draft merger agreement and the
draft voting agreement received from ALLTELs legal
advisors the previous day. Western Wireless management and
financial and legal advisors answered the boards questions
and Bear Stearns reviewed with the board the range of companies
that might be interested in a transaction with Western Wireless.
Bear Stearns discussed the reasons why certain potential
strategic partners might not be interested in a transaction with
Western Wireless at this time, including considerations of
business compatibility, recent or ongoing merger or acquisition
activity of some potential strategic partners that would likely
reduce such entities possible interest in a transaction
with Western Wireless, and financial capability. After reviewing
the likelihood of an alternative transaction with several of the
large wireless communications providers in the United States and
abroad, as well as the likelihood and desirability of
entertaining any possible financial buyers, and considering the
views and recommendations of its financial advisors, the board
determined that two large telecommunications providers in the
United States would likely be the only serious candidates for an
alternative transaction. The board also reviewed again the
prospects and risks that Western Wireless would face if it
remained a stand-alone entity and, while remaining open to
continuing as a stand-alone entity, in view of the ongoing
consolidation of the wireless telecommunications industry and
Western Wireless relative disadvantage in terms of size
and financial resources, determined to continue its support for
a possible strategic transaction. At the conclusion of this
discussion, the board directed Western Wireless
management, with the assistance of its legal and financial
advisors, to continue negotiations with and the due diligence
investigation of ALLTEL. Based on discussions with its
management and financial and legal advisors, Western
Wireless board also specifically directed the
representatives of Bear Stearns to contact the two large
telecommunications companies discussed earlier regarding a
possible business combination of Western Wireless.
During the period from late December 2004 through early January
2005, Bear Stearns contacted these two potential purchasers, but
was informed that they were not interested in pursuing a
possible business combination with Western Wireless.
The companies engaged in due diligence sessions in Little Rock,
Arkansas on January 3, 2005 and in Bellevue, Washington on
January 4 and 5, 2005. On January 5, 2005,
Mr. Stanton, Mr. Ford, members of management of
Western Wireless and ALLTEL, with the assistance of their
respective financial advisors, also continued to engage in
negotiations regarding the terms of the transaction. During that
session the parties discussed various price protection
mechanisms, including the possibility of adding a
collar around the exchange ratio or adding a cash
component to the merger consideration. After some discussion,
the parties agreed to include a cash component to the merger
agreement, which would add some price protection for Western
Wireless shareholders while still allowing them to participate
in the combined post-merger company and would improve the
overall capital structure of the combined company, while also
increasing for Western Wireless shareholders the likelihood of
consummation of the merger by obviating the need for approval by
the shareholders of ALLTEL. Accordingly, the parties then
agreed, among other things, to change the consideration for the
merger to a combination of stock and cash that would be
economically equivalent to approximately 0.7 shares of
ALLTEL common stock or $40 per share of Western Wireless
common stock. The parties decided not to include any price
protection mechanisms because the management team of Western
Wireless did not want to impose a ceiling on the potential value
of the transaction to Western Wireless shareholders and
understood that ALLTEL would not be amenable to allowing Western
Wireless to minimize its shareholders downside risk
without at the same time imposing such a ceiling.
33
During the period from December 17, 2004 through
January 9, 2005, Western Wireless and ALLTEL exchanged
drafts of the merger agreement and the voting agreement and
negotiated the terms and conditions of those agreements.
On January 7, 2005, Western Wireless convened another
meeting of its board. At the meeting, Mr. Stanton made a
presentation to the board regarding the wireless industry in the
U.S., the competitive environment in both the U.S. and Europe,
and the risks and opportunities facing Western Wireless in the
current environment. He also presented a brief overview of
ALLTEL, a summary of his recent discussions with Mr. Ford,
the business and strategic rationale for the proposed
transaction, the proposed structure of the transaction, and a
proposed timeline for the transaction. Western Wireless
management then presented a report regarding its due diligence
investigation of ALLTEL. Representatives of Bear Stearns
reviewed with the Western Wireless board ALLTELs financial
status, historical performance and prospects and Bear
Stearns findings from its financial due diligence. Western
Wireless legal advisors discussed certain legal
considerations relating to the proposed transaction and briefed
the board on the status of negotiations with ALLTELs legal
advisors regarding the merger agreement and the voting
agreement. Western Wireless management and advisors then
provided the board an overview of the open issues still
remaining. The board also reviewed and considered, with Western
Wireless advisors, the various factors described under
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board;
Western Wireless Reasons for the Merger as well as
regulatory approval risks, shareholder approval risks, and other
risks, such as non-consummation or integration, in connection
with the proposals. Following these reviews and further
discussion, the board instructed management to continue
negotiations with ALLTEL, and the board meeting was adjourned
until January 9, 2005.
Throughout the day and night of January 8 and 9, 2005,
Western Wireless management and financial and legal
advisors had a series of discussions and meetings with their
counterparts at ALLTEL in order to finalize the proposed merger
agreement on mutually agreeable terms. The financial terms were
agreed upon late in the day on January 8, 2005.
On the afternoon of January 9, 2005, ALLTELs board of
directors met and, after reviewing all aspects of the proposed
transaction, unanimously approved and authorized ALLTEL to enter
into the merger agreement and voting agreement.
Following the meeting of the ALLTEL board of directors, Western
Wireless board of directors met in New York.
Mr. Stanton advised the board that he had received a phone
call from Mr. Ford who reported that the ALLTEL board had
unanimously approved the merger. At this meeting, Western
Wireless legal advisors reviewed the terms of the merger
agreement in detail and described how certain open issues
identified during the telephonic meeting of the board on
January 7, 2005 had been resolved. Representatives of Bear
Stearns then presented its financial analyses of the merger and
delivered Bear Stearns oral opinion, later confirmed in
writing, that as of the date of that opinion, based upon and
subject to the assumptions, conditions, limitations and other
matters set forth in its opinion, the merger consideration was
fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of
Western Wireless. The board then reviewed again the various
factors described under Recommendation of the
Western Wireless Board; Western Wireless Reasons for the
Merger, as well as regulatory approval risks, shareholder
approval risks, and other risks in connection with the
proposals. Following further discussion and consideration, and
subject to finalization by the parties respective
management teams and legal advisors, Western Wireless
board of directors unanimously approved and authorized the
execution of the merger agreement and resolved to recommend
approval of the merger agreement to the shareholders of Western
Wireless on the terms discussed at the Western Wireless board
meeting. In addition, during that meeting, the full board also
approved the general terms of certain retention and severance
plans for agreement by ALLTEL pursuant to the merger agreement,
with the text of the plans to still be prepared and presented
for review, adoption and determination of awards by the
boards compensation committee (which occurred on
February 8, 2005) (see The Merger
Agreement Covenants Stock Options;
Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Employee Matters; Retention Pool;
and Severance Program).
34
In the evening of January 9, 2005, representatives of
Western Wireless and ALLTELs respective management
and legal advisors completed the definitive merger agreement and
the voting agreement, and thereafter the parties executed the
merger agreement and John Stanton, Theresa E. Gillespie and
certain of their affiliates entered into the voting agreement.
Theresa E. Gillespie, a director and the Vice Chairman of
Western Wireless, and John Stanton are married to each other.
Western Wireless and ALLTEL issued a joint press release
announcing the execution of the merger agreement and the voting
agreement in the morning of January 10, 2005.
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board; Western
Wireless Reasons for the Merger
On January 9, 2005, the board of directors of Western
Wireless, by unanimous vote, determined the merger of Western
Wireless into a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL, and the other
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, to be
advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Western Wireless
and its shareholders and approved and adopted the merger
agreement and the merger. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WESTERN
WIRELESS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF WESTERN
WIRELESS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE
MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER AT THE WESTERN WIRELESS ANNUAL
MEETING.
In the course of reaching its decision to approve and adopt the
merger agreement and the merger and to recommend that Western
Wireless shareholders vote to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger, the Western Wireless board consulted
with management, as well as with its outside legal counsel and
financial advisors, and considered the following material
factors:
Financial Terms Premium Valuation. The
Western Wireless board noted that:
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Based on the closing market price of shares of ALLTEL common
stock on the last trading day prior to the announcement of the
merger agreement, the per share value of the merger
consideration to be received by Western Wireless shareholders
represented a premium of approximately: |
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40.35% over the closing price of Western Wireless Class A
common stock on December 16, 2004, the last trading day
prior to the Western Wireless boards decision to contact
other potential acquirors and continue negotiations with ALLTEL; |
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29.03% over the closing price of Western Wireless Class A
common stock on January 5, 2005, the last trading day prior
to the widespread circulation of rumors of a possible
transaction between Western Wireless and ALLTEL; |
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39.64% and 45.99%, respectively, over the average closing prices
of Western Wireless Class A common stock for the three- and
six-month periods leading up to the announcement of the merger
agreement; and |
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19.37% over the highest trading price of Western Wireless
Class A common stock at any time during the one-year period
preceding December 16, 2004. |
Please see page 62 for information about the current
trading price of ALLTEL common stock and the current per share
value of the merger consideration to be received by Western
Wireless shareholders.
Opportunity to Participate in a Stronger Combined Company
After the Merger. Because most of the merger consideration
will be payable in the form of ALLTEL shares, Western Wireless
shareholders will have the opportunity to participate in the
future performance of the combined post-merger company. In this
regard, the Western Wireless board noted that:
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The combined company would be the leading nationwide
850 MHz operator for rural markets and that the addition of
Western Wireless operations would complement ALLTELs
geographic coverage and provide greater scale and purchasing
power; |
35
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The combined company would have a strong balance sheet and
substantial cash flow to finance future expansion as well as to
invest in improving and adding new services for
customers; and |
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The larger geographic footprint and increased number of
subscribers of the combined company would make it attractive as
an acquisition target to a greater number of national operators
than Western Wireless would be as an independent company. |
Alternatives to the Merger and Advantages of the ALLTEL
Transaction. The Western Wireless board considered a number
of strategic alternatives available to Western Wireless,
including:
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remaining an independent company and continuing Western
Wireless strategy of expanding the geographic scope of its
services and expanding the scope of the products and services
offered to its customers, in order to be able to compete
effectively with larger wireless carriers in the U.S.; |
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pursuing one or more significant acquisitions of other wireless
telecommunications providers; and |
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entering into a combination with or being acquired by a major
telecommunications company of national scale. |
When the Western Wireless board approved the proposed merger,
the board did not give material consideration, if any, to the
potential acceleration of its credit facilities and potential
changed treatment of its deferred tax attributes as a result of
the proposed merger.
After investigating and discussing these strategic alternatives
(see Background of the Merger) and
comparing these strategic alternatives to the proposed merger
with ALLTEL, the Western Wireless board concluded, based on its
familiarity with the wireless business in which Western Wireless
competes and general industry, economic and market conditions,
both historical and prospective, and based on presentations by
Western Wireless management and financial advisors, that
the merger represented the most desirable strategic alternative
for Western Wireless. In reaching this conclusion, the board
reviewed and took into consideration:
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the risks and uncertainties associated with the strategic
alternatives available to Western Wireless, including the
competitive challenges in view of the emergence of a few
national wireless providers, the increasing capital costs that
would be required to maintain Western Wireless multiple
technologies strategy in rural areas as the industry evolved to
next generation technologies, as compared with the potential
shareholder value that the board believed might result from a
merger with ALLTEL on the proposed terms; |
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the strong strategic fit between Western Wireless mobile
telecommunications business and operations, resulting from the
geographical contiguity between Western Wireless domestic
properties and ALLTELs existing wireless operations, which
combined with minimal overlap of their markets would enable the
combined company to serve a much larger geographic area in the
United States, ranging from the Southeast to the Western and
mountain states of the country; |
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the fact that efforts by Western Wireless financial
advisor to contact other potential acquirors did not result in
any indications of interest; and |
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the material terms of the merger agreement. |
Opinion of Financial Advisor to Western Wireless.
Representatives of Bear Stearns, Western Wireless
financial advisor, presented its financial analyses of the
merger and the various strategic alternatives available to
Western Wireless and delivered Bear Stearns oral opinion,
later confirmed in writing, that as of the date of that opinion,
based upon and subject to the assumptions, conditions,
limitations and other matters set forth in its opinion, the
merger consideration was fair, from a financial point of view,
to the shareholders of Western Wireless. In this regard, the
Board was aware that Bear Stearns would receive an aggregate fee
for its services of approximately $22 million, of which
approximately $20 million is contingent on successful
consummation of the merger (see Opinion of
Financial Advisor to Western Wireless).
36
Likelihood of Completion. The Western Wireless board
believed, after reviewing the terms of the merger agreement with
Western Wireless legal advisors, that the nature and
relatively limited number of conditions to the completion of the
merger, and the strength of ALLTELs obligations to fulfill
those conditions, would increase the likelihood of the merger
being completed (see Conditions to the
Merger and Regulatory Approvals).
Tax-Free Treatment. It is expected that the portion of
the merger consideration to be received by Western Wireless
shareholders in the form of ALLTEL common stock will be tax-free
to those shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
although the Western Wireless board was also mindful of the fact
that the cash portion of the merger consideration may be taxable
for U.S. federal income tax purposes (see
Material United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences).
The Western Wireless board also considered the following
potentially negative factors associated with the merger:
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the risks of the type and nature described under Risk
Factors; |
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the possibility that the FTC, FCC or state or foreign regulatory
authorities might seek to impose conditions on or enjoin or
otherwise prevent or delay the merger, which possibility the
board considers to be low; |
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the risks and costs to Western Wireless if the merger does not
close, including the diversion of management and employee
attention, potential employee attrition, employee retention
costs and the potential effect on business and customer
relationships; |
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the restrictions on the conduct of Western Wireless
business prior to the consummation of the merger, requiring
Western Wireless to conduct its business in the ordinary course,
subject to specific limitations, which may delay or prevent
Western Wireless from undertaking business opportunities that
may arise pending completion of the merger; |
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the requirement that Western Wireless submit the merger
agreement to its shareholders even if the Western Wireless board
withdraws its recommendation, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, which could delay or prevent Western
Wireless ability to pursue a superior proposal if one were
to become available; |
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the fact that holders of approximately 41% of the aggregate
number of votes entitled to be cast have agreed with ALLTEL to
vote in favor of the transaction and against any competing
proposal, which could contribute to the merger being approved
even if a superior proposal were to become available; |
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the requirement that Western Wireless pay to ALLTEL a
termination fee of $120 million, if the merger agreement
were to be terminated and if, under specified circumstances and
during specified periods thereafter, Western Wireless were to
enter into an agreement regarding the acquisition of Western
Wireless by merger or business combination, or a merger of
equals, or an acquisition of 40% or more of its assets or
shares of common stock with a third party; and |
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the risk that because the exchange ratios for the stock election
and the stock portion of the mixed election will not be adjusted
in the event the market price of ALLTEL common stock declines
and the cash and stock elections are subject to proration, the
dollar value of the merger consideration to Western
Wireless shareholders receiving ALLTEL common stock in the
merger could decrease prior to the completion of the merger. The
merger agreement does not contain a collar or other
mechanism that could mitigate the effect of a decrease in the
trading price of ALLTEL shares. |
The Western Wireless board believed and continues to believe,
however, that these potential risks and drawbacks are greatly
outweighed by the potential benefits that the board expects
Western Wireless and its shareholders to achieve as a result of
the merger.
37
In considering the proposed merger, Western Wireless
directors were aware of the interests of certain officers and
directors of Western Wireless in the merger, described under
Interests of Certain Persons in the
Merger.
The foregoing discussion addresses the material information and
factors that the board of directors of Western Wireless reviewed
in its consideration of the merger. The board conducted numerous
discussions of the factors discussed above, including asking
questions of Western Wireless management and its financial
and legal advisors. In view of the variety of factors and the
amount of information considered, the Western Wireless board did
not find it practicable to, and did not, make specific
assessments of, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to
the specific factors considered in reaching its determination.
In addition, the board did not undertake to make any specific
determination as to whether any particular factor, or any aspect
of any particular factor, was favorable or unfavorable to its
ultimate determination. The Western Wireless board made its
determination after considering all of the factors as a whole;
and individual members of the board may have given different
weights to different factors.
Opinion of Financial Advisor to Western Wireless
Pursuant to an engagement letter, dated as of November 29,
2004, Western Wireless engaged Bear Stearns as its financial
advisor in connection with the merger. At a meeting of Western
Wireless board of directors held on January 9, 2005,
at which the Western Wireless board of directors considered and
approved the merger agreement and the merger, Bear Stearns
rendered its oral opinion (which was subsequently confirmed in a
written opinion, dated January 9, 2005) that, as of such
date and based upon and subject to the matters reviewed with
Western Wireless board of directors and the assumptions
and limitations contained in the written Bear Stearns opinion,
the merger consideration was fair, from a financial point of
view, to the shareholders of Western Wireless.
The full text of the Bear Stearns opinion is attached hereto as
Annex C. The description of the Bear Stearns opinion set
forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
full text of the Bear Stearns opinion. Western Wireless
shareholders are urged to read the Bear Stearns opinion in its
entirety for a description of the procedures followed,
assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and
limitations on the review undertaken by Bear Stearns in
connection therewith. The Western Wireless board of directors
did not impose any limitations on the review undertaken by Bear
Stearns. The Bear Stearns opinion is subject to the assumptions
and conditions contained therein and is necessarily based on
economic, market and other conditions and the information made
available to Bear Stearns as of the date of the Bear Stearns
opinion. Bear Stearns assumes no responsibility for updating or
revising its opinion based on circumstances or events occurring
after the date of the Bear Stearns opinion. The Bear Stearns
opinion is intended for the benefit and use of the board of
directors of Western Wireless and does not constitute a
recommendation to the board of directors of Western Wireless or
any holders of Western Wireless common stock as to how to vote
or take any other action in connection with the merger. The Bear
Stearns opinion did not address Western Wireless
underlying business decision to pursue the merger, the relative
merits of the merger as compared to any alternative business
strategies that might have existed for Western Wireless or the
effects of any other transaction in which Western Wireless might
engage.
In the course of performing its review and analyses for
rendering its opinion, Bear Stearns:
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reviewed the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 9,
2005, among ALLTEL, Merger Sub and Western Wireless and the
Voting Agreement, dated January 9, 2005, among ALLTEL and
the shareholders of Western Wireless named therein; |
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reviewed Western Wireless and ALLTELs Annual Reports
to Shareholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the
years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, their
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended
March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004 and September 30,
2004, their Current Reports on Form 8-K for the three years
ended January 9, 2005 and the preliminary results of
Western Wireless and ALLTEL for the quarter ended
December 31, 2004 provided to Bear Stearns by the
managements of Western Wireless and ALLTEL, respectively; |
38
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reviewed certain operating and financial information relating to
Western Wireless and ALLTELs business and prospects.
This information included projections (described below as
Case 1 and Case 2) for the six
years ending December 31, 2009 for Western Wireless
prepared by Western Wireless management and for the year
ending December 31, 2004 for ALLTEL prepared by
ALLTELs management. Bear Stearns also reviewed publicly
available research analyst projections for the five years ending
December 31, 2009 for ALLTEL and reviewed and discussed
such projections with the managements of ALLTEL and Western
Wireless; |
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reviewed certain estimates of cost savings and other combination
benefits expected to result from the merger, prepared and
provided to Bear Stearns by ALLTELs management; |
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met with certain members of Western Wireless and
ALLTELs senior managements to discuss each entitys
respective businesses, operations, historical and projected
financial results and future prospects; |
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reviewed the historical prices, trading multiples and trading
volumes of the common stock of each of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL; |
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reviewed publicly available financial data, stock market
performance data and trading multiples of companies which Bear
Stearns deemed generally comparable to each of Western Wireless
and ALLTEL; |
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reviewed the terms of recent mergers and acquisitions of
companies which Bear Stearns deemed generally comparable to
Western Wireless and the merger; |
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performed discounted cash flow analyses based on the projections
for each of Western Wireless and ALLTEL and synergy estimates
for the combined company furnished to Bear Stearns; |
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reviewed the pro forma financial results, financial condition
and capitalization of ALLTEL giving effect to the
merger; and |
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conducted such other studies, analyses, inquiries and
investigations as Bear Stearns deemed appropriate. |
Bear Stearns relied upon and assumed, without independent
verification, the accuracy and completeness of the financial and
other information provided to Bear Stearns or discussed with
Bear Stearns by Western Wireless and ALLTEL, including, without
limitation, the projections and synergy estimates. With respect
to the projected financial results for Western Wireless and
ALLTEL and the potential synergies that could be achieved upon
consummation of the merger, Bear Stearns assumed that they had
been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently
available estimates and judgments of the persons who prepared
such projected financial results and projected synergies (and
with respect to the publicly available research projections for
ALLTEL reviewed by Bear Stearns, were also prepared on bases
that are consistent with the best currently available estimates
and judgments of ALLTEL management), as to the expected future
performance of Western Wireless and ALLTEL, as the case may be.
Bear Stearns did not assume any responsibility for the
independent verification of any such information or any such
projections and synergy estimates, and Bear Stearns further
relied upon the assurances of the senior managements of Western
Wireless (with respect to information relating to Western
Wireless) and ALLTEL (with respect to information relating to
ALLTEL) that they are unaware of any facts that would make the
information, and projections and synergy estimates, reviewed by
Bear Stearns incomplete or misleading.
In arriving at its opinion, Bear Stearns did not perform or
obtain any independent appraisal of the assets or liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) of Western Wireless and ALLTEL, nor
was Bear Stearns furnished with any such appraisals. Bear
Stearns assumed that the merger will qualify as a tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Bear Stearns
also assumed that the merger would be consummated in a timely
manner and in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement
without any limitations, restrictions, conditions, amendments or
modifications,
39
regulatory or otherwise, that collectively would have a material
effect on Western Wireless, ALLTEL or Merger Sub.
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Summary of Financial Analyses |
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses
performed by Bear Stearns in connection with the rendering of
its fairness opinion to the Western Wireless board of directors.
Some of the financial analyses summarized below include
information presented in tabular format. In order to understand
fully Bear Stearns financial analyses, the tables must be
read together with the text of the summary. The tables alone are
not a complete description of the financial analyses.
Considering the tables alone could create a misleading or
incomplete view of Bear Stearns financial analyses.
In connection with its role as Western Wireless financial
advisor and as directed by Western Wireless board of
directors, during the period from late December 2004 through
early January 2005, Bear Stearns contacted the two parties it
deemed most likely to be interested in a potential business
combination with Western Wireless in addition to ALLTEL, but was
informed that they were not interested in pursuing a possible
business combination with Western Wireless.
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Western Wireless Valuation |
Bear Stearns analyzed the value of Western Wireless using
implied trading multiples of selected public companies and using
implied multiples from selected precedent merger and acquisition
transactions. Bear Stearns also valued Western Wireless using a
discounted cash flow analysis. For purposes of Bear
Stearns review, Bear Stearns utilized, among other things,
projections of the future financial performance of Western
Wireless, as prepared by the management of Western Wireless.
Information in the following analyses referred to as
Case 1 for Western Wireless means the financial
projections of the future performance of Western Wireless
through December 31, 2009 that were prepared by the
management of Western Wireless in April 2004 to help prospective
lenders of Western Wireless assess debt financing alternatives
and assumed certain base operating results with respect to
Western Wireless revenue, EBITDA (as defined below) and
capital expenditures. Information referred to as
Case 2 for Western Wireless means the financial
projections of the future performance of Western Wireless
through December 31, 2009 that were completed by the
management of Western Wireless in October 2004 and assumed
certain more favorable operating results for Western Wireless
with respect to Western Wireless revenue, EBITDA and
capital expenditures. Case 2 was based on more favorable
assumptions regarding revenue growth (including, with respect to
domestic operations, an increase in future Universal Service
Fund revenue under Case 2 and a decrease in future
Universal Service Fund revenue under Case 1), and greater
growth in EBITDA margins. For purposes of the following
analyses, Bear Stearns assumed an implied merger consideration
of $39.27 per share, equal to $9.25 in cash plus the value
of 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock as of
January 7, 2005.
Selected Comparable Public Companies Analysis. Bear
Stearns reviewed and analyzed selected public companies in the
wireless communications business that it viewed as reasonably
comparable to Western Wireless based on Bear Stearns
knowledge of the domestic and international wireless
communications industry. In performing these analyses, Bear
Stearns reviewed and analyzed certain financial information
(including equity value, enterprise value and EBITDA) valuation
multiples and market trading data relating to Western Wireless
and compared such information to the corresponding information
of the selected comparable companies.
Specifically, Bear Stearns compared Western Wireless to six
publicly traded domestic wireless companies and two publicly
traded international wireless companies. To the extent publicly
available, Bear Stearns reviewed the enterprise value as of
January 7, 2005 as a multiple of 2005 estimated earnings
before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization,
also referred to as EBITDA, of each of these
comparable companies.
40
The domestic wireless companies were:
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Centennial Communications Corp.; |
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Dobson Communications Corporation; |
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Nextel Partners, Inc. (valuation is as of November 30,
2004 prior to public disclosure of Nextels
transaction with Sprint); |
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Rural Cellular Corporation; |
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Triton PCS Holdings, Inc.; and |
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United States Cellular Corporation. |
The international wireless companies were:
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Millicom International Cellular S.A.; and |
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Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. |
Bear Stearns calculated the following trading multiples for the
above comparable companies:
Selected Comparable Public Companies Trading Multiples
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Enterprise Value as | |
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a Multiple of CY | |
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2005E EBITDA | |
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Domestic Wireless Companies
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High
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14.7x |
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Mean
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9.0x |
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Low
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6.6x |
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International Wireless Companies
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High
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5.1x |
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Mean
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4.8x |
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Low
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4.5x |
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Based on the foregoing, Bear Stearns determined an enterprise
value to estimated 2005 EBITDA multiple reference range of 6.4x
to 7.0x and applied such range to the projected 2005 EBITDA for
Western Wireless to calculate an enterprise value range for
Western Wireless under each of Case 1 and Case 2. Bear Stearns
then used these enterprise value ranges to calculate implied
equity value per share ranges for Western Wireless, both
assuming a 30% transaction control premium (which reflects the
approximate historical average transaction premium over the four
weeks prior to announcement for all merger and acquisition
transactions in excess of $1 billion announced in calendar
year 2004 based on information provided by Thomson Financial
Securities Data Corporation) paid to Western Wireless
shareholders and assuming no transaction control premium, as
follows:
Implied Equity Value Ranges
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30% Control | |
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No Premium | |
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Premium | |
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Low | |
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High | |
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Low | |
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High | |
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| |
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Case 1
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$ |
28.10 |
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$ |
32.21 |
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$ |
36.53 |
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$ |
41.87 |
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Case 2
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$ |
30.39 |
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$ |
34.71 |
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$ |
39.51 |
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$ |
45.12 |
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Merger Consideration
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$ |
39.27 |
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Selected Precedent Merger and Acquisition Transactions.
Bear Stearns reviewed and analyzed selected precedent merger and
acquisition transactions involving wireless companies based on
Bear Stearns determination that these transactions were
reasonably comparable to the merger. In performing these
41
analyses, Bear Stearns reviewed and analyzed certain financial
information (including enterprise value before and after
announcement of the transaction) and transaction multiples
relating to Western Wireless and compared such information to
the corresponding information of the companies involved in the
selected transactions.
Specifically, Bear Stearns reviewed 12 merger and acquisition
transactions since December 23, 1998 in which a wireless
communications company or the wireless assets of a
communications company was sold to either a strategic or
financial buyer. Bear Stearns divided the precedent transactions
universe into three groups (listed by the acquirer followed by
the acquired company and the date these transactions were
publicly announced): (a) Current Market
Transactions, (b) Most Comparable
Transactions and (c) Other Transactions.
To the extent publicly available, Bear Stearns reviewed the
enterprise values for the acquired companies (which is a measure
of a companys equity value plus debt and minority interest
and less cash and unconsolidated investments) implied by the
precedent transactions as a multiple of the projected EBITDA of
the acquired company for the most applicable 12 month
period following the announcement of the transaction, or
forward EBITDA.
The precedent transactions in the Current Market
Transactions group were:
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Sprint Corporation/Nextel Communications, Inc.
December 15, 2004; |
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Alamosa Holdings, Inc./AirGate PCS, Inc.
December 8, 2004; |
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Rogers Wireless Communications Inc./Microcell Telecommunications
Inc. September 20, 2004; |
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Cingular Wireless LLC/AT&T Wireless Services,
Inc. February 17, 2004; and |
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Dobson Communications Corporation/American Cellular
Corporation July 14, 2003. |
The precedent transactions in the Most Comparable
Transactions group were:
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Sprint Corporation/Nextel Communications Inc.
December 15, 2004; |
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Alamosa Holdings, Inc./AirGate PCS, Inc.
December 8, 2004; |
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Cingular Wireless LLC/AT&T Wireless Services,
Inc. February 17, 2004; |
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Dobson Communications Corporation/American Cellular
Corporation July 14, 2003; |
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ALLTEL Corporation/CenturyTel, Inc. (wireless
operations) March 19, 2002; and |
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Verizon Communications Inc./Price Communications Wireless,
Inc. November 15, 2000. |
The precedent transactions in the Other Transactions
group were:
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Rural Cellular Corporation/Triton Cellular Partners,
L.P. November 8, 1999; |
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Dobson Communications Corporation/American Cellular
Corporation October 6, 1999; |
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Vodafone Group PLC/CommNet Cellular Inc.
July 19, 1999; |
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Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe VIII, L.P./Centennial
Cellular Corp. July 2, 1998; and |
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Dobson Communications Corporation/Sygnet Wireless,
Inc. July 29, 1998. |
42
Bear Stearns calculated the following multiples for the selected
transactions used in its analysis:
Selected Merger and Acquisition Transaction Multiples
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Enterprise Value | |
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as a Multiple of | |
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1-Year Forward | |
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EBITDA | |
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Current Market Transactions
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High
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10.8x |
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Mean
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8.0x |
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Low
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6.5x |
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Most Comparable Transactions
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High
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12.1x |
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Mean
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8.1x |
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Low
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6.5x |
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All Transactions (including Other Transactions)
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High
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13.1x |
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Mean
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8.8x |
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Low
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6.5x |
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Based on the foregoing, Bear Stearns determined a forward EBITDA
multiple reference range of 7.0x to 8.0x and applied such range
to the projected 2005 EBITDA for Western Wireless to calculate
an enterprise value range for Western Wireless under each of
Case 1 and Case 2. Bear Stearns then used these
enterprise value ranges to calculate implied equity value ranges
for Western Wireless as follows:
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Low | |
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High | |
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| |
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| |
Case 1
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$ |
32.21 |
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$ |
39.05 |
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Case 2
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$ |
34.71 |
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$ |
41.90 |
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Merger Consideration
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$ |
39.27 |
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Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Bear Stearns performed an
analysis of the present value of the cash flows available to
equity holders that Western Wireless could generate over fiscal
years 2005 through 2009. For this analysis, Bear Stearns
analyzed separately the cash flows for Western Wireless
domestic wireless business and international wireless business.
For Western Wireless domestic wireless business, Bear
Stearns applied terminal value multiples ranging from 6.0x to
6.5x (based on the corresponding range of implied perpetual
growth rates of free cash flow that Bear Stearns determined to
be reasonable) to Western Wireless domestic wireless
business forward EBITDA for Case 1 and Case 2, as
provided by the management of Western Wireless. Bear Stearns
chose these terminal value multiples based on (i) the
implied perpetual growth rates of free cash flow derived from
such multiples, (ii) Bear Stearns review of trading
data for comparable public companies and (iii) Bear
Stearns overall experience in valuing domestic wireless
companies. The lower multiple range used in the discounted cash
flow analysis compared to the average multiples in the selected
comparable companies analysis reflects Western Wireless
expected slower growth rate beyond the terminal year when
compared to the expected growth rates in the projection period.
The cash flows were then discounted to present value using a
weighted average cost of capital, or WACC, of 10.5% (based on a
range of unlevered betas between 0.800, implying slightly lower
volatility for Western Wireless domestic wireless
business, and 1.000, implying the same volatility as the general
market portfolio, which range was determined by observing the
betas of selected regional and national wireless service
providers, and debt-to-total capitalization ratios between 20.0%
and 50.0%). Unlevered beta is a measure of the volatility in a
companys stock market price relative to the broader stock
market that is calculated assuming that the company being
analyzed has no debt in its capital structure. Based on the
foregoing, Bear Stearns
43
calculated an implied equity value range for Western
Wireless domestic wireless business of $13.27 to
$14.96 per share under Case 1 and $15.77 to $17.62 per
share under Case 2.
For Western Wireless international wireless business, Bear
Stearns applied terminal value multiples ranging from 5.5x to
6.0x (based on the corresponding range of implied perpetual
growth rates of free cash flow that Bear Stearns determined to
be reasonable) to Western Wireless international wireless
business forward EBITDA for Case 1 and Case 2, as
provided by the management of Western Wireless. Bear Stearns
chose these terminal value multiples based on (i) the
implied perpetual growth rates of free cash flow derived from
such multiples, (ii) Bear Stearns review of trading
data for comparable public companies and (iii) Bear
Stearns overall experience in valuing wireless companies.
The cash flows were then discounted to present value using a
WACC ranging from 12.5% to 13.0% (based on a range of costs of
equity of 18.0% to 19.0%, determined by observing the implied
costs of equity in countries where Western Wireless
international wireless business operates, and debt-to-total
capitalization ratios between 20.0% and 50.0%). Based on the
foregoing, Bear Stearns calculated an implied equity value range
for Western Wireless international wireless business of
$20.78 to $22.70 per share under Case 1 and $25.41 to
$27.76 per share under Case 2.
Bear Stearns then combined the implied equity value ranges for
Western Wireless domestic wireless business and
international wireless business to calculate aggregate implied
equity value ranges for Western Wireless of $34.05 to
$37.66 per share under Case 1 and $41.19 to
$45.38 per share under Case 2, as compared to the
implied merger consideration of $39.27.
ALLTEL Valuation
Since Western Wireless shareholders are receiving ALLTEL common
stock in the merger, Bear Stearns analyzed the value of ALLTEL
using implied trading multiples of selected public companies and
using implied multiples from selected precedent merger and
acquisition transactions. Bear Stearns also valued ALLTEL using
a discounted cash flow analysis. For purposes of Bear
Stearns review, Bear Stearns utilized, among other things,
projections of the future financial performance of ALLTEL for
fiscal year 2004 prepared by the management of ALLTEL and
publicly available research analyst projections for fiscal years
2005 to 2009 for ALLTEL.
Selected Comparable Public Companies Analysis. Bear
Stearns reviewed and analyzed selected public companies in the
wireline communications business and the wireless communications
business that it viewed as reasonably comparable to ALLTEL based
on Bear Stearns knowledge of the wireline communications
industry and the wireless communications industry. In performing
these analyses, Bear Stearns reviewed and analyzed certain
financial information (including equity value, enterprise value
and EBITDA), valuation multiples and market trading data
relating to ALLTEL and compared such information to the
corresponding information of the selected comparable companies.
Specifically, Bear Stearns compared ALLTEL to five publicly
traded wireline companies and six publicly traded wireless
companies. To the extent publicly available, Bear Stearns
reviewed the enterprise value as of January 7, 2005 as a
multiple of 2005 estimated EBITDA of each of these comparable
companies.
The wireline companies were:
|
|
|
|
|
Citizens Communications Company; |
|
|
|
CenturyTel, Inc.; |
|
|
|
Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.; |
|
|
|
Qwest Communications International Inc.; and |
|
|
|
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. |
44
The wireless companies were the same companies used in the
Selected Comparable Public Companies Analysis for Western
Wireless, with the exception of the international wireless
companies noted above.
Bear Stearns calculated the following trading multiples for the
above comparable companies:
Selected Comparable Public Companies Trading Multiples
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value | |
|
|
as a Multiple of | |
|
|
2005E EBITDA | |
|
|
| |
Wireline Comparable Companies
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
7.9x |
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
6.4x |
|
|
Low
|
|
|
5.2x |
|
Based on the foregoing, Bear Stearns determined an enterprise
value to estimated 2005 EBITDA multiple reference range of 6.0x
to 6.5x for wireline companies and applied the range to the
projected 2005 EBITDA for ALLTELs wireline business and an
enterprise value to estimated 2005 EBITDA multiple reference
range of 6.4x to 7.0x for wireless companies and applied the
range to the projected 2005 EBITDA for ALLTELs wireless
business. The resulting wireline and wireless enterprise values
were then aggregated to calculate an enterprise value range for
ALLTEL. Using this enterprise value range, Bear Stearns
calculated an implied equity value range for ALLTEL of $53.26 to
$58.96 per share, as compared to ALLTELs stock price
of $56.12 on January 7, 2005.
Selected Precedent Merger and Acquisition Transactions.
Bear Stearns reviewed and analyzed selected precedent merger and
acquisition transactions involving recent wireline and wireless
communications transactions based on Bear Stearns
determination that the transactions were reasonably comparable
to the merger. In performing these analyses, Bear Stearns
reviewed and analyzed certain financial information (including
transaction value) and transaction multiples relating to ALLTEL
and compared such information to the corresponding information
of the companies involved in such precedent transactions.
Specifically, for wireline transactions Bear Stearns reviewed 36
access line purchase transactions since August 3, 2000.
Bear Stearns divided the transactions universe into two groups
(listed by the acquirer followed by the acquired company and the
date these transactions were publicly announced):
(a) Most Comparable Transactions and
(b) Other Transactions. To the extent publicly
available, Bear Stearns reviewed the transaction enterprise
values as a multiple of EBITDA for the last twelve months, or
LTM. This is in contrast to the selected wireless merger and
acquisition transactions reviewed by Bear Stearns, where Bear
Stearns calculated transaction multiples based on the projected
EBITDA of the acquired company for the 12 month period
following announcement of the transaction, or forward
EBITDA. Bear Stearns believed that due to the relatively
higher EBITDA growth profile of most wireless service providers
as compared to wireline service providers, forward EBITDA was a
more appropriate metric for wireless companies than LTM EBITDA,
which Bear Stearns believed was a more appropriate metric for
wireline companies due to their more stable EBITDA profiles.
The precedent transactions in the Most Comparable
Transactions group were:
|
|
|
|
|
Carlyle Group/Verizon Hawaii Inc. May 21, 2004; |
|
|
|
Consolidated Communications, Inc./TXU Corp.
April 14, 2004; |
|
|
|
Homebase Acquisition Texas Corp./Illinois Consolidated Telephone
Co. July 17, 2002; and |
|
|
|
Valor Telecommunications, LLC/Kerrville Communications
Corp. February 14, 2002. |
For wireless transactions, Bear Stearns reviewed the same
transactions used in the Selected Precedent Merger and
Acquisition Transactions Analysis for Western Wireless.
45
Bear Stearns calculated the following multiples for the recent
wireline transactions used in its analysis:
Recent Wireline Transaction Multiples
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value | |
|
|
as a Multiple of | |
|
|
LTM EBITDA | |
|
|
| |
Most Comparable Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
7.4x |
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
7.2x |
|
|
Low
|
|
|
6.9x |
|
Other Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
12.0x |
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
8.5x |
|
|
Low
|
|
|
6.2x |
|
All Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
12.0x |
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
8.2x |
|
|
Low
|
|
|
6.2x |
|
Based on the foregoing, Bear Stearns determined a forward EBITDA
multiple reference range of 6.5x to 7.3x for the wireline
transactions and applied the range to the projected 2005 EBITDA
for ALLTELs wireline business and a reference range of
7.0x to 8.0x for the wireless transactions and applied the range
to the projected 2005 EBITDA for ALLTELs wireless
business. The resulting wireline and wireless enterprise values
were then aggregated to calculate an enterprise value range for
ALLTEL. Using this enterprise value range, Bear Stearns
calculated an implied equity value range for ALLTEL of $58.96 to
$68.09 per share, as compared to ALLTELs stock price
of $56.12 on January 7, 2005.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Bear Stearns performed an
analysis of the present value of the cash flows available to
equity holders that ALLTEL could generate over fiscal years 2005
through 2009. For this analysis, Bear Stearns analyzed
separately the cash flows for ALLTELs wireline business
and wireless business.
For ALLTELs wireline business, Bear Stearns applied
terminal value multiples ranging from 6.0x to 6.5x (based on the
corresponding range of implied perpetual growth rates of free
cash flow that Bear Stearns determined to be reasonable) to
ALLTELs wireline business forward EBITDA, based on
publicly available research analyst projections. Bear Stearns
chose these terminal values multiples based on (i) the
implied perpetual growth rates of free cash flow derived from
such multiples, (ii) Bear Stearns review of trading
data for comparable public companies and (iii) Bear
Stearns overall experience in valuing wireline companies.
The cash flows were then discounted to present value using a
WACC of 8.0% (based on a range of unlevered betas between 0.550
and 0.750, determined by observing the betas of selected
regional wireline service providers, and debt-to-total
capitalization ratios between 20.0% and 50.0%). Based on the
foregoing, Bear Stearns calculated an implied equity value range
for ALLTELs wireline business of $11.63 to $12.98 per
share.
For ALLTELs wireless business, Bear Stearns applied
terminal value multiples ranging from 6.5x to 7.0x (based on the
corresponding range of implied perpetual growth rates of free
cash flow that Bear Stearns determined to be reasonable) to
ALLTELs wireless business forward EBITDA, based on
publicly available research analyst projections. Bear Stearns
chose these terminal values multiples based on (i) the
implied perpetual growth rates of cash available to equity
holders derived from such multiples, (ii) Bear
Stearns review of trading data for comparable public
companies and (iii) Bear Stearns overall experience
in valuing wireless companies. The cash flows were then
discounted to present value using a WACC ranging from 9.0% to
9.5% (based on a range of unlevered betas between 0.750 and
0.950, determined by observing the betas of selected regional
and national wireless service providers, and debt-to-total
46
capitalization ratios between 20.0% and 50.0%). Unlevered beta
is a measure of the volatility in a companys stock market
price relative to the broader stock market that is calculated
assuming that the company being analyzed has no debt in its
capital structure. Based on the foregoing, Bear Stearns
calculated an implied equity value range for ALLTELs
wireless business of $41.33 to $44.34 per share.
Bear Stearns then combined the implied equity value ranges for
ALLTELs wireline business and wireless business to
calculate an aggregate implied equity value ranges for ALLTEL of
$52.96 to $57.32 per share, as compared to ALLTELs
stock price of $56.12 on January 7, 2005.
Synergies. Bear Stearns reviewed ALLTEL managements
estimates of the potential operating expense synergies resulting
from the merger. These estimates were prepared by ALLTELs
management, assumed upfront costs associated with the merger of
$100 million and estimated potential operating expense
synergies ranging from $50 million in 2006 to
$80 million in 2009. Based on this information, Bear
Stearns estimated that the net present value to ALLTEL of the
potential synergies in the merger would be approximately
$694.9 million to $908.5 million.
Discounted Cash Flow Accretion/Dilution Analysis. Bear
Stearns range of assumptions for each of the Western
Wireless and ALLTEL discounted cash flow analyses (using
different terminal values and discount rates) caused multiple
outcomes when assessing the consideration received by Western
Wireless shareholders in the merger. Bear Stearns used the
stand-alone discounted cash flow analyses of Western Wireless
and ALLTEL to calculate a low to high range of implied values of
the consideration to be received by Western Wireless
shareholders from ALLTEL. This range of values was then compared
to the respective low to high range of Western Wireless
stand-alone discounted cash flow analyses implied per share
values to assess the accretion (i.e., the positive percentage
difference between the merger consideration per share and the
Western Wireless stand-alone value per share) or dilution (i.e.,
the negative percentage difference between the value of the
merger consideration per share and the Western Wireless
stand-alone value per share) that the Western Wireless
shareholders could potentially experience. The analysis was
performed assuming both synergies and no synergies from the
merger and with the Case 1 and Case 2 projections:
|
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|
|
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|
|
Case 1 | |
|
|
| |
|
|
No Synergies | |
|
With Synergies | |
Western Wireless Shareholder Value Accretion/(Dilution): |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless:ALLTEL Western Wireless:ALLTEL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low:Low High:High
|
|
|
8.2 |
% |
|
|
4.5 |
% |
|
|
11.4 |
% |
|
|
7.4 |
% |
Low:High High:Low
|
|
|
14.0 |
% |
|
|
(0.7 |
%) |
|
|
17.2 |
% |
|
|
2.2 |
% |
As illustrated above, under Case 1, Bear Stearns concluded
that in every possible combination, the merger is projected to
be accretive to Western Wireless shareholder value, except
in one case which was projected to be mildly dilutive to Western
Wireless shareholder value.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Case 2 | |
|
|
| |
|
|
No Synergies | |
|
With Synergies | |
Western Wireless Shareholder Value Accretion/(Dilution): |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless:ALLTEL Western Wireless:ALLTEL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low:Low High:High
|
|
|
(7.9 |
%) |
|
|
(10.7 |
%) |
|
|
(5.3 |
%) |
|
|
(8.3 |
%) |
Low:High High:Low
|
|
|
(3.1 |
%) |
|
|
(15.0 |
%) |
|
|
(0.5 |
%) |
|
|
(12.6 |
%) |
As illustrated above, under Case 2, Bear Stearns concluded
that in every possible combination, the merger is projected to
be dilutive to Western Wireless shareholder value.
Relative Contribution Analysis. Bear Stearns performed a
contribution analysis, assuming no synergies, showing the
percentages of net income, EBITDA and free cash flow (EBITDA
less capital expenditures) that are estimated to be contributed
by Western Wireless and ALLTEL to the pro forma
47
results for the combined company for fiscal years 2004 through
2007 under each of Case 1 and Case 2 for Western Wireless. The
following tables set forth the results of such analysis:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income Contribution | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004E | |
|
2005P | |
|
2006P | |
|
2007P | |
Case 1 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless
|
|
|
13.6 |
% |
|
|
18.1 |
% |
|
|
20.2 |
% |
|
|
21.3 |
% |
ALLTEL
|
|
|
86.4 |
% |
|
|
81.9 |
% |
|
|
79.8 |
% |
|
|
78.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA Contribution | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004E | |
|
2005P | |
|
2006P | |
|
2007P | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless
|
|
|
16.1 |
% |
|
|
18.3 |
% |
|
|
20.4 |
% |
|
|
22.0 |
% |
ALLTEL
|
|
|
83.9 |
% |
|
|
81.7 |
% |
|
|
79.6 |
% |
|
|
78.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free Cash Flow Contribution | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004E | |
|
2005P | |
|
2006P | |
|
2007P | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless
|
|
|
12.3 |
% |
|
|
25.4 |
% |
|
|
26.2 |
% |
|
|
28.1 |
% |
ALLTEL
|
|
|
87.7 |
% |
|
|
74.6 |
% |
|
|
73.8 |
% |
|
|
71.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income Contribution | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004E | |
|
2005P | |
|
2006P | |
|
2007P | |
Case 2 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless
|
|
|
16.4 |
% |
|
|
22.6 |
% |
|
|
27.5 |
% |
|
|
30.0 |
% |
ALLTEL
|
|
|
83.6 |
% |
|
|
77.4 |
% |
|
|
72.5 |
% |
|
|
70.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA Contribution | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004E | |
|
2005P | |
|
2006P | |
|
2007P | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless
|
|
|
16.1 |
% |
|
|
19.0 |
% |
|
|
22.0 |
% |
|
|
24.1 |
% |
ALLTEL
|
|
|
83.9 |
% |
|
|
81.0 |
% |
|
|
78.0 |
% |
|
|
75.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free Cash Flow Contribution | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004E | |
|
2005P | |
|
2006P | |
|
2007P | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Western Wireless
|
|
|
12.4 |
% |
|
|
17.0 |
% |
|
|
21.5 |
% |
|
|
22.8 |
% |
ALLTEL
|
|
|
87.9 |
% |
|
|
83.0 |
% |
|
|
78.5 |
% |
|
|
77.2 |
% |
The percentage of net income, set forth in the above table that
is estimated to be contributed to the pro forma combined company
by Western Wireless was then compared to the 19.3% interest that
Western Wireless common shareholders will have in
ALLTELs equity value (assuming that Western Wireless was
acquired entirely with ALLTEL stock). Further, the percentages
of EBITDA and free cash flow (EBITDA less capital expenditures)
set forth in the tables above that are estimated to be
contributed to the pro forma combined company by Western
Wireless were compared to the 22.3% interest that Western
Wireless common shareholders will have in ALLTELs
enterprise value (assuming that Western Wireless was acquired
entirely with ALLTEL stock).
Bear Stearns also performed a contribution analysis, assuming
operating expense synergies, showing the percentage of net
income, EBITDA and free cash flow (EBITDA less capital
expenditures) that will be contributed by Western Wireless and
ALLTEL to the pro forma results for the combined company for
fiscal years 2004 through 2007 under each of Case 1 and
Case 2 for Western Wireless. The results of this analysis
did not materially differ from the results of the contribution
analysis, assuming no synergies, shown above.
Pro Forma Financial Analysis. Bear Stearns analyzed the
potential pro forma impact of the merger on ALLTELs
estimated earnings per share for fiscal years 2005 through 2007,
based on publicly available research analyst projections. Under
Case 1 for Western Wireless, Bear Stearns noted that the
merger would be accretive to ALLTELs projected earnings
per share in 2006 and 2007 with and without
48
estimated synergies. Under Case 2 for Western Wireless,
Bear Stearns noted that the merger would be accretive to
ALLTELs projected earnings per share in 2005, 2006 and
2007 with and without estimated synergies.
In connection with rendering its opinion, Bear Stearns performed
a variety of financial analyses. The preparation of a fairness
opinion involves various determinations as to the most
appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the
application of these methods to the particular circumstances
and, therefore, such an opinion is not readily susceptible to a
partial analysis or summary description. Bear Stearns arrived at
its ultimate opinion based on the results of all analyses
undertaken by it and assessed as a whole and believes that the
totality of the factors considered and analyses performed by
Bear Stearns in connection with its opinion operated
collectively to support its determination as to the fairness of
the merger consideration to the shareholders of Western
Wireless. Accordingly, notwithstanding the analyses summarized
above, Bear Stearns believes that its analyses must be
considered as a whole and that selecting portions of the
analyses and factors considered by them, without considering all
such analyses and factors, or attempting to ascribe relative
weights to some or all such analyses and factors, could create
an incomplete view of the evaluation process underlying the Bear
Stearns opinion. Bear Stearns did not assign any specific weight
to any of the analyses described above and did not draw any
specific conclusions from or with regard to any one method of
analysis.
In performing its analyses, Bear Stearns considered industry
performance, general business and economic conditions and other
matters, many of which are beyond the control of Western
Wireless, ALLTEL and Bear Stearns. The analyses performed by
Bear Stearns are not necessarily indicative of actual values or
actual future results, which may be significantly more or less
favorable than suggested by such analyses. Accordingly, such
analyses are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.
The type and amount of consideration payable in the merger were
determined through negotiations between Western Wireless and
ALLTEL and approved by the Western Wireless board of directors.
Bear Stearns did not express any opinion as to the price or
range of prices at which the shares of common stock of Western
Wireless and ALLTEL may trade subsequent to the announcement or
consummation of the merger. Bear Stearns also did not express
any opinion as to the fairness of the merger consideration to
the holders of Western Wireless common stock who properly
exercise dissenters rights. The decision to enter into the
merger agreement was solely that of the Western Wireless board
of directors. The analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to
reflect the prices at which any securities may trade at the
present time or at any time in the future. In addition, the Bear
Stearns opinion was just one of the many factors taken into
consideration by Western Wireless board of directors.
Consequently, Bear Stearns analysis should not be viewed
as determinative of the decision of Western Wireless board
of directors or Western Wireless management with respect
to the fairness of the merger consideration.
Bear Stearns is an internationally recognized investment banking
firm and is continually engaged in the valuation of businesses
and their securities in connection with mergers and
acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions
of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, leveraged
buyouts and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes.
Bear Stearns was selected by the Western Wireless board of
directors to act as Western Wireless financial advisor and
to render a fairness opinion because of its expertise and
reputation in investment banking and mergers and acquisitions
and its familiarity with Western Wireless, ALLTEL and the
wireless industry. Bear Stearns will receive an aggregate fee
for such services of approximately $22 million, of which
$2 million was payable upon delivery of Bear Stearns
fairness opinion and approximately $20 million is
contingent on successful consummation of the merger. Western
Wireless also agreed to reimburse Bear Stearns for certain
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the
engagement, including the reasonable fees of and disbursements
to its legal counsel. In addition, Western Wireless agreed to
indemnify Bear Stearns against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the federal securities laws, relating to or
arising out of its engagement.
Bear Stearns had been previously engaged by Western Wireless to
provide certain investment banking and financial advisory
services, but has not received any compensation for such
services during the past
49
two years. In addition, during the past two years, Bear Stearns
has not provided investment banking or financial advisory
services to ALLTEL. In the ordinary course of business, Bear
Stearns and its affiliates may actively trade the equity and
debt securities and/or bank debt of Western Wireless and ALLTEL
for its own account and for the account of its customers and,
accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in
such securities or bank debt.
ALLTELs Reasons for the Merger
The board of directors of ALLTEL met several times to review the
merger and unanimously approved the merger agreement on
January 9, 2005 after ALLTELs senior management
discussed with the board of directors the potential benefits and
risks of the transaction. The ALLTEL board of directors believes
the merger will provide ALLTEL a number of opportunities and
benefits, including as follows. As a result of the merger,
ALLTEL expects to increase its wireless revenue mix from
approximately 60 percent to nearly 70 percent of its
total consolidated revenues. ALLTEL will achieve additional
scale by adding approximately 1.5 million domestic wireless
customers (excluding reseller customers) in 19 midwestern and
western states that are contiguous to ALLTELs existing
wireless properties, increasing the number of wireless customers
served by ALLTEL to more than 10 million customers in
33 states. ALLTEL also will add approximately
1.9 million international wireless customers in six
countries. In addition, the merger will permit ALLTEL to
increase its retail position in these domestic, rural markets
where it can leverage ALLTELs brand and marketing
experience and bring significant value to customers by offering
competitive national rate plans. ALLTEL also will diversify its
wireless roaming revenue sources and, as a result of offering
multiple technologies, ALLTEL will become a leading independent
roaming partner for the four national carriers in the markets
served by ALLTEL. ALLTEL also will enhance its strategic options
as the wireless industry continues to restructure while
preserving ALLTELs strong financial position. Finally,
ALLTEL expects that centralized operations costs and interest
expense for the combined company will be lower than those costs
and expenses for the two companies operating independently.
In addition to the foregoing potential benefits of the merger,
the ALLTEL board of directors considered the potential risks of
the transaction, including as follows. The merger is subject to
various regulatory approval processes and accordingly there is a
possibility that the merger could not be completed on a timely
basis or receive all necessary regulatory approvals without
conditions. Roaming revenues are a material source of Western
Wireless revenues and the sustainability of such revenues
depends on whether Western Wireless roaming partners
choose to continue under applicable roaming agreements to use
Western Wireless networks to roam or build out their networks in
the Western Wireless markets following the merger. ALLTEL has
limited experience deploying or maintaining a GSM network or
operating in developing countries that face significant
political, social, and economic uncertainties. Finally,
following the merger, the expected cost reductions and interest
savings may not be achieved.
The ALLTEL board of directors considered the above factors
together with various other factors when approving the merger
agreement. The ALLTEL board did not assign relative weights to
the above factors or the other factors considered by it.
Further, individual members of the ALLTEL board may have given
different weight to different factors.
Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger
In considering the recommendation of Western Wireless
board of directors with respect to the merger, Western Wireless
shareholders should be aware that some of Western Wireless
directors and executive officers may have interests in the
merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests
of Western Wireless shareholders generally. The Western Wireless
board of directors was aware of these interests and considered
them in approving the merger agreement and the merger.
ALLTEL Board Seat. Following the effective time of the
merger, John W. Stanton, Western Wireless chairman and
chief executive officer, is expected to be elected, for a three
year term, by the directors of ALLTEL to fill a vacancy on the
ALLTEL board of directors.
50
Director and Officer Indemnification. Under the terms of
the merger agreement, ALLTEL has agreed that all rights to
exculpation and indemnification for acts occurring prior to the
merger in Western Wireless articles of incorporation or
by-laws, or in any indemnification agreement, in favor of
persons who were Western Wireless directors or officers will
survive for a period of six years following the merger. ALLTEL
also agreed that for a period of six years following the merger,
ALLTEL will indemnify the former directors, officers or
employees of Western Wireless to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law. The merger agreement further requires that, for
six years following the effective time of the merger, subject to
certain limitations, the surviving company maintain coverage
under a director and officer liability insurance policy, with
respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on
or before the effective time of the merger, at a level at least
equal to that which Western Wireless is maintaining for its
officers and directors prior to the merger.
Treatment of Equity Awards. The merger agreement provides
that at the effective time of the merger, each outstanding
unexpired and unexercised option to purchase a share of Western
Wireless common stock will be converted into an option to
purchase a fraction of a share of ALLTEL common stock equal to
the sum of (i) 0.535, plus (ii) the fraction resulting
from dividing $9.25 by the closing price of ALLTEL common stock
on the NYSE on the last trading day preceding the closing of the
merger. Under Western Wireless existing stock option
agreements with its directors and certain of its officers, if
during the one year period following completion of the merger
the optionees employment is involuntarily terminated for
any reason other than death, disability or cause, or the
optionee terminates his or her employment for good reason, the
optionees options will, to the extent not already vested,
become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the
merger. The stock option agreements define good
reason as: (i) the assignment to the optionee of
duties, or limitation of the optionees responsibilities,
inconsistent with his or her title, position, duties,
responsibilities and status with Western Wireless immediately
prior to the completion of the merger, (ii) the failure to
pay, or reduction in, the optionees compensation,
(iii) the relocation of the optionees place of
employment, and (iv) the breach by the optionor of any
material provision of the option agreement. Under the foregoing
terms of the existing option agreements all unvested options of
Western Wireless directors and executive officers would
generally be accelerated upon or shortly after the merger.
Accordingly, Western Wireless and ALLTEL agreed in the merger
agreement that Western Wireless would be permitted to amend the
existing stock option agreements with directors and executive
officers to provide explicitly that all of their options will,
to the extent not already vested, become fully vested and
exercisable immediately prior to consummation of the merger. The
Compensation Committee of Western Wireless board of
directors has so amended these stock option agreements. Assuming
that at the completion of the merger the value of a share of
ALLTEL common stock is $60.92, which was the closing price of a
share of ALLTEL common stock on the NYSE on June 22, 2005,
the value of the unvested options held by Western Wireless
directors and executive officers subject to these
51
agreements (which, if the above-described circumstances occur,
would become fully vested and exercisable) would be as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and |
|
|
|
|
Executive Officers |
|
Position |
|
Value of Options | |
|
|
|
|
| |
John W. Stanton
|
|
Chairman, Director and Chief Executive Officer |
|
$ |
0.00 |
|
|
Donald Guthrie
|
|
Vice Chairman |
|
$ |
881,541.30 |
|
|
Theresa E. Gillespie
|
|
Vice Chairman and Director |
|
$ |
619,539.53 |
|
|
John L. Bunce, Jr.
|
|
Director |
|
$ |
114,473.98 |
|
|
Mitchell R. Cohen
|
|
Director |
|
$ |
114,473.98 |
|
|
Daniel J. Evans
|
|
Director |
|
$ |
114,473.98 |
|
|
Jonathan M. Nelson
|
|
Director |
|
$ |
114,473.98 |
|
|
Peggy V. Phillips
|
|
Director |
|
$ |
125,340.74 |
|
|
Peter H. Van Oppen
|
|
Director |
|
$ |
114,473.98 |
|
|
Mikal J. Thomsen
|
|
President and Director |
|
$ |
1,065,201.50 |
|
|
Eric Hertz
|
|
Chief Operating Officer |
|
$ |
4,085,469.25 |
|
|
M. Wayne Wisehart
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
$ |
2,499,589.20 |
|
|
Bradley J. Horwitz
|
|
Executive Vice President and President, Western Wireless
International |
|
$ |
1,161,712.20 |
|
|
Gerald J. Jerry Baker
|
|
Senior Vice President |
|
$ |
1,370,798.01 |
|
|
Jeffrey A. Christianson
|
|
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
|
$ |
1,480,537.83 |
|
|
Thorpe M. Chip Kelly, Jr.
|
|
Senior Vice President |
|
$ |
1,022,641.93 |
|
|
Scott A. Soley
|
|
Vice President and Controller (Chief Accounting Officer) |
|
$ |
1,120,525.57 |
|
Retention Pool. The merger agreement provides for Western
Wireless to establish a $20 million retention pool for
retaining the services of key Western Wireless employees,
including executive officers, pursuant to which Western Wireless
adopted a Retention Bonus Plan on February 8, 2005. Western
Wireless most senior executive officers (its chairman and
chief executive officer, two vice chairmen, president and
president international) will not, however,
participate in the Retention Bonus Plan. Under the Retention
Bonus Plan, executive officers of Western Wireless will be
eligible to receive a cash retention bonus equal to
12 months of their monthly base salary, 50% of which will
be paid at the next payroll period after the completion of the
merger and 50% of which will be paid at the next payroll period
following the date that is six months thereafter, subject to the
executive officers continued employment with ALLTEL or
Western Wireless through such dates. The retention bonuses will
be paid regardless of whether the merger is consummated. If the
merger agreement is terminated, executive officers will be paid
50% of their retention bonus at the next payroll period after
the one-month anniversary of the termination and 50% at the next
payroll period after the seven-month anniversary of the
termination, subject to each executive officers continued
employment with Western Wireless through such payment dates. The
Retention Bonus Plan also provides other employees with cash
retention bonuses of varying amounts payable at different
intervals. If the employment of a participant in the Retention
Bonus Plan is terminated by Western Wireless or its successor
without cause or terminated by the participant for good reason
(defined in the Retention Bonus Plan as a failure to pay, or a
reduction in, the participants compensation, or a
relocation of the participants place of employment) or
terminated as a result of death or disability, prior to the
scheduled payment date of any retention bonus to which the
participant would otherwise have been entitled if the
participant had remained employed until such payment date, the
participant will receive the full amount of his or her cash
retention bonus at the next payroll period after such
termination of employment. Participants who voluntarily resign
without good reason or whose
52
employment is terminated for cause will not receive any cash
retention bonus that had not already been paid. ALLTEL has
agreed to honor the terms of the Retention Bonus Plan following
the completion of the merger. The Retention Bonus Plan will be
administered by John W. Stanton, Western Wireless chairman
and chief executive officer, or his designee.
The amount to be received by those Western Wireless executive
officers participating in the Retention Bonus Plan would be as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer |
|
Retention Amount | |
|
|
| |
Eric Hertz
|
|
$ |
325,000 |
|
M. Wayne Wisehart
|
|
$ |
240,000 |
|
Gerald J. Jerry Baker
|
|
$ |
182,000 |
|
Jeffrey A. Christianson
|
|
$ |
220,000 |
|
Thorpe M. Chip Kelly, Jr.
|
|
$ |
168,000 |
|
Scott A. Soley
|
|
$ |
140,200 |
|
Severance Program. The merger agreement requires ALLTEL
to honor Western Wireless severance program, set forth in
a Severance Plan adopted by Western Wireless on February 8,
2005, under which all employees as of January 10, 2005,
including executive officers, will be entitled to certain
benefits in the event of a qualifying termination of their
employment within two years after the merger. Under the
Severance Plan, the severance payments for executive officers
will be equal to one year of such executive officers total
compensation (base salary and target bonus). Severance payments
will be paid if the employment of a participant is terminated by
Western Wireless or its successor without cause or terminated by
the participant for good reason (defined in the Severance Plan
as a failure to pay, or a reduction in, the participants
compensation, or a relocation of the participants place of
employment) during the two year period following the closing of
the merger. Participants who voluntarily resign without good
reason or whose employment is terminated for cause will not
receive any severance payments. The Severance Plan also provides
other employees with severance payments of varying amounts
payable upon a qualifying termination. Prior to the adoption of
the Severance Plan, Western Wireless had no company-wide
severance plan in place, but certain employees of Western
Wireless, including certain executive officers, were, and
continue to be, party to individual employment agreements with
Western Wireless which provide for severance pay. If a Severance
Plan participant is entitled to greater benefits under any
agreement with Western Wireless which provides for severance
pay, he or she would be paid in accordance with such agreement
and not under the Severance Plan. None of the executive officers
or other employees who have employment agreements with Western
Wireless are entitled to severance payments of greater than one
year of total compensation under such employment agreements. No
severance payments will be made under the Severance Plan in the
event the merger is not consummated. Mr. Stanton (or his
designee) will also administer the Severance Plan.
The Retention Bonus Plan and Severance Program are described in
greater detail under the heading The Merger
Agreement Covenants Stock Options;
Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Employee Matters; Retention Bonus
Plan; and Severance Program.
Stock Exchange Listing
ALLTEL has received authorization, subject to official notice of
issuance, from the NYSE for the listing of ALLTEL common stock
issuable pursuant to the merger in exchange for Western Wireless
common stock. The trading symbol for ALLTEL common stock is
AT. Following the merger, Western Wireless
shareholders will no longer be able to trade shares of Western
Wireless Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market or
any other exchange because the existing Western Wireless common
stock will cease to exist and therefore will no longer be listed
on any exchange.
53
Resale of Shares of ALLTEL Common Stock Issued In The
Merger
Shares of ALLTEL common stock received in the merger by Western
Wireless shareholders generally will be freely transferable,
except that ALLTEL shares of common stock received by persons
who are deemed to be affiliates of Western Wireless under the
Securities Act of 1933 at the time of the annual meeting may be
resold by them only in transactions permitted by Rule 145
under the Securities Act or as otherwise permitted under the
Securities Act. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of
Western Wireless for these purposes generally include
individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or are
under common control with, Western Wireless, and include Western
Wireless directors and executive officers. In accordance
with the merger agreement, Western Wireless caused each of its
affiliates to deliver to ALLTEL on or prior to the mailing of
this proxy statement a signed agreement to the effect that the
affiliate will not sell, transfer or dispose of any ALLTEL
shares of common stock issued to the affiliate in the merger
unless such sale, transfer or disposition has been registered
under the Securities Act, is made in compliance with
Rule 145 or will not violate or is otherwise exempt from
registration under the Securities Act.
Accounting Treatment
The merger will be accounted for as a purchase, as
that term is used under United States generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP), for accounting and
financial reporting purposes. Western Wireless will be treated
as the acquired corporation for accounting and financial
reporting purposes. Western Wireless assets, liabilities
and other items will be adjusted to their estimated fair value
on the closing date of the merger and combined with the
historical book values of the assets and liabilities of ALLTEL.
Applicable income tax effects of these adjustments will be
included as a component of the combined companys deferred
tax asset or liability. The difference between the estimated
fair value of the assets, liabilities and other items (adjusted
as discussed above) and the purchase price will be recorded as
goodwill. Financial statements of ALLTEL issued after the merger
will reflect the values and will not be restated retroactively
to reflect the historical financial position or results of
operations of Western Wireless.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Merger
The following discussion addresses the material United States
federal income tax consequences of the merger to holders of
Western Wireless common stock. The discussion is based on
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(which we refer to as the Code), Treasury
regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all
as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change,
possibly with retroactive effect, and to differing
interpretations. This discussion applies only to Western
Wireless shareholders that hold their Western Wireless common
stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221
of the Code, each of which we refer to in this section as a
holder. Further, this discussion does not address
all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be
relevant to a particular holder in light of its personal
circumstances or to holders subject to special treatment under
the United States federal income tax laws, including, for
example:
|
|
|
|
|
banks or other financial institutions, |
|
|
|
tax-exempt organizations, |
|
|
|
insurance companies, |
|
|
|
dealers in securities or foreign currency, |
|
|
|
traders in securities who elect to apply a mark-to-market method
of accounting, |
|
|
|
pass-through entities and investors in such entities, |
|
|
|
foreign persons, foreign entities and U.S. expatriates, |
|
|
|
persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, |
54
|
|
|
|
|
holders who received their Western Wireless common stock through
the exercise of employee stock options, through a tax-qualified
retirement plan or otherwise as compensation, and |
|
|
|
holders who hold Western Wireless common stock as part of a
hedge, straddle, constructive sale, conversion transaction or
other integrated investment. |
In addition, the discussion does not address any alternative
minimum tax or any state, local or foreign tax consequences of
the merger.
Holders of Western Wireless common stock should consult their
tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences of
the merger to such holders.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel to
ALLTEL, has delivered to ALLTEL its legal opinion, attached as
Exhibit 8.1 to this Registration Statement, and Jones Day,
counsel to Western Wireless, has delivered to Western Wireless
its legal opinion, attached as Exhibit 8.2 to this
Registration Statement, that, on the basis of the Code, Treasury
regulations, Internal Revenue Service pronouncements, and
judicial authorities in effect on the date the opinion was
delivered, all of which are subject to change on a retroactive
basis, and on the basis of the facts, assumptions, and
representations set forth in each of such opinions and the
representations and covenants set forth in certificates obtained
from officers of ALLTEL and Western Wireless, respectively, the
merger will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code and each of ALLTEL and Western
Wireless will be treated as a party to the reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. In addition, the
completion of the merger is conditioned upon the delivery by
each of Jones Day or Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz,
counsel to Western Wireless, and Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel to ALLTEL, of legal
opinions substantially to the same effect. None of these
opinions will be binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the
courts, and neither ALLTEL nor Western Wireless intends to
request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the
United States federal income tax consequences of the merger.
Consequently, no assurance can be given that the Internal
Revenue Service will not assert, or that a court would not
sustain, a position contrary to the opinions or to the
discussion set forth below. In addition, if any of the
representations, assumptions or covenants upon which such
opinions are based are inconsistent with the actual facts, the
United States federal income tax consequences of the merger
could be adversely affected. The remainder of this discussion is
based on the opinions of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP and Jones Day, attached as
Exhibits 8.1 and 8.2 to this Registration Statement,
respectively.
The United States federal income tax consequences of the merger
to a holder generally will depend on whether the holder
exchanges its Western Wireless common stock for cash, for ALLTEL
common stock or for a combination of cash and ALLTEL common
stock.
Exchange Solely for Cash. In general, if, pursuant to the
merger, a holder exchanges all of the shares of Western Wireless
common stock actually owned by it solely for cash, that holder
will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the
amount of cash received and its adjusted tax basis in the shares
of Western Wireless common stock surrendered. Such gain or loss
generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the
holders holding period with respect to the Western
Wireless common stock surrendered is more than one year at the
effective time of the merger. If, however, the holder
constructively owns shares of Western Wireless common stock that
are exchanged for shares of ALLTEL common stock in the merger or
owns shares of ALLTEL common stock actually or constructively
after the merger, the consequences to that holder may be similar
to the consequences described below under the heading
Exchange for ALLTEL Common Stock and Cash, except
that the amount of consideration, if any, deemed to be a
dividend may not be limited to the amount of that holders
gain.
Exchange Solely for ALLTEL Common Stock. If, pursuant to
the merger, a holder exchanges all of the shares of Western
Wireless common stock actually owned by it solely for shares of
ALLTEL common stock, that holder will not recognize any gain or
loss except in respect of cash received instead of a fractional
share of ALLTEL common stock (as discussed below). The aggregate
adjusted tax basis of the shares of ALLTEL common stock received
in the merger (including fractional shares deemed received and
redeemed as discussed below) will be equal to the aggregate
adjusted tax basis of the shares of
55
Western Wireless common stock surrendered for the ALLTEL common
stock, and a holders holding period of the ALLTEL common
stock (including fractional shares deemed received and redeemed
as discussed below) will include the period during which the
shares of Western Wireless common stock surrendered were held.
Exchange for ALLTEL Common Stock and Cash. If, pursuant
to the merger, a holder exchanges all of the shares of Western
Wireless common stock actually owned by it for a combination of
ALLTEL common stock and cash, the holder will generally
recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser
of (1) the amount of gain realized (that is, the excess of
the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of the
ALLTEL common stock received pursuant to the merger over that
holders adjusted tax basis in its shares of Western
Wireless common stock surrendered) and (2) the amount of
cash received pursuant to the merger. For this purpose, gain or
loss must be calculated separately for each identifiable block
of shares surrendered in the exchange, and a loss realized on
one block of shares may not be used to offset a gain realized on
another block of shares. Holders should consult their tax
advisors regarding the manner in which cash and ALLTEL common
stock should be allocated among different blocks of Western
Wireless common stock. Any recognized gain will generally be
long-term capital gain if the holders holding period with
respect to the Western Wireless common stock surrendered is more
than one year at the effective time of the merger. If, however,
the cash received has the effect of the distribution of a
dividend, the gain will be treated as a dividend to the extent
of the holders ratable share of accumulated earnings and
profits as calculated for United States federal income tax
purposes. See Possible Treatment of Cash as a
Dividend below.
The aggregate tax basis of ALLTEL common stock received
(including fractional shares deemed received and redeemed as
discussed below) by a holder that exchanges its shares of
Western Wireless common stock for a combination of ALLTEL common
stock and cash pursuant to the merger will be equal to the
aggregate adjusted tax basis of the shares of Western Wireless
common stock surrendered for ALLTEL common stock and cash,
reduced by the amount of cash received by the holder pursuant to
the merger (excluding any cash received instead of a fractional
share of ALLTEL common stock) and increased by the amount of
gain, if any, recognized by the holder on the exchange
(including any portion of the gain that is treated as a dividend
as discussed below, but excluding any gain or loss resulting
from the deemed receipt and redemption of fractional shares as
discussed below). A holders holding period of the ALLTEL
common stock (including fractional shares deemed received and
redeemed as discussed below) will include such holders
holding period of the shares of Western Wireless common stock
surrendered.
Possible Treatment of Cash as a Dividend. In general, the
determination of whether the gain recognized in the merger
exchange will be treated as capital gain or has the effect of a
distribution of a dividend depends upon whether and to what
extent the exchange reduces the holders deemed percentage
stock ownership of ALLTEL. For purposes of this determination,
the holder is treated as if it first exchanged all of its shares
of Western Wireless common stock solely for ALLTEL common stock
and then ALLTEL immediately redeemed, which we refer to in this
document as the deemed redemption, a portion of the
ALLTEL common stock in exchange for the cash the holder actually
received. The gain recognized in the deemed redemption will be
treated as capital gain if the deemed redemption is
(1) substantially disproportionate with respect
to the holder or (2) not essentially equivalent to a
dividend.
The deemed redemption will generally be substantially
disproportionate with respect to a holder if the
percentage described in (2) below is less than 80% of the
percentage described in (1) below. Whether the deemed
redemption is not essentially equivalent to a
dividend with respect to a holder will depend upon the
holders particular circumstances. At a minimum, however,
in order for the deemed redemption to be not essentially
equivalent to a dividend, the deemed redemption must
result in a meaningful reduction in the
holders deemed percentage stock ownership of ALLTEL. In
general, that determination requires a comparison of
(1) the percentage of the outstanding stock of ALLTEL that
the holder is deemed actually and constructively to have owned
immediately before the deemed redemption and (2) the
percentage of the outstanding stock of ALLTEL that is actually
and constructively owned by the holder
56
immediately after the deemed redemption. In applying the above
tests, a holder may, under the constructive ownership rules, be
deemed to own stock that is owned by other persons or stock
underlying a holders option to purchase such stock in
addition to the stock actually owned by the holder.
The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that a shareholder in a
publicly held corporation whose relative stock interest is
minimal and who exercises no control with respect to corporate
affairs is generally considered to have a meaningful
reduction if that shareholder has any reduction in its
percentage stock ownership under the above analysis.
Accordingly, the gain recognized in the exchange by such a
shareholder would be treated as capital gain.
These rules are complex and dependent upon the specific factual
circumstances particular to each holder. Consequently, each
holder that may be subject to these rules should consult its tax
advisor as to the application of these rules to the particular
facts relevant to such holder.
Cash Received Instead of a Fractional Share. A holder who
receives cash instead of a fractional share of ALLTEL common
stock will generally be treated as having received such
fractional share and then as having received such cash in
redemption of the fractional share. Gain or loss generally will
be recognized based on the difference between the amount of cash
received instead of the fractional share and the portion of the
holders aggregate adjusted tax basis of the shares of
Western Wireless common stock exchanged in the merger which is
allocable to the fractional share. Such gain or loss generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holding period for
such shares of Western Wireless common stock is more than one
year at the effective time of the merger.
Reporting Requirements. A holder of Western Wireless
common stock receiving ALLTEL common stock as a result of the
merger is required to retain records related to such
holders Western Wireless common stock and file with its
United States federal income tax return a statement setting
forth facts relating to the merger.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. Payments of
cash to a holder of Western Wireless common stock may, under
certain circumstances, be subject to information reporting and
backup withholding at a rate of 28% of the cash payable to the
holder, unless the holder provides proof of an applicable
exemption satisfactory to ALLTEL and the exchange agent or
furnishes its taxpayer identification number, and otherwise
complies with all applicable requirements of the backup
withholding rules. Any amounts withheld from payments to a
holder under the backup withholding rules are not additional tax
and will be allowed as a refund or credit against the
holders United States federal income tax liability,
provided the required information is furnished to the Internal
Revenue Service on a timely basis.
Regulatory/Third Party Matters
Antitrust Authorities. As a condition to the merger, the
HSR Act requires Western Wireless and ALLTEL to observe the HSR
Acts notification and waiting periods. Western Wireless
and ALLTEL each filed notification and report forms with the DOJ
and the FTC on January 24, 2005. On February 23, 2005,
Western Wireless and ALLTEL each received an additional request
for information and documentary materials (a Second
Request) from the DOJ. The HSR Act provides that the
transaction may not close during a waiting period of
30 calendar days following certification by Western
Wireless and ALLTEL that they have substantially complied with
the Second Request.
Federal Communications Commission. In order to obtain
required FCC approvals, Western Wireless, each of Western
Wireless subsidiaries that holds authorizations from the
FCC that need to be transferred, and ALLTEL are required to file
applications with the FCC seeking approval of the transfer of
control to ALLTEL of the FCC licenses and authorizations held by
Western Wireless and its subsidiaries. On January 24, 2005,
Western Wireless and ALLTEL jointly filed such applications
seeking the requisite FCC approvals. A condition to the
obligation of ALLTEL and Western Wireless to complete the merger
is that the requisite FCC consents be granted without any
conditions other than conditions of
57
the sort that the parties are required to fulfill (if imposed)
by the merger agreement, and that all FCC consents be in full
force and effect as of the date of completion of the merger.
In addition, Western Wireless and ALLTEL must make certain
filings and registrations with, and seek, consents, permits,
authorizations and approvals from, state or foreign governmental
entities, including, without limitation, such entities
regulating competition and telecommunications businesses.
Commitment to Obtain Approvals. Western Wireless and
ALLTEL have agreed to use all reasonable efforts to obtain all
consents and approvals of any governmental entity or third party
required in connection with the merger. Any regulator could
object to the merger and/or impose conditions or restrictions on
their approvals that are materially adverse to ALLTEL and
Western Wireless.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Western Wireless and
ALLTEL are obligated to use all reasonable efforts to resolve
any such objections by a regulator to permit the merger. In no
event will ALLTEL be required to, nor will Western Wireless be
permitted to, agree to any condition imposed by a regulator that
would require ALLTEL to divest itself of any businesses, assets
or product lines, including any businesses, assets or product
lines it acquires from Western Wireless following completion of
the merger, except that ALLTEL is required to, and Western
Wireless is permitted to, agree to divest spectrum licenses or
systems assets of itself or any of its subsidiaries, and agree
to the imposition of any limitation upon such licenses, assets
or operations, in any service area in which there is a spectrum
overlap where at least one of the parties or their respective
subsidiaries holds a cellular license in the 850 MHz
spectrum band. In connection with the foregoing, subject to the
requirements of the relevant regulator in connection with the
foregoing, solely as between ALLTEL and Western Wireless, ALLTEL
has the right to determine which assets are divested or which
licenses become subject to limitation and make all
determinations with respect to the terms of any such divestiture
or limitation, provided that neither ALLTEL nor Western
Wireless, nor any of their respective subsidiaries, shall be
required to make any divestiture or agree to any limitation that
is not conditioned upon occurrence of the closing of the merger.
If conditions or restrictions that ALLTEL is not obligated to
agree to under the merger agreement are imposed by a regulator,
ALLTEL may waive its rights and take actions that it is not
otherwise required to take in connection with receipt of the
necessary regulatory approvals, to proceed with the completion
of the merger.
Delisting and Deregistration of Western Wireless Common
Stock
If the merger is completed, the shares of Western Wireless
Class A common stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq Stock
Market and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Consequently, following completion of the
merger, Western Wireless shareholders will no longer be able to
trade shares of Western Wireless Class A common stock on
the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Litigation Regarding the Merger
Western Wireless, its directors, and ALLTEL are named as
defendants in a lawsuit brought in the Superior Court of the
State of Washington, County of King at Seattle, arising out of
the proposed merger. The complaint alleges, among other things,
that the directors of Western Wireless breached their fiduciary
duties in approving the merger, and as a result the shareholders
of Western Wireless will be irreparably harmed in that they will
not receive their fair portion of the value of Western
Wireless assets and business and will be prevented from
obtaining a fair price for their Western Wireless shares. The
complaint also alleges, among other things, that Western
Wireless and ALLTEL have aided and abetted the alleged breaches
of fiduciary duties by Western Wireless directors. The complaint
is brought on behalf of a purported class of all holders of
Western Wireless stock who will allegedly be harmed by
defendants actions. The complaint seeks various forms of
injunctive relief, including, among other things: decreeing that
the merger agreement is unlawful and unenforceable, directing
the individual defendants to obtain a transaction which is in
the best interests of Western Wireless shareholders until
the process for the sale or auction of Western Wireless is
completed and the highest possible price is obtained, and
rescinding the merger to the extent implemented. Western
Wireless and ALLTEL each believes that the allegations of the
complaint are without merit.
58
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of selected material provisions of
the merger agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the merger agreement, which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety and attached to this proxy statement/
prospectus as Annex A. We urge you to read the merger
agreement in its entirety. The merger agreement has been
included to provide you with information regarding its terms and
has been publicly filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. It is not intended to provide any other factual
information about ALLTEL or Western Wireless. Such information
can be found elsewhere in this proxy statement/ prospectus and
in the other public filings each of ALLTEL and Western Wireless
makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are
available without charge at www.sec.gov.
The merger agreement contains representations and warranties
ALLTEL and Western Wireless made to each other. The assertions
embodied in those representations and warranties are qualified
by information in confidential disclosure schedules that ALLTEL
and Western Wireless have exchanged in connection with signing
the merger agreement. The disclosure schedules contain
information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to
the representations and warranties set forth in the attached
merger agreement. Accordingly, you should not rely on the
representations and warranties as characterizations of the
actual state of facts, since they are modified in important part
by the underlying disclosure schedules. These disclosure
schedules contain information that has been included in
ALLTELs and Western Wireless general prior public
disclosures, as well as potential additional non-public
information. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter
of the representations and warranties may have changed since the
date of the agreement, which subsequent information may or may
not be fully reflected in the companies public
disclosures. We do not believe that the disclosure schedules
contain information securities laws require us to publicly
disclose other than information that has already been so
disclosed.
Form of the Merger
If the holders of Western Wireless common stock approve and
adopt the merger agreement and the merger and all other
conditions to the merger are satisfied or waived, Western
Wireless will be merged with and into Merger Sub, a newly formed
and wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLTEL. After the merger, Merger
Sub will be the surviving entity and the separate corporate
existence of Western Wireless will cease. ALLTEL and Western
Wireless anticipate that the closing of the merger will occur as
promptly as practicable after the approval and adoption of the
merger agreement and the merger by the Western Wireless
shareholders at the annual meeting and after the satisfaction or
waiver of all other conditions described below under the heading
The Merger Agreement Conditions to the
Merger.
Merger Consideration
The basic consideration in the merger is $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock for each share of
Western Wireless common stock outstanding immediately prior to
completion of the merger, and you are entitled to elect to
receive this basic mix. Alternatively, you may elect to receive
either $40 in cash or 0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock by
making a cash election or a stock
election. THE CASH AND STOCK ELECTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PRORATION
TO PRESERVE AN OVERALL MIX OF $9.25 IN CASH AND APPROXIMATELY,
BUT NOT LESS THAN, 0.535 SHARES OF ALLTEL COMMON STOCK FOR ALL
OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF WESTERN WIRELESS COMMON STOCK TAKEN
TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, EVEN IF YOU MAKE THE ALL CASH OR ALL
STOCK ELECTION YOU MAY RECEIVE A PRORATED AMOUNT OF CASH AND
ALLTEL COMMON STOCK. Western Wireless shareholders who fail to
make an election will be deemed to have made the mixed election.
The exchange ratio for the portion of the merger consideration
to be paid in ALLTEL common stock will not be adjusted in the
event the market price of ALLTEL common stock declines. If the
market price of ALLTEL common stock declines after Western
Wireless shareholders vote and/or make a merger consideration
election, shareholders receiving ALLTEL common stock as a
portion of their merger consideration will receive less value
than they expected when they voted and/or made their merger
consideration election. Neither
59
ALLTEL nor Western Wireless is permitted to terminate the merger
agreement or resolicit the vote of Western Wireless shareholders
because of changes in the market prices of their respective
common stocks.
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Consideration to be Received per Share of |
Type of Election |
|
Western Wireless Common Stock |
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|
Mixed
|
|
$9.25 in cash and 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock |
Stock
|
|
0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock, before proration |
Cash
|
|
$40 in cash, before proration |
Western Wireless shareholders will receive shares of ALLTEL
common stock, which are traded on the NYSE and the Pacific Stock
Exchange under the symbol AT.
Explanation of Proration
The total amount of cash that will be paid to holders of Western
Wireless common stock in the merger will be equal to $9.25
multiplied by the total number of shares of Western Wireless
common stock outstanding immediately prior to completion of the
merger. The overall amount of ALLTEL common stock that will be
issued in the merger to holders of Western Wireless common stock
will be equal to the product of (x) the number of Western
Wireless common shares outstanding immediately prior to the
merger and (y) a number between 0.535 and 0.538 (the
greater the number of Western Wireless shareholders electing the
all stock or all cash elections, the closer this number will be
to 0.538 and, conversely, the greater the number of Western
Wireless shareholders electing the mixed election, the closer
this number will be to 0.535). The stock and cash elections are
subject to proration to preserve an overall mix of $9.25 in cash
and between 0.535 and 0.538 shares of ALLTEL common stock
for all of the outstanding shares of Western Wireless common
stock taken together. Therefore, unless the number of stock
elections is significantly greater than the number of cash
elections, Western Wireless shareholders making the cash
election will not receive $40 in cash, but instead will receive
a mix of cash and stock calculated to preserve the overall cash
and stock mix described above, after taking into account all of
the elections made by all of the Western Wireless shareholders.
In all cases, the cash election will include at least as much
cash as received by shareholders electing the mixed election.
Similarly, if the number of stock elections is significantly
greater than the number of cash elections, Western Wireless
shareholders making the stock election will not receive
0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock, but instead will receive
a mix of cash and stock calculated to preserve the overall cash
and stock mix described above, after taking into account all of
the elections made by all of the Western Wireless shareholders.
In all cases, the stock election will include at least as much
stock as received by shareholders electing the mixed election.
Western Wireless shareholders who make the mixed election will
not be subject to proration.
We illustrate below how the proration mechanism will be used.
For ease of reference, we refer to the amount of cash derived by
multiplying $9.25 and the number of shares of Western Wireless
common stock outstanding immediately prior to the completion of
the merger as the aggregate cash amount. THE
ILLUSTRATION BELOW ASSUMES THAT NO ADJUSTMENT, AS DESCRIBED
BELOW, WOULD BE MADE.
Proration if Too Much Cash is Elected. Unless the number
of stock elections is significantly greater than the number of
cash elections, Western Wireless shareholders making the cash
election will not receive $40 in cash, but instead will receive
a mix of cash and stock calculated to preserve the overall cash
and stock mix described above in the following way:
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Step 1. Derive the available cash election amount: the
available cash election amount is the aggregate cash amount less
the amount of cash to be paid in respect of shares as to which a
valid mixed election is made. |
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|
Step 2. Derive the cash election amount: the cash
election amount is the product of $40 and the number of shares
of Western Wireless common stock as to which a valid cash
election is made. |
60
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|
Step 3. Derive the cash proration factor: the cash
proration factor equals the available cash election amount
divided by the cash election amount. |
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Step 4. Derive the prorated cash consideration: each
share of Western Wireless common stock as to which a valid cash
election is made will be converted into the right to receive an
amount in cash equal to the product of $40 multiplied by the
cash proration factor. |
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|
Step 5. Derive the stock consideration: each share of
Western Wireless common stock as to which a valid cash election
is made will be converted into the right to receive a number of
shares of ALLTEL common stock equal to the product of
(1) 0.7 and (2) a number equal to one minus the cash
proration factor. |
Proration if Too Many Shares of ALLTEL Common Stock are
Elected. If the number of stock elections is significantly
greater than the number of cash elections, Western Wireless
shareholders making the stock election will not receive
0.7 shares of ALLTEL common stock, but instead will receive
a mix of cash and stock calculated to preserve the overall cash
and stock mix described above in the following way:
|
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Step 1. Derive the available cash election amount: the
available cash election amount is the aggregate cash amount less
the amount of cash to be paid in respect of shares as to which a
valid mixed election is made. |
|
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|
Step 2. Derive the cash election amount: the cash
election amount is the product of $40 and the number of shares
of Western Wireless common stock as to which a valid cash
election is made. |
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|
Step 3. Derive the excess cash amount: the excess cash
amount is the difference between the available cash election
amount and the cash election amount. |
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Step 4. Derive the prorated cash consideration: each
share of Western Wireless common stock as to which a valid stock
election is made will receive an amount in cash equal to the
excess cash amount divided by the number of shares of Western
Wireless common stock as to which a valid stock election is made. |
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Step 5. Derive the stock proration factor: the stock
proration factor is a fraction the numerator of which is $40
minus the per share cash consideration calculated in Step 4 and
the denominator of which is $40. |
|
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|
Step 6. Derive the prorated stock consideration: each
share of Western Wireless common stock as to which a valid stock
election is made will be converted into the right to receive a
number of shares of ALLTEL common stock equal to the product of
(1) 0.7 and (2) the stock proration factor. |
Examples of Proration
If the cash election of Western Wireless shareholders is
oversubscribed, we would calculate the cash proration factor as
illustrated above under the heading Proration if Too Much
Cash is Elected. Assuming that the cash proration factor
is 0.6, then if you own 100 shares of Western Wireless
common stock and make the cash election, you would receive:
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|
the amount of cash equal to 0.6 multiplied by $40, multiplied by
the number of shares of Western Wireless common stock you hold,
or 100, for a total of $2,400 in cash; and |
|
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|
the number of shares of ALLTEL common stock equal to 0.7
multiplied by 0.4, multiplied by the number of shares of Western
Wireless common stock you hold, or 100, for a total of
28 shares of ALLTEL common stock. |
If the stock election of Western Wireless shareholders is
oversubscribed, we would calculate the cash consideration as
illustrated above under the heading Proration if Too Many
Shares of ALLTEL Common Stock are Elected. Assuming that
the prorated cash consideration is $4 per share, then the
stock
61
proration factor would be 0.9. If you own 100 shares of
Western Wireless common stock and make the stock election under
these circumstances, you would receive:
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$4 multiplied by the number of shares of Western Wireless common
stock you hold, or 100, for a total of $400; and |
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the amount of shares of ALLTEL common stock equal to 0.7
multiplied by 0.9, multiplied by the number of shares of Western
Wireless common stock you hold, or 100, for a total of
63 shares of ALLTEL common stock. |
The following examples estimate the total values that you will
receive for each share of Western Wireless common stock you hold
depending on:
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which election you make; |
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which elections other Western Wireless shareholders
make; and |
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various assumed prices of ALLTEL common stock on the date of
closing of the merger. |
The last reported sale price of ALLTEL common stock on
June 23, 2005, as reported on the NYSE Composite
Transaction Tape, was $60.30.
EXAMPLE 1
Shareholders Making Mixed Election 10%
Shareholders Making Stock Election 10%
Shareholders Making Cash Election 80%
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Price per Share of |
|
Value of Mixed | |
|
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|
ALLTEL |
|
Election | |
|
Value of Cash | |
|
Value of Stock | |
Common Stock |
|
per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
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| |
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| |
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| |
$52
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$ |
37.07 |
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$ |
37.34 |
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$ |
36.40 |
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$57
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$ |
39.75 |
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$ |
39.93 |
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$ |
39.90 |
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$58
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$ |
40.28 |
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$ |
40.45 |
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$ |
40.60 |
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$63
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|
$ |
42.96 |
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$ |
43.04 |
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$ |
44.10 |
|
EXAMPLE 2
Shareholders Making Mixed Election 50%
Shareholders Making Stock Election 25%
Shareholders Making Cash Election 25%
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Price per Share |
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of ALLTEL |
|
Value of Mixed | |
|
Value of Cash | |
|
Value of Stock | |
Common Stock |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
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| |
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| |
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| |
$52
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$ |
37.07 |
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$ |
38.07 |
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|
$ |
36.40 |
|
$57
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$ |
39.75 |
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$ |
39.95 |
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|
$ |
39.90 |
|
$58
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|
$ |
40.28 |
|
|
$ |
40.33 |
|
|
$ |
40.60 |
|
$63
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$ |
42.96 |
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|
$ |
42.21 |
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$ |
44.10 |
|
62
EXAMPLE 3
Shareholders Making Mixed Election 10%
Shareholders Making Stock Election 60%
Shareholders Making Cash Election 30%
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|
Price per Share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of ALLTEL |
|
Value of Mixed | |
|
Value of Cash | |
|
Value of Stock | |
Common Stock |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
$52
|
|
$ |
37.07 |
|
|
$ |
38.90 |
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|
$ |
36.40 |
|
$57
|
|
$ |
39.75 |
|
|
$ |
39.97 |
|
|
$ |
39.90 |
|
$58
|
|
$ |
40.28 |
|
|
$ |
40.19 |
|
|
$ |
40.60 |
|
$63
|
|
$ |
42.96 |
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|
$ |
41.26 |
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$ |
44.10 |
|
EXAMPLE 4
Shareholders Making Mixed Election 10%
Shareholders Making Stock Election 80%
Shareholders Making Cash Election 10%
|
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|
Price per Share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of ALLTEL |
|
Value of Mixed | |
|
Value of Cash | |
|
Value of Stock | |
Common Stock |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
Election per Share | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
$52
|
|
$ |
37.07 |
|
|
$ |
40.00 |
|
|
$ |
36.89 |
|
$57
|
|
$ |
39.75 |
|
|
$ |
40.00 |
|
|
$ |
39.92 |
|
$58
|
|
$ |
40.28 |
|
|
$ |
40.00 |
|
|
$ |
40.52 |
|
$63
|
|
$ |
42.96 |
|
|
$ |
40.00 |
|
|
$ |
43.55 |
|
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|
Explanation of Potential Adjustment to Merger
Consideration |
As a company listed on the NYSE, ALLTEL is required to obtain
shareholder approval before it may issue a number of shares of
its common stock that equals or exceeds 20% of the total number
of shares of its common stock outstanding. ALLTEL and Western
Wireless agreed on January 9, 2005 that if, as a result of
any inadvertent error in the calculation of the basic
consideration in the merger of $9.25 (the per share cash
amount) and 0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock (the
mixed election stock exchange ratio) per share of
Western Wireless common stock, the amount of ALLTEL common stock
to be issued in connection with the merger would equal or exceed
20% of the total number of shares of its common stock
outstanding, thereby requiring a vote of the shareholders of
ALLTEL under the applicable rules of the NYSE, then the per
share cash amount and the mixed election stock exchange ratio
and any other similarly dependent items, as the case may be,
will be equitably adjusted to ensure that no such vote of ALLTEL
shareholders is required. However, it is now clear that this
adjustment will not be triggered as the issuance by ALLTEL of
its common stock to Western Wireless shareholders in the merger
will not exceed the 20% threshold. On May 17, 2005, in
connection with the settlement of the purchase contracts
underlying the ALLTEL equity units issued during 2002, ALLTEL
issued approximately 24.5 million shares of its common
stock. Taking into account this issuance, it is anticipated that
ALLTEL will issue up to an aggregate of approximately
59.3 million shares of its common stock to Western Wireless
shareholders pursuant to the merger agreement, representing
approximately 15% of the shares of ALLTEL common stock
outstanding immediately prior to the merger.
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|
Other Potential Adjustments |
The amount and form of the merger consideration will be adjusted
in the event that before the completion of the merger any change
in the outstanding shares of capital stock of ALLTEL or Western
Wireless occurs as a result of any reclassification,
recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock
63
split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or
any stock dividend or stock distribution with a record date
during such period.
You will not be entitled to receive any fractional shares of
ALLTEL common stock. Instead, you will be entitled to receive
cash, without interest, for any fractional share of ALLTEL
common stock you might otherwise have been entitled to receive
based on the closing price of the ALLTEL common stock on the
date the merger occurs.
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Federal Income Tax Consequences |
The federal income tax consequences of the merger to Western
Wireless shareholders will depend on whether they receive cash,
ALLTEL common stock or a combination of cash and ALLTEL common
stock. See The Merger Material United States
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger.
Conversion of Shares; Exchange Agent; Form of Election;
Procedures for Exchange of Certificates; Fractional Shares
At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding share of
Western Wireless common stock (other than shares held by ALLTEL
or Merger Sub and shareholders who properly exercise their
dissenters rights) will automatically convert into the
right to receive the merger consideration. Following the merger,
ALLTEL will cause the merger consideration to be provided to the
exchange agent. ALLTEL has appointed Computershare Trust Company
of New York to act as exchange agent for the merger.
The merger agreement provides that at the time this proxy
statement/ prospectus is made available to shareholders, Western
Wireless shareholders will be provided with a form of election
and other appropriate and customary transmittal materials. Each
form of election will allow the holder to make its merger
consideration election. The exchange agent will also make
available forms of election to holders of Western Wireless
common stock who request the form of election prior to the
election deadline, which we will announce before the expected
completion of the merger. Holders of Western Wireless common
stock who wish to elect the type of merger consideration they
will receive in the merger should carefully review and follow
the instructions set forth in the form of election. Shareholders
who hold their shares in street name should follow
their brokers instructions for making an election with
respect to such shares.
To make an election, a holder of Western Wireless common stock
must submit a properly completed form of election, together with
stock certificates, so that it is actually received by the
exchange agent at or prior to the election deadline in
accordance with the instructions on the form of election. Shares
of Western Wireless common stock as to which the holder has not
made a valid election prior to the election deadline will be
deemed to have elected to receive $9.25 cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock in exchange for each of
his or her shares of Western Wireless common stock.
A form of election will be properly completed only if
accompanied by certificates representing all shares of Western
Wireless common stock covered by the form of election. If a
shareholder cannot deliver his or her stock certificates to the
exchange agent by the election deadline, a shareholder may
deliver a notice of guaranteed delivery promising to deliver his
or her stock certificates, as described in the form of election.
Once Western Wireless shareholders deliver their form of
election and stock certificates to the exchange agent, they may
not transfer their Western Wireless shares, unless they revoke
their election by written notice to the exchange agent that is
received prior to the election deadline.
Generally, an election may be revoked or changed, but only by
written notice received by the exchange agent prior to the
election deadline. If an election is revoked, or the merger
agreement is terminated, and certificates have been transmitted
to the exchange agent, the exchange agent will promptly return
those certificates to the shareholder who submitted those
certificates. Western Wireless shareholders will not be entitled
to revoke or change their elections following the election
deadline. As a result, shareholders who have made elections will
be unable to revoke their elections or sell their shares of
64
Western Wireless common stock during the interval between the
election deadline and the date of completion of the merger.
Soon after the completion of the merger, the exchange agent will
send a letter of transmittal to only those persons who were
Western Wireless shareholders at the effective time of the
merger and who have not previously submitted a form of election
and properly surrendered shares of Western Wireless common stock
to the exchange agent. This mailing will contain instructions on
how to surrender shares of Western Wireless common stock (if
these shares have not already been surrendered) in exchange for
the merger consideration the holder is entitled to receive under
the merger agreement.
After the effective time of the merger, each certificate that
previously represented shares of Western Wireless common stock
(other than certificates held by ALLTEL or Merger Sub and
shareholders who properly exercise their dissenters
rights) will represent only the right to receive the merger
consideration. The merger consideration also will include cash
payable in lieu of fractional shares of ALLTEL common stock and
dividends or other distributions on ALLTEL common stock with
record dates after the effective time of the merger.
Those certificates previously representing Western Wireless
common stock may only be paid whole shares of ALLTEL common
stock, dividends or other distributions payable on whole shares
of ALLTEL common stock and the cash consideration to be received
pursuant to the merger (including any cash in lieu of any
fractional shares) after surrender of those certificates to the
exchange agent. No interest will be paid or will accrue on the
cash payable upon surrender of those certificates.
If there is a transfer of ownership of Western Wireless common
stock that is not registered in the transfer records of Western
Wireless, exchange and payment may be made to the transferee if
the certificate representing those shares of Western Wireless
common stock is presented to the exchange agent, accompanied by
all documents required to evidence and effect the transfer and
to evidence that any applicable stock transfer and other taxes
have been paid.
ALLTEL will not issue any fractional shares of ALLTEL common
stock to any Western Wireless shareholder upon surrender of its
certificates. In addition, no dividend or distribution of ALLTEL
will relate to fractional share interests and the fractional
share interest will not entitle the owner to vote or to any
rights of a shareholder of ALLTEL. In lieu of the issuance of
fractional shares, ALLTEL will deliver to the exchange agent
cash in order to pay each former holder of Western Wireless
common stock an amount in cash equal to the product obtained by
multiplying the fractional share interest to which the former
holder (after taking into account all shares of Western Wireless
common stock held at the effective time of the merger by the
holder) would otherwise be entitled by the closing price of the
ALLTEL common stock on the effective date of the merger.
Shares of Western Wireless common stock owned by ALLTEL or
Merger Sub will be cancelled in the merger without payment of
any merger consideration.
Effective Time
The merger will become effective at the time the articles of
merger relating to the merger are filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Washington or such later time as is agreed
upon by the parties and specified in the articles of merger. The
filing of the articles of merger will take place only after the
fulfillment or waiver of the conditions described below under
the heading Merger Agreement Conditions to the
Merger.
Management and Organizational Documents after the Merger
Management. The manager and the officers of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the merger will become the initial manager
and officers of the surviving company immediately following the
merger. Each such individual will hold office in accordance with
the limited liability company agreement of the surviving company.
65
Organizational Documents. The certificate of formation of
Merger Sub immediately prior to the merger will be the
certificate of formation of the surviving company immediately
following the merger, except that the certificate of formation
of the surviving company will be amended to reflect the name
Western Wireless (or a variation thereof) as the
name of the surviving company. The limited liability company
agreement of Merger Sub immediately prior to the merger will be
the limited liability company agreement of the surviving company
immediately following the merger.
Representations and Warranties
The merger agreement contains a number of representations and
warranties made by the parties to each other, including those
regarding:
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due organization, good standing and qualification; |
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capital structure; |
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authority to enter into the merger agreement and no conflicts
with or violations of governance documents, contracts or laws; |
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documents filed with the SEC and financial statements; |
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establishment and maintenance of internal controls and
procedures; |
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no undisclosed liabilities; |
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compliance with applicable laws; |
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possession of required licenses and regulatory approvals; |
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compliance with environmental laws; |
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employee benefit plan matters and other employment matters; |
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conduct of business in the ordinary course since
December 31, 2003, and no event has occurred which would
have a material adverse effect; |
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no litigation or investigations; |
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accuracy of information supplied in connection with this proxy
statement/ prospectus and the registration statement of which it
is a part; |
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no ownership of ALLTEL common stock by Western Wireless or
Western Wireless common stock by ALLTEL; |
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tax matters; |
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labor matters; |
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intellectual property; |
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material contracts; |
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domestic communications regulatory matters; |
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inapplicability of state takeover statutes; |
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no affiliate transactions; and |
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finders or brokers fees. |
In addition, Western Wireless made representations and
warranties to ALLTEL as to:
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no shareholder rights plan; |
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the receipt of a fairness opinion from a financial advisor; |
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required shareholder vote; and |
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foreign communications regulatory matters. |
ALLTEL also represented and warranted to Western Wireless that
no vote of ALLTEL shareholders is required in connection with
the merger.
In addition, the merger agreement contains representations and
warranties made by Merger Sub to Western Wireless regarding
certain of the matters listed above.
Certain of Western Wireless and ALLTELs
representations and warranties are qualified as to materiality
or material adverse effect. When used with respect
to Western Wireless or ALLTEL, material adverse
effect means the following:
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such state of facts, event, change or effect that has had a
material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial
condition of Western Wireless and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole or of ALLTEL and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as
the case may be. |
Facts, events, changes, effects, or developments will not be
deemed a material adverse effect with respect to
Western Wireless or ALLTEL, as the case may be, if such facts,
events, changes, effects, or developments:
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generally affect the rural, regional or nationwide wireless
voice and data industry in the United States or in other
countries in which Western Wireless or its subsidiaries conduct
business, including regulatory and political developments; |
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generally affect the economy or financial markets in the United
States or in other countries in which Western Wireless or its
subsidiaries conduct business; or |
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result from the announcement or the existence of the merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. |
Covenants
Conduct of Business Pending Merger. Western Wireless has
agreed that until the effective time of the merger it will
conduct its business in the ordinary course of business, use its
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact
its business organizations and goodwill, keep available the
services of those of its officers, employees and consultants who
are integral to the operation of its business as presently
conducted, and preserve its present relationships with
significant customers, suppliers and other persons with whom it
has significant business relations.
In addition, Western Wireless has agreed that until the merger
is completed, Western Wireless and its subsidiaries will not
take the actions listed in the merger agreement, which include
the following actions, without ALLTELs prior written
consent, except under limited circumstances specified in the
merger agreement:
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authorize or pay any dividends on, or make any distribution with
respect to, its outstanding capital stock, or permit any
subsidiary that is not wholly-owned to authorize or pay any such
dividends or make any such distributions; |
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split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue
or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its
capital stock; |
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increase compensation, severance or other benefits payable to
its directors, officers or employees; |
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grant severance or termination pay to employees or enter into
severance agreements with, or settle employment claims by,
employees; |
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enter into employment agreements with directors or officers; |
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establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective bargaining
agreement, plan, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the
benefit of current or former directors, officers or employees or
their beneficiaries; |
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enter into or make loans to officers, directors, employees,
affiliates, agents or consultants or make changes in any
existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of
such persons; |
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materially change accounting policies or procedures or any of
its methods of reporting income, deductions or other material
items for income tax purposes; |
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approve or authorize actions for submission for shareholder
approval that is intended or would reasonably be expected to
prevent, delay or adversely affect the consummation of the
merger; |
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authorize, propose or announce an intention to authorize or
propose, or enter into agreements with respect to, mergers,
consolidations or business combinations or acquisitions of
assets or securities with a value or purchase price in the
aggregate in excess of $100 million or which would
reasonably be expected to have the effect of delaying,
preventing, or reducing the likelihood of consummation of the
merger or obtaining regulatory or other consents or approvals
contemplated by the merger agreement; |
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amend its articles of incorporation or by-laws; |
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issue, sell, pledge, dispose or encumber its capital stock,
other ownership interests, or any securities or rights
convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares or
ownership interests or permit or authorize any of the above,
other than, among other things, in connection with (i) the
exercise of stock options outstanding on January 9, 2005
and (ii) the conversion of Western Wireless
outstanding publicly traded convertible notes; |
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grant, confer or award options, warrants, convertible securities
or other rights to acquire shares of its capital stock or take
any action to cause to be exercisable any otherwise
non-exercisable option under an existing stock option plan; |
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purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its capital stock, or any
rights, warrants or options to acquire its capital stock; |
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repurchase, redeem or repay certain outstanding notes of Western
Wireless; |
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incur, assume, guarantee, prepay or otherwise become liable for
any indebtedness for borrowed money; |
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make loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any other person or entity; |
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sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or
otherwise encumber (including securitizations), or subject to
any lien or otherwise dispose of, any material portion of its
properties or assets, including the capital stock of its
subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; |
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make or change any material tax election, settle or compromise
any material tax liability, claim or assessment or change its
fiscal year; |
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modify, amend, terminate or waive any rights under any material
contract in any material respect; |
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enter into any material contracts; |
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adopt any shareholder rights plan, poison pill or
similar anti-takeover device; or |
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agree to take any of the actions listed above. |
ALLTEL has agreed that until the effective time of the merger it
will conduct its business in the ordinary course of business,
use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve
substantially intact its business organizations and goodwill,
keep available the services of those of its officers, employees
and consultants who are integral to the operation of its
business as presently conducted, and preserve its present
relationships with significant customers, suppliers and other
persons with whom it has significant business relations.
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In addition, ALLTEL has agreed that until the merger is
completed, ALLTEL and its subsidiaries will not take the actions
listed in the merger agreement, which include the following
actions, without Western Wireless prior written consent,
except under limited circumstances specified in the merger
agreement:
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authorize or pay any dividends on, or make any distributions
with respect to, its outstanding capital stock, or permit any
subsidiary that is not wholly-owned to authorize or pay any such
dividends or make any such distributions, except that ALLTEL may
continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends on its common
and preferred stock consistent with past practice in timing and
amount (including customary increases); |
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purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its capital stock, or any
rights, warrants or options to acquire its capital stock, except
in accordance with ALLTELs repurchase program consistent
with past practice; |
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split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue
or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its
capital stock; |
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materially change accounting policies or procedures or any of
its methods of reporting income, deductions or other material
items for income tax purposes; |
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issue any shares of ALLTEL capital stock or repurchase, redeem
or cause to cease to be issued and outstanding any shares of
ALLTEL common stock if, in either case, the taking of such
action would give rise to a vote of ALLTELs shareholders
with respect to the merger or the issuance of ALLTEL common
stock pursuant to the merger agreement; |
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authorize, propose or announce an intention to authorize or
propose, or enter into agreements with respect to any mergers,
consolidations, business combinations or acquisitions of assets
or securities with a value or purchase price in the aggregate in
excess of $750 million or which would reasonably be
expected to have the effect of delaying, preventing, or reducing
the likelihood of consummation of the merger or obtaining
regulatory or other consents or approvals contemplated by the
merger agreement; |
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amend ALLTELs articles of incorporation or by-laws or the
certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement
of Merger Sub; |
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issue, sell, pledge, dispose or encumber its capital stock,
other ownership interests or any securities or rights
convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares or
ownership interests, or permit or authorize any of the above,
other than, among other things, in connection with (i) the
exercise of stock options outstanding on January 9, 2005
and (ii) compensation or retention of employees in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
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sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange, swap, mortgage or
encumber (including securitizations), or subject to any lien or
dispose of properties or assets relating to its wireless
telephony service business, including the capital stock of its
subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; |
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make or change any material tax election, settle or compromise
any material tax liability, claim or assessment or change its
fiscal year; or |
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agree to take any of the actions listed above. |
Tax-Free Reorganization Treatment. Both ALLTEL and
Western Wireless are required to use all reasonable efforts to
cause the merger to qualify as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and neither party may
permit, take or cause to be taken any action that would result
in the merger failing to qualify as such a reorganization.
Investigation. The merger agreement requires ALLTEL and
Western Wireless to provide to the other party reasonable access
to its properties, contracts, commitments, books and records and
any report,
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schedule or other document filed or received by it pursuant to
the requirements of federal or state securities laws and to
promptly furnish to one another additional financial and
operating data and other information as reasonably requested.
Any such information received by either party will be treated in
accordance with a confidentiality agreement executed between
ALLTEL and Western Wireless.
No Solicitation. The merger agreement precludes Western
Wireless, its subsidiaries, officers, employees, accountants,
consultants, legal counsel, financial advisors and agents and
other representatives from directly or indirectly soliciting,
initiating, encouraging, knowingly facilitating or inducing any
inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or
announcement of, any Company Alternative Proposal,
which is defined in the merger agreement as any bona fide
proposal or offer made by any person prior to the approval and
adoption of the merger agreement and the merger by Western
Wireless shareholders, for:
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the acquisition of Western Wireless by merger or business
combination transaction, or for a merger of equals
with Western Wireless; |
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the acquisition by any person of twenty percent (20%) or more of
the assets of Western Wireless and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole; or |
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the acquisition by any person of twenty percent (20%) or more of
the outstanding shares of Western Wireless common stock. |
The merger agreement also prohibits Western Wireless and its
representatives from participating in any negotiations
regarding, or furnishing to any person any nonpublic information
with respect to, any such proposal or in response to any
inquiries or proposals that may reasonably be expected to lead
to any such proposal. In addition, neither Western Wireless nor
its representatives may have any discussions with any person
relating to any such proposal, or approve, endorse or recommend
any such proposal, or enter into any letter of intent or similar
agreement or commitment with respect to any such proposal.
However, the merger agreement provides that if, prior to the
approval and adoption by Western Wireless shareholders of
the merger agreement and the merger, Western Wireless receives a
Company Alternative Proposal which constitutes a Company
Superior Proposal, or which the board of directors of
Western Wireless determines in good faith, after consultation
with its outside financial and legal advisors, could reasonably
be expected to result in a Company Superior Proposal, Western
Wireless may furnish nonpublic information to the third party
making such Company Superior Proposal (subject to Western
Wireless entering into a confidentiality agreement with such
third party and concurrently furnishing a copy of such nonpublic
information to ALLTEL) and engage in discussions or negotiations
with such third party with respect to the Company Superior
Proposal. The merger agreement defines a Company Superior
Proposal as a bona fide Company Alternative
Proposal made by any person, which has not been obtained
by or on behalf of Western Wireless in violation of its
obligations under the merger agreement, on terms that the
Western Wireless board determines in good faith, after
consultation with its financial and legal advisors, and
considering such factors as the Western Wireless board considers
to be appropriate (including the conditionality and timing of
such proposal), are more favorable to Western Wireless and its
shareholders than the merger with ALLTEL.
The merger agreement also provides that Western Wireless must
provide notice to ALLTEL of its intentions to enter into
discussions or provide nonpublic information in connection with
the Company Superior Proposal. Beginning forty-eight hours after
delivery of such notice, in response to the receipt of a Company
Superior Proposal the Western Wireless board may change,
withhold or withdraw its recommendation to the Western Wireless
shareholders that they approve the merger with ALLTEL if the
Western Wireless board concludes in good faith, after
consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to
change its recommendation to the Western Wireless shareholders
would be reasonably likely to result in a breach by the
directors of their fiduciary obligations under applicable law.
The merger agreement also provides that, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, the obligation of Western Wireless to hold a
meeting of its shareholders to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger shall not be limited or otherwise
affected by the commencement, disclosure, announcement or
submission to it of any Company Alternative Proposal (whether or
not it is a Company Superior
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Proposal), or by any change, withholding or withdrawal of the
Western Wireless boards recommendation that the Western
Wireless shareholders approve the merger.
Proxy Material; Registration Statement. ALLTEL and
Western Wireless agreed to prepare this proxy statement/
prospectus and the registration statement on Form S-4 of
which it is a part, and to file them with the SEC and use all
reasonable efforts to have the proxy statement cleared by the
SEC and the registration statement declared effective by the
SEC. This proxy statement/ prospectus and the registration
statement will (subject to certain exceptions) include the
recommendation of Western Wireless board of directors that
Western Wireless shareholders approve and adopt the merger
agreement. ALLTEL is required to take all necessary actions as
may be required under state blue sky or securities laws and is
required to file listing applications covering the shares to be
issued in the merger with the NYSE and such other stock
exchanges as shall be agreed upon.
Both ALLTEL and Western Wireless are required to cooperate with
each other to obtain written opinions from their respective
legal counsel to the effect that the merger will be treated as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code and that ALLTEL and Western Wireless each will be treated
as a party to the reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(b) of the Code. ALLTEL and Western Wireless
agreed that ALLTEL may convert Merger Sub from a limited
liability company to an entity treated as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes if ALLTEL determines that such
change would result in significant tax savings and will neither
adversely effect the tax treatment of Western Wireless
shareholders nor prevent the issuance of a written legal opinion
concerning favorable tax treatment of the merger as a
reorganization.
Western Wireless was required under the terms of the merger
agreement to mail this proxy statement/ prospectus to its
shareholders as promptly as practicable after the registration
statement was declared effective. The merger agreement also
requires Western Wireless to call and hold a meeting of its
shareholders as promptly as practicable following the
effectiveness of the registration statement and mailing of the
proxy statement in order to obtain the approval of Western
Wireless shareholders. Additionally, subject to certain
limitations and certain fiduciary duty considerations, Western
Wireless has agreed to recommend that Western Wireless
shareholders vote in favor of approval and adoption of the
merger agreement and the merger and take all reasonable and
lawful action to solicit and obtain such approval and adoption.
See Covenants No
Solicitation.
Except as may be permitted by the merger agreement, Western
Wireless board of directors may not withdraw or modify, in
a manner adverse to ALLTEL, the recommendation of its board of
directors that Western Wireless shareholders approve and
adopt the merger agreement.
ALLTEL has agreed to have the shares of ALLTEL common stock to
be issued in connection with the merger approved for listing on
the NYSE.
Affiliate Agreements. Western Wireless was required to
deliver to ALLTEL a list setting forth the names and addresses
of all persons who are, at the time of the annual meeting, in
the Western Wireless reasonable judgment,
affiliates of Western Wireless for purposes of
Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933. In accordance
with the merger agreement, Western Wireless caused each person
identified as an affiliate in such list to execute a
written agreement in a form specified in the merger agreement
regarding securities laws restrictions on resale of shares
received in the merger.
Stock Options; Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Employee
Matters; Retention Pool; and Severance Program. At the
effective time, each outstanding unexpired and unexercised
option to purchase a share of Western Wireless common
stock under certain option plans will be converted into an
option to purchase a fraction of a share of ALLTEL common stock
equal to the sum of (i) 0.535, plus (ii) the fraction
resulting from dividing $9.25 by the closing price of ALLTEL
common stock on the NYSE on the last trading day preceding the
closing of the merger. The other terms of Western Wireless
common stock options will continue to apply according to their
terms, including, without limitation, any provisions for the
acceleration of vesting resulting from the consummation of the
merger (or any subsequent termination of employment) pursuant to
such existing terms and conditions. Under Western Wireless
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existing stock option agreements with its directors and certain
of its officers, if during the one year period following
completion of the merger the optionees employment is
involuntarily terminated for any reason other than death,
disability or cause, or the optionee terminates his or her
employment for good reason, the optionees options will, to
the extent not already vested, become fully vested and
exercisable. The stock option agreements define good
reason as: (i) the assignment to optionee of duties,
or limitation of the optionees responsibilities,
inconsistent with his or her title, position, duties,
responsibilities and status with Western Wireless immediately
prior to the completion of the merger, (ii) the failure to
pay, or reduction in, the optionees compensation,
(iii) the relocation of the optionees place of
employment, and (iv) the breach by the optionor of any
material provision of the option agreement. Under the foregoing
terms of the existing option agreements all unvested options of
Western Wireless directors and executive officers would
generally be accelerated upon or shortly after the merger.
Accordingly, Western Wireless and ALLTEL agreed in the merger
agreement that Western Wireless would be permitted to amend the
existing stock option agreements with directors and executive
officers to provide explicitly that all of their options will,
to the extent not already vested, become fully vested and
exercisable immediately prior to the merger, and the
Compensation Committee of Western Wireless board of
directors has so amended these stock option agreements. Western
Wireless and ALLTEL also agreed in the merger agreement that
Western Wireless would be permitted to amend the existing stock
option agreements with all other Western Wireless option holders
(covering up to 450,000 options) to provide that the
optionees options will, to the extent not already vested,
become fully vested and exercisable for any optionee whose
employment is terminated as a result of layoffs or reductions in
force in connection with and within one year following the
merger. The Compensation Committee of Western Wireless
board of directors has so amended these stock option agreements.
ALLTEL will reserve for issuance the number of shares of ALLTEL
common stock that will become subject to the converted options.
ALLTEL will issue to each holder of a Western Wireless common
stock option converted to an ALLTEL common stock option a
document evidencing the assumption by ALLTEL, and ALLTEL will
file a registration statement on Form S-8 related to such
converted options.
Western Wireless will take all actions necessary under the terms
of its employee stock purchase plan to (i) shorten the
offering period so that it terminates before the effective time
of the merger, (ii) ensure that no offering periods begin
after such time, (iii) permit participants to exercise,
immediately before the effective time of the merger, any then
existing purchase rights under the plan and (iv) refund to
employee stock purchase plan participants the funds that remain
in the participants accounts after such purchase. Western
Wireless will terminate the employee stock purchase plan at the
effective time of the merger.
ALLTEL will honor all Western Wireless benefit plans and
compensation arrangements and agreements in accordance with
their terms as in effect immediately before the effective time
of the merger. For a period of one year following the effective
time of the merger, ALLTEL will provide to current and former
employees of Western Wireless and its subsidiaries welfare,
compensation and employee benefits plans, programs and
arrangements that are not less favorable in the aggregate than
those provided to Western Wireless employees before the
effective time. Following such one year period, Western Wireless
employees will receive compensation and benefits pursuant to the
welfare, compensation and employee benefit plans, programs and
arrangements of ALLTEL then in effect.
For purposes of vesting, eligibility and level of benefits, each
Western Wireless employee will be credited with his or her years
of service with Western Wireless and its subsidiaries before the
effective time of the merger, to the same extent as the Western
Wireless employee was entitled, before the effective time, to
credit for such service. Each Western Wireless employee will be
immediately eligible to participate, without any waiting time,
in any and all ALLTEL employee benefit plans to the extent the
coverage under such ALLTEL employee benefit plans is comparable
to Western Wireless employee benefit plan or compensation
arrangement or agreements in which the employee participated.
Western Wireless may provide a $20 million retention pool
for the purpose of retaining the services of key Western
Wireless employees. Pursuant to this provision of the merger
agreement, on February 8, 2005 Western Wireless adopted a
Retention Bonus Plan with an aggregate payout amount of
$20 million. Under the Retention Bonus Plan, executive
officers of Western Wireless will be eligible to receive a cash
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retention bonus equal to 12 months of their monthly base
salary, 50% of which will be paid at the next payroll period
after the completion of the merger and 50% of which will be paid
at the next payroll period following the date that is six months
thereafter subject to the executive officers continued
employment with ALLTEL or Western Wireless through such dates.
However, Western Wireless five most senior executive
officers (its chairman and chief executive officer, two vice
chairmen, its president and its president
international) will not participate in the Retention Bonus Plan.
The Retention Bonus Plan provides other employees with cash
retention bonuses of varying amounts payable at different
intervals. Most participants in the Retention Bonus Plan will
receive as cash retention bonuses the greater of $3,000 or one
months salary for staying through the closing of the
merger, to be paid at the next payroll period following the
closing. Participants involved in customer care will be paid the
greater of $5,000 or three months salary, to be paid 50% at the
next payroll period following the closing and 50% at the next
payroll period following the six month anniversary of the
closing, subject to the participants continued employment
through such dates. Approximately 400 key managers (including
executive officers) will be paid three, six or twelve months
salary to be paid 50% at the next payroll period following the
closing and 50% at the next payroll period following the six
month anniversary of the closing, subject to the
participants continued employment through such dates. The
retention bonuses will be paid regardless of whether the merger
is consummated. If the merger agreement is terminated, executive
officers, other key manager participants and customer care
participants will be paid 50% of their retention bonus at the
next payroll period after the one-month anniversary of the
termination and 50% at the next payroll after the seven-month
anniversary of the termination, and other participants will be
paid 100% of their retention bonus at the next payroll period
after the 1-month anniversary of the termination.
If the employment of a participant in the Retention Bonus Plan
is terminated by Western Wireless or its successor without cause
or terminated by the participant for good reason (defined in the
Retention Bonus Plan as a failure to pay, or a reduction in, the
participants compensation, or a relocation of the
participants place of employment) or terminated as a
result of death or disability, prior to the scheduled payment
date of any retention bonus to which the participant would
otherwise have been entitled if the participant had remained
employed until such payment date, the participant will receive
the full amount of his or her cash retention bonus at the next
payroll period after such termination of employment.
Participants who voluntarily resign without good reason or whose
employment is terminated for cause will not receive any cash
retention bonus that had not already been paid. ALLTEL has
agreed to honor the terms of the Retention Bonus Plan following
the completion the merger. The Retention Bonus Plan provides
that any portion of the retention pool that is forfeited by a
participant as a result of termination of employment may be
reallocated by the administrator to remaining participants or
key employees as the administrator may determine after
consultation with ALLTEL. The Retention Bonus Plan will be
administered by John W. Stanton, Western Wireless chairman
and chief executive officer, or his designee.
ALLTEL will honor Western Wireless severance program (set
forth in a Severance Plan adopted by Western Wireless on
February 8, 2005) under which all employees as of
January 10, 2005 will be entitled to certain benefits in
the event of a qualifying termination of their employment during
the two year period immediately following the closing of the
merger. Under the Severance Plan, the severance payments for
executive officers and other participants at the position levels
of senior vice president and above will generally be equal to
one year of such executive officers total compensation
(base salary and target bonus). Other employees would receive
one month of total compensation per year of service with Western
Wireless, with a minimum payment equal to three months of
compensation and a maximum payment of one year of compensation.
Severance payments will be paid if the employment of a
participant is terminated by Western Wireless or its successor
without cause or terminated by the participant for good reason
(defined in the Severance Plan as a failure to pay, or a
reduction in, the participants compensation, or a
relocation of the participants place of employment) during
the two year period following the closing of the merger.
Participants who voluntarily resign without good reason or whose
employment is terminated for cause will not receive any
severance payments. Prior to the adoption of the Severance Plan,
Western Wireless had no company-wide severance plan in place,
but certain employees of Western Wireless, including certain
executive officers, were, and continue to be, party to
individual employment agreements with Western Wireless which
provide for severance pay. If a Severance Plan participant is
entitled to
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greater benefits under any agreement with Western Wireless which
provides for severance pay, he or she would be paid in
accordance with such agreement and not under the Severance Plan.
None of the executive officers or other employees who have
employment agreements with Western Wireless are entitled to
severance payments of greater than one year of total
compensation under such employment agreements. ALLTEL has agreed
to honor the Severance Plan following the merger. No severance
payments will be made under the Severance Plan in the event the
merger is not consummated. Mr. Stanton (or his designee)
will also administer the Severance Plan.
Notification of Certain Matters. Each of ALLTEL and
Western Wireless are required to notify the other party of any
events which would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on it or cause certain conditions set forth in
the merger agreement to be unsatisfied. In addition, each of
ALLTEL and Western Wireless are required to notify the other
party of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation
pending or threatened, which questions or challenges the
validity of the merger agreement.
Filings; Other Action. Both ALLTEL and Western Wireless
will take all actions, and do and assist and cooperate in doing
all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective the merger, including, without limitation, the
obtaining of all necessary actions or non-actions, waivers,
consents, approvals, permits and authorizations, and the making
of all necessary registrations and filings (including, without
limitation, filings pursuant to the HSR Act and applications for
FCC consent to the transfer of licenses), and the defending of
any lawsuits or other legal proceedings. ALLTEL and Western
Wireless are to use all reasonable efforts to resolve any
objections or challenges from a regulatory authority. In no
event will ALLTEL be required to, nor will Western Wireless be
permitted to, agree to any condition imposed by a regulator that
would require ALLTEL to divest itself of any businesses, assets
or product lines, including any businesses, assets or product
lines it acquires from Western Wireless following completion of
the merger, except that ALLTEL is required to, and Western
Wireless is permitted to, agree to divest spectrum licenses or
systems assets of itself or any of its subsidiaries, and agree
to the imposition of any limitation upon such licenses, assets
or operations, in any service area in which there is a spectrum
overlap where at least one of the parties or their respective
subsidiaries holds a cellular license in the 850 MHz
spectrum band. In connection with the foregoing, subject to the
requirements of the relevant regulator in connection with the
foregoing, solely as between ALLTEL and Western Wireless, ALLTEL
has the right to determine which assets are divested or which
licenses become subject to limitation and make all
determinations with respect to the terms of any such divestiture
or limitation, provided that neither ALLTEL nor Western
Wireless, nor any of their respective subsidiaries shall be
required to make any divestiture or agree to any limitation that
is not conditioned upon occurrence of the closing of the merger.
Anti-Takeover Statute. If any anti-takeover statute or
regulation becomes applicable to the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement, each of ALLTEL and Western Wireless
will grant approvals and take actions reasonably necessary to
promptly consummate the merger under the terms of the merger
agreement or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation.
Public Announcements. Both ALLTEL and Western Wireless
will provide each other the opportunity to review and comment on
any press release or other public statement or comment before
the issuance of such press release or other public statement.
Directors and Officers Insurance;
Indemnification. Under the terms of the merger agreement,
ALLTEL and Merger Sub have agreed that all rights to exculpation
and indemnification for acts or omissions occurring prior to the
merger as provided in Western Wireless articles of
incorporation or by-laws, or in any agreement, in favor of
persons who are or were directors, officers or employees of
Western Wireless or its subsidiaries, will survive for a period
of six years following the merger and ALLTEL and Merger Sub will
maintain these current provisions regarding indemnification in
effect for six years. ALLTEL and Merger Sub also agreed that for
a period of six years following the merger, ALLTEL and Merger
Sub will indemnify the current and former directors, officers or
employees of Western Wireless to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law. The merger agreement further requires that, for
six years following the effective time of the merger, subject to
certain limitations, Merger Sub maintain coverage
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under a director and officer liability insurance policy, with
respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on
or before the effective time of the merger, at a level at least
equal to that which Western Wireless or its subsidiaries is
maintaining prior to the merger, except that for any policy
year, Merger Sub will not be required to pay, with respect to
such insurance policies, more than 200% of the annual premium
paid by Western Wireless for such insurance for the year ending
December 31, 2005.
Accountants Comfort Letters. Each of
ALLTEL and Western will use commercially reasonable efforts to
cause to be delivered to each other in connection with this
proxy statement/ prospectus and the registration statement on
Form S-4 of which it is a part, letters from their
respective independent accountants in customary scope for
comfort letters delivered for this purpose.
Additional Reports and Information. ALLTEL and Western
Wireless are each required to use all reasonable efforts to
implement programs and take steps in order to comply with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in accordance with
all applicable deadlines. Both parties are required to furnish
to the other copies of certain reports filed with the SEC.
Western Wireless is required to provide ALLTEL with copies of
drafts of each Western Wireless Form 10-Q for periods
ending prior to the merger.
If required as part of any ALLTEL SEC filing and requested by
ALLTEL, Western Wireless will use all reasonable efforts to
provide audited and unaudited financial statements and assist in
obtaining any necessary independent accountants consents.
Section 16 Matters. Prior to the effective time of
the merger, ALLTEL and Western Wireless are required to use all
reasonable efforts to approve in advance using applicable
procedures any dispositions of Western Wireless common stock or
acquisitions of ALLTEL common stock resulting from the merger by
each officer or director of ALLTEL and Western Wireless who is
subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 with respect to equity securities of ALLTEL or Western
Wireless.
Control of Operations. Nothing contained in the merger
agreement gives ALLTEL the right to control or direct Western
Wireless operations prior to the effective time of the
merger.
Internal Controls and Procedures. Western Wireless is
required to deliver to ALLTEL copies of any notices received
from its independent auditor of any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses in Western Wireless internal control
over financial reporting. Western Wireless is required to use
all reasonable efforts to continue implementing programs
necessary to effect compliance with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Real Estate Transfer Taxes. Any liability arising out of
any real estate transfer tax with respect to interests in real
property owned directly or indirectly by Western Wireless and
its subsidiaries will be borne by either Merger Sub as the
surviving company or ALLTEL and will not be a liability of
Western Wireless shareholders.
ALLTEL Covenant Concerning Subsidiary Indebtedness.
ALLTEL covenants that prior to the effective time of the merger
it will take certain actions to ensure that no violation of the
subsidiary indebtedness covenant contained in its credit
agreement will occur or be continuing as a result of the merger.
Conditions to the Merger
The obligations of each party to complete the merger are
conditioned upon the other partys representations and
warranties being true and correct, subject to certain
exceptions, and the other party having complied in all material
respects with such partys covenants. In addition, among
other things, ALLTELs and Western Wireless
obligations are conditioned on:
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the approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger
by Western Wireless shareholders; |
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the absence of any statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction prohibiting the consummation of the
merger; |
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the continuing effectiveness of the registration statement of
which this proxy statement/ prospectus forms a part; |
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the approval of the shares of ALLTEL common stock to be issued
in connection with the merger for listing on the NYSE; |
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the termination or expiration of the applicable waiting periods
pursuant to the HSR Act; |
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the obtaining of any other regulatory approvals of Western
Wireless or ALLTEL required to be obtained for the consummation
of the merger, other than regulatory approvals the failure to
obtain which would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on
Western Wireless or ALLTEL; |
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the obtaining of all necessary FCC approvals and consents, other
than any such consents the failure to obtain which would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
Western Wireless or ALLTEL, on terms which, subject to certain
exceptions described under the heading The Merger
Agreement Covenants Filings; Other
Actions, would not require ALLTEL to divest itself of any
businesses, assets or product lines; and |
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the receipt by each of ALLTEL and Western Wireless, from its
respective legal counsel, of an opinion substantially to the
effect that the merger will be treated as a reorganization under
section 368(a) of the Code. |
In addition, ALLTELs obligation to complete the merger is
also conditioned on the absence, since January 9, 2005, of
any events, occurrences, developments, circumstances or facts
that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on Western Wireless following the date of the agreement,
except for such circumstances or facts disclosed to ALLTEL prior
to the date of the agreement.
Termination
The merger agreement may be terminated by the mutual consent of
ALLTEL and Western Wireless. Additionally, either ALLTEL or
Western Wireless may terminate the merger agreement if:
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the merger is not consummated by August 31, 2005 (which
date can be extended by ALLTEL or Western Wireless to
November 30, 2005 if, as of August 31, 2005, all
conditions to closing other than regulatory approvals have been
satisfied) through no fault of the party seeking to terminate
the merger agreement; |
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there are final, non-appealable legal restraints preventing the
merger and the party seeking to terminate the merger agreement
has used all reasonable efforts to remove such legal restraints; |
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Western Wireless shareholders fail to approve and adopt the
merger agreement and the merger at the annual meeting, except
that Western Wireless will not be permitted to terminate the
merger agreement because of the failure to obtain the
shareholder approval if such failure was caused by
(i) Western Wireless actions or inactions that
constitute a material breach of the merger agreement or
(ii) a breach of the voting agreement by any party thereto
other than ALLTEL; or |
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the other party has materially breached a representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement of that party contained in the
merger agreement, resulting in a failure of a condition to the
non-breaching partys obligation to effect the merger, and
such breach cannot be cured by August 31, 2005 (or
November 30, 2005, if extended); |
Western Wireless must pay ALLTEL a termination fee of
$120 million if:
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Western Wireless terminates the merger agreement because the
merger has not been completed by August 31, 2005 (or if
either party has properly extended the termination date under
the merger agreement, by November 30, 2005), which failure
to complete was not proximately caused by ALLTELs breach
in any material respect of its obligations under the merger
agreement, or either |
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Western Wireless or ALLTEL terminates the merger agreement
because the Western Wireless shareholders fail to approve the
merger and the merger agreement at the annual meeting, and |
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prior to the termination of the merger agreement, a Company
Alternative Proposal (as defined above) shall have been
commenced, publicly proposed or publicly disclosed prior to, and
in each case, not withdrawn at the time of, the annual
meeting, and |
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Western Wireless enters into an agreement regarding the
acquisition of Western Wireless by merger or business
combination, or a merger of equals, or the
acquisition of 40% or more of its assets or shares of common
stock with the third party making such Company Alternative
Proposal within nine months after the termination or Western
Wireless enters into an agreement regarding the acquisition of
Western Wireless by merger or business combination, or a
merger of equals, or the acquisition of 40% or more
of its assets or shares of common stock with any other party
within six months after the termination. |
Amendment and Supplement; Waiver
Amendment. The merger agreement may be amended or
supplemented by the written agreement of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL at any time prior to the effective time of the merger,
whether before or after the adoption of the merger agreement by
Western Wireless shareholders. However, following such
adoption, no amendment of the merger agreement shall be made
which requires further approval of Western Wireless
shareholders without such further approval.
Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the
effective time of the merger, ALLTEL or Western Wireless may:
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extend the time of performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties pursuant to the merger agreement; |
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waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of
the other party contained in the merger agreement or in any
document delivered pursuant to the merger agreement; or |
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waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the
other party contained in the merger agreement which may be
legally waived. |
Any extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in
writing and signed by the party granting the waiver.
Expenses
The merger agreement provides that all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the merger, the merger agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby (other than any
termination fees, see The Merger Agreement
Termination) will be paid by the party incurring or
required to incur such expenses whether or not the merger is
consummated, except that expenses incurred in connection with
the filing and mailing of this proxy statement/ prospectus and
filing of the registration statement, of which this proxy
statement/ prospectus is a part, will be shared equally by
ALLTEL and Western Wireless.
VOTING AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of selected provisions of the voting
agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the voting agreement, which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety and attached to this proxy statement/
prospectus as Annex B. We urge you to read this agreement
in its entirety.
Contemporaneously with entering into the merger agreement,
ALLTEL entered into a voting agreement with the following
holders of Western Wireless common stock: John W. Stanton,
Theresa E. Gillespie, the Stanton Family Trust, PN Cellular,
Inc. and Stanton Communications Corporation (see
Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management). All of the shares of Western
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Wireless common stock beneficially owned by these shareholders
are subject to the voting agreement. As of the record date for
Western Wireless annual meeting, these shareholders held
5,867,658 shares of Western Wireless Class A common
stock and 6,050,693 shares of Class B common stock,
representing approximately 41% of the number of votes entitled
to be cast.
Each of the shareholders noted above are obligated by the voting
agreement to vote their shares in favor of the approval and
adoption of the merger agreement and the merger. Unless ALLTEL
consents to the contrary, these shareholders also are required
by the voting agreement to vote against proposals of any third
party relating to the merger of Western Wireless or acquisition
of 20% or more of the assets of Western Wireless and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or 20% or more of the common
stock of Western Wireless. These shareholders also may not in
any manner participate in a solicitation (as that
term is used in the rules of the SEC) of proxies or similar
rights to vote, or seek to advise or influence any person with
respect to voting intended to facilitate any such alternative
merger or acquisition or to cause Western Wireless shareholders
not to vote to approve and adopt the merger agreement. Further,
these shareholders may not, directly or indirectly, enter into,
solicit, or otherwise conduct any discussions or negotiations
with, or respond to or provide any information to, anyone other
than ALLTEL relating to a proposal involving the merger of
Western Wireless or acquisition of 20% or more of the assets of
Western Wireless and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or 20%
or more of the common stock of Western Wireless. In addition,
these shareholders may not enter into any other agreements the
effect of which is inconsistent with the requirements listed in
this paragraph.
The voting agreement will terminate at any time upon notice by
ALLTEL to the shareholders noted above or upon the earlier of
(i) the approval and adoption of the merger agreement,
(ii) the failure of the Western Wireless shareholders to
vote to adopt and approve the merger and merger agreement at the
shareholders meeting called for such purpose, or (iii) the
termination of the merger agreement.
No shareholder noted above who is or becomes during the term of
the voting agreement a director or officer of Western Wireless
was deemed to make any agreement or understanding in the voting
agreement in such shareholders capacity as a director or
officer. Each such shareholder entered into the voting agreement
solely in his or her capacity as the record holder or beneficial
owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the
beneficial owners of, such shareholders shares and nothing
in the voting agreement limits or affects any actions taken by
such shareholder in his or her capacity as a director or officer
of Western Wireless to the extent specifically permitted by the
merger agreement or following the termination of the merger
agreement.
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DISSENTERS RIGHTS
General
The following is a brief summary of the rights of holders of
Western Wireless common stock under Chapter 23B.13 of the
Washington Business Corporation Act, or the WBCA, to dissent
from the merger, receive an appraisal as to the fair value of
their shares of Western Wireless common stock and to receive
cash equal to the appraised value of their Western Wireless
common stock instead of receiving the merger consideration. This
summary is not exhaustive, and you should read the applicable
sections of Chapter 23B.13, a copy of which is attached to
this proxy statement/ prospectus as Annex D.
Under Chapter 23B.13, where a proposed merger is to be
submitted for approval at a meeting of shareholders, as in the
case of the Western Wireless annual meeting, the corporation in
the notice of the meeting must state that shareholders are or
may be entitled to assert dissenters rights and the notice
must be accompanied by a copy of the dissenters rights
statute. The notice of annual meeting at the front of this proxy
statement/ prospectus constitutes notice to the holders of
Western Wireless common stock and a copy of the dissenters
rights statute is attached as Annex D.
If you are contemplating the possibility of exercising your
dissenters rights in connection with the merger, you
should carefully review the text of Annex D, particularly
the procedural steps required to perfect dissenters
rights, which are complex. We also encourage you to consult your
legal counsel, at your expense, before attempting to exercise
your dissenters rights. If you do not fully and precisely
satisfy the procedural requirements of Washington law, you may
lose your dissenters rights. If any Western Wireless
shareholder who demands dissenters rights under Washington
law withdraws or loses (through failure to perfect or otherwise)
the right to dissent, then such shareholders shares will
no longer be dissenting shares and will automatically be
converted into the right to receive $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL common stock. Western Wireless will
not give you any notice other than as described in this proxy
statement/ prospectus as required by Washington law.
Requirements for Exercising Dissenters Rights
To preserve your right if you wish to exercise your statutory
dissenters rights, you must:
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deliver to Western Wireless before the vote is taken at the
Western Wireless annual meeting regarding the merger agreement
and the merger, written notice of your intent to exercise your
dissenters rights and demand payment for your shares of
Western Wireless common stock if the merger is completed, which
notice must be separate from your proxy. Your vote against the
merger agreement alone will not constitute written notice of
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not vote your shares in favor of the merger agreement; and |
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follow the statutory procedures for perfecting dissenters
rights under Washington law, which are described below under the
heading Appraisal Procedures. |
If you do not satisfy each of the requirements, you cannot
exercise dissenters rights and, if the merger agreement is
approved by the Western Wireless shareholders and the merger
occurs, your shares of Western Wireless common stock will be
converted into the right to receive the merger consideration
pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement.
Vote. Your shares must either not be voted at the Western
Wireless annual meeting or must be voted against the approval of
the merger agreement. Submitting a properly signed proxy card
that is received prior to the vote at the Western Wireless
annual meeting that does not direct how the shares of Western
Wireless common stock represented by that proxy are to be voted
will constitute a vote in favor of the merger and a waiver of
your statutory dissenters rights.
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Notice. Written notice of your intent to exercise
dissenters rights must be filed with Western Wireless at:
Western Wireless Corporation
Attn: Investor Relations
3650 131st Avenue SE
Bellevue, Washington 98006
It is important that Western Wireless receive all written
notices before the Western Wireless annual meeting. Your written
notice to demand payment should specify your name and mailing
address, the number of shares of Western Wireless common stock
you own, and that you intend to demand cash payment for your
shares of Western Wireless common stock if the merger agreement
is approved.
Appraisal Procedures
If the merger agreement is approved by Western Wireless
shareholders, within ten days after the approval, Western
Wireless will send written notice regarding the proper
procedures for dissenting to all shareholders who have given
written notice under the dissenters rights provisions and
have not voted in favor of the merger as described above. The
notice will contain:
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the address where the demand for payment and certificates
representing shares of Western Wireless common stock must be
sent and the date by which certificates must be deposited; |
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the date on which your payment demand must be received by
Western Wireless, which date will not be fewer than 30 nor more
than 60 days after the date the written notice is delivered
to you; |
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a form for demanding payment that states the date of the first
announcement to the news media or to shareholders of the
proposed merger (January 10, 2005) and requires
certification from the person asserting dissenters rights
of whether or not the person acquired beneficial ownership of
Western Wireless common stock before the date of the first
announcement; and |
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a copy of Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA. |
If you wish to assert dissenters rights, you must demand
payment, certify that you acquired beneficial ownership of your
shares before January 10, 2005, and deposit your Western
Wireless certificates within the specified number of days after
the notice is given. If you fail to make demand for payment and
deposit your Western Wireless certificates within the time
period set forth in the written notice, you will lose the right
to demand appraisal for your shares under the dissenters
rights provisions, even if you filed a timely notice of intent
to demand payment.
If Western Wireless does not consummate the merger within
60 days after the date set for demanding payment, Western
Wireless will return all deposited certificates. If after
returning the deposited certificates, Western Wireless wishes to
consummate the merger, it must send a new dissenters
notice and repeat the payment demand procedure. If Western
Wireless does not effect the merger and does not return the
deposited certificates within 60 days after the date which
it had set for demanding payment, you may notify Western
Wireless in writing of your estimate of the fair value of your
Western Wireless common stock plus the amount of interest due
and demand payment of your estimated amount.
Except as provided below, within 30 days after the later of
the effective time of the merger or the receipt by Western
Wireless of a valid demand for payment, Western Wireless will
remit to each dissenting shareholder who complied with the
requirements of Washington law the amount Western Wireless
estimates to be the fair value of the shareholders Western
Wireless common stock, plus accrued interest, and will include
the following information with the payment:
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financial data relating to Western Wireless, including a balance
sheet, an income statement, a statement of changes in
shareholders equity as of and for a fiscal year ended not
more than sixteen months before the date of payment, and the
latest available interim financial statements, if any; |
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an explanation by Western Wireless of how it estimated the fair
value of the shares; |
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an explanation by Western Wireless of how the interest was
calculated; |
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a statement of the dissenters right to demand supplemental
payment if such shareholder believes that the amount paid is
less than the fair value of the shares or under certain other
circumstances enumerated in the statute and described
below; and |
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a copy of Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA. |
For dissenting shareholders who were not the beneficial owners
of their shares of Western Wireless common stock before
January 10, 2005, Western Wireless may withhold payment and
instead send a statement setting forth its estimate of the fair
value of their shares and offering to pay such amount, with
interest, as a final settlement of the dissenting
shareholders demand for payment. Payment of the fair value
of these after-acquired shares may be conditional upon the
dissenting shareholders waiver of other rights under
Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA. Western Wireless will also
include in such statement an explanation of how it estimated the
fair value of the shares and of how the interest was calculated
and a notice of the dissenters right to demand payment of
the dissenters estimate of the fair value of the shares
and the amount of interest due if such dissenting shareholder
believes that the amount offered is less than the fair value of
the shares or under certain other circumstances enumerated in
the statute and described below.
If you believe the payment or offer for payment of Western
Wireless is less than the fair value of your shares or believe
that the interest due is incorrectly calculated, you may, within
30 days of the payment or offer for payment, notify Western
Wireless in writing, and demand payment of, your estimate of the
fair value of your shares and the amount of interest due. You
may also demand payment of your estimate of the fair value of
the shares if Western Wireless fails to make payment for your
shares within 60 days after the date set for demanding
payment or does not effect the merger and does not return the
deposited certificates within 60 days after the date set
for demanding payment. If any dissenting shareholders
demand for payment of the dissenters own estimate of the
fair value of the shares is not settled within 60 days
after receipt by Western Wireless of such shareholders
demand for payment of his or her own estimate, Washington law
requires that Western Wireless commence a proceeding in King
County Superior Court and petition the court to determine the
fair value of the shares and accrued interest, naming all the
dissenting shareholders whose demands remain unsettled as
parties to the proceeding. If Western Wireless does not commence
the proceeding within the 60-day period, it will pay each
dissenter whose demand remains unsettled the amount demanded.
The court may appoint one or more appraisers to receive evidence
and make recommendations to the court as to the amount of the
fair value of the shares. The fair value of the shares as
determined by the court is binding on all dissenting
shareholders and may be less than, equal to or greater than the
value of the merger consideration to be issued to non-dissenting
shareholders for their Western Wireless common stock under the
terms of the merger agreement if the merger is consummated. If
the court determines that the fair value of the shares plus
interest is in excess of any amount remitted by Western
Wireless, then the court will enter a judgment for cash in favor
of the dissenting shareholders in an amount by which the value
determined by the court, plus interest, exceeds the amount
previously remitted. For dissenting shareholders who were not
the beneficial owners of their shares of Western Wireless common
stock before January 10, 2005 and for which Western
Wireless withheld payment pursuant to Section 23B.13.270 of
the WBCA, the court may enter judgment for the fair value, plus
accrued interest, of the dissenting shareholders after-acquired
shares.
The court will also determine the costs and expenses of the
court proceeding and assess them against Western Wireless,
except that the court may assess the costs against all or some
of the dissenters whose actions in demanding payment of their
own estimates of value are found by the court to be arbitrary,
vexatious or not in good faith. If the court finds that Western
Wireless did not substantially comply with the relevant
provisions of Sections 23B.13.200 through 23B.13.280 of the
WBCA, the court may also assess against Western Wireless any
fees and expenses of attorneys or experts that the court deems
equitable. The court may also assess those fees and expenses
against any party if the court finds that the party has acted
arbitrarily, vexatiously or not in good faith with respect to
dissenters rights. If the court
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finds that the services of counsel for any dissenter were of
substantial benefit to other dissenters similarly situated, and
that the fees for those services should not be assessed against
the corporation, the court may award to counsel reasonable fees
to be paid out of the amounts awarded the dissenters who were
benefited.
A shareholder of record may assert dissenters rights as to
fewer than all of the shares registered in the
shareholders name only if he or she dissents with respect
to all shares beneficially owned by any one person and notifies
Western Wireless in writing of the name and address of each
person on whose behalf he or she asserts dissenters
rights. The rights of the partially dissenting record
shareholder are determined as if the shares as to which he or
she dissents and his or her other shares were registered in the
names of different shareholders. Beneficial owners of Western
Wireless common stock who desire to exercise dissenters
rights themselves must obtain and submit the registered
owners written consent at or before the time they file the
notice of intent to demand payment, and the beneficial owner
must do so with respect to all shares of which such shareholder
is the beneficial shareholder or over which such shareholder has
power to direct the vote.
For purposes of Washington law, fair value means the value of
Western Wireless common stock immediately before the effective
time of the merger, excluding any appreciation or depreciation
in anticipation of the merger, unless that exclusion would be
inequitable. Under Section 23B.13.020 of the WBCA, a
Western Wireless shareholder has no right, at law or in equity,
to challenge the approval of the merger agreement or the
consummation of the merger except if the approval or
consummation fails to comply with the procedural requirements of
Title 23B of the WBCA, the articles of incorporation or
by-laws of Western Wireless or was fraudulent with respect to
that shareholder or Western Wireless.
DESCRIPTION OF ALLTEL CAPITAL STOCK
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the
Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL), the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ALLTEL, as
amended (the ALLTEL Certificate) and ALLTELs
Rights Agreement (described below). The ALLTEL Certificate is
included as an exhibit to the registration statement on
Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/ prospectus is a
part, and the Rights Agreement is an exhibit to ALLTELs
Annual Report on Form 10-K (where it is incorporated by
reference to ALLTELs Registration Statement on
Form 8-A filed February 4, 1997) each of which are on
file with the SEC. See Where You Can Find More
Information.
General
The authorized capital stock of ALLTEL consists of
1,000,000,000 shares of ALLTEL common stock, par value
$1 per share, 50,000,000 shares of voting cumulative
preferred stock, par value $25 per share (the ALLTEL
Voting Preferred Stock) and 50,000,000 shares of
cumulative non-voting preferred stock, no par value (the
ALLTEL Non-Voting Preferred Stock).
ALLTEL Common Stock and Related Rights
The holders of the ALLTEL common stock have one vote per share
on matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Such holders
vote as a class together with the holders of ALLTEL Voting
Preferred Stock. All shares of ALLTEL common stock will
participate equally in the distribution of property remaining
after payment of liquidation preferences on preferred stock and
after satisfaction of all other claims, on liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the affairs of ALLTEL. Such shares
will also equally participate in all dividends declared by the
ALLTEL board. The outstanding shares of ALLTEL common stock are
fully paid and non-assessable. The ALLTEL common stock has no
preemptive rights, no cumulative voting rights and no
redemption, sinking fund or conversion provisions. At
December 31, 2004, there were 302,267,959 shares of
ALLTEL common stock issued and outstanding.
The ALLTEL by-laws provide for a classified board consisting of
three classes of directors with each class being elected for a
term of three years. The number of directors in each class may
be fixed or
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changed from time to time by either (i) a majority of
shareholders represented and entitled to vote at a meeting
called for the purpose of electing directors or (ii) the
affirmative vote of the majority of directors then in office.
ALLTEL is party to a Rights Agreement (the Rights
Agreement), dated January 30, 1997 (the
Dividend Declaration Date) pursuant to which
ALLTELs board declared a dividend of one right
(Right) for each share of ALLTEL common stock
outstanding on February 9, 1997 (the Record
Date) and for each share of ALLTEL common stock issued
between the Record Date and the Distribution Date (defined
below). Each holder of a Right may purchase from ALLTEL, upon
the occurrence of certain events, 1/1000 of a share of
ALLTELs Series K Cumulative Voting Preferred Stock,
par value $25 per share (the Series K
Stock) at a price of $100.00 per 1/1000 of a share
(the Purchase Price). The number of Rights per share
of ALLTEL common stock, the number of shares of Series K
Stock for which each Right is exercisable and the Purchase Price
are subject to adjustment as described below.
The certificates for the ALLTEL common stock evidence the
Rights. A separate certificate for each Right will be issued on
the close of business on the tenth business day after the
earliest to occur of the following two events (the earlier of
such dates being called the Distribution Date);
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the public announcement that any person (other than ALLTEL, any
subsidiary of ALLTEL or any employee benefit plan of ALLTEL)
together with its affiliates and associates (an Acquiring
Person), beneficially owns 15% or more of ALLTEL common
stock; or |
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the close of business on the tenth business day after any person
commences a tender or exchange offer if upon completion that
person would beneficially own 15% or more of ALLTEL common stock. |
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date,
the Rights will only be transferred with the ALLTEL common
stock. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution
Date and will expire at the close of business on
January 31, 2007 (Final Expiration Date),
unless earlier redeemed by ALLTEL as described below.
If an Acquiring Person acquires 15% or more of ALLTEL common
stock (the Stock Acquisition Date) then each holder
of a Right shall have the right to purchase at the then current
Purchase Price and in lieu of Series K Stock, shares of
ALLTEL common stock having a value equal to two times the
Purchase Price. If an Acquiring Person acquires 15% or more of
ALLTEL common stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange
offer at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority
of the Rights Agreement Continuing Directors (defined below) to
be in the best interest of ALLTEL and its shareholders (a
Qualifying Offer), then Rights holders shall not be
entitled to exercise the Rights. The term Rights Agreement
Continuing Director means: (a) any member of the
ALLTEL board who is not an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or
associate of such person, and who was a member of the ALLTEL
board prior to the date of the Rights Agreement or (b) any
person who subsequently becomes a member of the ALLTEL board if
the members election to the ALLTEL board is recommended or
approved by a majority of the Rights Agreement Continuing
Directors.
Except for certain transactions involving a Qualifying Offer, if
following the Stock Acquisition Date either:
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ALLTEL engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which ALLTEL does not survive, |
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ALLTEL engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction with another person in which ALLTEL survives, but in
which ALLTEL common stock is changed or exchanged, or |
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50% or more of ALLTELs assets, cash flow or earning power
is sold or transferred, |
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the Rights Agreement provides that each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to purchase at the then current
Purchase Price, common stock of the acquiring company having a
value equal to two times the Purchase Price.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of
Series K Stock or other securities or property issuable, on
exercise of the Rights, are subject to adjustment from time to
time to prevent dilution following stock dividends,
subdivisions, combinations, reclassifications, warrant or right
grants or distributions. Also, if prior to the Distribution Date
ALLTEL declares a dividend on, subdivides or combines into a
smaller number the outstanding shares of ALLTEL common stock,
then the number of Rights associated with each share of ALLTEL
common stock shall be proportionately adjusted in such a manner
that the total number of outstanding Rights is unchanged.
Until the close of business on the tenth business day following
the Stock Acquisition Date, the ALLTEL board of directors by
majority vote may redeem and terminate the Rights at a price of
$0.01 per Right (the Right
Redemption Price). ALLTEL may, at its option, pay the
Right Redemption Price in cash, ALLTEL common stock, or any
other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the ALLTEL
Board.
Until a Right is exercised, a Right holder has no rights as a
shareholder of ALLTEL, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends and such Rights have no dilutive
effect on the earnings of ALLTEL.
Prior to the Distribution Date, ALLTEL may amend the Rights
Agreement without the approval of Rights holders. Following the
Distribution Date, ALLTEL may amend the Rights Agreement without
the approval of Rights holders to:
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cure any ambiguity; |
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correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; |
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shorten or lengthen any required time period; or |
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change any provisions in the Rights Agreement in any manner
which does not adversely affect the interests of the Rights
holders (other than an Acquiring Person). |
However, the Rights Agreement may not be amended to lengthen a
time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed if the
Rights are not then redeemable, or to lengthen any other time
period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting
the Rights holders. Additionally, after the Distribution Date
ALLTEL may not make any amendment to the Rights Agreement that
changes the Rights Redemption Price, the Final Expiration
Date, the Purchase Price or the number of 1/1000 of a share of
Series K Stock for which a Right is exercisable.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will
cause substantial dilution to a person or a group that attempts
to acquire ALLTEL without conditioning the offer on:
(a) the Rights being redeemed; (b) a substantial
number of Rights being acquired; or (c) being deemed a
Qualifying Offer under the Rights Agreement. However, the Rights
should not interfere with any merger or business combination in
connection with a Qualifying Offer or that is approved by ALLTEL.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
Section 203 of the DGCL restricts business combinations
with certain interested shareholders (defined under the DGCL to
include persons who beneficially own or acquire 15% or more of a
Delaware corporations voting stock, with the exception of
any person who owned and has continued to own shares in excess
of the 15% limitation since December 23, 1987, hereinafter
a Section 203 Interested Shareholder).
Section 203, which applies to ALLTEL, prohibits business
combination transactions between a publicly held Delaware
corporation and any Section 203 Interested Shareholder for
a period of three years after the date on which the
Section 203 Interested Shareholder became an interested
shareholder unless: (a) prior to that date the
corporations board of directors approved either the
proposed
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business combination or the transaction which resulted in the
Section 203 Interested Shareholder becoming an interested
shareholder; (b) upon consummation of the transaction which
resulted in the Section 203 Interested Shareholder becoming
an interested shareholder, the Section 203 Interested
Shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the
corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced,
excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares
outstanding those shares owned (i) by persons who are
directors and also officers; and (ii) by employee stock
plans in which employee participants do not have the right to
determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan
will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (c) on
or subsequent to such date the business combination is approved
by the corporations board of directors and authorized at
an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written
consent, by the affirmative vote of at least
662/3%
the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the
Section 203 Interested Shareholder.
Fair Price Provisions
In addition to the provisions of Section 203, the ALLTEL
Certificate contains certain fair price provisions
which impose further conditions on the consummation of business
combination transactions (Section 203 Business
Combinations). The ALLTEL Certificate requires the holders
of at least 85% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of
any class of stock of ALLTEL entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors to approve all Section 203 Business
Combinations involving ALLTEL and a Section 203 Interested
Shareholder unless: (a) after becoming a Section 203
Interested Shareholder, such person shall (i) have taken
steps to ensure the ALLTEL Continuing Directors (as defined
below) maintain representation on the ALLTEL board proportionate
to the stockholdings of the holders of ALLTEL voting stock not
affiliated with the Section 203 Interested Shareholder;
(ii) the Section 203 Interested Shareholder shall not
have acquired newly issued securities from ALLTEL (except in
certain limited circumstances); and (iii) the
Section 203 Interested Shareholder shall not have acquired
any additional outstanding voting stock, or securities
convertible into voting stock, except as part of the transaction
that resulted in the Section 203 Interested Shareholder
becoming an interested shareholder, and (b) certain minimum
price and other procedural requirements are met in connection
with the proposed transaction with the Section 203
Interested Shareholder.
The term ALLTEL Continuing Directors is defined as
any person who was a member of the ALLTEL board and elected by
shareholders prior to the time when the Section 203
Interested Shareholder acquired in excess of 5% of the voting
stock of ALLTEL, or any person recommended to succeed a ALLTEL
Continuing Director by a majority of the ALLTEL Continuing
Directors. Although neither Section 203, nor the ALLTEL
fair price provision or ALLTEL Certificate, would preclude the
holders of a controlling interest from exercising control over
ALLTEL and would not prevent a hostile acquisition of control of
ALLTEL, such provisions may have the effect of discouraging or
making more difficult a hostile acquisition of control.
Rights of Appraisal
Under the DGCL, ALLTEL shareholders may exercise a right to
dissent from certain corporate actions and obtain payment of the
fair value of their shares. This remedy is an exclusive remedy,
except where the corporate action involves fraud or illegality.
The DGCL provides appraisal rights only in certain mergers or
consolidations and not (unless the certificate of incorporation
of a corporation so provides, which the ALLTEL Certificate does
not) for a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of a
corporations assets or an amendment to its certificate of
incorporation. Moreover, the DGCL does not provide appraisal
rights in connection with a merger or consolidation (unless the
certificate of incorporation so provides, which the ALLTEL
Certificate does not) to the holders of shares of a constituent
corporation listed on a national securities exchange (or
designated as a national market system security by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) or held of record by
more than 2,000 shareholders, unless the applicable
agreement of merger or consolidation requires the holders of
such shares to receive, in exchange for such shares, any
property other than shares of stock of the resulting or
surviving corporation, shares of stock of any other corporation
listed on a national securities exchange (or designated as
described above)
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or held of record by more than 2,000 holders, cash in lieu of
any fractional shares or any combination of the foregoing. In
addition, the DGCL denies appraisal rights if the shareholders
of the surviving corporation in a merger did not have to vote to
approve the merger.
Appraisal rights are not available to ALLTEL shareholders with
respect to the merger.
ALLTEL Preferred Stock
The Board of Directors of ALLTEL may issue (without obtaining
shareholder approval) shares of preferred stock in such series
as it deems appropriate. As of December 31, 2004, there
were no shares of ALLTEL Voting Preferred Stock and a total of
44,478 shares of ALLTEL Non-Voting Preferred Stock issued
and outstanding. ALLTEL has reserved 500,000 shares of
Series K Stock for future issuance under the Rights
Agreement discussed above.
Prior to the issuance of shares of any series of preferred
stock, the ALLTEL Board is required by the DGCL and the ALLTEL
Certificate to fix, for each series, the designations, powers
and preferences and the relative, participating, optional or
other special rights of the shares of each series and any
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are
permitted by Delaware Law, including:
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the distinctive serial designation and the number of shares
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the dividend rates or the amount of dividends to be paid on the
shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative
and, if so, from which date or dates, the payment and record
date or dates for dividends, and the participating and other
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the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of
such series; |
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whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if
so, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions
on which, such shares may be redeemed; |
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the amount or amounts payable upon the shares of such series and
any preferences applicable thereto in the event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
company; |
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whether the shares of such series shall be entitled to the
benefit of a sinking or retirement fund to be applied to the
purchase or redemption of such shares, and if so entitled, the
amount of such fund and the manner of its application, including
the price or prices at which such shares may be redeemed or
purchased through the application of such fund; |
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whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or
exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any
other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock
of ALLTEL or a subsidiary and, if so convertible or
exchangeable, the conversion price or prices, the rate or rates
of exchange, and the adjustments thereof, if any, at which such
conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and
conditions of such conversion or exchange; |
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the price or other consideration for which the shares of such
series shall be issued; |
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whether the shares of such series which are redeemed or
converted shall have the status of authorized but unissued
shares of undesignated preferred stock (or series thereof) and
whether such shares may be reissued as shares of the same or any
other class or series of stock; and |
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such other powers, preferences, rights, qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof as the board of directors
may deem advisable. |
Equity Units
On May 17, 2005, ALLTEL completed the settlement of the
purchase contract component of the equity units that were
originally issued by ALLTEL in an underwritten public offering
in 2002. In the settlement, ALLTEL received cash proceeds of
approximately $1.385 billion and delivered approximately
24.5 million shares of ALLTEL common stock in the aggregate
to the holders of the equity units. The
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proceeds from the settlement are expected to finance the payment
by ALLTEL of approximately $1.0 billion in cash to
shareholders of Western Wireless in the merger and the repayment
of a portion of the $1.2 billion of borrowings outstanding
under Western Wireless credit facility that, as a result
of a change in control, will become due immediately upon closing
of the merger. The settlement of the purchase contracts
completed ALLTELs obligations under the equity units.
While the settlement of the purchase contracts provided
additional liquidity to ALLTEL, the issuance of ALLTEL common
stock in connection therewith increased the total number of
shares of ALLTEL common stock outstanding. The merger
consideration will not be adjusted as a result of the issuance
of these shares. As a result, Western Wireless shareholders
receiving ALLTEL common stock in the merger will own a smaller
percentage of ALLTEL than they would have owned if the
settlement of the purchase contracts had not occurred.
Additionally, the market price of ALLTELs common stock
could be negatively impacted by the issuance of the additional
shares pursuant to the purchase contracts, which would reduce
the value of the ALLTEL common stock Western Wireless
shareholders receive as a portion of their merger consideration.
Transfer and Rights Agent, Registrar
Computershare Investor Services L.L.C. serves as the registrar
and transfer and rights agent for ALLTEL common stock.
Stock Exchange Listing
ALLTEL common stock is listed on the NYSE and the Pacific Stock
Exchange. The trading symbol for ALLTEL common stock on these
exchanges is AT.
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COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF ALLTEL
AND WESTERN WIRELESS SHAREHOLDERS
Upon completion of the merger, holders of Western Wireless
common stock (other than ALLTEL, Merger Sub, Western Wireless or
any of their respective subsidiaries and shareholders who
properly exercise their dissenters rights) will become
entitled to receive ALLTEL common stock. ALLTEL is incorporated
under the laws of the State of Delaware and Western Wireless is
incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington. Before
the completion of the merger, the rights of holders of Western
Wireless common stock are governed by the Washington Business
Corporation Act, or the WBCA, the amended and restated articles
of incorporation of Western Wireless and the by-laws of Western
Wireless. After the completion of the merger, Western Wireless
shareholders will become shareholders of ALLTEL, and their
rights will be governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law,
or the DGCL, the restated certificate of incorporation of
ALLTEL, as amended, and by-laws of ALLTEL, as amended.
Although there are substantial similarities between the WBCA and
the DGCL as well as between the charters and by-laws of ALLTEL
and Western Wireless, a number of differences do exist. The
following is a summary of the material differences between the
rights of ALLTEL shareholders and the rights of Western Wireless
shareholders. Although we believe that this summary covers the
material differences between the two, this summary may not
contain all of the information that is important to you. This
summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of the
respective rights of ALLTEL shareholders and Western Wireless
shareholders and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the DGCL, the WBCA, and the various documents of ALLTEL and
Western Wireless we refer to in this summary. You should
carefully read this entire proxy statement/prospectus, the other
documents we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus and the
documents incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus for a more complete understanding of the
differences between being a shareholder of ALLTEL and being a
shareholder of Western Wireless. ALLTEL and Western Wireless
have filed with the SEC their respective documents referred to
herein and will send copies of these documents to you upon your
request. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More
Information.
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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Authorized Capital Stock; Voting
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ALLTELs certificate of incorporation provides that the
authorized capital stock of ALLTEL consists of
(i) 100,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par
value per share, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of voting
cumulative preferred stock, par value $25.00 per share, and
(iii) 50,000,000 shares of no par cumulative
non-voting preferred stock, having no par value per share. Each
share of ALLTEL common stock is entitled to one vote per share. |
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The amended and restated articles of incorporation of Western
Wireless provide that the authorized capital stock of Western
Wireless consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, no par
value per share (of which 237,276,129 are designated
Class A Common Stock and 62,723,871 are designated
Class B Common Stock) and 50,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, no par value per share. Each share of
Class A Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote, and
each share of Class B Common Stock entitles the holder to
ten votes. |
Size of Board of Directors
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Delaware law provides that the board of directors of a Delaware
corporation must consist of one or more directors with the
number specified in or fixed in accordance with the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws. The ALLTEL |
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Washington law provides that the board of directors of a
Washington corporation must consist of one or more directors,
with the number specified in or fixed in accordance with the
articles of incorporation or by-laws. The |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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by-laws provide that the number of directors will be fixed from
time to time by the ALLTEL board of directors. The ALLTEL
by-laws provide that the board of directors be divided into
three classes with each class having at least three directors.
The number of directors in each class may be fixed or changed
from time to time. The number of ALLTEL directors is currently
fixed at thirteen. |
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Western Wireless articles of incorporation provide that the
number of directors shall be specified in, and may from time to
time be increased in such manner as may be prescribed in, the
by-laws. The by-laws of Western Wireless provide that the board
of directors shall consist of at least one and not more than
nine members as determined by the shareholders or the board of
directors. The number of Western Wireless directors is currently
fixed at nine. |
Cumulative Voting
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Delaware law allows for a corporations certificate of
incorporation to permit shareholders to cumulate their votes.
However, the certificate of incorporation of ALLTEL does not so
provide, and accordingly, holders of ALLTEL common stock have no
cumulative voting rights in connection with the election of
directors. |
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Under Washington law, unless a corporations articles of
incorporation provide otherwise, shareholders are permitted to
cumulate their votes in connection with the election of
directors. The articles of incorporation of Western Wireless
provide that there is to be no cumulative voting. |
Special Meetings of Shareholders
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Under Delaware law, a special meeting of the shareholders may be
called by the board of directors of the corporation or by any
other person authorized to do so in the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws. The ALLTEL by-laws provide that a
special meeting may be convened at any time by the chairman, the
president or the secretary, by the directors acting at a meeting
or a majority of the directors acting without a meeting. |
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Under Washington law, a special meeting of the shareholders may
be called by a corporations board of directors, the
persons authorized to do so in the corporations articles
of incorporation or by-laws or, unless limited or denied by a
corporations articles of incorporation, by the holders of
at least 10% of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue
proposed to be considered at the special meeting. The Western
Wireless by-laws provide that, except as otherwise provided by
law, special meetings of shareholders will be held whenever
called by the board of directors or an authorized committee of
the board of directors. |
Notice of Shareholder Meetings
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In accordance with Delaware law, ALLTELs by-laws provide
that written notice of any shareholders meeting must be given to
each shareholder entitled to vote not less than 10 or more than
60 days before the date of the meeting. |
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The Western Wireless by-laws provide that written notice of any
shareholders meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled
to vote not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the
meeting, unless a greater period of notice is required by law in
a particular case. Washington law states that notice of not less
than 20 or more than |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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60 days before the shareholder meeting must be given in the
case of a meeting to act on an amendment to the articles of
incorporation, a plan of merger or share exchange, the sale,
lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the corporations assets or the dissolution of the
corporation. |
Action by Written Consent of Shareholders Without a
Meeting
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As permitted by Delaware law, the ALLTEL by-laws provide that
any action that may be taken at a meeting of the shareholders
may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without
a vote, but only if written consents approving the action are
signed by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action and
delivered to the corporation or the appropriate officer. |
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Under Washington law and the Western Wireless by-laws, action by
the shareholders may be taken without a meeting only if written
consents approving the action are signed by all shareholders
entitled to vote on the action and delivered to the corporation. |
Removal of Directors
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Delaware law provides that shareholders holding a majority of
shares entitled to vote may remove any director or the entire
board of directors; provided, however, that in the case of a
Delaware corporation with a classified board, unless otherwise
provided in the certificate of incorporation, shareholders may
only remove a director for cause. ALLTEL has a classified board
of directors but because the certificate of incorporation does
not contain this provision, shareholders holding a majority of
the shares may only remove a director for cause. |
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Under Washington law, a director may be removed with or without
cause unless a corporations articles of incorporation
provide that directors may be removed only for cause. The
articles of incorporation of Western Wireless do not so provide.
Under the articles of incorporation of Western Wireless, a
director may be removed by the shareholders only at a special
meeting and such director will be removed upon the affirmative
vote of not less than a majority of the number of votes
attributable to all shares of capital stock of the corporation
outstanding and entitled to vote. |
Vacancies on the Board of Directors
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Delaware law provides that, unless the governing documents of a
Delaware corporation provide otherwise, vacancies and newly
created directorships resulting from a resignation or an
increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by
a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a
quorum. ALLTELs certificate of incorporation and by-laws
provide that vacancies resulting from increases in the size of
any class of directors or otherwise from the |
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Under Washington law, unless a corporations articles of
incorporation provide otherwise, a vacancy on the board of
directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the
number of directors, may be filled by the shareholders, by the
board of directors, or if the directors in office constitute
fewer than a quorum, by the affirmative vote of a majority of
all the directors in office. The articles of incorporation and
by-laws of Western Wireless provide that a vacancy may be |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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removal, resignation, death or disqualification of any director
shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors, even if less than a quorum. |
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filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining
directors, even if less than a quorum. |
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of
Incorporation
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Under Delaware law, unless a higher vote is required in the
certificate of incorporation of a corporation, an amendment to
such certificate of incorporation generally may be approved by a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the
proposed amendment. Notwithstanding any provision of a
corporations certificate of incorporation to the contrary,
under Delaware law, holders of a class of a corporations
stock are entitled to vote as a class on the approval and
adoption of any amendment to the corporations certificate
of incorporation which would:
increase or decrease the aggregate number of
authorized shares of such class (subject to certain
exceptions);
increase or decrease the par value of the shares of
such class; or
alter or change the powers, preferences or rights of
such class so as to affect them adversely.
Under the ALLTEL certificate of incorporation, the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least 85% of the voting stock of
ALLTEL is required to approve an amendment to the ALLTEL fair
price provision, unless such amendment is recommended to ALLTEL
shareholders by a majority of the members of the ALLTEL Board
and two-thirds of the ALLTEL continuing directors. |
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Under Washington law, a board of directors may adopt one or more
amendments to the articles of incorporation to make certain
ministerial changes without shareholder action, including
changes to the corporate name and, if the corporation has only
one class of shares outstanding, changes to the number of
outstanding shares in order to effectuate a stock split or stock
dividend, or changes to, or the elimination of, provisions with
respect to the par value of a corporations stock. Other
amendments to the articles of incorporation must be recommended
to the shareholders by the board of directors and the holders of
a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote
on the amendment must approve the amendment unless another
percentage is specified:
in the articles of incorporation,
by the board of directors as a condition to its
recommendation or
by the provisions of the WBCA.
The articles of incorporation of Western Wireless provide that
the provisions of the articles of incorporation may be repealed
or amended only upon the affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the number of votes attributable to all shares of
capital stock of the corporation outstanding and entitled to
vote. However, the articles of incorporation also state that
provisions relating to preemptive rights, cumulative voting and
redemption of outstanding shares of capital stock may not be
repealed or amended in any |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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respect, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote
of not less than
662/3%
of the number of votes attributable to all shares of capital
stock of the corporation outstanding and entitled to vote. |
Amendment of By-laws
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In accordance with Delaware law, ALLTELs by-laws may be
altered, amended or repealed by the shareholders or by the board
of directors. New by-laws may also be adopted by the
shareholders or board of directors. The alteration, amendment or
repeal of the by-laws or the adoption of new by-laws, can be
effected at any annual meeting of shareholders, any meeting of
the board of directors, or at any special meeting of the
shareholders. |
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Under Washington law, a corporations board of directors
can amend or repeal the by-laws, or adopt new by-laws, unless
the articles of incorporation or the WBCA reserves this power
exclusively to the shareholders in whole or in part (the
articles of incorporation of Western Wireless do not do so) or
if the shareholders, in amending or repealing a particular
by-law, provide expressly that the board of directors may not
amend or repeal that by-law. A corporations shareholders
may amend or repeal the by-laws, or adopt new by-laws. |
Delivery and Notice Requirements of Shareholder Nominations
and Proposals
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The ALLTEL by-laws provide that for business to be brought at
any annual meeting such business must be either (a) in
accordance with a notice of annual meeting, (b) by or at
the direction of the ALLTEL Board or (c) otherwise properly
brought before the annual meeting by a shareholder. To be
properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the
shareholder must give timely notice in proper form to
ALLTELs Secretary and be received by ALLTEL not less than
90 nor more than 120 days prior to the one year anniversary
of the annual meeting in the immediately preceding year. Other
than the limitations described above in Special meetings
of shareholders, the ALLTEL by-laws contain no provision
regarding how actions may be brought by shareholders before a
special meeting. |
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The by-laws of Western Wireless provide that any shareholder
seeking to bring business before or to nominate a director at
any meeting of shareholders, must deliver written notice to the
principal executive offices of Western Wireless not less than
(i) with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders,
120 calendar days in advance of the one-year anniversary of
the date that Western Wireless proxy statement was
released to shareholders in connection with the previous
years annual meeting, and (ii) with respect to a
special meeting of shareholders, a reasonable time before
Western Wireless proxy statement is to be released. |
Proxies
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Under Delaware law, each shareholder entitled to vote at a
meeting of shareholders or to express consent or dissent to
corporate action in writing |
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Under Washington law, a proxy is valid for eleven months after
receipt of the appointment form, unless the form provides for a
longer period. The proxy |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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without a meeting may grant a proxy, but no such proxy may be
voted or acted upon after 3 years from its date, unless the
proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy will
be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and
only as long as, the appointment is coupled with an interest. |
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is revocable unless it states that it is irrevocable and the
appointment is coupled with an interest. |
Preemptive Rights
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Delaware law provides that no shareholder will have any
preemptive rights to purchase additional securities of the
corporation unless the certificate of incorporation expressly
grants these rights. ALLTELs certificate of incorporation
does not grant any preemptive rights. |
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Under Washington law, shareholders have preemptive rights unless
the corporations articles of incorporation provide
otherwise. The articles of incorporation of Western Wireless
provide that no statutory preemptive rights will exist with
respect to the shares of capital stock of Western Wireless. |
Shareholder Rights Plans
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ALLTEL is party to the Rights Agreement pursuant to which
ALLTELs board declared a dividend of one Right for each
share of ALLTEL common stock outstanding on February 9,
1997 and for each share of ALLTEL common stock issued between
that date and the earlier of:
the public announcement that any person (other than
ALLTEL, its subsidiaries or its employee benefit plans) together
with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 15% or
more of ALLTEL common stock; or
the close of business on the tenth business day
after any person commences a tender or exchange offer if upon
completion that person would beneficially own 15% or more of
ALLTEL common stock.
Each holder of a Right may purchase from ALLTEL, upon the
occurrence of certain events, 1/1000 of a share of ALLTELs
Series K Stock at the Purchase Price.
The Rights are not exercisable until the earlier of the two
events listed above |
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Western Wireless does not have a shareholder rights plan. |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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and will expire at the close of business on January 31,
2007 unless earlier redeemed by ALLTEL.
If an Acquiring Person acquires 15% or more of ALLTEL common
stock then each holder of a Right shall have the right to
purchase at the then current Purchase Price and in lieu of
Series K Stock, shares of ALLTEL common stock having a
value equal to two times the Purchase Price.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will
cause substantial dilution to a person or a group that attempts
to acquire ALLTEL without conditioning the offer on:
(a) the Rights being redeemed; (b) a substantial
number of Rights being acquired; or (c) being deemed a
Qualifying Offer under the Rights Agreement. See
Description of ALLTEL Capital Stock ALLTEL
Common Stock and Related Rights above for more information. |
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Dividends
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Subject to any restrictions contained in a corporations
certificate of incorporation, Delaware law generally provides
that a corporation may declare and pay dividends out of
surplus (defined as the excess, if any, of net
assets (total assets less total liabilities) over capital) or,
when no surplus exists, out of net profits for the fiscal year
in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal
year, except that dividends may not be paid out of net profits
if the net assets of the corporation are less than the amount of
capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all
classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets. |
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Under Washington law, a board of directors may approve, and a
corporation may make, a distribution to shareholders only to the
extent that:
such distribution does not leave the corporation
unable to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course
of business, and
after the distribution, the corporations total
assets would not be less than the sum of its total liabilities
plus, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise,
the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be
dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the
preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose
preferential rights are superior to those receiving the
distribution. |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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Limitation of Personal Liability of Directors
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In accordance with Delaware law, ALLTELs certificate of
incorporation provides that a director of ALLTEL will not be
personally liable to ALLTEL or ALLTELs shareholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties, except for
liability for:
any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to
ALLTEL or ALLTELs shareholders;
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
payment of a dividend or the repurchase or
redemption of stock in violation of Delaware law; or
any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. |
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Western Wireless articles of incorporation provide that a
director will not be personally liable to the corporation or its
shareholders for monetary damages for conduct as a director,
except for:
Acts or omissions involving intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law;
Conduct violating Section 23B.08.310 of the
WBCA (which involves liability for unlawful distributions by the
corporation);
Any transaction from which the director will
personally receive a benefit in money, property, or services to
which the director is not legally entitled.
Western Wireless articles of incorporation further provide
that if the WBCA is amended to authorize corporate action
further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of
directors or officers, then the liability of a director or
officer of Western Wireless will be eliminated or limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the WBCA, as so amended. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
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ALLTELs certificate of incorporation requires ALLTEL to
indemnify any party to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding
because he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
ALLTEL, or is or was serving at the request of ALLTEL as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. In
addition ALLTEL to the fullest extent authorized under Delaware
law shall pay in advance of the final disposition of any such
proceeding all expenses incurred by any director or officer in |
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Under Washington law, the standards for allowing indemnification
of officers and directors are substantially the same as those
under Delaware law. The Western Wireless articles of
incorporation require Western Wireless to indemnify its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Washington law.
The Western Wireless by-laws provide that the corporation must
indemnify its directors and officers and may indemnify its
employees and agents to the full extent permitted by the WBCA
against liability arising out of a proceeding to which each such
individual was made a party because |
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connection with such proceeding. The right to indemnification is
not exclusive of any other right which that individual may have
or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of
ALLTELs certificate of incorporation or by-laws,
agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise.
ALLTEL is authorized to enter into individual contracts with any
or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents
respecting indemnification and advances, and purchase insurance
on behalf of any person required or permitted to be indemnified. |
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he/she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
Western Wireless. The by-laws also state that Western Wireless
will advance expenses incurred by each such individual who is a
party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the
proceeding, as provided by applicable law, the articles of
incorporation, or by written agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Western Wireless is not obligated
to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents for
any amounts paid in settlement of any proceeding without Western
Wireless prior written consent to such settlement and
payment. Further, Western Wireless is not obligated to indemnify
or advance expenses to any such individual with respect to any
proceeding:
brought voluntarily by the party seeking
indemnification and not by way of defense (except with respect
to proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to
indemnification);
instituted in bad faith or frivolously by such
individual seeking to enforce or interpret the provisions of
Western Wireless articles of incorporation or by-laws;
to the extent such individual has otherwise actually
received payment (under any insurance policy or otherwise) of
the amounts otherwise indemnifiable; or
if Western Wireless is prohibited by its articles of
incorporation, the WBCA or other applicable law from paying such
indemnification and/or advancement of expenses. |
96
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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Washington law provides that a corporation may not indemnify a
director or officer in connection with:
a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation
in which the director or officer did not meet the standards of
conduct described in the WBCA; or
any other proceeding charging improper personal
benefit to the director or officer, whether or not involving
action in such individuals official capacity, in which the
director or officer is adjudged liable on the basis that
personal benefit was improperly received.
Western Wireless is authorized to enter into individual
contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees
or agents respecting indemnification and advances, and purchase
insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be
indemnified. |
Appraisal/ Dissenters Rights
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Under the DGCL, ALLTEL shareholders may exercise a right to
dissent from certain corporate actions and obtain payment of the
fair value of their shares. The DGCL provides appraisal rights
only in certain mergers or consolidations and not (unless the
certificate of incorporation of a corporation so provides, which
the ALLTEL Certificate does not) for a sale or transfer of all
or substantially all of a corporations assets or an
amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Moreover, the
DGCL does not provide appraisal rights in connection with a
merger or consolidation (unless the certificate of incorporation
so provides, which the ALLTEL Certificate does not):
to the holders of shares of a constituent
corporation listed on a national securities exchange (or
designated as a national market system security by the National |
|
Under Washington law, a shareholder is entitled to dissent from,
and obtain the fair value in cash of his or her shares in
connection with, certain corporate actions, including certain
mergers, share exchanges, and sales or exchanges of all or
substantially all of the corporations property other than
in the usual and regular course of business, and any amendment
of the articles of incorporation that materially reduces shares
owned to a fraction of a share if the fractional share so
created is to be acquired for cash.
In order to exercise dissenters rights, a Western Wireless
shareholder must comply with the procedures set forth in
Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA, a copy of which is attached to
this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D. A summary of
Chapter 23B.13 is set forth in the section entitled
Dissenters Rights. |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) or
held of record by more than 2,000 shareholders,
unless the applicable agreement of merger requires the holders
of such shares to receive any property other than shares of
stock of the resulting or surviving corporation, shares of stock
of any other corporation listed on a national securities
exchange (or designated as described above) or held of record by
more than 2,000 holders, cash in lieu of any fractional
shares or any combination of the foregoing.
In addition, the DGCL denies appraisal rights if the
shareholders of the surviving corporation in a merger did not
have to vote to approve the merger.
Appraisal rights are not available to ALLTEL shareholders with
respect to the merger. |
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Certain Business Combination Restrictions
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The DGCL contains a business combination statute that protects
publicly-traded Delaware corporations, such as ALLTEL, from
hostile takeovers, and from actions following the takeover, by
prohibiting some transactions once an acquiror has gained a
significant holding in the corporation. Section 203 of the
DGCL prohibits business combinations, including mergers, sales
and leases of assets, issuances of securities and similar
transactions by a corporation or a subsidiary with an interested
shareholder that beneficially owns 15% or more of a
corporations voting stock, within three years after the
person becomes an interested shareholder, unless:
prior to the time the person becomes an interested
shareholder, the board of directors of the target corporation
approved either the business |
|
Under Washington law, public companies based in Washington (or
that have significant business contacts with the state) are
prohibited, with specified exceptions, from engaging in
significant business transactions with any person or group of
persons who beneficially own 10% or more of the voting shares of
the target corporation for a period of five years after such
share acquisition, unless the transaction or acquisition of
shares is approved by a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the target corporation prior to the time of the
initial acquisition of shares by the acquiring person. These
significant business transactions include:
a merger, share exchange or consolidation with, a
disposition of assets with an aggregate market value over 5% of
the total market value of all of the targets assets or all
of the |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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combination or the transaction which will result in the person
becoming an interested shareholder;
after the completion of the transaction in which the
person becomes an interested shareholder, the interested
shareholder holds at least 85% of the voting stock of the
corporation, excluding for purposes of determining the number of
shares outstanding those shares owned by (i) persons who
are both officers and directors, and (ii) specified
employee stock plans; or
after the person becomes an interested shareholder,
the business combination is approved by the target
corporations board of directors and holders of at least
662/3%
of the outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by the
interested shareholder.
A corporation can elect not to be governed by Section 203,
however, The ALLTEL has not made this election and is therefore
governed by Section 203.
The ALLTEL certificate of incorporation also contains a fair
price provision that requires the approval by the holders of at
least 85% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of any
class of stock of ALLTEL entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors as a condition for all Section 203
business combinations involving ALLTEL and a Section 203
interested shareholder, unless certain conditions are met. |
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targets outstanding shares to, or the issuance or
redemption of shares to or from, the acquiring person or its
affiliates or associates;
termination of 5% or more of the Washington-based
employees of the target corporation over the course of the
five-year period following the acquiring persons
acquisition of 10% or more of the shares of the target
corporation, if such termination is the result of the acquiring
persons acquisition;
the liquidation or dissolution of the target
corporation pursuant to an arrangement with an acquiring
person;
a reclassification of securities of the target
corporation pursuant to an arrangement with the acquiring person
that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of
voting securities owned by the acquiring person; or
an issuance to the acquiring person, or a transfer
or redemption in favor of the acquiring person, by the target
corporation of shares, options, warrants or other rights to
acquire shares of the target corporation if the issuance,
transfer or redemption is not made to all shareholders of the
target corporation on the same proportional basis.
After the five-year period, certain significant business
transactions still may not occur unless they comply with certain
fair price provisions of the statute or are approved by the
disinterested shareholders.
The Western Wireless board of directors has expressly approved
the merger agreement so that the restrictions set forth above
with respect to business combinations do not apply to the merger
agreement or the |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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transactions contemplated thereby. |
Vote on Certain Fundamental Issues
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Delaware law permits a corporation to include supermajority
provisions in its certificate of incorporation and by-laws with
respect to the approval of various issues. However, other than
the effect of Section 203 of the DGCL and ALLTELs
fair price provisions, the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of ALLTEL do not contain any
supermajority voting requirement provisions related to matters
upon which the shareholders of ALLTEL may vote. |
|
Under Washington law, the following must be approved by
two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast by each voting group
entitled to vote as a separate group:
a merger,
a share exchange,
a sale of all, or substantially all, of a
corporations assets, other than in the ordinary course of
business; and
a dissolution.
A corporation may provide for lower voting requirements for
these fundamental actions, provided that the minimum vote
requirement may not be below a majority of all votes entitled to
be cast. The articles of incorporation of Western Wireless do
not contain such a provision. |
Transactions With Officers or Directors
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Under the DGCL, certain contracts or transactions in which one
or more of a corporations directors or officers has an
interest are not void or voidable solely because of such
interest if either:
- the stockholders or a majority of the disinterested
members of the board of directors approve in good faith any such
contract or transaction after full disclosure of the material
facts; or
- the contract or transaction is fair as to the
corporation at the time it was approved. |
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The WBCA sets forth a safe harbor for transactions between a
corporation and one or more of its directors. A conflicting
interest transaction may not be enjoined, set aside or give rise
to damages if:
- it is approved by a majority of qualified directors, but
no fewer than two;
- it is approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of
all qualified shares after notice and disclosure to the
stockholders; or
- at the time of commitment, the transaction is established
to have been fair to the corporation.
For purposes of this provision, a qualified director
is one who does not have either: (1) a conflicting interest
respecting the transaction; or (2) a |
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ALLTEL Shareholder Rights |
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Western Wireless Shareholder Rights |
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familial, financial, professional, or employment relationship
with a second director who does have a conflicting interest
respecting the transaction, which relationship would, in the
circumstances, reasonably be expected to exert an influence on
the first directors judgment when voting on the
transaction. Qualified shares are defined generally
as shares other than those beneficially owned, or the voting of
which is controlled, by a director, or an affiliate of the
director, who has a conflicting interest respecting the
transaction. |
101
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
The following unaudited pro forma combined condensed balance
sheet as of March 31, 2005 and the unaudited pro forma
combined condensed statements of income for the three months
ended March 31, 2005 and for the year ended
December 31, 2004 are based on the historical financial
statements of ALLTEL and Western Wireless after giving effect to
the merger as a purchase of Western Wireless by ALLTEL based on
the assumptions and adjustments described in the accompanying
notes to the unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial
statements.
The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements
have been prepared using the purchase method of accounting as if
the transaction had been completed as of January 1, 2004
for purposes of the combined statements of income and on
March 31, 2005 for purposes of the combined balance sheet.
The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements
presents the combination of historical financial statements of
ALLTEL and Western Wireless adjusted to (1) give effect to
the May 17, 2005 issuance of approximately
24.5 million shares of ALLTEL common stock to settle the
purchase contract obligation related to ALLTELs
outstanding equity units, as further discussed in Note
(a) below and (2) give effect to the merger. (See
Note (f) below.)
The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements
were prepared using (1) the unaudited consolidated
financial statements of ALLTEL included in ALLTELs
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended March 31, 2005 as filed on May 6, 2005, which
are incorporated herein by reference; (2) the audited
consolidated financial statements of ALLTEL included in
ALLTELs Amendment No. 1 to annual report on
Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004 as
filed on June 21, 2005, which are incorporated herein by
reference; (3) the unaudited consolidated financial
statements of Western Wireless included in Western
Wireless quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended March 31, 2005 as filed on
May 6, 2005, which are incorporated herein by reference;
and (4) the audited consolidated financial statements of
Western Wireless included in Western Wireless annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004 as filed on March 16, 2005, which are incorporated
herein by reference.
Under the purchase method of accounting, the purchase price will
be allocated to the underlying tangible and intangible assets
and liabilities acquired based on their respective fair market
values, with any excess purchase price allocated to goodwill.
The pro forma purchase price allocation was based on an estimate
of the fair market value of the tangible and intangible assets
and liabilities of Western Wireless. Certain assumptions have
been made with respect to the fair market value of identifiable
intangible assets as more fully described in the accompanying
notes to the unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial
statements. As of the date of this filing, ALLTEL has not
commenced the appraisals necessary to arrive at the fair market
value of the assets and liabilities to be acquired and the
related allocations of purchase price. Once ALLTEL has completed
the appraisals necessary to finalize the required purchase price
allocation after the consummation of the merger, the final
allocation of purchase price will be determined. The final
purchase price allocation based on third party appraisals may be
different than that reflected in the pro forma purchase price
allocation and this difference may be material.
ALLTEL is developing a plan to integrate the operations of
Western Wireless after the merger. In connection with that plan,
ALLTEL anticipates that certain non-recurring charges, such as
relocation expenses, branding and signage costs and billing
system conversion expenses, will be incurred in connection with
this integration. ALLTEL cannot identify the timing, nature and
amount of such charges as of the date of this proxy statement/
prospectus. However, any such charge could affect ALLTELs
results of operations in the period in which such charges are
recorded. The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial
statements do not include the effects of the costs associated
with any restructuring or integration activities resulting from
the transaction.
The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements
are not intended to represent or be indicative of the
consolidated results of operations or financial condition of
ALLTEL that would have been
102
reported had the merger been completed as of the dates
presented, and should not be taken as representative of the
future consolidated results of operations or financial condition
of ALLTEL.
The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements
do not include the realization of any cost savings from
operating efficiencies, synergies or other restructurings
resulting from the transaction. In addition, the unaudited pro
forma combined condensed financial statements do not include the
effects of dispositions, if any, including, without limitation,
any dispositions that may be required in order to obtain
regulatory approval of the merger transaction. The unaudited pro
forma combined condensed financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the separate historical consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes of ALLTEL and Western Wireless
that are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/
prospectus.
103
ALLTEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF MARCH 31, 2005
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Settle | |
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Purchase | |
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Obligation | |
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Related to | |
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Western | |
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Pro Forma | |
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ALLTEL, | |
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Equity | |
|
ALLTEL, | |
|
Wireless, | |
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Add (Deduct) | |
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As Reported | |
|
Units | |
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As Adjusted | |
|
As Reported | |
|
Adjustments | |
|
Combined | |
(Dollars in millions) |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
| |
Assets
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Cash and short-term investments
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|
$ |
888.4 |
|
|
$ |
1,385.0 |
(a) |
|
$ |
2,273.4 |
|
|
$ |
80.5 |
|
|
$ |
(2,225.9 |
)(f) |
|
$ |
128.0 |
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
1,094.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,094.3 |
|
|
|
494.7 |
|
|
|
(149.3 |
)(b)(d)(g) |
|
|
1,439.7 |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total current assets
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|
|
1,982.7 |
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|
|
1,385.0 |
|
|
|
3,367.7 |
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|
|
575.2 |
|
|
|
(2,375.2 |
) |
|
|
1,567.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments
|
|
|
668.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
668.2 |
|
|
|
9.3 |
|
|
|
110.1 |
(b) |
|
|
787.6 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
4,912.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,912.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,114.0 |
(f) |
|
|
9,026.9 |
|
Other intangibles
|
|
|
1,295.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,295.7 |
|
|
|
1,270.4 |
|
|
|
(229.9 |
)(c)(f) |
|
|
2,336.2 |
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
7,500.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500.4 |
|
|
|
1,053.3 |
|
|
|
427.5 |
(f) |
|
|
8,981.2 |
|
Other assets
|
|
|
413.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
413.3 |
|
|
|
47.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
460.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
$ |
16,773.2 |
|
|
$ |
1,385.0 |
|
|
$ |
18,158.2 |
|
|
$ |
2,955.3 |
|
|
$ |
2,046.5 |
|
|
$ |
23,160.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
$ |
2,026.0 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
2,026.0 |
|
|
$ |
466.0 |
|
|
$ |
296.5 |
(d)(f) |
|
$ |
2,788.5 |
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
4,924.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,924.6 |
|
|
|
2,046.0 |
|
|
|
(1,268.3 |
)(f) |
|
|
5,702.3 |
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
1,640.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,640.9 |
|
|
|
89.6 |
|
|
|
(47.0 |
)(g) |
|
|
1,683.5 |
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
941.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
941.6 |
|
|
|
87.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,029.0 |
|
|
Shareholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
Common stock
|
|
|
302.6 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
(a) |
|
|
327.1 |
|
|
|
1,131.1 |
|
|
|
(1,077.2 |
)(e)(f) |
|
|
381.0 |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
203.6 |
|
|
|
1,360.5 |
(a) |
|
|
1,564.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,277.7 |
(f) |
|
|
4,841.8 |
|
|
Unrealized holding gain on investments
|
|
|
61.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61.2 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
|
|
|
(5.3 |
)(e) |
|
|
61.2 |
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
15.3 |
|
|
|
(15.3 |
)(e) |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
6,671.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,671.9 |
|
|
|
(885.4 |
) |
|
|
885.4 |
(e) |
|
|
6,671.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity
|
|
|
7,240.1 |
|
|
|
1,385.0 |
|
|
|
8,625.1 |
|
|
|
266.3 |
|
|
|
3,065.3 |
|
|
|
11,956.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity
|
|
$ |
16,773.2 |
|
|
$ |
1,385.0 |
|
|
$ |
18,158.2 |
|
|
$ |
2,955.3 |
|
|
$ |
2,046.5 |
|
|
$ |
23,160.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
pro forma
combined condensed financial statements.
104
ALLTEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Settle | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obligation | |
|
|
|
Western | |
|
Pro Forma | |
|
|
|
|
ALLTEL, | |
|
and Remarket | |
|
ALLTEL, | |
|
Wireless, | |
|
Add (Deduct) | |
|
|
|
|
As Reported | |
|
Equity Units | |
|
As Adjusted | |
|
As Reported | |
|
Adjustments | |
|
Combined | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues and sales:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$ |
1,898.3 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,898.3 |
|
|
$ |
501.0 |
|
|
$ |
(4.3 |
)(k) |
|
$ |
2,395.0 |
|
|
Product sales
|
|
|
227.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
227.7 |
|
|
|
19.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
246.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues and sales
|
|
|
2,126.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,126.0 |
|
|
|
520.2 |
|
|
|
(4.3 |
) |
|
|
2,641.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of services
|
|
|
626.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
626.3 |
|
|
|
143.7 |
|
|
|
16.2 |
(k)(l) |
|
|
786.2 |
|
|
Cost of products sold
|
|
|
281.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
281.8 |
|
|
|
40.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
322.6 |
|
|
Selling, general, administrative and other
|
|
|
407.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
407.4 |
|
|
|
164.4 |
|
|
|
(11.9 |
)(l) |
|
|
559.9 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
341.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
341.2 |
|
|
|
72.4 |
|
|
|
37.4 |
(m) |
|
|
451.0 |
|
|
Restructuring and other charges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
1,656.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,656.7 |
|
|
|
445.6 |
|
|
|
41.7 |
|
|
|
2,144.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
469.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
469.3 |
|
|
|
74.6 |
|
|
|
(46.0 |
) |
|
|
497.9 |
|
Equity earnings in unconsolidated partnerships
|
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.1 |
|
Minority interest in consolidated partnerships
|
|
|
(18.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(18.3 |
) |
|
|
(3.8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22.1 |
) |
Other income, net
|
|
|
120.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120.7 |
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
(4.4 |
)(n) |
|
|
120.9 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(86.7 |
) |
|
|
5.5 |
(h) |
|
|
(81.2 |
) |
|
|
(35.6 |
) |
|
|
17.2 |
(o) |
|
|
(99.6 |
) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
495.7 |
|
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
501.2 |
|
|
|
41.2 |
|
|
|
(33.2 |
) |
|
|
509.2 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
182.7 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
(i) |
|
|
184.8 |
|
|
|
35.9 |
|
|
|
(12.9 |
)(p) |
|
|
207.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations
|
|
|
313.0 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
|
|
|
316.4 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
|
|
|
(20.3 |
) |
|
|
301.4 |
|
Preferred dividends
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations applicable to common shares
|
|
$ |
313.0 |
|
|
$ |
3.4 |
|
|
$ |
316.4 |
|
|
$ |
5.3 |
|
|
$ |
(20.3 |
) |
|
$ |
301.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share from continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
1.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
.97 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
.79 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
1.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
.96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
.78 |
|
Average common shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
302.2 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
(j) |
|
|
326.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54.0 |
(q) |
|
|
380.7 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
303.5 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
(j) |
|
|
328.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60.8 |
(r) |
|
|
388.8 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
pro forma
combined condensed financial statements.
105
ALLTEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Settle | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obligation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Remarket | |
|
|
|
Western | |
|
Pro Forma | |
|
|
|
|
ALLTEL, | |
|
Equity Unit | |
|
ALLTEL, | |
|
Wireless, | |
|
Add (Deduct) | |
|
|
|
|
As Reported | |
|
Notes | |
|
as Adjusted | |
|
as Reported | |
|
Adjustments | |
|
Combined | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues and sales:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$ |
7,374.3 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
7,374.3 |
|
|
$ |
1,835.6 |
|
|
$ |
(12.8 |
)(s) |
|
$ |
9,197.1 |
|
|
Product sales
|
|
|
871.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
871.8 |
|
|
|
82.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
953.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues and sales
|
|
|
8,246.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,246.1 |
|
|
|
1,917.7 |
|
|
|
(12.8 |
) |
|
|
10,151.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of services
|
|
|
2,374.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,374.2 |
|
|
|
523.2 |
|
|
|
75.9 |
(s)(t) |
|
|
2,973.3 |
|
|
Cost of products sold
|
|
|
1,075.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,075.5 |
|
|
|
188.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,264.4 |
|
|
Selling, general, administrative and other
|
|
|
1,524.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,524.2 |
|
|
|
626.5 |
|
|
|
(63.1 |
)(t) |
|
|
2,087.6 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
1,299.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,299.7 |
|
|
|
270.7 |
|
|
|
149.6 |
(u) |
|
|
1,720.0 |
|
|
Restructuring and other charges
|
|
|
50.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
6,324.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,324.5 |
|
|
|
1,609.3 |
|
|
|
162.4 |
|
|
|
8,096.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,921.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,921.6 |
|
|
|
308.4 |
|
|
|
(175.2 |
) |
|
|
2,054.8 |
|
Equity earnings in unconsolidated partnerships
|
|
|
68.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68.5 |
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74.7 |
|
Minority interest in consolidated partnerships
|
|
|
(80.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(80.1 |
) |
|
|
(11.5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(91.6 |
) |
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
34.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34.5 |
|
|
|
(4.2 |
) |
|
|
(11.8 |
)(v) |
|
|
18.5 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(352.5 |
) |
|
|
22.1 |
(h) |
|
|
(330.4 |
) |
|
|
(140.8 |
) |
|
|
53.8 |
(w) |
|
|
(417.4 |
) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
1,592.0 |
|
|
|
22.1 |
|
|
|
1,614.1 |
|
|
|
141.8 |
|
|
|
(133.2 |
) |
|
|
1,622.7 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
565.3 |
|
|
|
8.6 |
(i) |
|
|
573.9 |
|
|
|
(91.1 |
) |
|
|
(51.8 |
)(x) |
|
|
431.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations
|
|
|
1,026.7 |
|
|
|
13.5 |
|
|
|
1,040.2 |
|
|
|
232.9 |
|
|
|
(81.4 |
) |
|
|
1,191.7 |
|
Preferred dividends
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations applicable to common shares
|
|
$ |
1,026.6 |
|
|
$ |
13.5 |
|
|
$ |
1,040.1 |
|
|
$ |
232.9 |
|
|
$ |
(81.4 |
) |
|
$ |
1,191.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share from continuing operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
3.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.09 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
3.33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.04 |
|
Average common shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
307.3 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
(j) |
|
|
331.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54.0 |
(y) |
|
|
385.8 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
308.4 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
(j) |
|
|
332.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60.7 |
(z) |
|
|
393.6 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
pro forma
combined condensed financial statements.
106
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
a. |
The pro forma adjustment represents the effects of the
May 17, 2005 issuance of ALLTEL common stock to settle the
purchase contract obligation related to ALLTELs
outstanding equity units as if such transaction took place on
March 31, 2005. In August 2002, ALLTEL sold
27.7 million equity units in an underwritten public
offering. Each equity unit consisted of a corporate unit, with a
$50 stated amount comprised of a purchase contract and $50
principal amount of senior notes. The purchase contract
obligated the holder to purchase, and obligated ALLTEL to sell,
on May 17, 2005, for $50, a variable number of newly issued
common shares of ALLTEL common stock. Upon settlement of the
purchase contracts on May 17, 2005, ALLTEL received
proceeds of $1,385.0 million and delivered approximately
24.5 million common shares in the aggregate. The proceeds
from the settlement of the purchase contracts is expected to
finance the approximate $1.0 billion cash portion of the
merger transaction with Western Wireless and a portion of the
$1.2 billion of borrowings outstanding under the Western
Wireless credit facility that, as a result of a change in
control, will become due immediately upon the closing of the
merger. |
|
|
|
The $50 principal amount of senior notes mature on May 17,
2007 and initially accrued interest at an annual rate of
6.25 percent. On February 17, 2005, ALLTEL completed a
remarketing of the senior notes that reset the annual interest
rate on the notes to 4.656 percent. The proceeds of the
remarketed senior notes were ultimately used to satisfy the
corporate unit holders obligations under the purchase
contract component of the corporate unit. |
|
|
|
|
b. |
This adjustment is to reclassify as of the merger date the
Western Wireless marketable equity securities of
$110.1 million from other current assets to investments to
conform to ALLTELs financial statement presentation of
equity securities. |
|
|
|
|
c. |
This adjustment is to eliminate as of the merger date the
recorded values of the Western Wireless customer base, cellular
and PCS licenses of $1,241.1 million and to write off the
remaining unamortized debt issuance costs of $29.3 million
in connection with the termination of the Western Wireless
credit facility. See Note (f)(2). |
|
|
|
|
d. |
This adjustment is to eliminate as of the merger date the
existing Western Wireless current portion of deferred activation
fees of $5.0 million and the corresponding amount of
deferred acquisition costs of $5.0 million in accordance
with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
No. 01-3, Accounting in a Business Combination for
Deferred Revenue of an Acquiree. |
|
|
|
|
e. |
This adjustment is to eliminate the Western Wireless shareholder
equity accounts as of the merger date. |
|
|
|
|
f. |
This adjustment represents the estimated purchase price
allocation as of March 31, 2005. For purposes of
determining the purchase price allocation, the fair market value
of all tangible and intangible assets and liabilities were
estimated at March 31, 2005. The allocation of purchase
price was as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consideration:
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALLTEL common stock issued(1)
|
|
$ |
3,279.5 |
|
|
Repayment of Western Wireless term loans, net of acquired
Western Wireless cash balances(2)
|
|
|
1,155.3 |
|
|
Cash (including direct transaction costs)(3)
|
|
|
990.1 |
|
|
Additional cost of acquisition Western Wireless
stock-based compensation plans(4)
|
|
|
52.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5,477.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
107
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocated to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
345.4 |
|
|
Property, plant and equipment (including fair value
adjustment)(5)
|
|
|
1,480.8 |
|
|
Investments and other tangible assets
|
|
|
166.5 |
|
|
Identifiable intangible assets(6)
|
|
|
1,040.5 |
|
|
Current liabilities acquired(7)(8)
|
|
|
(762.5 |
) |
|
Long-term debt assumed (including fair value adjustment)(9)
|
|
|
(777.7 |
) |
|
Other long-term liabilities acquired (including deferred taxes)
|
|
|
(130.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill(6)
|
|
$ |
4,114.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The value of ALLTEL common stock issued was based on 53,948,291
shares issued to Western Wireless shareholders and was
calculated on the basis of (1) 100,544,281 Western Wireless
shares outstanding at May 24, 2005 and (2) the
calculation of the per share consideration received by Western
Wireless shareholders on the basis of (a) an exchange ratio
of 0.53656 and (b) the five day trailing average closing
price of ALLTEL common stock through June 23, 2005 of
$60.79. The actual exchange ratio could vary between 0.535 and
0.538 (the greater the number of Western Wireless shareholders
electing the all-stock or all-cash elections, the closer this
number will be to 0.538 and, conversely, the greater the number
of Western Wireless shareholders electing the mixed election,
the closer this number will be to 0.535). The final value of
ALLTEL shares issued to effect the merger will be based on
(1) the actual number of Western Wireless shares
outstanding as of the merger date, (2) the actual exchange
ratio determined once the Western Wireless shareholder elections
have been completed and (3) the average closing price of
ALLTEL common stock for a five day period commencing two days
prior to the completion of the Western Wireless shareholder
elections. Based on ALLTELs five-day average stock price
through June 23, 2005 and the number of Western Wireless
shares outstanding at May 24, 2005, the number of ALLTEL
shares to be issued would range between 53,791,190 and
54,105,391 shares and the value of the ALLTEL shares would range
between $3,270.0 million and $3,289.1 million, with
the difference reflected as an adjustment to goodwill. The
mid-point of these ranges were used in preparing the
accompanying pro forma combined condensed financial statements. |
|
(2) |
Pursuant to the change in control provisions included in the
Western Wireless credit facility agreement, any amounts
outstanding as of the date of merger will become immediately due
and payable. At March 31, 2005, Western Wireless had
$1,235.8 million of borrowings outstanding under its credit
facility and had cash and cash equivalents of
$80.5 million. The net debt of $1,155.3 million
represents additional consideration given by ALLTEL in the
merger transaction. |
|
(3) |
The cash consideration paid by ALLTEL consisted of
$930.1 million paid to Western Wireless shareholders and
was calculated on the basis of (1) 100,544,281 Western Wireless
shares outstanding at May 24, 2005 and (2) the
exchange ratio of $9.25 per share. The determination of the
actual amount of cash paid will be based on the number of
Western Wireless shares outstanding as of the merger date. The
cash consideration also included $60.0 million of direct
cash costs related to the transaction. The direct cash costs
consisted of estimates for professional fees (including banking
fees) and other direct costs of the transaction. |
|
|
|
ALLTEL expects to fund as of the merger date the
(1) repayment of borrowings outstanding under the Western
Wireless credit facility agreement (2) the cash
consideration paid to the shareholders of Western Wireless and
(3) direct cash costs of the transaction utilizing the
available ALLTEL and Western Wireless cash on hand at the merger
date with the balance of the cash outlays funded from |
108
|
|
|
the proceeds received from the settlement of the equity unit
purchase contracts on May 17, 2005 as discussed in Note
(a) above as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash consideration:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of Western Wireless term loans, net of acquired
Western Wireless cash balances(2)
|
|
$ |
1,155.3 |
|
|
Cash payments to Western Wireless shareholders and for direct
transaction costs(3)
|
|
|
990.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash required to complete the merger transaction
|
|
|
2,145.4 |
|
Funded from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash proceeds from settlement of equity unit purchase
contracts See Note(a)
|
|
|
(1,385.0 |
) |
|
ALLTEL cash on hand
|
|
|
(760.4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The actual amount of borrowings outstanding to be repaid under
the Western Wireless credit facility and the amount of available
ALLTEL and Western Wireless cash balances will be determined at
the merger date. |
|
|
(4) |
Under the 1998 Stock Appreciation Plan of the Western Wireless
subsidiary which holds the international operations, selected
management employees of the international operations had been
granted stock appreciation rights (SARs) with
respect to that subsidiary. The SARs vest ratably over a
four-year period from the date of grant. The SARs exercise price
is based on the implied enterprise value of the international
operations on the grant date. The amount of compensation expense
that would be recognized as of the merger date related to the
SARs of the Western Wireless subsidiary which holds the
international operations was estimated to be $35.1 million
based on the implied fair value of Western Wireless
international operations used to determine the estimated
purchase price allocation. Upon consummation of the transaction,
unvested Western Wireless stock options granted to directors and
certain key Western Wireless management employees will vest as a
result of a change in reporting relationship. The amount of
compensation expense that would be recognized as of the merger
date as a result of the accelerated vesting of the Western
Wireless stock options was estimated to be $17.0 million
based on the specified conversion ratio of the stock options to
ALLTEL common stock equivalents of 0.7 per share. The additional
compensation expense attributable to the SARs and stock options
of Western Wireless represents additional consideration given by
ALLTEL in the merger transaction and has been reflected as an
increase in ALLTELs additional paid in capital balance as
of the merger date. |
|
(5) |
Fair value adjustments of approximately $427.5 million have
been made to the carrying value of property, plant and equipment
related to the international operations of Western Wireless.
Western Wireless acquired its Austrian subsidiary, tele.ring
Telekom Services GmbH (tele.ring) in a purchase
transaction in June 2001 for a price substantially below the net
book value of the acquired assets. This adjustment is to
write-up the carrying value of tele.rings property, plant
and equipment to equal the net book value of the assets as
reported for statutory audit purposes. For purposes of preparing
the pro forma combined financial statements, ALLTEL has assumed
that the statutory net book value approximates fair value, as
ALLTEL does not have sufficient information to determine
replacement cost of Western Wireless property, plant and
equipment at this time. Accordingly, the fair value of the
acquired property, plant and equipment was based on certain
assumptions and does not necessarily represent the ultimate fair
value of such assets that will be determined by an independent
valuation firm subsequent to the consummation of the merger. The
depreciation and amortization effect of the fair value
adjustment to property, plant, and equipment has been included
in the adjustments to the unaudited pro forma combined condensed
statement of income. See Note (m). |
|
(6) |
The identifiable intangibles consisted of (1) value
assigned to the Western Wireless customer base as of
March 31, 2005 of $317.5 million and (2) value
assigned to the Western Wireless cellular licenses |
109
|
|
|
as of March 31, 2005 of $723.0 million, of which
$500.0 million related to the international operations. For
purposes of preparing the unaudited pro forma combined condensed
statement of income, ALLTEL expects to amortize the fair value
of the customer base and the international cellular licenses on
a straight-line basis over their respective average estimated
lives of five years and twenty years. The domestic cellular
licenses recorded of $223.0 million have been classified as
indefinite-lived intangible assets and are not subject to
amortization because ALLTEL expects both the renewal by the
granting authorities and the cash flows generated from the
domestic cellular licenses to continue indefinitely. Goodwill of
$4,114.0 million represents the excess of the purchase
price of the acquired business over the fair value of the
underlying identifiable net tangible and intangible assets at
March 31, 2005. The premium paid by ALLTEL in the merger is
due to the strategic importance of the Western Wireless merger.
As a result of the merger, ALLTEL expects to increase its
wireless revenue mix from approximately 60 percent to
nearly 70 percent of its total consolidated revenues.
ALLTEL will achieve additional scale by adding approximately
1.3 million domestic wireless customers (excluding reseller
customers) in 19 midwestern and western states that are
contiguous to ALLTELs existing wireless properties,
increasing the number of wireless customers served by ALLTEL to
more than 10 million customers in 33 states. ALLTEL also
will add approximately 1.6 million international wireless
customers in seven countries. In addition, the merger will
permit ALLTEL to increase its retail position in these domestic,
rural markets where it can leverage ALLTELs brand and
marketing experience and bring significant value to customers by
offering competitive national rate plans. ALLTEL also will
diversify its wireless roaming revenue sources and, as a result
of offering multiple technologies, ALLTEL will become a leading
independent roaming partner for the four national carriers in
the markets served by ALLTEL. ALLTEL also will enhance its
strategic options as the wireless industry continues to
restructure while preserving ALLTELs strong financial
position. Finally, ALLTEL expects to achieve reductions in
centralized operations costs and interest expense savings as a
result of the merger. The preliminary allocation of value to the
intangible assets was based on assumptions as to the value of
customers and cellular licenses. These values were determined by
use of a market approach, which seeks to measure the value of
assets as compared to similar transactions in the marketplace.
To determine market values, ALLTEL utilized a third party
valuation firm to derive current market values for the customer
base (computed on a per customer basis) and cellular licenses
(computed on a per POP basis) from publicly available data for
similar transactions in the wireless industry. These valuations
are preliminary and do not necessarily represent the ultimate
fair value of such assets that will be determined by an
independent valuation firm subsequent to the consummation of the
merger. |
|
(7) |
The merger agreement provides for Western Wireless to establish
a $20.0 million retention pool for retaining the services
of key Western Wireless employees, including executive officers,
pursuant to which Western Wireless has adopted a Retention Bonus
Plan. The cash retention bonus will be paid by Western Wireless
regardless of whether the merger is completed or whether the
employee is voluntarily or involuntarily terminated prior to the
scheduled payment date of the retention bonus. Western Wireless
has specifically identified the employees and the respective
dollar amount of the bonus that will be payable to each
participating employee under the Retention Bonus Plan. At
March 31, 2005, Western Wireless had accrued
$6.0 million of costs related to the Retention Bonus Plan.
The remaining $14.0 million of costs associated with the
Retention Bonus Plan has been recognized as a liability assumed
by ALLTEL as of the consummation date of the merger and has been
included in the allocation of the acquisition cost in accordance
with EITF 95-3 Recognition of Liabilities in Connection
with a Purchase Business Combination. |
|
(8) |
As a result of a change in control, the holders of the Western
Wireless 4.625 percent convertible subordinated notes due
2023 have the right to cause Western Wireless to repurchase
their convertible subordinated notes at par upon completion of
the merger, and accordingly, this debt has been reclassified as
short-term debt in the pro forma combined condensed balance
sheet. The fair value of this debt was estimated to be
$287.5 million at March 31, 2005 compared to its
carrying value of $115.0 million. Immediately following the
merger and assuming none of the convertible subordinated notes
have been converted prior to the merger date, the fair value
adjustment or premium of |
110
|
|
|
$172.5 million would be recognized as income because at
that point the right to cause Western Wireless to repurchase the
convertible subordinated notes becomes effective. A pro forma
adjustment to recognize the premium has not been reflected in
the pro forma combined condensed statement of income due to the
non-recurring nature of this item. Upon closing of the merger
transaction, each $1,000 principal amount of the convertible
subordinated notes will become convertible into 34.6144 shares
of ALLTEL common stock and $598.47 in cash based on the mixed
election exchange ratio. |
|
(9) |
Fair value adjustments of approximately $82.5 million have
been made to the carrying value of the long term debt that was
assumed by a subsidiary of ALLTEL in the merger transaction.
ALLTEL expects to amortize the effect of the fair value
adjustment to long-term debt as a reduction to interest expense
over the term of each debt issue. The effect of the fair value
adjustment to interest expense has been included in the
adjustments to the unaudited pro forma combined condensed
statement of income. See Notes (o) and (w). |
|
|
|
A summary of the effects of the pro forma adjustments
(b) to (g) on cash and short-term investments, other
current assets, current liabilities, long-term debt and
additional paid in capital was as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
Effects of pro forma adjustments on cash and short-term
investments:
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of borrowings outstanding under Western Wireless
credit facility Note(f)(2)
|
|
$ |
(1,235.8 |
) |
Cash payments to Western Wireless shareholders and for direct
transaction costs Note(f)(3)
|
|
|
(990.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and short-term investments resulting from
pro forma adjustments
|
|
$ |
(2,225.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Effects of pro forma adjustments on other current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of Western Wireless marketable equity
securities to investments Note(b)
|
|
$ |
(110.1 |
) |
Eliminate current portion of deferred activations
costs Note(d)
|
|
|
(5.0 |
) |
Eliminate current portion of Western Wireless deferred income
taxes Note(g)
|
|
|
(34.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in other current assets resulting from pro forma
adjustments
|
|
$ |
(149.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Effects of pro forma adjustments on current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of Western Wireless 4.625% convertible
subordinated notes to short-term debt Note(f)(8)
|
|
$ |
115.0 |
|
Fair value adjustment to Western Wireless 4.625% convertible
subordinated notes Note(f)(8)
|
|
|
172.5 |
|
Record liability related to Western Wireless retention bonus
plan Note(f)(7)
|
|
|
14.0 |
|
Eliminate current portion of deferred activation
fees Note(d)
|
|
|
(5.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net increase in current liabilities resulting from pro forma
adjustments
|
|
$ |
296.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Effects of pro forma adjustments on long-term debt:
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of Western Wireless term loans(f)(2)
|
|
$ |
(1,235.8 |
) |
Reclassification of Western Wireless 4.625% convertible
subordinated notes to short-term debt Note(f)(8)
|
|
|
(115.0 |
) |
Fair value adjustment to long-term debt of Western
Wireless Note(f)(9)
|
|
|
82.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in long-term debt resulting from pro forma
adjustments
|
|
$ |
(1,268.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Effects of pro forma adjustments on additional paid in capital
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of ALLTEL common stock to effect the merger
transaction Note(f)(1)
|
|
$ |
3,225.6 |
|
Additional cost of acquisition Western Wireless
stock-based compensation plans Note(f)(4)
|
|
|
52.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in additional paid in capital resulting from pro
forma adjustments
|
|
$ |
3,277.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
111
|
|
|
|
g. |
This adjustment is to record the incremental deferred taxes
required under SFAS No. 109, Accounting for
Income Taxes, for the difference between the revised book
basis, i.e., fair value, of Western Wireless assets other than
goodwill and liabilities recorded under purchase accounting and
the carryover tax basis of those assets and liabilities. Because
certain of the identifiable intangible assets recognized in the
purchase price allocation had no tax basis at the time of the
transaction, a deferred tax liability has been recognized for
the difference in book and tax basis of the identifiable
intangible assets. The pro forma adjustment to deferred income
taxes was based on ALLTELs effective tax rate of
38.9 percent. |
|
|
h. |
This adjustment reflects the favorable effect on interest
expense resulting from ALLTELs remarketing of
$1,385.0 million of aggregate principal amount of senior
notes completed on February 17, 2005 discussed in Note
(a) above. |
|
|
i. |
This adjustment is to reflect the tax effect of the adjustment
described in Note (h) above and was based on ALLTELs
effective tax rate of 38.9 percent. |
|
|
j. |
The adjustment to both the weighted average shares outstanding
and the diluted weighted average shares outstanding is to
reflect the additional ALLTEL common shares of 24,527,666 issued
to settle the equity unit purchase contracts on May 17,
2005 as described in Note (a) above. |
|
|
k. |
This adjustment is to eliminate intercompany roaming activity
between ALLTEL and Western Wireless. |
|
|
l. |
This adjustment is to reflect the reclassification of Western
Wireless Universal Service Fund (USF) expense of
$6.7 million and Western Wireless bad debt expense of
$5.2 million from selling, general, administrative and
other expenses to cost of services. Such presentation is
consistent with ALLTELs classification of these expenses
in the statement of income. |
|
|
m. |
This adjustment is to reflect the incremental increase in
depreciation expense reflecting the fair value adjustment to the
property, plant and equipment of the international operations of
Western Wireless described in Note (f)(5) above assuming the
transaction had been consummated on January 1, 2004. For
purposes of determining this amount, the estimated life of the
international property, plant and equipment was assumed to be
7 years as of January 1, 2004. This adjustment also
reflects the amortization of the finite-lived identifiable
intangible assets recorded in this transaction as previously
described in Note (f)(6) above. For purposes of determining the
amount of the adjustment, the estimated life of the customer
base was assumed to be 5 years and the estimated life of
the international cellular licenses was assumed to be
20 years. |
Effects on depreciation and amortization expense:
|
|
|
|
|
Additional depreciation expense due to fair value
adjustment Note(f)(5) ($427.5 million/
7 years)
|
|
$ |
15.3 |
|
Amortization of customer lists Note(f)(6)
($317.5 million/ 5 years)
|
|
|
15.9 |
|
Amortization of international cellular licenses
Note(f)(6) ($500.0 million/ 20 years)
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
$ |
37.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n. |
The adjustment reflects the reduction in interest income
resulting from the assumed use of ALLTEL available cash on hand
of $760.4 million and Western Wireless available cash on
hand of $80.5 million to fund a portion of the repayment of
borrowings outstanding under the Western Wireless credit
facility and the cash consideration required to complete the
merger as discussed in Note (f)(3) above. The reduction in
interest income was based on ALLTELs and Western
Wireless historical yields earned on cash and short-term
investments during the three months ended March 31, 2005.
During the first quarter of 2005, ALLTEL earned
2.08 percent on its cash and short-term investments, while
Western Wireless earned 2.37 percent on its cash and
short-term investments. |
112
|
|
|
|
o. |
The adjustment reflects the favorable effects on interest
expense resulting from (1) repayment of the borrowings
outstanding under the Western Wireless credit facility assumed
to occur on January 1, 2004 and (2) amortizing the
fair value adjustment to long-term debt discussed in
Note (f)(9) above. As of January 1, 2004, the fair
value adjustment to long-term debt was estimated to be
$33.0 million. |
Effects on interest expense:
|
|
|
|
|
Reduction in interest expense due to repayment of Western
Wireless term loans Note(f)(2)
|
|
$ |
(16.4 |
) |
Reduction in interest expense due to amortizing fair value
adjustment Note(f)(9)
|
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in interest expense
|
|
$ |
(17.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
p. |
This adjustment is to reflect the tax effect of the pro forma
adjustments described in Notes (k) through (o) above
and was based on ALLTELs effective tax rate of
38.9 percent. |
|
|
q. |
The adjustment to weighted average shares outstanding is to
reflect the additional ALLTEL common shares of 53,948,291 to
effect the completion of the merger as described in Note (f)(1)
above. |
|
|
|
|
r. |
The adjustment to diluted weighted average shares outstanding is
to reflect the additional ALLTEL common shares issued to effect
the completion of the merger as described in Note
(q) above, as well as additional shares of 6.8 million
to reflect the dilutive effects of the Western Wireless stock
options and the assumed conversion of the Western Wireless
4.625 percent subordinated notes into ALLTEL common stock. |
|
|
|
|
s. |
This adjustment is to eliminate intercompany roaming activity
between ALLTEL and Western Wireless. |
|
|
t. |
This adjustment is to reflect the reclassification of Western
Wireless Universal Service Fund (USF) expense of
$25.9 million and Western Wireless bad debt expense of
$37.2 million from selling, general, administrative and
other expenses to cost of services. Such presentation is
consistent with ALLTELs classification of these expenses
in the statement of income. |
|
|
u. |
This adjustment is to reflect the incremental increase in
depreciation expense reflecting the fair value adjustment to the
property, plant and equipment of the international operations of
Western Wireless described in Note (f)(5) above assuming the
transaction had been consummated on January 1, 2004. For
purposes of determining this amount, the estimated life of the
international property, plant and equipment was assumed to be
7 years as of January 1, 2004. This adjustment also
reflects the amortization of the finite-lived identifiable
intangible assets recorded in this transaction as previously
described in Note (f)(6) above. For purposes of determining
the amount of the adjustment, the estimated life of the customer
base was assumed to be 5 years and the estimated life of
the international cellular licenses was assumed to be
20 years. |
|
|
|
|
|
Effects on depreciation and amortization expense:
|
|
|
|
|
Additional depreciation expense due to fair value
adjustment Note(f)(5)
($427.5 million/7 years)
|
|
$ |
61.1 |
|
Amortization of customer lists Note(f)(6)
($317.5 million/5 years)
|
|
|
63.5 |
|
Amortization of international cellular licenses
Note(f)(6) ($500.0 million/20 years)
|
|
|
25.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
$ |
149.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
v. |
The adjustment reflects the reduction in interest income
resulting from the assumed use of ALLTEL available cash on hand
of $760.4 million and Western Wireless available cash on
hand of $80.5 million to fund a portion of the repayment of
term loans outstanding under the Western Wireless credit
facility and the cash consideration required to complete the
merger as discussed in Note (f)(3) above. The reduction in
interest income was based on ALLTELs and Western |
113
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless historical yields earned on cash and short-term
investments during the year ended December 31, 2004. During
2004, ALLTEL earned 1.4 percent on its cash and short-term
investments, while Western Wireless earned 1.45 percent on
its cash and short-term investments. |
|
|
w. |
The adjustment reflects the favorable effects on interest
expense resulting from (1) repayment of the borrowings
outstanding under the Western Wireless credit facility assumed
to occur on January 1, 2004, and (2) amortizing the
fair value adjustment to long-term debt discussed in Note (f)
(9) above. As of January 1, 2004, the fair value
adjustment to long-term debt was estimated to be
$33.0 million. |
|
|
|
|
|
Effects on interest expense:
|
|
|
|
|
Reduction in interest expense due to repayment of Western
Wireless term loans Note(f)(2)
|
|
$ |
(51.0 |
) |
Reduction in interest expense due to amortizing fair value
adjustment Note(f)(9)
|
|
|
(2.8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in interest expense
|
|
$ |
(53.8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x. |
This adjustment is to reflect the tax effect of the pro forma
adjustments described in Notes (s) through
(w) above and was based on ALLTELs effective tax rate
of 38.9 percent. |
|
|
y. |
The adjustment to weighted average shares outstanding is to
reflect the additional ALLTEL common shares of 53,948,291 to
effect the completion of the merger as described in Note (f)(1)
above. |
|
|
z. |
The adjustment to diluted weighted average shares outstanding is
to reflect the additional ALLTEL common shares issued to effect
the completion of the merger as described in Note
(q) above, as well as additional shares of 6.7 million
to reflect the dilutive effects of the Western Wireless stock
options and the assumed conversion of the Western Wireless
4.625 percent subordinated notes into ALLTEL common stock. |
114
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROPOSAL NO. 2)
At each annual meeting, directors are elected to serve for a
term of one year and until their respective successors have been
elected and qualified. The terms of office of Western
Wireless current directors are scheduled to expire at the
annual meeting.
At the annual meeting, shareholders will elect nine directors to
serve until the next annual meeting of the shareholders of
Western Wireless and until their respective successors are
elected and qualified or until the consummation of the merger.
Unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the proxy intend
to cast all proxies in favor of the following persons to serve
as directors of Western Wireless. In the event that any of the
nominees should become unavailable for election to the board of
directors for any reason, the persons named in the proxy have
discretionary authority to vote the proxies for the election of
another nominee to be designated by the board of directors to
fill any such vacancy. The board of directors of Western
Wireless believes that each of the nominees is willing and able
to serve if elected a director. For information regarding
Western Wireless director nomination policy, see
Board of Directors, Committees and Corporate
Governance Director Nominations and
Qualifications below.
Information about the Nominees
John W. Stanton, 49, has been chairman of the
board of directors, a director and chief executive officer of
Western Wireless and its predecessors since 1992.
Mr. Stanton was chairman and a director of T-Mobile USA,
formerly VoiceStream Wireless Corporation (T-Mobile
USA), a former subsidiary of Western Wireless, from 1994
to 2004 and was chief executive officer of T-Mobile USA from
February 1998 to March 2003. Mr. Stanton served as a
director of McCaw Cellular Communications Corporation
(McCaw Cellular) from 1986 to 1994, and as a
director of LIN Broadcasting from 1990 to 1994, during which
time it was a publicly traded company. From 1983 to 1991,
Mr. Stanton served in various capacities with McCaw
Cellular, serving as vice chairman of the Board of McCaw
Cellular from 1988 to September 1991 and as chief operating
officer of McCaw Cellular from 1985 to 1988. Mr. Stanton is
a member of the board of directors of Advanced Digital
Information Corporation (ADIC), Columbia Sportswear,
Inc., and Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd, each
of which is publicly traded. Mr. Stanton is a trustee of
Whitman College.
John L. Bunce, Jr., 46, has served as a director
of Western Wireless and one of its predecessors since 1992.
Mr. Bunce is a managing director of Hellman & Friedman,
a private investment firm, having joined Hellman & Friedman
as an associate in 1988. Mr. Bunce is also a director of
National Information Consortium and Arch Capital Group, Ltd.,
and several other private entities.
Mitchell R. Cohen, 41, has served as a director of
Western Wireless and one of its predecessors since 1992.
Mr. Cohen is a managing director of Hellman &
Friedman, having joined Hellman & Friedman as an
associate in 1989. From 1986 to 1989, Mr. Cohen was
employed by Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc.
Daniel J. Evans, 79, has served as a director of
Western Wireless since 1997. Mr. Evans is the chairman of
Daniel J. Evans Associates, a consulting firm. From 1965 through
1977, Mr. Evans was Governor of the State of Washington. In
1983 he was appointed and then elected to the United States
Senate to fill the seat of the late Senator Henry M. Jackson.
Mr. Evans also serves as a director of Archimedes
Technology Group, National Information Consortium, Cray Computer
Company and Costco Wholesale Corporation. Mr. Evans is also
a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Washington.
Theresa E. Gillespie, 52, has been vice chairman
of Western Wireless since February 2003 and has been director of
Western Wireless since October 2000. Prior to being elected vice
chairman, Ms. Gillespie served as executive vice president
of Western Wireless from May 1999 until February 2003, senior
vice president of Western Wireless from May 1997 until May 1999,
and chief financial officer of Western Wireless and one of its
predecessors from 1991 to 1997. Ms. Gillespie was chief
financial officer of certain entities controlled by
Mr. Stanton and Ms. Gillespie since 1988. From 1986 to
1987, Ms. Gillespie was
115
senior vice president and controller of McCaw Cellular. From
1976 to 1986 she was employed by a national public accounting
firm.
Jonathan M. Nelson, 48, has served as a director
of Western Wireless since it was formed in 1994. Mr. Nelson
has been president of Providence Equity Partners Inc., an
investment advisor, since its inception in 1995. He has been
co-chairman of Providence Ventures Inc., an investment advisor,
since 1990. Since 1986, Mr. Nelson has been a managing
director of Narragansett Capital, Inc., a private management
company for three separate equity investment funds.
Mr. Nelson is also a director of Bresnan Broadband
Holdings, Warner Music Group, Yankees Entertainment and Sports
Network, L.L.C. and numerous privately-held companies affiliated
with Providence Equity Partners, Inc. Mr. Nelson is a
trustee of Brown University.
Peggy V. Phillips, 51, has served as a director of
Western Wireless since April 2004. Ms. Phillips joined
Immunex Corporation in 1996 and served as executive vice
president and chief operating officer of Immunex, a
biotechnology company, from 1999 until its acquisition by Amgen
Inc. in July 2002. She also served as a director of Immunex from
1996 to July 2002. Ms. Phillips has served as a director of
the United States Naval Academy Foundation since 2002.
Mikal J. Thomsen, 48, has been president of
Western Wireless since May 1999 and was chief operating officer
of Western Wireless and one of its predecessors from 1991 to May
2002. In his capacity as chief operating officer,
Mr. Thomsen was responsible for all domestic cellular
operations. He has served as director since October 2000. He was
also a director of its predecessor from 1991 until Western
Wireless was formed in 1994. From 1983 to 1991, Mr. Thomsen
held various positions at McCaw Cellular, serving as General
Manager of its International Division from 1990 to 1991 and as
General Manager of its West Florida Region from 1987 to 1990.
Mr. Thomsen is also a director of the Cellular
Telecommunications & Internet Association, WineBid.com and
the Basketball Club of Seattle, L.L.C. He also serves as
chairman of the Washington State University Foundation Board of
Governors.
Peter H. van Oppen, 52, has served as a director
of Western Wireless since October 2000. Mr. van Oppen
has served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer
of ADIC since its acquisition by Interpoint in 1994, and as
president from 1994 to 1997. He served as chairman of the board
of Interpoint from 1995 until its acquisition by Crane Co. in
October 1996. He also served as president and chief executive
officer of Interpoint from 1989 until its acquisition by Crane
Co. in October 1996. Mr. van Oppen also serves as a
director of ADIC and the Basketball Club of Seattle, L.L.C. He
is also a trustee of Whitman College.
Mr. Stanton and Ms. Gillespie are married to each
other.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WESTERN WIRELESS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
Board of Directors, Committees and Corporate Governance
The Western Wireless board of directors currently consists
of nine members. The board of directors has determined each of
the following current directors to be an independent
director as such term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15)
of the National Association of Securities Dealers (the
NASD): John L. Bunce, Jr.; Mitchell R. Cohen; Daniel
J. Evans; Jonathan M. Nelson; Peggy V. Phillips and Peter H. van
Oppen. The independent directors meet regularly without the
directors who are not independent in attendance, including in
executive sessions at each board of directors meeting.
During the last fiscal year, there were 6 meetings of the board
of directors, and all directors attended at least 75% of all
board of directors meetings and meetings of committees of which
they were members. Western Wireless does not have a specific
policy regarding attendance at the annual shareholder meeting.
However, all directors are encouraged to attend if available and
Western Wireless tries to ensure that at least one independent
director is present at the annual meeting and available to
answer any shareholder questions.
Western Wireless board of directors has standing Audit,
Compensation and Nominating Committees. The current charters of
each of these committees are available on Western Wireless
website,
116
www.wwireless.com/aboutwesternwireless/corporategovernance. The
Audit Committee charter, as amended, is also attached to this
proxy statement/prospectus as Annex E. Also posted on that
website is information regarding how shareholders may send
communications to the board of directors.
Audit Committee. Messrs. Bunce and van Oppen
and Ms. Phillips are current members of the Audit
Committee, on which Mr. Bunce serves as chairman. All of
the members of Western Wireless Audit Committee are
independent in accordance with applicable NASD and SEC rules.
The board of directors has determined that Messrs. Bunce
and van Oppen are audit committee financial experts
as such term is defined in Item 401(h) of
Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange
Act. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee Western
Wireless internal control, internal audit, accounting and
financial reporting processes. The Audit Committee is directly
responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and
oversight of Western Wireless independent registered
public accounting firm and management of the scope, results and
costs of the audit engagement. During the last fiscal year, the
Audit Committee met twelve times and had three additional
telephonic conference calls.
Compensation Committee. Messrs. Cohen, Evans
and Nelson are members of the Compensation Committee. All the
members of the Compensation Committee are independent in
accordance with applicable NASD rules. The Compensation
Committee reviews the remuneration of the directors and key
executive officers of Western Wireless and makes recommendations
to the board of directors regarding appropriate periodic
adjustments of such amounts. The Compensation Committee also
determines Western Wireless grants of stock options and
restricted stock offers and awards to officers and employees of
Western Wireless under Western Wireless related plans.
During the last fiscal year, the Compensation Committee met 4
times.
Nominating Committee. Ms. Phillips and
Messrs. Bunce, Cohen, Evans, Nelson and van Oppen are
members of the Nominating Committee. All the members of the
Nominating Committee are independent in accordance with
applicable NASD rules. The primary purpose of the Nominating
Committee is to identify and recommend individuals to be
presented to Western Wireless shareholders for election or
re-election to Western Wireless board of directors. During
the last fiscal year, the Nominating Committee met 3 times,
including 3 meetings held in conjunction with executive
sessions at board of directors meetings.
Director Nominations and
Qualifications
The Nominating Committee will consider nominees for the board of
directors recommended by shareholders with respect to elections
to be held at an annual meeting if the shareholder complies with
the notice, information and consent provisions contained in
Western Wireless by-laws. Western Wireless has an advance
notice by-law provision. In order for the director nomination to
be timely, a shareholders notice to Western Wireless must
be delivered to Western Wireless (Attn: General Counsel) not
less than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the date of
Western Wireless proxy statement released to shareholders
in connection with the previous years annual meeting. In
the event that Western Wireless sets an annual meeting date that
is not within 30 days before or after the date of the
immediately preceding annual shareholders meeting, such notice
must be received by Western Wireless a reasonable time before
Western Wireless proxy statement is to be released.
The chairman of the Board, other directors and executive
officers may also recommend director nominees to the Nominating
Committee. The Nominating Committee will evaluate nominees
recommended by shareholders against the same criteria that it
uses to evaluate other nominees. These criteria include the
candidates independence, experience relevant to the needs
of Western Wireless, diversity, personal and professional
accomplishments and leadership qualities. The committee is also
authorized under its charter to retain at Western Wireless
expense a search firm to identify board candidates.
Compensation of Directors
Directors are reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in attending meetings of the board of directors and
participating in other related activities. In addition,
non-employee directors are each paid an annual retainer of
$24,000, $1,500 for each board of directors meeting they attend,
$750 for each
117
committee meeting not held in conjunction with full board of
directors meetings, and $500 for telephonic meetings. Directors
serving as committee chairs receive an additional annual payment
of $2,000. Each non-employee director is awarded annually
nonqualified stock options to purchase 2,500 shares of
Western Wireless Class A common stock. A non-employee
director will also be issued a nonqualified option to purchase
5,000 shares of Western Wireless Class A common
stock upon the directors initial election or appointment
to the board of directors.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Western Wireless has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics that applies to all employees, including Western
Wireless chief executive officer, chief financial officer
and all senior financial officers. The Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics is posted on Western Wireless website,
www.wwireless.com/aboutwesternwireless/corporategovernance.
Western Wireless intends to satisfy the disclosure requirements
under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendment to
or waiver of the Code with respect to Western Wireless
chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and persons
performing similar functions, by posting such information on its
website.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee, pursuant to its written charter which was
adopted by the board of directors, is responsible for monitoring
and overseeing Western Wireless internal controls,
internal audit and financial reporting processes, as well as the
independent audit of Western Wireless consolidated
financial statements by Western Wireless independent
auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
(PricewaterhouseCoopers). A copy of the Audit
Committee charter is posted on Western Wireless website,
www.wwireless.com/aboutwesternwireless/corporategovernance.
Each of the members of the Audit Committee meets the
independence criteria prescribed by applicable law and the rules
of the SEC for audit committee membership and is an
independent director as defined in NASD
Rule 4200(a)(15). Each Audit Committee member meets the
NASDs financial knowledge requirements and Mr. Bunce
and Mr. van Oppen both are audit committee
financial experts as defined in Item 401(h) of
Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange
Act.
As part of fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee
reviewed and discussed with management and Western
Wireless internal audit team Western Wireless
audited financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2004, and discussed with
PricewaterhouseCoopers the matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with
Audit Committees). The Audit Committee also received and
reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from
PricewaterhouseCoopers required by Independent Standards Board
Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees) and discussed that firms independence with
representatives of the firm.
Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee
recommended to the board of directors that the financial
statements referred to above be included in Western
Wireless Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004, for filing with the SEC.
|
|
|
Respectfully Submitted, |
|
|
John L. Bunce, Jr. (Chairman) |
|
Peggy V. Philips |
|
Peter H. van Oppen |
118
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table shows the fees paid or accrued by Western
Wireless for the audit and other services provided by
PricewaterhouseCoopers for the fiscal years 2004 and 2003.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit Fees
|
|
$ |
3,636,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,209,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
$ |
34,000 |
|
|
$ |
11,000 |
|
Tax Fees
|
|
$ |
139,000 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
All Other Fees
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
3,809,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
Audit fees consisted of the audit work performed in connection
with Western Wireless consolidated financial statements
and quarterly review of financial statements, fees for the
issuance of no default letters and statutory audits in the
international locations. Audit-related fees included services
related to statutory audits required internationally, services
in connection with SEC filings and comfort letters, and
consultations on accounting issues. Tax fees included services
related to international corporate income tax returns. In 2003,
all other fees primarily included fees related to the Western
Wireless loan agreements.
The Audit Committee has considered and concluded that the
provision of the non-audit services provided by
PricewaterhouseCoopers is compatible with maintaining the
firms independence.
The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, setting
compensation for and overseeing the work of Western
Wireless independent auditor. Western Wireless is required
to obtain pre-approval by the Audit Committee for all audit and
permissible non-audit related fees incurred with Western
Wireless independent auditor. Pursuant to this
requirement, the Audit Committee has adopted an Audit Fee Policy
that provides for the general pre-approval of specific types of
services and activities, including audit-related, tax and
non-audit services, and further provides specific cost limits
for each such service on an annual basis. Amounts in excess of
these cost limits must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
In pre-approving any services by Western Wireless
independent auditor, the Audit Committee will consider whether
such services are consistent with the rules of the SEC on
auditor independence.
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(PROPOSAL NO. 3)
The board of directors of Western Wireless will request that the
shareholders ratify its selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers to
serve as Western Wireless independent registered public
accounting firm, to examine the consolidated financial
statements of Western Wireless for the year ending
December 31, 2005. Representatives of
PricewaterhouseCoopers will be present at the annual meeting to
make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to
questions by shareholders. The affirmative vote of a majority of
the total number of votes attributable to all shares represented
at the annual meeting is required for the ratification of the
board of directors selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers as
Western Wireless independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WESTERN WIRELESS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM OF
WESTERN WIRELESS FOR 2005.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of May 24, 2005, certain
information regarding beneficial ownership of Western Wireless
common stock by (i) each person who is known by Western
Wireless to own beneficially 5% or more of either class of
Western Wireless common stock; (ii) each Named Executive
Officer (as defined under Executive Compensation
below); (iii) each director and nominee for director
119
of Western Wireless; and (iv) all directors and executive
officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, all persons
listed have sole voting power and investment power with respect
to such shares, subject to community property laws, where
applicable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares Beneficially Owned(2) | |
|
Percentage Beneficially Owned | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Class A | |
|
Class B | |
|
Total | |
|
Class A | |
|
Class B | |
|
Total | |
|
Outstanding | |
Name and Address(1) |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Votes | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
John W. Stanton(3)
|
|
|
6,034,313 |
|
|
|
6,050,693 |
|
|
|
12,085,006 |
|
|
|
6.42 |
% |
|
|
90.73 |
% |
|
|
12.00 |
% |
|
|
41.34 |
% |
John L. Bunce, Jr.(4)
|
|
|
291,639 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
291,639 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Mitchell R. Cohen(5)
|
|
|
46,117 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
46,117 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Daniel J. Evans(6)
|
|
|
30,669 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
30,669 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Theresa E. Gillespie(3)
|
|
|
6,034,313 |
|
|
|
6,050,693 |
|
|
|
12,085,006 |
|
|
|
6.42 |
% |
|
|
90.73 |
% |
|
|
12.00 |
% |
|
|
41.34 |
% |
Jonathan M. Nelson(7)
|
|
|
687,132 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
687,132 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Peggy V. Phillips
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Mikal J. Thomsen(8)
|
|
|
605,031 |
|
|
|
231,458 |
|
|
|
836,489 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
3.47 |
% |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
1.89 |
% |
Peter H. van Oppen(9)
|
|
|
188,575 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
188,575 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Bradley J. Horwitz(10)
|
|
|
387,021 |
|
|
|
21,700 |
|
|
|
408,721 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Eric Hertz(11)
|
|
|
159,100 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
159,100 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
M. Wayne Wisehart(12)
|
|
|
69,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
69,500 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(13)
|
|
|
6,399,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,399,400 |
|
|
|
6.86 |
% |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6.39 |
% |
|
|
3.96 |
% |
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P.(14)
|
|
|
5,450,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5,450,500 |
|
|
|
5.84 |
% |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5.44 |
% |
|
|
3.22 |
% |
Iridian Asset Management LLC(15)
|
|
|
5,134,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5,134,400 |
|
|
|
5.50 |
% |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5.13 |
% |
|
|
3.03 |
% |
All directors and executive officers as a group
(17 persons)(16)
|
|
|
9,269,214 |
|
|
|
6,393,968 |
|
|
|
15,663,182 |
|
|
|
9.70 |
% |
|
|
95.88 |
% |
|
|
15.32 |
% |
|
|
44.54 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
The address of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe
Price) is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland
21202. The address of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P. is
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000, Chicago, Illinois
60606. The address of Iridian Asset Management LLC is
276 Post Road West, Westport, Connecticut 06880. The
address of Western Wireless directors and executive
officers is 3650 131(st) Avenue SE, Bellevue,
Washington 98006. |
|
(2) |
Computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the
Exchange Act. |
|
(3) |
Includes (i) 869,880 shares of Class A common stock
and 1,686,069 shares of Class B common stock held by PN
Cellular, Inc. (PN Cellular), which is substantially
owned and controlled by Mr. Stanton and Ms. Gillespie,
(ii) 576,859 shares of Class A common stock and
1,274,519 shares of Class B common stock held by
Stanton Communications Corporation (SCC), which is
substantially owned and controlled by Mr. Stanton and
Ms. Gillespie, (iii) 4,420,919 shares of
Class A common stock and 3,025,668 shares of
Class B common stock held by Mr. Stanton and
Ms. Gillespie, as tenants in common, (iv) 64,437
shares of Class B common stock held by The Stanton Family
Trust, and (v) stock options which become exercisable
within sixty days of May 24, 2005, held by Mr. Stanton
and Ms. Gillespie to purchase 1,335 and 165,320 shares
of Class A common stock, respectively. Mr. Stanton and
Ms. Gillespie are married and share voting and investment
power with respect to the shares jointly owned by them, as well
as the shares held by PN Cellular, SCC and The Stanton
Family Trust (the Stanton Entities). |
|
(4) |
Includes stock options which become exercisable within sixty
days of May 24, 2005, held by Mr. Bunce to purchase
5,496 shares of Class A common stock. Options granted
to Mr. Bunce prior |
120
|
|
|
to December 31, 1999 are held for the benefit of
Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners II, L.P. and
affiliates (Hellman & Friedman). |
|
(5) |
Includes stock options which become exercisable within sixty
days of May 24, 2005, held by Mr. Cohen to purchase
5,496 shares of Class A common stock. Options granted
to Mr. Cohen prior to December 31, 1999 are held for
the benefit of Hellman & Friedman. |
|
(6) |
Includes stock options which become exercisable within sixty
days of May 24, 2005, held by Mr. Evans to purchase
10,669 shares of Class A common stock. |
|
(7) |
Includes 487,490 shares owned by the Jonathan M. Nelson Family
Foundation (the Foundation). Mr. Nelson is
President and a Director of the Foundation and may be deemed to
share voting and investment power over such shares.
Mr. Nelson disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares
held by the Foundation. Also includes stock options which become
exercisable within sixty days of May 24, 2005, held by
Mr. Nelson to purchase 3,642 shares of Class A
common stock. |
|
(8) |
Includes stock options which become exercisable within sixty
days of May 24, 2005, held by Mr. Thomsen to purchase
478,698 shares of Class A common stock.
Mr. Thomsen jointly holds voting and investment power with
respect to all of such shares with his wife, except for shares
issued or issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
|
(9) |
Includes 5,000 shares of Class A common stock held by
Mr. van Oppens wife, and 9,025 shares of
Class A common stock held in trusts for the benefit of
Mr. van Oppens son, niece and nephews.
Mr. van Oppen disclaims beneficial ownership of those
shares. Also includes stock options vested within sixty days of
May 24, 2005, held by Mr. van Oppen to purchase
8,375 shares of Class A common stock. |
|
|
(10) |
Includes stock options vested within sixty days of May 24,
2005, held by Mr. Horwitz to purchase 219,021 shares
of Class A common stock. Although this table reports all
stock options as exercisable into Class A common stock, 47,788
of the stock options held by Mr. Horwitz are exercisable
into either Class A common stock or Class B common
stock at Mr. Horwitz discretion. |
|
(11) |
Includes 2,000 shares of Class A common stock held by
Mr. Hertz wife and 400 shares of Class A
common stock held in trust for the benefit of
Mr. Hertz daughter. Mr. Hertz disclaims
beneficial ownership of those shares. Also includes stock
options vested within sixty days of May 24, 2005, held by
Mr. Hertz to purchase 131,250 shares of Class A common
stock. |
|
(12) |
Includes stock options vested within sixty days of May 24,
2005, held by Mr. Wisehart to purchase 50,000 shares
of Class A common stock. |
|
(13) |
Beneficial ownership is as of December 31, 2004, as
reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14,
2005. These shares are owned by various individual and
institutional investors to which T. Rowe Price serves as
investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole
power to vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act, T. Rowe Price is deemed
to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however,
T. Rowe Price expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the
beneficial owner of such securities |
|
(14) |
Beneficial ownership is as of December 31, 2004, as
reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14,
2005. |
|
(15) |
Beneficial ownership is as of December 31, 2004, as
reported in the Schedule 13G filed on February 8, 2005. |
|
(16) |
Includes stock options vested within sixty days of May 24,
2005, held by directors and executive officers to purchase
1,692,984 shares of Class A common stock. Although
this table reports all stock options as exercisable into
Class A common stock, 177,648 of the options held by
executive officers are exercisable into either Class A
common stock or Class B common stock at the respective
holders discretion. |
121
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the compensation for services
rendered during 2004, 2003 and 2002 for Western Wireless
chief executive officer and its next four most highly
compensated executive officers (collectively referred to herein
as the Named Executive Officers).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Compensation Awards | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted | |
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock | |
|
Underlying | |
|
All Other | |
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Awards | |
|
Options/ | |
|
Compensation | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
($) | |
|
($) | |
|
($)(1) | |
|
SARs (#) | |
|
($)(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
John W. Stanton
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
270,475 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
|
|
Chairman and Chief Executive |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
875,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
412,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
315,220 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
Mikal J. Thomsen
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
330,475 |
|
|
|
427,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
|
|
President and Chief Operating |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
328,350 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
174,080 |
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
Eric Hertz
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
331,150 |
|
|
|
323,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
|
|
Chief Operating Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
218,900 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
(3) |
|
|
187,326 |
|
|
|
59,000 |
|
|
|
117,760 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
251,827 |
(4) |
Bradley J. Horwitz
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
270,475 |
|
|
|
373,458 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
|
|
Executive Vice President |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
328,350 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
168,960 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
M. Wayne Wisehart
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
246,150 |
|
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
|
|
Executive Vice President |
|
|
2003 |
(5) |
|
|
221,667 |
|
|
|
54,000 |
|
|
|
153,230 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
64,000 |
(6) |
|
and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
This column shows the market value of restricted stock grants on
the date of grant. Each restricted stock grant in the fiscal
years 2002 and 2003 is fully vested. |
|
(2) |
Consists of matching Western Wireless contributions under
Western Wireless 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, a
portion of which was refunded to Western Wireless and/or
Messrs. Stanton, Thomsen, and Horwitz and Hertz in cash
each year because non-discrimination (employee participation)
thresholds established by the Internal Revenue Service were not
met. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Hertz was elected chief operating officer of Western
Wireless in May 2002. |
|
(4) |
Of this amount, $200,000 represents a relocation payment and
$51,827 represents a payment made by Western Wireless in 2002 to
cover taxes on Mr. Hertz initial restricted stock
grant. |
|
(5) |
Mr. Wisehart was elected executive vice president and chief
financial officer of Western Wireless in January 2003. |
|
(6) |
Of this amount, $60,000 represents a relocation payment. |
122
Option Grants For 2004 Fiscal Year
The following table provides information on options granted to
the Named Executive Officers for Fiscal Year 2004.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
Options | |
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Realizable Value at | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Granted to | |
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Employees | |
|
Exercise or | |
|
|
|
Appreciation for Option Term(2) | |
|
|
Options | |
|
in Fiscal | |
|
Base Price | |
|
Expiration | |
|
| |
Name |
|
Granted(1) | |
|
Year | |
|
($/Sh) | |
|
Date | |
|
0% ($) | |
|
5% ($) | |
|
10% ($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
John W. Stanton
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mikal J. Thomsen
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
29.40 |
|
|
|
12/30/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
46,224 |
|
|
$ |
117,140 |
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
21.89 |
|
|
|
1/15/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
275,330 |
|
|
$ |
697,740 |
|
Bradley J. Horwitz
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
29.40 |
|
|
|
12/30/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
462,238 |
|
|
$ |
1,171,401 |
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
21.89 |
|
|
|
1/15/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
275,330 |
|
|
$ |
697,740 |
|
Eric Hertz
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
|
|
|
29.40 |
|
|
|
12/30/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
924,475 |
|
|
$ |
2,342,801 |
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
|
21.89 |
|
|
|
1/15/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
1,032,488 |
|
|
$ |
2,616,527 |
|
M. Wayne Wisehart
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
1.7 |
|
|
|
29.40 |
|
|
|
12/30/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
554,685 |
|
|
$ |
1,405,681 |
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
|
|
|
21.89 |
|
|
|
1/15/14 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
688,325 |
|
|
$ |
1,744,351 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The options vest in four equal annual increments beginning
December 30, 2005 (but subject to shareholder approval of
the 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan) and January 1,
2005, respectively (subject, however, to acceleration in
connection with the merger). |
|
(2) |
The potential realizable value portion of the table illustrates
value that might be realized upon exercise of the options
immediately prior to the expiration of their term, assuming the
specified compounded rates of appreciation on Western
Wireless Class A common stock over the term of the
options. These numbers do not take into account certain
provisions of the options providing for cancellation of the
option following termination of employment. |
Option Exercises and Values
The following table provides information on option exercises in
2004 by the Named Executive Officers and the value of each Named
Executive Officers unexercised options on
December 31, 2004. On May 3, 1999, Western Wireless
distributed its 80.1% ownership of VoiceStream to its
shareholders on a 1-for-1 basis; for each share of Western
Wireless common stock that shareholders owned at the
record date for the spin-off of VoiceStream, they received a
share of VoiceStream common stock (the VoiceStream
Spin-off). This table excludes options to purchase
VoiceStream common stock received in connection with the
VoiceStream Spin-Off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
in-the-Money | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Options/SARs at Fiscal | |
|
Options/SARs at | |
|
|
Acquired on | |
|
|
|
Year-End (#) | |
|
Fiscal Year-End ($) | |
|
|
Exercise | |
|
Value Realized | |
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
(#) | |
|
($) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
John W. Stanton
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,335 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
26,807 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Mikal J. Thomsen
|
|
|
58,500 |
|
|
|
1,633,759 |
|
|
|
548,992 |
|
|
|
76,500 |
|
|
|
9,860,276 |
|
|
|
873,600 |
|
Bradley J. Horwitz
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
202,521 |
* |
|
|
75,500 |
|
|
|
13,480,314 |
* |
|
|
692,250 |
|
Eric Hertz
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,750 |
|
|
|
231,250 |
|
|
|
1,750,875 |
|
|
|
3,213,375 |
|
M. Wayne Wisehart
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,750 |
|
|
|
136,250 |
|
|
|
453,375 |
|
|
|
1,730,625 |
|
|
|
* |
Includes 4,000 vested Performance Units issued pursuant to the
Western Wireless International Holding Company 1998 Stock
Appreciation Plan, as amended. |
123
Employment Agreements
Mr. Stantons employment agreement and the employment
agreements between Western Wireless and each of
Messrs. Thomsen, Hertz, Horwitz, and Wisehart provide for
annual base salaries and an opportunity to earn an annual bonus,
as determined by Western Wireless board of directors. The
foregoing employment agreements also provide that the
contracting employee may be terminated by Western Wireless at
any time, with or without cause (as such term is defined in the
employment agreements); however, in the event of an involuntary
termination (as defined therein) for other than cause,
(1) such executive officer will be entitled to receive a
severance payment in an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid
existing annual targeted incentive bonus through the date of
termination, 12 months of such executives then base
compensation, and an amount equal to 12 months of such
executives existing annual targeted incentive bonus,
(2) Western Wireless will, at its expense, make all
specified insurance payment benefits on behalf of such executive
officer and his or her dependents for 12 months following
such involuntary termination and (3) with respect to any
stock options previously granted to each executive officer which
remain unvested at the time of involuntary termination, there
shall be immediate vesting of that portion of each such grant of
any unvested stock options equal to the product of the total
number of such unvested options under such grant multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the number of
days from the date on which the last vesting of options under
such grant occurred to and including the date of termination
plus 365, and the denominator of which is the number of days
remaining from the date on which the last vesting of options
under such grant occurred to and including the date on which the
final vesting under such grant would have occurred absent the
termination. Among other things, an executive officers
death or permanent disability will be deemed an involuntary
termination for other than cause. In addition, each employment
agreement provides for full vesting of all stock options granted
upon a change of control (as such term is defined in the stock
option agreements with the executive officer) of Western
Wireless.
Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Hertz received a
payment of $200,000 in 2002 for relocation costs, a grant of
35,000 shares from the Executive Restricted Stock Plan as
amended, and an additional cash payment of $51,827 to cover
taxes related to this grant of restricted stock. These shares of
restricted stock are now fully vested but were subject to
forfeiture if Mr. Hertz terminated his employment
voluntarily without cause or his employment is terminated by
Western Wireless with cause prior to May 20, 2003. In 2002,
Mr. Hertz also received an option to
purchase 100,000 shares of Western Wireless
Class A common stock.
Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Wisehart received
a payment of $60,000 in 2003 for relocation costs and an option
to purchase 75,000 shares of Western Wireless
Class A common stock.
Pursuant to each such employment agreement, Western Wireless has
agreed to indemnify the executive officer against certain
liabilities arising by reason of the executive officers
affiliation with the Western Wireless. Pursuant to the terms of
each employment agreement, each executive officer agrees that
during such executive officers employment with Western
Wireless and for one year following the termination of such
executive officers employment with Western Wireless for
any reason, such executive officer will not engage in a business
which is substantially the same as or similar to the business of
Western Wireless and which competes within the applicable
commercial mobile radio services markets serviced by Western
Wireless. Mr. Stantons agreement provides that such
prohibition shall not preclude Mr. Stantons
investment in other companies engaged in the wireless
communications business or his ability to serve as a director of
other companies engaged in the wireless communications business,
in each case subject to his fiduciary duties as a director of
Western Wireless.
Retention Bonus Plan and Severance Plan
On February 8, 2005, in connection with the merger, Western
Wireless Compensation Committee adopted a Retention Bonus
Plan and a Severance Plan. The objective of the these plans is
to retain officers and other critical employees during the
period leading up to the merger and for a two-year transition
period thereafter and to provide an incentive to complete a
successful merger and an effective transition.
124
Under the Retention Bonus Plan, executive officers of Western
Wireless will be eligible to receive a cash retention bonus
equal to 12 months of their base salary, 50% of which will
be paid at the next payroll period after the completion of the
merger and 50% of which will be paid at the next payroll period
following the date that is six months thereafter, subject to the
executive officers continued employment with ALLTEL or
Western Wireless through such dates. The retention bonuses will
be paid regardless of whether the merger is consummated. If the
merger agreement is terminated, executive officers will be paid
50% of their retention bonus at the next payroll period after
the one-month anniversary of the termination and 50% at the next
payroll period after the seven-month anniversary of the
termination, subject to each executive officers continued
employment with Western Wireless through such payment dates. The
Retention Bonus Plan also provides other employees with cash
retention bonuses of varying amounts payable at different
intervals. A retention pool with an aggregate payout amount of
$20 million was established under the Retention Bonus Plan
to pay all such cash retention bonuses.
If the employment of a participant in the Retention Bonus Plan
is terminated by Western Wireless or its successor without cause
or terminated by the participant for good reason (defined in the
Retention Bonus Plan as a failure to pay, or a reduction in, the
participants compensation, or a relocation of the
participants place of employment) or terminated as a
result of death or disability, prior to the scheduled payment
date of any retention bonus to which the participant would
otherwise have been entitled if the participant had remained
employed until such payment date, the participant will receive
the full amount of his or her cash retention bonus at the next
payroll period after such termination of employment.
Participants who voluntarily resign without good reason or whose
employment is terminated for cause will not receive any cash
retention bonus that had not already been paid. ALLTEL has
agreed to honor the terms of the Retention Bonus Plan following
the completion of the merger. The Retention Bonus Plan will be
administered by John W. Stanton, Western Wireless chairman
and chief executive officer, or his designee.
John Stanton, Mikal J. Thomsen, Bradley J. Horwitz, Theresa
Gillespie and Donald Guthrie will not participate in the
Retention Bonus Plan.
Under the Severance Plan, the severance payments for executive
officers will be equal to one year of such executive
officers total compensation (base salary and target
bonus). Severance payments will be paid if the employment of a
participant is terminated by Western Wireless or its successor
without cause or terminated by the participant for good reason
(defined in the Severance Plan as a failure to pay, or a
reduction in, the participants compensation, or a
relocation of the participants place of employment) during
the two year period following the closing of the merger.
Participants who voluntarily resign without good reason or whose
employment is terminated for cause will not receive any
severance payments. The Severance Plan also provides employees
who are not executive officers with cash severance payments of
varying amounts. Prior to the adoption of the Severance Plan,
Western Wireless had no company-wide severance plan in place,
but certain employees of Western Wireless, including certain
executive officers, were, and continue to be, party to
individual employment agreements with Western Wireless which
provide for severance pay. If a Severance Plan participant is
entitled to greater benefits under any agreement with Western
Wireless which provides for severance pay, he or she would be
paid in accordance with such agreement and not under the
Severance Plan. None of the executive officers or other
employees who have employment agreements with Western Wireless
are entitled to severance payments of greater than one year of
total compensation under such employment agreements. ALLTEL has
agreed to honor the Severance Plan following the merger. No
severance payments will be made under the Severance Plan in the
event the merger is not consummated. Mr. Stanton (or his
designee) will also administer the Severance Plan.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
The Compensation Committee of Western Wireless board of
directors was formed in July 1994. Its members are Jonathan M.
Nelson, Mitchell R. Cohen and Daniel J. Evans. None of the
members was at any time during 2004, or at any other time, an
officer or employee of Western Wireless. In 2004, Western
Wireless paid legal expenses of $0.3 million to Lane Powell
Spears Lubersky LLC. These legal fees were paid by Western
Wireless to defend Hellman and Friedman in a lawsuit filed by
certain former holders of
125
minority interests in three of Western Wireless
subsidiaries against Western Wireless, Hellman and Friedman and
certain of Western Wireless directors. Hellman and
Friedman is associated with two of Western Wireless
directors, including Mr. Cohen. No executive officer of
Western Wireless served as a member of the compensation
committee (or other board committee performing equivalent
functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire
board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive
officers served as a member of Western Wireless board of
directors or Compensation Committee.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting policy and
the oversight of executive compensation. The Compensation
Committees functions include determining the compensation
of the Western Wireless chief executive officer;
developing guidelines and reviewing the compensation and
performance of the Western Wireless other key executive
officers in consultation with the Western Wireless chief
executive officer; and administering Western Wireless
Management Incentive Stock Option Plan, 2005 Long-Term Equity
Incentive Plan, Executive Restricted Stock Plan, as amended, and
2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
The Compensation Committee believes that the actions of each
executive officer have the potential to affect the short-term
and long-term performance of Western Wireless. Consequently, the
Compensation Committee places considerable importance on its
task of designing and overseeing the executive compensation
program. The Compensation Committee annually reviews the
compensation programs of peer and competing companies to assess
the competitiveness of its compensation and to determine whether
Western Wireless executive compensation program is meeting
the goals and objectives set by the Western Wireless board
of directors. In 2004, Western Wireless retained an outside
compensation consultant to assist the Compensation Committee in
this compensation review.
Philosophy and Objectives for Executive Compensation. The
purpose of Western Wireless executive compensation program
is to: (i) increase shareholder value; (ii) improve
the overall performance of Western Wireless; and
(iii) attract, motivate, reward and retain key executives.
The Compensation Committee believes that Western Wireless
executive compensation should reflect each executive
officers qualifications, experience, role and performance
achievements and Western Wireless performance
achievements. In determining compensation levels, the
Compensation Committee focuses on the competitive environment of
the wireless and telecommunications industry group, considering
compensation practices, organization and performance of other
companies. The Compensation Committee also considers general
industry trends in the geographic markets that are relevant to
its operations. Total cash compensation (base salary plus annual
cash incentives) and total direct compensation (base salary plus
annual cash incentives plus the expected value of long-term
incentives) should directly reflect the level of performance
achieved by Western Wireless and its executives. Within this
overall philosophy, the Compensation Committees specific
objectives are to: (i) offer compensation which is
competitive with other well-managed wireless and
telecommunications companies and reward superior performance
with enhanced levels of compensation; and (ii) provide
variable compensation awards that are based on Western
Wireless overall performance relative to corporate
objectives, taking into account individual contributions,
teamwork and performance levels that help create value for
shareholders.
Components of Executive Compensation. The three primary
components of executive compensation are: (i) base salary,
(ii) bonuses and (iii) long-term incentive awards.
Base Salary. Executive officers base salaries are
set at levels which reflect their specific job responsibilities,
experience, qualifications, and job performance in the context
of the competitive marketplace. Marketplace levels of
compensation are determined using compensation surveys which
reflect the relevant segments of the market and include some of
the companies which are included in Western Wireless peer
group as reflected in the Performance Graph, and other companies
which, while not in the peer group, are deemed appropriate
comparisons for compensation purposes. Base salaries are
reviewed each year, with consideration for adjustments being
based on a combination of each executive officers ongoing
role, his or her job performance and marketplace competitiveness.
126
Bonuses. Awards under the bonus plan are based on the
achievement of quality, growth and operating cash flow targets
and specific objective performance goals. These goals are set
annually for a one-year period. Performance goals are set to
represent a range of performance, with the level of associated
incentive award varying with different levels of performance
achievement. The chief executive officer recommends bonuses to
the Compensation Committee for key executive officers other than
himself. Awards earned under the plan are contingent upon
employment with Western Wireless through the end of the year,
except for payments made in the event of death, retirement,
disability, or in the event of a change in control. Bonus
payments for Named Executive Officers in 2004, 2003 and 2002 are
presented in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading
Bonus.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation. Long-term incentives
are provided in the stock options granted under the Management
Incentive Stock Option Plan, 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive
Plan and restricted stock granted under the Executive Restricted
Stock Plan, as amended. The Compensation Committee believes that
stock option and restricted stock grants encourage and reward
effective management, assist in the retention of key executive
officers, and further align shareholder and management
interests. The restricted stock grants listed in the Summary
Compensation Table above reflect stock bonus grants earned by
the Named Executive Officers in 2003 and 2002. Those grants were
based on the recommendation of the chief executive officer other
than for himself. Options were provided to the Named Executive
Officers based on the recommendations of the chief executive
officer other than for himself.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation. The executive
compensation policy described above is applied in setting the
chief executive officers compensation. Mr. Stanton
participated in the same base salary compensation plan available
to Western Wireless other executive officers. In 2003,
Mr. Stantons annual base compensation was reduced at
his request. In 2004, Mr. Stanton earned a total base
salary of $270,475, the third consecutive year that
Mr. Stantons total base salary has decreased. The
Committee believes that Mr. Stantons base salary is
currently set at an amount significantly below salaries paid to
chief executive officers of comparable size companies in similar
industries. Mr. Stantons bonus was determined on the
basis of Western Wireless operating results and
achievements in 2004 and other objectives. During 2004, under
Mr. Stantons leadership, Western Wireless
(i) continued to deliver outstanding financial and
operating results, including record net income and the highest
level of customer growth in Western Wireless history;
(ii) continued expansion of its GSM network;
(iii) generated the largest amount of universal service
fund revenue in Western Wireless history;
(iv) continued to reduce Western Wireless operating
and cost of service expenses per minute of use; and
(v) launched important initiatives to improve customer
retention and reduce churn. In addition, Mr. Stanton
continued to strengthen Western Wireless balance sheet
allowing Western Wireless to reduce debt and improve its capital
structure. Mr. Stantons efforts included the sale by
Western Wireless of 8 million shares of Class A Common
Stock, and the refinancing of Western Wireless Credit
Facility. Under Mr. Stantons leadership, Western
Wireless International also delivered outstanding financial and
operating results and continued its rapid growth, ending the
year with approximately 1.8 million mobile subscribers.
Finally, on January 10, 2005, Western Wireless announced it
had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with ALLTEL
Corporation. The Compensation Committee determined that
Mr. Stanton earned a cash bonus in the amount of $600,000.
Mr. Stanton is a large shareholder in the Western Wireless
and declined to accept a grant of stock options again in 2004.
Policy on Deductibility of Compensation.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, limits the tax deductibility by a company of
compensation in excess of $1 million paid to any of its
five most highly compensated executive officers. However,
performance-based compensation that has been approved by
shareholders is excluded from the $1 million limit if,
among other requirements, the compensation is payable only upon
attainment of pre-established, objective performance goals and
the board committee that establishes such goals consists only of
outside directors as defined for purposes of
Section 162(m). All of the members of the Compensation
Committee qualify as outside directors. The
Compensation Committee intends to maximize the extent of tax
deductibility of executive compensation under the provisions of
Section 162(m) so long as doing so is compatible with its
determinations as to the
127
most appropriate methods and approaches for the design and
delivery of compensation to Western Wireless executive
officers.
Summary. The Compensation Committee believes that the mix
of conservative market-based salaries, significant variable cash
incentives for both long-term and short-term performance and the
potential for equity ownership in Western Wireless represents a
balance that will motivate the executive management team to
continue to produce strong results. The Committee further
believes this program strikes an appropriate balance between the
interests and needs of Western Wireless in operating its
business and appropriate rewards based on enhancement of
shareholder value.
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Respectfully submitted, |
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Jonathan M. Nelson
(Chairman)
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Mitchell R. Cohen
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Daniel J. Evans
|
Performance Graph
The following graph depicts Western Wireless Class A common
stock price performance from May 22, 1996 (the date on
which quotations for the Class A common stock first
appeared on the Nasdaq Stock Market) through December 31,
2004, relative to the performance of the Nasdaq and the Nasdaq
TELECOM. All indices shown in the graph have been reset to a
base of 100 as of May 22, 1996, and assume an investment of
$100 on that date and the reinvestment of dividends, if any,
paid since that date. Western Wireless has not paid cash
dividends on its common stock. The graph has been adjusted to
reflect the VoiceStream Spin-off completed on May 3, 1999,
as if the VoiceStream shares were sold on May 4, 1999, at
its closing price of $25.188, and reinvested in Western
Wireless Class A common stock at its closing price of
$22.00. The graph set forth below was prepared by Western
Wireless.
WWCA Price and Index Comparison
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
In 2004, Western Wireless paid legal expenses of
$0.3 million to Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLC. These
legal fees were paid by Western Wireless to defend Hellman and
Friedman in a lawsuit filed by
128
certain former holders of minority interests in three of Western
Wireless subsidiaries against Western Wireless, Hellman
and Friedman and certain of Western Wireless directors.
Hellman and Friedman is associated with two of Western
Wireless directors, Messrs. Bunce and Cohen.
In January 2005, Bradley J. Horwitz, the president of WWI, who
is also an executive vice president of Western Wireless,
exercised his right, pursuant to a Subscription and Put and Call
Agreement with Western Wireless, to exchange, for fair value,
his 2.02% interest in WWI. Western Wireless paid approximately
$30 million in cash for the interest. This transaction was
completed in March 2005 and Western Wireless now owns 100% of
WWI.
Western Wireless had travel expenses of $0.2 million and
$0.3 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively, with TPS, LLC,
a company owned by Western Wireless chief executive
officer and chairman of the board of directors, John W. Stanton,
and vice chairman and director, Theresa E. Gillespie. TPS, LLC
owns and operates an airplane used for certain business travel
by Western Wireless. Western Wireless paid a discounted rate
approximately 40% less per hour than the market rate for charter
of this aircraft.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires Western
Wireless directors and executive officers, and persons who
own more than 10% of Western Wireless Class A common
stock, to file with the SEC initial reports of beneficial
ownership (Forms 3) and reports of changes in
beneficial ownership of Class A common stock and other
equity securities of Western Wireless (Forms 4 and
Forms 5). Executive Officers, directors, and greater
than 10% shareholders of Western Wireless are required by SEC
regulations to furnish to Western Wireless copies of all
Section 16(a) reports that they file. To Western
Wireless knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies
of such reports furnished to Western Wireless and written
representations that no other reports were required, all
Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors, and greater than 10% beneficial owners were
complied with for the year ended December 31, 2004.
129
APPROVAL OF WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION 2005 LONG-TERM
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(PROPOSAL NO. 4)
General Information
At the annual meeting, the board of directors of Western
Wireless will request that the shareholders approve the Western
Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the
2005 Plan), which was adopted by the board of
directors on December 30, 2004. The purposes of the 2005
Plan are to promote the growth and success of Western
Wireless business by:
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attracting and retaining the most talented employees,
consultants and directors available, and |
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aligning the long-term interests of employees, consultants and
directors with those of Western Wireless shareholders by
providing an opportunity to acquire an interest in Western
Wireless business, and by providing rewards for
exceptional performance and long-term incentives for future
contributions to Western Wireless success. |
The 2005 Plan permits the grant of the following awards:
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nonqualified stock options; |
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incentive stock options; |
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restricted stock; |
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restricted stock units; and |
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stock appreciation rights (SARs). |
The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2005
Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2005
Plan. A copy of the 2005 Plan is attached to this proxy
statement/prospectus as Annex F.
Summary of the 2005 Plan
Administration
The Compensation Committee of Western Wireless board of
directors will administer the 2005 Plan. The Compensation
Committee will have authority to determine when and to whom
awards will be granted, including the type, amount, form of
payment and other terms and conditions of each award, consistent
with the provisions of the 2005 Plan. In addition the
Compensation Committee has the authority to interpret the 2005
Plan and the awards granted under the plan, and establish rules
and regulations for the administration of the plan. The
Compensation Committee may delegate the administration of the
plan to one or more subcommittees consisting of members of the
Compensation Committee or independent directors of Western
Wireless.
Eligible Participants
Any employee or consultant providing services to Western
Wireless or any of its subsidiaries and any director on the
board of directors is eligible to be selected to receive awards
under the 2005 Plan. As of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus approximately 4,000 employees,
consultants and directors were eligible as a class to be
selected to receive awards under the 2005 Plan.
Shares Available for Awards
The aggregate number of shares of Western Wireless
Class A common stock that may be issued as awards under the
2005 Plan will be 8,000,000 shares, plus any shares of
Class A common stock subject to awards under the Amended
and Restated 1994 Management Incentive Stock Option Plan (the
MISOP) on the date of shareholder approval of the
2005 Plan that later cease to be subject to such awards for any
130
reason other than such awards having been exercised. As of
March 1, 2005, there were 4,019,432 shares of common
stock subject to outstanding awards under the MISOP.
If any shares of Class A common stock subject to any award
granted under the 2005 Plan are forfeited, become unexercisable,
or if any award terminates without the delivery of any shares,
the shares of Class A common stock previously set aside for
such awards will be available for future awards under the 2005
Plan. In addition, shares of Class A common stock that
would otherwise be issued upon the exercise of an award and that
are used by award recipients as payment of the exercise price of
the award or in satisfaction of the tax obligations relating to
the award other than an incentive stock option will be available
again for award grants. The aggregate number of shares of
Class A common stock that may be granted to any one
participant in any one year under the 2005 Plan is
2 million. The maximum aggregate number of shares of
Class A common stock which may be granted as incentive
stock options is 3 million.
The Compensation Committee may adjust the aggregate number of
shares reserved for issuance under the 2005 Plan in the case of
a change in the Class A common stock as a result of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of
shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding shares of Class A common stock without Western
Wireless receipt of consideration, in order to prevent
dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits
intended to be provided under the 2005 Plan. Subject to certain
requirements set forth in the 2005 Plan, in the event of a
reorganization (through a merger, consolidation or other change
to the capital or business structure of Western Wireless) the
effect of which is to organize a parent company of Western
Wireless which will own not less than 50% of the capital stock
of Western Wireless and in which the shareholders of Western
Wireless hold the same proportional share interests after the
reorganization as they held in Western Wireless prior to the
reorganization, the Compensation Committee shall have the
authority, without the consent of holders of awards granted
under the 2005 Plan to (1) cancel all outstanding awards
granted under the 2005 Plan and substitute therefor awards with
respect to shares of such parent company, or (2) have such
parent company assume awards granted under the 2005 Plan.
The aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock that
may be issued under the 2005 Plan will be reduced by one share
for each share delivered in settlement of any option or award of
restricted stock, restricted stock unit or SAR. The closing
price of the Western Wireless Class A common stock on
the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 23, 2005 was $41.40.
Stock Options
The holder of an option will be entitled to purchase a number of
shares of Class A common stock at a specified exercise
price (which may not be less than the fair market value of the
underlying shares on the date of grant) during a specified time
period, all as determined by the Compensation Committee. The
option exercise price may be payable either in cash or, at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee, in shares of Western
Wireless Class A common stock.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
A holder of restricted stock issued under the 2005 Plan will own
shares of Class A common stock subject to such terms,
conditions and restrictions, including vesting, if any, as
determined by the Compensation Committee. A holder of restricted
stock units will have the right, subject to any restrictions
imposed by the Compensation Committee, to receive shares of
Class A common stock, or a cash payment equal to the fair
market value of those shares, at some future date determined by
the Compensation Committee, provided that the holder has
satisfied certain requirements (including, for example,
continued employment with Western Wireless until such future
date). As discussed below under Federal Income Tax
Consequences, new federal tax legislation may impose
significant adverse tax consequences on individuals who receive
certain types of restricted stock units. Until the Internal
Revenue Service issues further guidance regarding the precise
scope and application of these rules, Western Wireless does not
intend to issue restricted stock units having terms that would
make them subject to the application of these new rules.
131
The awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units that
are intended to qualify as performance based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code) will be subject to the attainment of
performance goals relating to the performance criteria selected
by the Compensation Committee as permitted under the 2005 Plan.
Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, the
agreement relating to an award shall provide for the forfeiture
of the non-vested shares underlying restricted stock or
restricted stock units upon cessation of the participants
service with Western Wireless. To the extent that the
participant purchased the shares granted under such restricted
stock or restricted stock units and any such shares remain
non-vested at the time of cessation of the participants
service with Western Wireless, the cessation of the
participants service with Western Wireless shall cause an
immediate sale of such non-vested shares to Western Wireless at
the original price per share paid by the participant.
Stock Appreciation Rights
Participants may be granted tandem SARs (consisting of SARs with
underlying options) and stand-alone SARs. The holder of a tandem
SAR is entitled to elect, subject to the Compensation
Committees approval, between the exercise of the
underlying option for shares of Class A common stock or the
surrender of the option in exchange for the receipt of a payment
(in cash, Class A common stock or both as determined by the
Compensation Committee) equal to the excess of the fair market
value on the surrender date over the aggregate exercise price
payable for such shares. The holder of a stand-alone SAR will be
entitled to receive (in cash, Class A common stock or both
as determined by the Compensation Committee) the excess of the
fair market value (on the exercise date) over the exercise price
for such shares. As discussed below under Federal Income
Tax Consequences, new federal tax legislation may impose
significant adverse tax consequences on individuals who receive
certain types of SARs, including SARs that are settled in cash
and tandem SARs. Until the Internal Revenue Service issues
further guidance regarding the precise scope and application of
these rules, Western Wireless does not intend to issue SARs that
may be settled in cash or any other type of SAR that it believes
may be subject to these rules.
Forfeiture of Awards
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement or
any severance agreement, vested awards granted under the 2005
Plan will expire, terminate, or otherwise be forfeited as
follows:
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six months and one day (except in the case of an incentive stock
option in which case such period shall be shortened to three
months) after the date of termination of the participants
service with Western Wireless other than in circumstances
covered by the following two bulletpoints; |
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twelve months after the date on which a participant ceased
performing services as a result of his or her total and
permanent disability; and |
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twenty-four months from the date of the death of a participant
whose service with Western Wireless terminated as a result of
his or her death. |
Duration, Termination and Amendment
The 2005 Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the
date the board of directors adopted the plan, unless terminated
by the board of directors or the Compensation Committee earlier,
or extended by an amendment approved by Western Wireless
shareholders. No awards may be made after the termination date.
However, unless otherwise expressly provided in an applicable
award agreement, any award granted under the 2005 Plan prior to
the expiration may extend beyond the end of such period through
the awards normal expiration date.
The board of directors and the Compensation Committee may
generally amend or terminate the 2005 Plan as determined to be
advisable. Shareholder approval may also be required for certain
amendments by the Code, the rules of Nasdaq, or rules of the
SEC. The board of directors or the Compensation
132
Committee has specific authority to amend the 2005 Plan without
shareholder approval to comply with legal, regulatory and
listing requirements and to avoid unanticipated consequences
determined to be inconsistent with the purpose of the 2005 Plan
or any award agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in the 2005 Plan to the contrary,
(1) no awards other than options may be granted under the
2005 Plan prior to shareholder approval of the 2005 Plan,
(2) no options granted under the 2005 Plan may be exercised
prior to such shareholder approval and (3) in the event
shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve
(12) months of the date the 2005 Plan was first adopted by
the board of directors, then any options granted under the 2005
Plan shall be forfeited by the holders thereof and the 2005 Plan
shall be terminated.
Prohibition on Repricing Awards
Without the approval of Western Wireless shareholders, no
option or SAR may be amended to reduce its exercise price or
grant price and no option or SAR may be canceled and replaced
with an option or SAR having a lower exercise price.
Transferability of Awards
Unless otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee, awards
under the 2005 Plan may only be transferred by will or the laws
of descent and distribution. The Compensation Committee may
permit further transferability pursuant to conditions and
limitations that it may impose.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The federal income tax consequences of awards under the 2005
Plan to Western Wireless and Western Wireless employees,
consultants and directors are complex and subject to change. The
following discussion is only a summary of the general rules
applicable to the 2005 Plan.
Under new Section 409A of the Code, enacted as part of the
American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, recipients of certain equity
compensation awards (including certain types of stock
appreciation rights and restricted stock units) may be subject
to a burdensome taxation regime. If Section 409A were to
apply to awards under the 2005 Plan, the affected participants
may be required to recognize ordinary income for tax purposes
earlier than the times otherwise applicable as described in the
discussion below and to pay substantial penalties. The 2005 Plan
allows for the issuance of certain of these types of awards for
purposes of giving Western Wireless maximum flexibility.
However, Western Wireless does not intend to issue any awards
that would be subject to Section 409A until the new rules
have been revised or clarified. Furthermore, the board of
directors and the Compensation Committee generally have the
authority to amend the 2005 Plan as they deem necessary to
comply with applicable laws, including Section 409A.
Therefore, the following discussion does not specifically
address the potential impact of Section 409A on the various
awards.
Options
Options granted under the 2005 Plan may be either incentive
stock options or nonqualified stock options. Incentive stock
options are options which are designated as such by Western
Wireless and which meet certain requirements under
Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. Any
option which does not satisfy these requirements will be treated
as a nonqualified stock option.
Incentive Stock Options
If an option granted under the 2005 Plan qualifies as an
incentive stock option, the optionee will not recognize any
income upon either the grant or the exercise of the option, and
Western Wireless will not be entitled to a deduction for federal
tax purposes. Upon a sale of the shares, the tax treatment to
the optionee and Western Wireless will depend primarily upon
whether the optionee has met certain holding
133
period requirements at the time he or she sells the shares. In
addition, as discussed below, the exercise of an incentive stock
option may subject the optionee to alternative minimum tax
liability.
If an optionee exercises an incentive stock option and does not
dispose of the shares received within two years after the date
the option was granted or within one year after the transfer of
the shares to him or her, any gain realized upon the disposition
will be characterized as long-term capital gain and, in such
case, Western Wireless will not be entitled to a federal tax
deduction.
If the optionee disposes of the shares either within two years
after the date the option is granted or within one year after
the transfer of the shares to him or her, the disposition will
be treated as a disqualifying disposition and an amount equal to
the lesser of (1) the fair market value of the shares on
the date of exercise minus the exercise price, or (2) the
amount realized on the disposition minus the exercise price,
will be taxed as ordinary income to the optionee in the taxable
year in which the disposition occurs. (However, in the case of
gifts, sales to related parties, and certain other transactions,
the full difference between the fair market value of the stock
and the purchase price will be treated as compensation income).
The excess, if any, of the amount realized upon disposition over
the fair market value at the time of the exercise of the option
will be treated as long-term capital gain if the shares have
been held for more than one year following the exercise of the
option.
The exercise of an incentive stock option may subject an
optionee to alternative minimum tax liability. The excess of the
fair market value of the shares at the time an incentive stock
option is exercised over the purchase price of the shares is
included in income for purposes of the alternative minimum tax
even though it is not included in taxable income for purposes of
determining the regular tax liability of an employee.
Consequently, an optionee may be obligated to pay alternative
minimum tax in the year he or she exercises an incentive stock
option.
In general, Western Wireless will not be entitled to a federal
income tax deduction upon the grant, exercise, or termination of
an incentive stock option. However, in the event an optionee
sells or otherwise disposes of the stock received on the
exercise of an incentive stock option in a disqualifying
disposition, Western Wireless will be entitled to a deduction
for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the
ordinary income, if any, recognized by the optionee upon
disposition of the shares, provided that the deduction is not
otherwise disallowed under the Code.
Nonqualified Stock Options
Nonqualified stock options granted under the 2005 Plan do not
qualify as incentive stock options and will not
qualify for any special tax benefits to the optionee. An
optionee generally will not recognize any taxable income at the
time he or she is granted a nonqualified option. However, upon
exercise, the optionee will recognize ordinary income for
federal tax purposes measured by the excess of the then fair
market value of the shares over the exercise price. The income
realized by the optionee will be subject to income and other
employee withholding taxes.
The optionees basis for determination of gain or loss upon
the subsequent disposition of shares acquired upon the exercise
of a nonqualified stock option will be the amount paid for such
shares plus any ordinary income recognized as a result of the
exercise of such option. Upon disposition of any shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the
difference between the sale price and the optionees basis
in the shares will be treated as a capital gain or loss and
generally will be characterized as long-term capital gain or
loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the
time of their disposition.
In general, Western Wireless will not be entitled to a federal
income tax deduction upon the grant or termination of a
nonqualified stock option or a sale or disposition of the shares
acquired upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option.
However, upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option,
Western Wireless will be entitled to a deduction for federal
income tax purposes equal to the amount of ordinary income that
an optionee is required to recognize as a result of the
exercise, provided that the deduction is not otherwise
disallowed under the Code.
134
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Generally, the holder of restricted stock will recognize
ordinary compensation income at the time the stock becomes
vested. The amount of ordinary compensation income recognized
will be equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of
the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount paid by
the holder in exchange for stock.
In the case of restricted stock units, the holder will recognize
ordinary compensation income at the time the stock is received
equal to the excess of value of the stock on the date of receipt
over any amount paid by the holder in exchange for stock. If the
holder of a restricted stock unit receives the cash equivalent
of the stock issuable under the restricted stock unit in lieu of
actually receiving the stock, the recipient will recognize
ordinary compensation income at the time of the receipt of such
cash in the amount of the cash received. In the case of both
restricted stock and restricted stock units, the income
recognized by the holder will generally be subject to
U.S. income tax withholding and employment taxes. Depending
on their terms, certain types of restricted stock units may be
subject to the application of new Code Section 409A,
discussed above. Western Wireless does not intend to issue
restricted stock units having features that could render them
subject to the application of new Code Section 409A until
the new rules are revised or clarified.
In the year that the recipient of a stock award recognizes
ordinary taxable income in respect of restricted stock or a
restricted stock unit, Western Wireless will be entitled to a
deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of
ordinary income that the recipient is required to recognize,
provided that the deduction is not otherwise disallowed under
the Code.
Stock Appreciation Rights
As discussed above, new Code Section 409A may impose
significant adverse tax consequences on the recipients of SARs,
other than SARs that may only be settled in stock. Until further
guidance is issued, the specific consequences under new Code
Section 409A to the holder of a SAR are unclear. Although
the 2005 Plan allows the flexibility to issue cash-settled and
stock-settled SARs, as well as tandem SARs, Western Wireless
does not intend to issue any such SARs until the new rules are
revised or clarified.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of votes
attributable to all shares of common stock represented at the
meeting is required for approval of the boards adoption of
the Western Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive
Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF
THE WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION 2005 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN.
New Plan Benefits
The Compensation Committee has discretion to determine the
individuals to receive awards under the 2005 Plan and the terms
and conditions of such awards. On December 30, 2004, the
Compensation Committee granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan,
subject to shareholder approval, the awards indicated in the
following table. As of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus there has been no determination by the
Compensation Committee with respect to any other awards under
the 2005 Plan. Accordingly, except as indicated, Western
Wireless cannot now determine the awards to be granted under the
2005 Plan in the future to the Named Executive Officers, all
current executive officers as a group, all current directors who
135
are not executive officers as a group, or all employees,
including current officers who are not executive officers, as a
group.
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Name and Position |
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Number of Units(1) | |
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John W. Stanton
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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0 |
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Mikal J. Thomsen
President and Chief Executive Officer
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2,500 |
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Eric Hertz
Chief Operating Officer
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50,000 |
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Bradley J. Horwitz
Executive Vice President
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25,000 |
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M. Wayne Wisehart
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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30,000 |
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Executive Group
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208,500 |
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Non-Executive Director Group
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15,000 |
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Non-Executive Officer Employee Group
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771,000 |
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(1) |
The options granted under the 2005 Plan were granted at an
exercise price of $29.40, the average of the opening and closing
sales prices of Western Wireless Class A common stock on
the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 30, 2004, the date of
grant; vest in four equal annual increments beginning
December 30, 2005 (subject to acceleration in connection
with the merger); and expire December 30, 2014. |
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation
Plans
The following is a summary as of December 31, 2004 of all
equity compensation plans of Western Wireless that provide for
the issuance of equity securities as compensation.
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Number of | |
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Securities to be | |
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Number of Securities | |
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Issued upon | |
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Weighted Average | |
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Remaining Available for | |
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Exercise of | |
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Exercise Price of | |
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Future Issuance under Equity | |
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Outstanding | |
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Outstanding | |
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Compensation Plans | |
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Options, Warrants | |
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Options, Warrants | |
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(Excluding Securities | |
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and Rights(a) | |
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and Rights(b) | |
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Reflected in Column(a))(c) | |
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Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
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4,085,882 |
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$ |
15.01 |
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656,990 |
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Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
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994,500 |
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29.40 |
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7,005,500 |
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Total
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5,080,382 |
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$ |
12.76 |
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7,662,490 |
(1) |
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(1) |
The following plans have securities available for future
issuance: Western Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity
Incentive Plan (subject to shareholder approval)
(7,005,500 shares), and Western Wireless Corporation
Executive Restricted Stock Plan, as amended
(656,990 shares). |
All securities shown in the above table as being issuable under
equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
relate to option grants under the 2005 Plan, described above,
being submitted to Western Wireless shareholders for approval at
the annual meeting. Pursuant to the terms of the 2005 Plan, no
awards other than options may be granted under the 2005 Plan
prior to shareholder approval. In addition, no options granted
under the 2005 Plan may be exercised prior to shareholder
approval and in the event shareholder approval is not obtained
within 12 months of the date the 2005 Plan was first
approved by the Board of Directors, then any options granted
under the 2005 Plan will be forfeited and the 2005 Plan will be
terminated.
136
POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT FOR THE PURPOSE
OF OBTAINING ADDITIONAL VOTES FOR THE MERGER
(PROPOSAL NO. 5)
At the annual meeting, we may ask shareholders to vote upon an
adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting, if necessary,
to solicit additional proxies for the approval of the merger
agreement and the merger.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ANY
ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING, IF NECESSARY,
TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PROXIES FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MERGER
AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER.
137
THE ANNUAL MEETING
Date, Time and Place of the Annual Meeting
We are sending you this proxy statement/prospectus as part of a
solicitation of proxies by the Western Wireless board of
directors for use at the annual meeting of Western Wireless
shareholders. We are first mailing this proxy
statement/prospectus, including a notice of the annual meeting
and a form of proxy, on or about June 27, 2005.
The annual meeting is scheduled to be held at the Museum of
History and Industry, 2700 24th Avenue East, Seattle,
Washington, on July 29, 2005 at 8:00 a.m., (Pacific
Time).
Purpose of the Annual Meeting
The purpose of the annual meeting is to:
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1. |
vote on a proposal to approve and adopt the merger agreement and
the merger; |
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2. |
elect nine directors to serve until the next annual meeting of
shareholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified or until the consummation of the merger; |
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3. |
ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Western
Wireless independent registered public accounting firm for
2005; and |
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4. |
vote on a proposal to approve and adopt the Western Wireless
Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. |
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board
Western Wireless board of directors has unanimously
approved the merger agreement and the merger. Western
Wireless board has also unanimously determined that the
merger agreement and the merger are advisable, fair to and in
the best interests of Western Wireless and its shareholders and
unanimously recommends that Western Wireless shareholders
vote FOR the approval and adoption of the merger
agreement and the merger. See The Merger
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board; Western
Wireless Reasons for the Merger. The Western
Wireless board of directors also unanimously recommends that
Western Wireless shareholders vote FOR each of the
director nominees listed under the heading Election of
Directors Information about the Nominees,
FOR the ratification of the selection of
PricewaterhouseCooper LLP as Western Wireless independent
registered public accounting firm for 2005 and FOR
the approval of the Western Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term
Equity Incentive Plan.
Required Vote
Approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger
require the affirmative vote at the annual meeting of holders of
shares of Western Wireless Class A and Class B common
stock outstanding as of the record date, voting together as a
single class, representing at least two-thirds of all the votes
entitled to be cast by such holders. Ratification of the
selection of the independent registered public accounting firm,
and approval of the Western Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term
Equity Incentive Plan, require the affirmative vote of holders
of outstanding shares of Western Wireless Class A and
Class B common stock, voting together as a single class,
representing a majority of the votes present at the meeting, in
person or by proxy. For the election of directors, if a quorum
is present, a nominee for election to a position on the board of
directors will be elected as a director if the votes cast for
the nominee exceed the votes cast against the nominee and exceed
the votes cast for any other nominee for that position. Each
share of outstanding Western Wireless Class A common stock
entitles its holder to one vote and each share of outstanding
Western Wireless Class B common stock entitles its holder
to ten votes.
If you hold your shares in an account with a broker or bank, you
must instruct the broker or bank on how to vote your shares.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (shares held by a
broker or nominee as to
138
which a broker or nominee indicates on the proxy that it does
not have the authority, either express or discretionary, to vote
on a particular matter) are counted for purposes of determining
the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of
business at the annual meeting. For the election of directors,
abstentions from voting and broker non-votes will have the legal
effect of neither a vote for nor against the nominee. For all
other matters, including the proposal to approve and adopt the
merger agreement and the merger, abstentions from voting and
broker non-votes, since they are not affirmative votes, will
have the same practical effect as a vote against the respective
matters. Your broker or bank will vote your shares only if you
provide instructions on how to vote by following the
instructions provided to you by your broker or bank.
Certain shareholders of Western Wireless, that hold
5,867,658 shares of Western Wireless Class A common
stock and 6,050,693 shares of Western Wireless Class B
common stock, representing approximately 41% of the number of
votes entitled to be cast as of the record date, entered into a
voting agreement with ALLTEL pursuant to which such shareholders
have agreed to vote or cause to be voted all of their shares of
Western Wireless common stock in favor of the approval and
adoption of the merger agreement and the merger. See
Voting Agreement above and the voting agreement
attached as Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus.
Record Date
Western Wireless board of directors has fixed the close of
business on May 24, 2005 as the record date for the annual
meeting. At that date, there were 93,875,487 shares of
Western Wireless Class A common stock outstanding and
6,668,794 shares of Western Wireless Class B common stock
outstanding. Only shareholders of record on the record date will
receive notice of and be entitled to vote at the meeting. No
other voting securities of Western Wireless are outstanding.
As of the record date, directors and executive officers of
Western Wireless as a group beneficially owned and had the right
to vote 9,269,214 shares of Western Wireless Class A
common stock and 6,393,968 shares of Western Wireless
Class B common stock entitling them to collectively cast
approximately 44.54% of the votes entitled to be cast at the
annual meeting.
Quorum
The holders of a majority of the total number of votes
attributable to all shares of Western Wireless common stock
entitled to vote at the annual meeting must be present at the
annual meeting, either in person or by proxy, in order for there
to be a quorum at the annual meeting. There must be a quorum in
order for the vote on the merger agreement and the merger, and
each of the other proposals being considered at the annual
meeting, to be taken.
We will count the following shares of Western Wireless common
stock as present at the annual meeting for purposes of
determining whether or not there is a quorum:
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shares held by persons who attend or are represented at the
Western Wireless annual meeting whether or not the shares are
voted; |
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shares for which Western Wireless received properly executed
proxies; and |
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shares held by brokers or banks in nominee or street name for
beneficial owners if those brokers or banks return an executed
proxy card indicating that the beneficial owner has not given
the broker or bank specific instructions on how to vote those
shares. |
Proxies
Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person
you should submit your proxy as soon as possible. Shareholders
whose shares of Western Wireless common stock are registered in
their own name may submit their proxies by filling out and
signing the proxy card, and then mailing the signed proxy
139
card in the enclosed envelope. Shareholders whose shares are
held in street name must follow the instructions
provided by their broker or bank to vote their shares.
All properly submitted proxies received by Western Wireless
before the annual meeting that are not revoked prior to being
voted at the annual meeting will be voted at the annual meeting
in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxies or,
if no instructions were provided, FOR approval and adoption of
each of the proposals being considered at the annual meeting,
including the merger agreement and the merger.
Proxies marked Abstain will not be voted at the
annual meeting. For the election of directors, abstentions from
voting and broker non-votes will have the legal effect of
neither a vote for nor against the nominee. For all other
matters, including the proposal to approve and adopt the merger
agreement and the merger, abstentions from voting and broker
non-votes, since they are not affirmative votes, will have the
same practical effect as a vote against the respective matters.
Accordingly, Western Wireless board of directors urges you
to promptly submit your proxy.
Submitting a proxy may impact your dissenters rights in
respect of the merger. See Dissenters Rights.
Other Matters
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, Western
Wireless board of directors knows of no other matters that
will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting other
than as described in this proxy statement/prospectus. If any
other matters properly come before the annual meeting of Western
Wireless shareholders, or any adjournments or postponements of
the annual meeting are proposed (other than any adjournments or
postponements contemplated by Proposal No. 5), and are
properly voted upon, the enclosed proxies will give the
individuals that Western Wireless shareholders name as proxies
discretionary authority, to vote the shares represented by these
proxies as to any of these matters. The individuals named as
proxies intend to vote or not to vote in accordance with the
recommendation of Western Wireless board of directors.
Revocation
Your grant of a proxy on the enclosed proxy card does not
prevent you from voting in person or otherwise revoking your
proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting. If
your shares of Western Wireless common stock are registered in
your own name, you can revoke your proxy, by:
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delivering a signed notice of revocation or properly executed
proxy bearing a later date to Western Wireless Corporation,
Attn: Investor Relations,
3650 131st Avenue SE, Bellevue,
Washington 98006; or |
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attending the Western Wireless annual meeting and voting your
shares in person. |
If you have instructed a broker or bank to vote your shares, you
must follow the instructions received from your broker or bank
if you wish to change those instructions.
Solicitation of Proxies
In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, officers, directors
and employees of Western Wireless, without receiving additional
compensation, may solicit proxies by telephone, in person or by
other means. Arrangements also will be made with brokerage firms
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy
solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of Western
Wireless common stock held of record by those persons, and
Western Wireless will reimburse these brokerage firms,
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for related, reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses they incur. Western Wireless has also
made arrangements with Mellon Investor Services to help in
soliciting proxies for the proposed merger and in communicating
with shareholders. Western Wireless has agreed to pay
approximately $7,500 plus expenses for its services. The costs
of the solicitation will be borne by Western Wireless. ALLTEL and
140
Western Wireless will pay their respective expenses incurred in
connection with the printing and mailing of this proxy
statement/prospectus.
Shareholder Proposals
To be considered for inclusion in Western Wireless proxy
statement for its 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, if held,
shareholder proposals must have been received at Western
Wireless principal executive offices,
3650 131st Avenue SE, Bellevue,
Washington 98006, no later than the close of business on
February 27, 2006 (or, if the date of the 2006 annual
meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the
date of the 2005 annual meeting, such proposal must be received
by Western Wireless a reasonable amount of time before the proxy
statement for the 2006 annual meeting is released and mailed)
and otherwise have complied with the requirements of
Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
With respect to any shareholder proposal which the shareholder
has not previously sought to include in Western Wireless
proxy statement, notice of the same must have been provided by
February 27, 2006 (or, if the date of the 2006 annual
meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the
date of the 2005 annual meeting, such notice must be received by
Western Wireless a reasonable amount of time before the proxy
statement for the 2006 annual meeting is released and mailed) or
management proxies will be allowed, pursuant to Rules 14a-4
and 14a-5(e) promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, to use their discretionary authority with respect to
such proposals when raised at Western Wireless 2006 annual
meeting.
Any such proposal must meet the requirements of the rules and
regulations of the SEC in order to be eligible for inclusion in
the proxy statement.
141
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement/prospectus, including information included
or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus,
contains certain forward-looking statements, within the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Generally, the words will,
may, should, continue,
believes, expects, intends,
anticipates, estimates or similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements; and any
statements regarding the benefits of the merger, or
ALLTELs or Western Wireless expected financial
condition, results of operations and business are also
forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of
the preceding sentence, the statements contained in the sections
Risk Factors, The Merger
Background of the Merger, The Merger
Recommendation of the Western Wireless Board; Western
Wireless Reasons for the Merger, The
Merger Opinion of Financial Advisor to Western
Wireless and The Merger ALLTELs
Reasons for the Merger including, without limitation, any
forecasts, projections and descriptions of anticipated cost
savings or other synergies referred to therein, and certain
statements incorporated by reference from documents filed with
the SEC by ALLTEL and Western Wireless including, without
limitation, any statements contained herein or therein regarding
the possible or assumed future results of operations of
ALLTELs and Western Wireless businesses, the markets
for ALLTELs and Western Wireless services and
products, anticipated capital expenditures, regulatory
developments, competition or the effects of the merger, and
other statements contained or incorporated by reference herein
regarding matters that are not historical facts constitute
forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among
others, the following factors:
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adverse changes in economic conditions, nationally,
internationally and in the regions and countries in which ALLTEL
and Western Wireless operate; |
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the extent, timing, and overall effects of competition in the
communications business; |
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material changes in the communications industry generally that
could adversely affect vendor relationships with equipment and
network suppliers and customer relationships with wholesale
customers; |
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material changes in communications technology; |
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the risks associated with the integration of acquired businesses; |
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adverse changes in the terms and conditions of the ALLTELs
and Western Wireless wireless roaming agreements; |
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the potential for adverse changes in the ratings given to
ALLTELs and Western Wireless debt securities by
nationally accredited ratings organizations; |
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the availability and cost of financing in the corporate debt
markets; |
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the uncertainties related to ALLTELs and Western
Wireless strategic investments; |
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the effects of work stoppages; |
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the effects of litigation; |
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the effects of federal and state legislation, rules, and
regulations governing the communications industry; |
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product liability and other claims asserted against ALLTEL or
Western Wireless; and |
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those factors listed under the heading Risk Factors. |
142
In addition to these factors, actual future performance,
outcomes and results may differ materially because of other,
more general, factors including (without limitation) general
industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic
conditions, and governmental and public policy changes.
Any forward-looking statements in this proxy statement/
prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and actual
results, developments and business decisions may differ from
those contemplated by those forward-looking statements, possibly
materially. ALLTEL and Western Wireless disclaim any duty to
update any forward-looking statements, all of which are
expressly qualified by the statements in this section. See also
Where You Can Find More Information.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, financial statement
schedule and managements assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting (which is included
in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting) incorporated in this proxy statement/ prospectus by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004 of
ALLTEL Corporation have been so incorporated in reliance on the
reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements, financial statement
schedule and managements assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting (which is included
in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting) incorporated in this proxy statement/ prospectus by
reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004 of Western Wireless Corporation
have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which
contains an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
LEGAL MATTERS
Kutak Rock LLP has provided to ALLTEL a legal opinion regarding
the issuance of ALLTEL common stock in connection with the
merger. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has
provided to ALLTEL a legal opinion regarding certain Federal
income tax matters relating to the merger. At June 21,
2005, the attorneys of Kutak Rock LLP who are or may be
participating in the matters contemplated by this proxy
statement/prospectus, beneficially owned a total of
2,670 shares of ALLTEL common stock. Jones Day has provided
to Western Wireless a legal opinion regarding certain federal
income tax matters relating to the merger.
143
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This proxy statement/ prospectus incorporates important business
and financial information about Western Wireless and ALLTEL from
documents filed with the SEC that are not included in or
delivered with this proxy statement/ prospectus.
Western Wireless and ALLTEL file annual, quarterly and special
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
You may read and copy any reports, statements or other
information filed by ALLTEL or Western Wireless at the
SECs Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the
Public Reference Room. You can also inspect reports, proxy
statements and other information about ALLTEL at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005 and at the offices of the Pacific Exchange, 301 Pine
Street, San Francisco, California 94104. You can inspect
copies of such materials relating to Western Wireless at the
offices of the NASD, 1735 K Street,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the
Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates, or from commercial document retrieval services.
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy
statements and other information, including those filed by
ALLTEL and Western Wireless, at http://www.sec.gov. You may also
access the SEC filings and obtain other information about ALLTEL
and Western Wireless through the websites maintained by ALLTEL
and Western Wireless, which are http://www.alltel.com and
www.westernwireless.com. The information contained in such
websites is not incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/ prospectus.
As allowed by SEC rules, this proxy statement/ prospectus does
not contain all the information you can find in the registration
statement on Form S-4 filed by ALLTEL to register the
shares of stock to be issued pursuant to the merger and the
exhibits to the registration statement. The SEC allows ALLTEL
and Western Wireless to incorporate by reference
information into this proxy statement/ prospectus, which means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The
information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of
this proxy statement/ prospectus, except for any information
superseded by information in this proxy statement/ prospectus.
This proxy statement/ prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents set forth below that ALLTEL and Western Wireless have
previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important
information about the companies and their financial condition.
The following ALLTEL and Western Wireless documents are
incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/ prospectus
and are deemed to be a part of this proxy statement/ prospectus,
except for any information superseded by information contained
directly in this proxy statement/ prospectus:
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ALLTEL filings with the SEC: |
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Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004; |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
March 31, 2005; |
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Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 2, 2005; |
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Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 10, 2005,
January 11, 2005, February 15, 2005, March 3,
2005, March 7, 2005 and the Form 8-K filed on
April 21, 2005 regarding the departure of Mr. Frank
Reed from the board of directors; |
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The description of ALLTEL common stock (discussed above under
the heading Description of ALLTEL Capital
Stock ALLTEL Common Stock and Related Rights)
contained in ALLTELs Registration Statement on Form 8-A
(File No. 1-4996) filed February 9, 1987; and |
144
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The description of the Rights Agreement (discussed above under
the heading Description of ALLTEL Capital
Stock ALLTEL Common Stock and Related Rights)
contained in ALLTELs Registration Statement on Form 8-A
(File No. 1-4996) filed February 4, 1997. |
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Western Wireless filings with the SEC: |
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004; |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
March 31, 2005; and |
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Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2005,
January 13, 2005, February 14, 2005, February 16,
2005 and March 4, 2005. |
All documents filed by ALLTEL and Western Wireless pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from
the date of this proxy statement/ prospectus to the date of the
annual meeting shall also be incorporated herein by reference.
You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/ prospectus by requesting them in writing, by
telephone or by e-mail from the appropriate company with the
following contact information:
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Western Wireless Corporation: |
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ALLTEL Corporation: |
Investor Relations
3650 131st Avenue SE
Bellevue, Washington 98006
(425) 586-8700
email address: investor.relations@wwireless.com |
|
Investor Relations Department
One Allied Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
(877) 446-3628
email address: alltel.investor.relations@alltel.com |
If you would like to request any documents, please do so by
July 22, 2005 in order to receive them before the annual
meeting.
Neither ALLTEL nor Western Wireless have authorized anyone to
give any information or make any representation about the merger
that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in
this proxy statement/ prospectus or in any of the materials that
are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/
prospectus. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of
this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a
jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or solicitations
of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities offered by
this proxy statement/ prospectus are unlawful, or if you are a
person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of
activities, then the offer presented in this proxy statement/
prospectus does not extend to you. You should not assume that
the information contained in this proxy statement/ prospectus is
accurate as of any date other than such date and neither the
mailing of this proxy statement/ prospectus nor the issuance of
ALLTEL common stock pursuant to the merger shall create an
implication to the contrary. All information contained in or
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/ prospectus
with respect to Western Wireless and its subsidiaries has been
provided by Western Wireless. All information contained or
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/ prospectus
with respect to ALLTEL and its subsidiaries has been provided by
ALLTEL. Neither ALLTEL nor Western Wireless warrants the
accuracy of the information provided by the other party.
145
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
ALLTEL CORPORATION,
WIGEON ACQUISITION LLC
and
WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
Dated as of January 9, 2005
A-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I |
THE MERGER |
Section 1.1
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The Merger |
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A-5 |
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Section 1.2
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Closing |
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A-5 |
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Section 1.3
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Effective Time |
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A-6 |
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Section 1.4
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Effects of the Merger |
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A-6 |
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Section 1.5
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Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement
of the Surviving Company |
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A-6 |
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Section 1.6
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Manager |
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A-6 |
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Section 1.7
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Officers |
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A-6 |
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ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SHARES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES |
Section 2.1
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Effect on Stock |
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A-6 |
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Section 2.2
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Company Election Procedures |
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A-8 |
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Section 2.3
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Exchange of Certificates |
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A-10 |
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY |
Section 3.1
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Qualification, Organization, Etc. |
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A-13 |
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Section 3.2
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Capital Stock |
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A-14 |
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Section 3.3
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Corporate Authority Relative to this Agreement; No Violation |
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A-15 |
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Section 3.4
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Reports and Financial Statements |
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A-16 |
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Section 3.5
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Internal Controls and Procedures |
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A-16 |
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Section 3.6
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No Undisclosed Liabilities |
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A-17 |
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Section 3.7
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No Violation of Law; Permits |
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A-17 |
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Section 3.8
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Environmental Laws and Regulations |
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A-17 |
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Section 3.9
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Employee Benefit Plan |
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A-18 |
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Section 3.10
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Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
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A-19 |
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Section 3.11
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Investigations; Litigation |
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A-19 |
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Section 3.12
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Proxy Statement; Registration Statement; Other Information |
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A-20 |
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Section 3.13
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No Rights Plan |
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A-20 |
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Section 3.14
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Lack of Ownership of Parent Common Stock |
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A-20 |
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Section 3.15
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Tax Matters |
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A-20 |
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Section 3.16
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Labor Matters |
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A-21 |
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Section 3.17
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Intellectual Property |
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A-22 |
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Section 3.18
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Opinion of Financial Advisor |
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A-22 |
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Section 3.19
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Required Vote of the Company Shareholders |
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A-22 |
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Section 3.20
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Material Contracts |
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A-22 |
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Section 3.21
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Domestic Communications Regulatory Matters |
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A-23 |
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Section 3.22
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Foreign Communications Regulatory Matters |
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A-24 |
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Section 3.23
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Companys Articles of Incorporation and WBCA 23B.19 |
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A-24 |
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Section 3.24
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Affiliate Transactions |
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A-25 |
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Section 3.25
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Finders or Brokers |
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A-25 |
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A-2
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT |
Section 4.1
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Qualification; Organization, Etc. |
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A-25 |
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Section 4.2
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Capital Stock |
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A-26 |
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Section 4.3
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Corporate Authority Relative to this Agreement; No Violation |
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A-26 |
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Section 4.4
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Reports and Financial Statements |
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A-27 |
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Section 4.5
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Internal Controls and Procedures |
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A-28 |
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Section 4.6
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No Undisclosed Liabilities |
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A-28 |
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Section 4.7
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No Violation of Law; Permits |
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A-28 |
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Section 4.8
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Environmental Laws and Regulations |
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A-29 |
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Section 4.9
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Employee Benefit Plan |
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A-29 |
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Section 4.10
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Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
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A-30 |
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Section 4.11
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Investigations; Litigation |
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A-30 |
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Section 4.12
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Proxy Statement; Registration Statement; Other Information |
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A-30 |
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Section 4.13
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Lack of Ownership of the Company Common Stock |
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A-30 |
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Section 4.14
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Tax Matters |
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A-30 |
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Section 4.15
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Labor Matters |
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A-32 |
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Section 4.16
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Intellectual Property |
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A-32 |
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Section 4.17
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Parent Material Contracts |
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A-32 |
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Section 4.18
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Communications Regulatory Matters |
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A-33 |
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Section 4.19
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Parents Certificate of Incorporation |
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A-34 |
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Section 4.20
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Affiliate Transactions |
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A-34 |
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Section 4.21
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No Vote of Parent Stockholders |
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A-34 |
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Section 4.22
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Finders or Brokers |
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A-34 |
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ARTICLE V |
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS |
Section 5.1
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Conduct of Business by the Company or Parent |
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A-34 |
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Section 5.2
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Tax-Free Reorganization Treatment |
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A-39 |
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Section 5.3
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Investigation |
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A-39 |
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Section 5.4
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No Solicitation |
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A-40 |
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Section 5.5
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Proxy Material; Registration Statement |
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A-41 |
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Section 5.6
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Affiliate Agreements |
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A-43 |
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Section 5.7
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Stock Options; Restricted Stock; Employee Matters |
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A-43 |
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Section 5.8
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Notification of Certain Matters |
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A-45 |
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Section 5.9
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Filings; Other Action |
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A-45 |
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Section 5.10
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Takeover Statute |
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A-46 |
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Section 5.11
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Public Announcements |
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A-46 |
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Section 5.12
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Indemnification and Insurance |
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A-47 |
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Section 5.13
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Accountants Comfort Letters |
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A-47 |
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Section 5.14
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Additional Reports and Information |
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A-47 |
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Section 5.15
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Section 16 Matters |
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A-48 |
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Section 5.16
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Control of Operations |
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A-48 |
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Section 5.17
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Internal Controls and Procedures |
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A-48 |
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A-3
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Section 5.18
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Real Estate Transfer Taxes |
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A-48 |
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Section 5.19
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Parent Covenant Concerning Subsidiary Indebtedness |
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A-48 |
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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER |
Section 6.1
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Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger |
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A-49 |
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Section 6.2
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Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger |
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A-49 |
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Section 6.3
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Conditions to Obligation of Parent to Effect the Merger |
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A-50 |
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ARTICLE VII |
TERMINATION |
Section 7.1
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Termination or Abandonment |
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A-50 |
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Section 7.2
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Termination Fee |
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A-51 |
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Section 7.3
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Amendment or Supplement |
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A-52 |
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Section 7.4
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Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. |
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A-52 |
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ARTICLE VIII |
MISCELLANEOUS |
Section 8.1
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No Survival of Representations and Warranties |
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A-52 |
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Section 8.2
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Expenses |
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A-52 |
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Section 8.3
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Counterparts; Effectiveness |
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A-52 |
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Section 8.4
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Governing Law |
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A-53 |
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Section 8.5
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Jurisdiction; Enforcement |
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A-53 |
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Section 8.6
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Waiver of Jury Trial |
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A-53 |
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Section 8.7
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Notices |
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A-53 |
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Section 8.8
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Assignment; Binding Effect |
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A-54 |
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Section 8.9
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Date For Any Action |
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A-54 |
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Section 8.10
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Severability |
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A-54 |
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Section 8.11
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Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries |
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A-54 |
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Section 8.12
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Headings |
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A-54 |
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Section 8.13
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Interpretation |
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A-54 |
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Section 8.14
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Definitions |
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A-55 |
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Exhibit A Form of Voting Agreement |
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Exhibit B Form of the Company Affiliate
Agreement |
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Schedule 2.1(d)(ii) |
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Schedule 5.9(d) |
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Company Disclosure Schedule |
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Parent Disclosure Schedule |
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A-4
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of January 9, 2005
(the Agreement), among ALLTEL Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (Parent), Wigeon Acquisition
LLC, a Washington limited liability company and a direct
wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), and
Western Wireless Corporation, a Washington corporation (the
Company).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and the
Company, and the manager of Merger Sub, have approved the
acquisition of the Company by Merger Sub upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and the
Company, and the manager of Merger Sub, have approved and
declared advisable this Agreement and the merger of the Company
with and into Merger Sub (the Merger) upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in
accordance with the Washington Business Corporation Act (the
WBCA) and the Washington Limited Liability Company
Act (WLLCA);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has taken all
actions so that the restrictions contained in the Companys
articles of incorporation and the WBCA applicable to a
significant business transaction (as defined in
Section 23B.19 of the WBCA) will not apply to the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the
Voting Agreement (as defined below), or to the consummation of
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby;
WHEREAS, for United States federal income Tax purposes, the
Merger is intended to qualify as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and
this Agreement is hereby adopted as a plan of reorganization for
purposes of Section 368 of the Code; and
WHEREAS, concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, as an
inducement to Parents willingness to enter into this
Agreement and incurring the obligations set forth herein,
certain of the Companys shareholders, who beneficially or
of record hold an aggregate of approximately 41.2% of the voting
power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company,
have entered with Parent into a Voting Agreement, dated as of
the date hereof, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the Voting Agreement), pursuant to
which such shareholders have agreed to vote their shares of
capital stock of the Company over which such shareholders of the
Company have voting power to approve this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent, Merger
Sub and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1 The
Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the WBCA and the
WLLCA, the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub at
the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3). Following
the Merger, the separate corporate existence of the Company
shall cease, and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving
company (the Surviving Company) and shall succeed to
and assume all the rights and obligations of the Company in
accordance with the WBCA and the WLLCA.
Section 1.2 Closing.
The closing of the Merger shall take place at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, on a date to be specified by the parties (the
Closing Date) which shall be no later than the
second business day after the satisfaction or waiver (to the
extent permitted by applicable Law (as defined in
Section 3.7(a)) of the conditions set forth in
Article VI (other than those that are to be satisfied by
action at the Closing) at a location specified in writing by
Parent.
A-5
Section 1.3 Effective
Time. On the Closing Date, the parties shall execute and
file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Washington the articles of merger in accordance with the plan of
merger, in such form as required by, and executed in accordance
with, the relevant provisions of the WBCA and the WLLCA (the
Articles of Merger), and shall make all other
filings or recordings, if any, required under the WBCA and the
WLLCA. The Merger shall become effective at the time of filing
of the Articles of Merger, or at such later time as is agreed
upon by the parties hereto and set forth therein (such time as
the Merger becomes effective is referred to herein as the
Effective Time).
Section 1.4 Effects
of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable
provisions of the WBCA and the WLLCA. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, at the Effective Time, all the
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the
Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Company, and
all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub
shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Company.
Section 1.5 Certificate
of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement of the
Surviving Company.
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(a) Subject to Section 5.12 of this Agreement, at the
Effective Time, the certificate of formation of Merger Sub, as
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the
certificate of formation of the Surviving Company until
thereafter changed or amended as provided by the WLLCA or
therein, except that as of the Effective Time, Paragraph 1
of the certificate of formation of the Surviving Company shall
be amended to reflect the name of the Company (or a variation
thereof) as the name of the Surviving Company. |
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(b) Subject to Section 5.12 of this Agreement, at the
Effective Time, the limited liability company agreement of
Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall become the limited liability company agreement of
the Surviving Company, until thereafter changed or amended as
provided by the WLLCA, the certificate of formation of the
Surviving Company and such limited liability company agreement. |
Section 1.6 Manager.
The manager of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall become the initial manager of the Surviving Company,
to hold office in accordance with the limited liability company
agreement of the Surviving Company.
Section 1.7 Officers.
The officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall become the initial officers of the Surviving Company,
each to hold office in accordance with the limited liability
company agreement of the Surviving Company.
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SHARES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
Section 2.1 Effect
on Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of the Company, Merger Sub or
the holders of any securities of the Company or Merger Sub:
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(a) Conversion of Company Common Stock.
Subject to Section 2.1(d) and 2.1(e), each issued and
outstanding share of Class A Common Stock, no par value per
share (Class A Common Stock), and each issued
and outstanding share of Class B Common Stock, no par value
per share (Class B Common Stock), in each case,
of the Company (together, Class A Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock, Company Common Stock or
Shares) (other than shares to be cancelled in
accordance with Section 2.1(b) and any Dissenting Shares
(as defined, and to the extent provided |
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in, Section 2.1(e)) shall thereupon be converted into and
shall thereafter represent the right to receive the following
consideration (the Merger Consideration): |
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(i) Each share of Company Common Stock with respect to
which an election to receive a combination of stock and cash (a
Mixed Election) has been effectively made and not
revoked or lost pursuant to Section 2.2 (each, a
Mixed Consideration Electing Share) and each Non-
Electing Company Share (as that term is defined in
Section 2.2(c) hereof) shall be converted into the right to
receive the combination (which combination shall hereinafter be
referred to as the Mixed Consideration) of
(x) $9.25 in cash (the Per Share Cash Amount)
and (y) 0.535 of a share of validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable shares of Parent Common Stock (the Mixed
Election Stock Exchange Ratio), subject to adjustment in
accordance with Section 2.1(d). |
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(ii) Each share of Company Common Stock with respect to
which an election to receive cash (a Cash Election)
has been effectively made and not revoked or lost pursuant to
Section 2.2 (each, a Cash Electing Company
Share) shall be converted (provided that the Available
Cash Election Amount (as defined below) equals or exceeds the
Cash Election Amount (as defined below)) into the right to
receive $40.00 in cash without interest (the Per Share
Cash Election Consideration); if, however, (A) the
product of the number of Cash Electing Company Shares and the
Per Share Cash Election Consideration (such product being the
Cash Election Amount) exceeds (B) the
difference between (x) the product of Per Share Cash Amount
and the total number of shares of Company Common Stock (other
than the Cancelled Shares, as such term is defined in
Section 2.1(b) hereof) issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time minus (y) the product of the
number of Mixed Consideration Electing Shares and the Per Share
Cash Amount (such difference being the Available Cash
Election Amount), then each Cash Electing Company Share
shall be converted into a right to receive (1) an amount of
cash (without interest) equal to the product of (p) the Per
Share Cash Election Consideration and (q) a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the Available Cash Election Amount
and the denominator of which shall be the Cash Election Amount
(such fraction being the Cash Fraction) and
(2) a number of validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the
product of (r) the Exchange Ratio and (s) one
(1) minus the Cash Fraction. |
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(iii) Each share of Company Common Stock with respect to
which an election to receive stock consideration (a Stock
Election) is properly made and not revoked or lost
pursuant to Section 2.2 (each, a Stock Electing
Company Share) shall be converted (provided that the Cash
Election Amount equals or exceeds the Available Cash Election
Amount), into the right to receive 0.7 shares of validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Parent Common
Stock (the Exchange Ratio), subject to adjustment in
accordance with Section 2.1(d) (together with any cash in
lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.4(e), the Stock
Consideration), however, if the Available Cash Election
Amount exceeds the Cash Election Amount, then each Stock
Electing Company Share shall be converted into the right to
receive (1) an amount of cash (without interest) equal to
the amount of such excess divided by the number of Stock
Electing Company Shares and (2) a number of validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable shares of Parent Common stock
equal to the product of (x) the Exchange Ratio and
(y) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Per
Share Cash Election Consideration minus the amount calculated in
clause (1) of this paragraph and the denominator of which
shall be the Per Share Cash Election Consideration. |
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(b) Parent and Merger Sub-Owned Shares. Each
share of Company Common Stock that is owned by Parent or Merger
Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time (the Cancelled
Shares) shall automatically be cancelled and retired and
shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor. |
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(c) Conversion of Merger Sub Interests. Each
issued and outstanding limited liability company interest of
Merger Sub shall be converted into one validly issued limited
liability company interest of the Surviving Company. |
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(d) Adjustments. (i) If at any time
during the period between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of capital
stock of Parent or the Company shall occur as a result of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a
reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of
shares, or any stock dividend or stock distribution with a
record date during such period, the Merger Consideration, the
Per Share Cash Amount, the Mixed Election Stock Exchange Ratio,
the Exchange Ratio and any other similarly dependent items, as
the case may be, shall be equitably adjusted; provided, however,
that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to permit any
action that Parent is otherwise prohibited from taking pursuant
to this Agreement. |
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(ii) The matters contained in Schedule 2.1(d)(ii) are
incorporated here. |
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(e) Dissenting Shares.
(i) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary other than Section 2.1(e)(ii), any Shares of
Company Common Stock held by a holder who has demanded and
perfected dissenters rights for such shares in accordance with
the provisions of Section 23B.13 of the WBCA and who, as of
the Effective Time, has not effectively withdrawn or lost such
dissenters rights (Dissenting Shares), shall
not be converted into or represent a right to receive Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(a), but instead shall
be converted into the right to receive only such consideration
as may be determined to be due with respect to such Dissenting
Shares under the WBCA. From and after the Effective Time, a
holder of Dissenting Shares shall not be entitled to exercise
any of the voting rights or other rights of a member or equity
owner of the Surviving Company or of a shareholder of Parent.
For purposes of the calculations in Section 2.1(a), all
Non-Electing Company Shares and shares of Company Common Stock
that constitute Dissenting Shares immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be deemed to be Mixed Consideration
Electing Shares. |
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(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.1(a),
if any holder of shares of Company Common Stock who demands
dissenters rights of such shares under the WBCA shall
effectively withdraw or lose (through failure to perfect or
otherwise) the right to dissent, then, as of the later of the
Effective Time and the occurrence of such event, such
holders shares shall no longer be Dissenting Shares and
shall automatically be converted into and represent only the
right to receive Merger Consideration payable or issuable in
respect of Mixed Consideration Electing Shares as set forth in
Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement, without any interest
thereon. |
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(iii) The Company shall give Parent (A) prompt notice
of any written demands for dissenters rights of any shares
of Company Common Stock, withdrawals of such demands, and any
other instruments served pursuant to the WBCA and received by
the Company which relate to any such demand for dissenters
rights and (B) the opportunity to participate in all
negotiations and proceedings which take place prior to the
Effective Time with respect to demands for dissenters
rights under the WBCA. The Company shall not, except with the
prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect
to any demands for dissenters rights of Company Common
Stock or offer to settle or settle any such demands. |
Section 2.2 Company
Election Procedures.
(a) Not less than three Business Days prior to the mailing
of the Proxy Statement, Parent shall designate a bank or trust
company to act as exchange agent hereunder (the Exchange
Agent), which Exchange Agent shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company, for the purpose of exchanging
certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented shares of Company Common Stock (the
Certificates) and shares of Company Common Stock
represented by book-entry (Company Book-Entry
Shares).
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(b) Each person who, on or prior to the Election Date (as
defined below), is a record holder of shares of Company Common
Stock other than Dissenting Shares shall be entitled to specify
the number of such holders shares of Company Common Stock
(and, if such shares to which the election relates are
represented by Certificates, such particular shares) with
respect to which such holder makes a Cash Election, Stock
Election or Mixed Election.
(c) Parent shall prepare and file as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement a form of election (the Form
of Election) in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to the Company. The Form of Election shall specify that delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to any
Certificates shall pass only upon proper delivery of the Form of
Election and any Certificates. The Company shall mail the Form
of Election with the Proxy Statement (as defined in
Section 3.12) to all persons who are record holders of
shares of Company Common Stock as of the record date for the
Company Meeting (as defined in Section 5.5(d)). The Form of
Election shall be used by each record holder of shares of
Company Common Stock (or, in the case of nominee record holders,
the beneficial owner through proper instructions and
documentation) to make a valid and timely Cash Election, a Stock
Election or a Mixed Election. In the event that a holder fails
to make a valid and timely Cash Election, a Stock Election or a
Mixed Election with respect to any shares of Company Common
Stock held or beneficially owned by such holder, then such
holder shall be deemed to have made a Mixed Election with
respect to those shares (each such share, a Non-Electing
Company Share). The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to make the Form of Election available to all persons
who become holders of shares of Company Common Stock during the
period between the record date for the Company Meeting and the
Election Date.
(d) Any holders election shall have been properly
made only if the Exchange Agent shall have received at its
designated office, by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
date specified on the Form of Election as agreed upon by the
parties, or if no such date is specified, on the later of
(1) the date of the Company Meeting or (2) if the
Closing Date is more than four Business Days following the
Company Meeting, two Business Days preceding the Closing Date
(the Election Date), a Form of Election properly
completed and signed and accompanied by (i) Certificates
representing the shares of Company Common Stock to which such
Form of Election relates, duly endorsed in blank or otherwise in
form acceptable for transfer on the books of the Company (or by
an appropriate guarantee of delivery of such Certificates as set
forth in such Form of Election from a firm that is an
eligible guarantor institution (as defined in
Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act)); provided that such
Certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent by the
time set forth in such guarantee of delivery) or (ii) in
the case of Company Book-Entry Shares, any additional documents
required by the procedures set forth in the Form of Election.
After a Cash Election, a Stock Election or a Mixed Election is
validly made with respect to any shares of Company Common Stock,
no further registration of transfers of such shares shall be
made on the stock transfer books of the Company, unless and
until such Cash Election, Stock Election or Mixed Election is
properly revoked.
(e) Parent and Company shall publicly announce the
anticipated Election Date at least five Business Days prior to
the anticipated Closing Date. If the Closing Date is delayed to
a subsequent date, the Election Date shall be similarly delayed
to a subsequent date, and Parent and the Company shall promptly
announce any such delay and, when determined, the rescheduled
Election Date.
(f) Any Cash Election, Stock Election or Mixed Election may
be revoked with respect to all or a portion of the shares of
Company Common Stock subject thereto by the holder who submitted
the applicable Form of Election by written notice received by
the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the Election Date. In addition, all Cash Elections, Stock
Elections and Mixed Elections shall automatically be revoked if
this Agreement is terminated in accordance with
Article VII. If a Cash Election or Stock Election is
revoked with respect to shares of Company Common Stock
represented by Certificates, Certificates representing such
shares shall be promptly returned to the holder that submitted
the same to the Exchange Agent.
(g) The determination of the Exchange Agent (or the joint
determination of Parent and the Company, in the event that the
Exchange Agent declines to make any such determination) shall be
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conclusive and binding as to whether or not Mixed Elections,
Cash Elections and Stock Elections shall have been properly made
or revoked pursuant to this Section 2.2 and as to when
Mixed Elections, Cash Elections, Stock Elections and revocations
were received by the Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent (or
Parent and the Company jointly, in the event that the Exchange
Agent declines to make the following computation) shall also
make all computations contemplated by Section 2.1(a), and
absent manifest error this computation shall be conclusive and
binding. The Exchange Agent may, with the written agreement of
Parent, after Parents reasonable consultation with the
Company, make any rules as are consistent with this
Section 2.2 for the implementation of the Mixed Elections,
Cash Elections, Stock Elections provided for in this Agreement
as shall be necessary or desirable to effect these Mixed
Elections, Cash Elections and Stock Elections.
Section 2.3 Exchange
of Certificates.
(a) Deposit of Merger Consideration.
(i) At or prior to Effective Time, Parent shall deposit
with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the shareholders of
the Company, (A) certificates or, at Parents option,
evidence of shares in book entry form, representing shares of
Parent Common Stock (the Parent Certificates) in
denominations as the Exchange Agent may reasonably specify and
(B) cash, in each case as are issuable or payable,
respectively, pursuant to this Article II in respect of
shares of Company Common Stock for which Certificates or Company
Book-Entry Shares have been properly delivered to the Exchange
Agent or the cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares. Such
Parent Certificates (or evidence of book-entry form, as the case
may be) and such cash so deposited, together with any dividends
or distributions with respect thereto, are hereinafter referred
to as the Exchange Fund.
(b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as
reasonably practicable after the Effective Time and in any event
not later than the second (2nd) Business Day following the
Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of
record of a Certificate whose shares were converted into the
Merger Consideration, pursuant to Section 2.1 (i) a
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the
Exchange Agent and shall be in such form and have such other
provisions as Parent and the Company may reasonably specify),
and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration.
(x) Each former shareholder of the Company who properly
made and did not revoke a Cash Election, Stock Election or Mixed
Election shall be entitled to receive in exchange for such
shareholders Cash Electing Company Shares, Stock Electing
Company Shares or Mixed Consideration Electing Shares, as the
case may be; and (y) each holder of Non-Electing Company
Shares, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate or
Company Book-Entry Shares, as applicable, representing such
Non-Electing Company Shares together with a letter of
transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance
with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may
customarily be required by the Exchange Agent, shall be able to
exchange therefor, the following
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(i) the number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock, if
any, into which such holders shares of Company Common
Stock represented by such holders properly surrendered
Certificates or Company Book-Entry Shares, as applicable, were
converted in accordance with this Article II (after
taking into account all shares of Company Common Stock to which
an election or non-election of the same type were made), and
such Certificates or Company Book-Entry Shares so surrendered
shall be forthwith cancelled, and |
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(ii) a check in an amount of U.S. dollars (after
giving effect to any required withholdings pursuant this
Section 2.3(b)) equal to (I) the amount of cash
(including the Per Share Cash Election Consideration or the Per
Share Cash Election Amount, as applicable and cash in lieu of
fractional interests in shares of Parent Common Stock to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.3(e)), if any, into which such
holders shares of Company Common Stock represented by such
holders properly surrendered Certificates or Company
Book-Entry Shares, as applicable, were converted in accordance
with this Article II, plus (II) any cash dividends or
other distributions that such holder has the right to receive
pursuant to Section 2.3(c); provided, however, that the
holders of such Certificates or Company Book-Entry Shares, as
applicable, shall be permitted to specifically elect on such
letter of |
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transmittal those shares of stock that are to be Mixed
Consideration Electing Shares, Cash Electing Company Shares,
and/or Stock Electing Company Shares, at such holders
option. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company
Common Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of
the Company, a Parent Certificate representing the proper number
of shares of Parent Common Stock may be issued to a person other
than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is
registered if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or
otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person
requesting such issuance shall pay any transfer or other
non-income Taxes (as defined in Section 3.15(k)) required
by reason of the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock to a
person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or
establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Parent that any such
Tax has been paid or is not applicable. Parent or the Exchange
Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable under this Agreement to any
holder of Company Common Stock such amounts as Parent or the
Exchange Agent are required to withhold or deduct under the Code
or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law with respect
to the making of such payment. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld by Parent or the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts
shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having
been paid to the holder of the Company Common Stock in respect
of whom such deduction and withholding were made by Parent or
the Exchange Agent. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 2.3, each Certificate or Company Book-Entry Share
shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the
applicable Merger Consideration as contemplated by this
Article II and cash, if any, in lieu of any fractional
share in accordance with Section 2.3(e). No interest will
be paid or will accrue on any cash payable to holders of
Certificates under the provisions of this Article II. |
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged
Shares. No dividends or other distributions with respect
to Parent Common Stock with a record date on or after the
Effective Time, or that are payable to the holders of record
thereof who become such on or after the Effective Time, shall be
paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate or Company
Book-Entry Share until those Certificates or Book-Entry Shares
are surrendered as provided in this Article II. All such
dividends, other distributions and cash in lieu of fractional
shares of Parent Common Stock which are to be paid in respect of
the shares of Parent Common Stock to be received upon surrender
of the Certificate shall be paid by Parent to the Exchange Agent
and shall be included in the Exchange Fund, in each case until
the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this
Article II. Subject to the effect of applicable escheat or
similar Laws and Laws with respect to the withholding of Taxes,
following surrender of any such Certificate there shall be paid
to the holder of the Parent Certificate representing whole
shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange therefor,
without interest (i) at the time of such surrender, the
amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date
after the Effective Time previously paid with respect to such
whole shares of Parent Common Stock and the amount of any cash
payable in lieu of a fractional share of Parent Common Stock to
which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.3(e)
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 with a payment
date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such
whole shares of Parent Common Stock. Parent shall make available
to the Exchange Agent sufficient cash for the purpose of
satisfying its obligations under clause (i) above.
(d) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common
Stock. The transfer of shares of Parent Common Stock
issued upon the surrender for the applicable Merger
Consideration in accordance with the terms of this
Article II (including distributions and dividends paid
pursuant to Section 2.3(c) and any cash paid in lieu of
fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.3(e)) shall be
deemed payment in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to
the shares of Company Common Stock previously represented by
such Certificates, subject, however, to the
Surviving Companys obligation to pay any dividends or make
any other distributions with a record date prior to the
Effective Time which may have been authorized or made by the
Company on such shares of Company Common Stock which remain
unpaid at the Effective Time, and there shall be no further
registration of transfers on the transfer books of the Surviving
Company of the shares of Company Common Stock which were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after
the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Company or the
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Exchange Agent for any reason, they shall be cancelled and
exchanged as provided in this Article II, except as
otherwise provided by Law.
(e) No Fractional Shares.
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(i) No Parent Certificates or scrip representing fractional
shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender
for exchange of Certificates, no dividend or distribution of
Parent shall relate to such fractional share interests, and such
fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to
vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Parent. |
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(ii) As promptly as practicable following the Effective
Time, the Surviving Company shall pay to the Exchange Agent, for
the benefit of each holder of Company Common Stock, an amount in
cash, if any, equal to the product obtained by multiplying
(A) the fractional share interest to which such holder
(after taking into account all shares of Company Common Stock
held at the Effective Time by such holder) would otherwise be
entitled by (B) the closing price for a share of Parent
Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape
(as reported in The Wall Street Journal, or, if not
reported thereby, any other authoritative source) on the day of
the Effective Time. The Surviving Company shall pay any
commissions, transfer Taxes and other out-of-pocket transaction
costs in connection with the sale, if any, of any Parent Common
Stock in connection with this Section 2.3(e). |
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion
of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the holders
of the Certificates for one year after the Effective Time shall
be delivered to Parent upon demand, and any holders of the
Certificates who have not theretofore complied with this
Article II shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment
of their claim for Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock and any dividends or
distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock.
(g) Closing of Transfer Books. At the
Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers
on the transfer books of the Surviving Company of the Company
Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are
presented to the Surviving Company or the Exchange Agent for any
reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in
this Section, except as otherwise provided by
Section 2.1(e).
(h) No Liability. None of the Company,
Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Company or the Exchange Agent
shall be liable to any person in respect of any shares of Parent
Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect
thereto) or cash from the Exchange Fund in each case delivered
to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate shall not
have been surrendered prior to such date on which any Merger
Consideration, any cash payable to the holder of such
Certificate pursuant to this Article II or any dividends or
distributions payable to the holder of such Certificate would
otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental
Entity, any such Merger Consideration or cash, dividends or
distributions in respect of such Certificate shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the
Surviving Company, and any holders of the Certificates who have
not theretofore complied with this Article II shall
thereafter look only to Parent for payment of their claim for
Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock and any dividends or distributions with
respect to Parent Common Stock.
(i) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange
Agent shall invest all cash included in the Exchange Fund, as
directed by Parent. Any interest and other income resulting from
such investments shall be paid to Parent.
(j) Lost Certificates. In the case of any
Certificate that has been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such
Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Exchange Agent, the posting by such person of a bond in
customary amount as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent
will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate the Merger Consideration and, if
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applicable, any cash in lieu of fractional shares, and unpaid
dividends and distributions on shares of Parent Common Stock
deliverable in accordance with this Article II in respect
thereof.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or in the
corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedule delivered by
the Company to Parent immediately prior to the execution of this
Agreement and signed by an authorized officer of the Company
(the Company Disclosure Schedule) (it being agreed
that disclosure of any item in any section of the Company
Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed disclosure with respect to
any other section of this Agreement to which the relevance of
such item is reasonably apparent from the face of such
disclosure), the Company represents and warrants to Parent and
Merger Sub as follows:
Section 3.1 Qualification,
Organization, Etc.
(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Washington and has the corporate power and authority to own its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted. The Company is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the ownership of its properties or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification, except for jurisdictions in which
the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had,
and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter
defined) on the Company. As used in this Agreement, any
reference to any state of facts, event, change or effect having
a Material Adverse Effect on or with respect to the
Company or Parent, as the case may be, means such state of
facts, event, change or effect that has had a material adverse
effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or of Parent and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the case may be, but
shall not include facts, events, changes, effects or
developments (i) (A) generally affecting the rural,
regional or nationwide wireless voice and data industry in the
United States or in other countries in which the Company or its
Subsidiaries conduct business, including regulatory and
political developments, or (B) generally affecting the
economy or financial markets in the United States or in other
countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries conduct
business, or (ii) resulting from the announcement or the
existence of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby. The copies of the Companys articles of
incorporation and by-laws which have been delivered to Parent
are complete and correct copies thereof, each as amended through
the date hereof. The Company is not in violation of any
provision of its articles of incorporation or by-laws.
(b) Section 3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a list of (i) each Subsidiary of the Company and
(ii) each other corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity that is not a Subsidiary but in which
the Company owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest,
other than any such interest held as a passive investment (each,
a Company Minority Interest Business), in each case
identifying the percentage and type of ownership held by the
Company. Each of the Companys Subsidiaries is a
corporation, partnership or other entity duly organized, validly
existing and, if applicable, in good standing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, has the power
and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted, and is duly qualified or licensed
to do business and, if applicable, is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the ownership of its property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for
jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. All the outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other ownership interests in, the Companys
Subsidiaries which are corporations are validly issued and, if
applicable, fully paid and non-assessable and all the
outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other ownership
interests in, the Companys Subsidiaries which are owned by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are owned free and clear
of all liens, claims, mortgages, encumbrances, pledges, security
interests, equities or charges of any kind (each, a
Lien). There are no
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existing options, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights,
calls, claims or commitments of any character relating to the
issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of, or
other ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company
which are owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.2 Capital
Stock.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
300,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and
50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per
share (Company Preferred Stock). Of the Company
Common Stock, 293,161,204 shares are classified as
Class A Common Stock and 6,838,796 shares are
classified as Class B Common Stock. As of December 31,
2004, (i) 93,300,241 shares of Class A Common
Stock were issued and outstanding,
(ii) 6,838,796 shares of Class B Common Stock
were issued and outstanding, (iii) 4,068,632 shares of
Class A Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to
the Amended and Restated 1994 Management Incentive Stock Option
Plan (the Option Plan);
(iv) 6,838,796 shares of Class A Common Stock
were reserved for issuance upon the conversion of Class B
Common Stock; (v) 945,750 shares of Class A
Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the
Companys 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
ESPP); (vi) 656,990 shares of Class A
Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the
Executive Restricted Stock Plan (the Restricted Stock
Plan); (vii) 286,984 shares of Class B
Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to options
granted to certain officers and directors of the Company,
(viii) 993,500 shares of Class A Common Stock
were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Companys 2005
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2005
Plan) (subject to approval of the 2005 Plan by Company
Shareholders), (ix) 7,440,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon conversion of the
4.625% Notes (as defined in Section 3.2(d)), and
(x) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or
outstanding. All the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
are, and all Shares of Company Common Stock reserved for
issuance as noted in clauses (iii)-(ix) above, shall be,
when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof,
duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable and free of pre-emptive rights.
(b) Except as set forth in subsection (a) above,
as of the date hereof: (i) the Company does not have any
shares of its capital stock issued or outstanding other than
shares of Class A Common Stock that have become outstanding
after December 31, 2004, but were reserved for issuance as
set forth in subsection (a) above, and (ii) there
are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls,
convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements or
commitments relating to the issuance of capital stock to which
the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries is a party
obligating the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries
to (A) issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock
or other equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
such shares or equity interests; (B) grant, extend or enter
into any such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible
securities or other similar right, agreement, arrangement or
commitment to repurchase; (C) redeem or otherwise acquire
any such shares of capital stock or other equity interests; or
(D) provide a material amount of funds to, or make any
material investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution
or otherwise) in, any Subsidiary.
(c) Section 3.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all persons who,
as of December 31, 2004 held outstanding awards to acquire
shares of Company Common Stock or to acquire cash payments (the
Company Stock Awards) under each of the
Option Plan and the Restricted Stock Plan or under any other
equity incentive plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
indicating, with respect to each Company Stock Award then
outstanding, the type of award granted, the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Award, the
name of the plan under which such Company Stock Award was
granted and the exercise price, date of grant, vesting schedule
and expiration date thereof, including to the extent to which
any vesting has occurred as of the date of this Agreement and a
description of whether (and to what extent) the vesting of such
Company Stock Award will be accelerated in any way by the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or by the termination of employment or engagement or change in
position of any holder thereof following or in connection with
the consummation of the Merger.
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(d) Except for the 4.625% Convertible Subordinated
Notes of the Company due 2023 (the
4.625% Notes) and the Company Stock Awards,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding
bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations, the holders of
which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or
exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the
shareholders of the Company or such Subsidiary on any matter.
(e) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or
understandings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is a party with respect to the voting of the capital stock or
other equity interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company
owns, directly or indirectly, a material amount of any capital
stock or equity investment or debt security in any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business,
trust or other entity other than interests in another Subsidiary
or Company Minority Interest Business.
Section 3.3 Corporate
Authority Relative to this Agreement; No Violation.
(a) The Company has requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and, subject to receipt of the
Company Shareholder Approval, to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Merger. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company and, except
for the (i) Company Shareholder Approval and (ii) the
filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of
Washington, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the
Company are necessary to authorize the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Board of Directors of the
Company has taken all necessary action so that
Section 23B.19 of the WBCA will be inapplicable to this
Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The Board of Directors of the
Company has determined that the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are fair to and in the best interest of the
Company and its shareholders and to recommend to such
shareholders that they approve and adopt this Agreement. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
the Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of the other parties hereto, constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms (except to the extent
that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other Laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors rights generally or by principles
governing the availability of equitable remedies).
(b) Other than in connection with or in compliance with
(i) the provisions of the WBCA and the WLLCA, (ii) the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act), (iii) the Exchange Act, (iv) the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the HSR Act), (v) the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended (the Communications Act) and
applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable
laws, rules, regulations, practices and orders of any state
public utility commissions (PUCs) or similar state
or foreign regulatory bodies regulating competition and
telecommunications businesses, (vi) any applicable
non-United States competition, antitrust and investment laws and
(vii) the approvals set forth on Section 3.3(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the Company
Approvals), no authorization, consent or approval of, or
filing with, any United States or foreign governmental or
regulatory agency, commission, court, body, entity or authority
(each a Governmental Entity) is necessary for the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, except for such authorizations, consents,
approvals or filings that, if not obtained or made, would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
significantly impair or delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(c) The execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions hereof
will not (i) result in any violation of, or default (with
or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise
to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under any
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loan, guarantee of indebtedness or credit agreement, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement, contract, instrument,
permit, concession, franchise, right or license binding upon the
Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries or result in
the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of
the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries,
(ii) conflict with or result in any violation of any
provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws or other
equivalent organizational document, in each case as amended, of
the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries or
(iii) conflict with or violate any Laws (as defined in
Section 3.7(a)) applicable to the Company or any of the
Companys Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or assets, other than, in the case of
clauses (i) and (iii), any such violation, conflict,
default, right, loss or Lien that has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 3.4 Reports
and Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has filed all forms, documents and reports
required to be filed prior to the date hereof by it with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) since
December 31, 2002 (the Company SEC Documents).
As of their respective dates, or, if amended, as of the date of
the last such amendment, the Company SEC Documents complied in
all material respects, and all documents required to be filed by
the Company with the SEC after the date hereof and prior to the
Effective Time (the Subsequent Company SEC
Documents) will comply in all material respects, with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the
case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and none of the Company SEC Documents
contained, and the Subsequent Company SEC Documents will not
contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, or
will omit, to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, or are to be made,
not misleading.
(b) The consolidated financial statements (including all
related notes and schedules) of the Company included in the
Company SEC Documents fairly present in all material respects,
and included in the Subsequent Company SEC Documents will fairly
present in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at
the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of
their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the
respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the
unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and
to any other adjustments described therein including the notes
thereto) in conformity with United States generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) (except, in the case of
the unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the
SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto).
Since December 31, 2002, the Company has not made any
change in the accounting practices or policies applied in the
preparation of its financial statements, except as required by
GAAP, SEC rule or policy or applicable Law.
Section 3.5 Internal
Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and
maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal
control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in
paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of
Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by
Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. The Companys
disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to
ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by
the Company in the reports that it files or furnishes under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and
communicated to the Companys management as appropriate to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make
the certifications required pursuant to Sections 302 and
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries maintain a
system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (a) transactions are executed in
accordance with managements general or specific
authorizations; (b) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (c) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with managements
general or specific authorization; and (d) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets
at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences. The Company has delivered to Parent
complete and accurate copies of notices received from
A-16
its independent auditor prior to the date hereof of any
significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the
Companys internal control over financial reporting since
December 31, 2003 and any other management letter or
similar correspondence from any independent auditor of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries received since
December 31, 2002 and prior to the date hereof. As of the
date hereof, the Company is implementing such programs and is
taking such steps as it believes are necessary to effect
compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory
deadline therefor) with all provisions of Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that will become applicable to the
Company and has not received, orally or in writing, any
notification that its independent auditor (i) believes that
the Company will not be able to complete its assessment before
the reporting deadline, or, if completed, that it will not be
completed in sufficient time for the independent auditor to
complete its assessment or (ii) will not be able to issue
unqualified attestation reports with respect thereto.
Section 3.6 No
Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (i) as reflected or
reserved against in the Companys consolidated balance
sheets (or the notes thereto) included in the Company SEC
Documents, (ii) for liabilities and obligations incurred in
the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice,
since December 31, 2003, (iii) liabilities or
obligations which have been discharged or paid in full in the
ordinary course of business and (iv) liabilities and
obligations arising after December 31, 2003, which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,
neither the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, any Company Minority Interest
Business, has any liabilities or obligations of any nature,
whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise, that would be
required by GAAP to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (or in the notes thereto).
Section 3.7 No
Violation of Law; Permits.
(a) The Company and each of the Companys Subsidiaries
are in compliance with and are not in default under or in
violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction,
decree, arbitration award, agency requirement, license or permit
of any Governmental Entity (collectively, Laws),
applicable to the Company, such Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets, including, without limitation,
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended,
except where such non-compliance, default or violation has not
had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
and except as would not reasonably be expected to significantly
impair or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Section 3.7(a), no representation or warranty shall be
deemed to be made in this Section 3.7(a) in respect of the
matters referenced in Section 3.5, or in respect of
environmental, tax, employee benefits, labor or communications
Laws matters, which are the subject of the representations and
warranties made in Sections 3.5, 3.8, 3.9, 3.15, 3.16, 3.21
and 3.22 of this Agreement.
(b) The Company and the Companys Subsidiaries are in
possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses,
permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents,
certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity
necessary for the Company and the Companys Subsidiaries to
own, lease and operate their properties and assets or to carry
on their businesses as they are now being conducted (the
Company Permits), except where the failure to have
any of the Company Permits has not had, and would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and except as would not
reasonably be expected to significantly impair or delay
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. All
Company Permits are in full force and effect, except where the
failure to be in full force and effect has not had, and would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and except
as would not reasonably be expected to significantly impair or
delay consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.8 Environmental
Laws and Regulations.
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in
compliance with all applicable Laws relating to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment (including,
without limitation, ambient air,
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surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata)
(collectively, Environmental Laws), which compliance
includes, but is not limited to, the possession by the Company
and its Subsidiaries of all Company Permits that are required
under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance with the
terms and conditions thereof, except for such non-compliance or
failure to possess such Company Permits as has not had, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; and
(b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received written notice of, or, is the subject of, any actions,
causes of action, claims, investigations, demands or notices by
any person asserting an obligation on the part of the Company or
its Subsidiaries to conduct investigations or clean-up
activities under Environmental Law or alleging liability under
or non-compliance with any Environmental Law (collectively,
Environmental Claims) which would reasonably be
expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As used herein
knowledge of any person means the actual knowledge
of the executive officers of such person.
Section 3.9 Employee
Benefit Plan.
(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
lists all material Company Benefit Plans. Company Benefit
Plans means all employee benefit plans, compensation
arrangements and other benefit arrangements, whether or not
employee benefit plans (within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended (ERISA), whether or not subject
to ERISA), providing cash- or equity-based incentives, health,
medical, dental, disability, accident or life insurance benefits
or vacation, severance, retirement, pension or savings benefits,
that are sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of employees,
directors, consultants, former employees, former consultants and
former directors of the Company or its Subsidiaries and all
employee agreements providing compensation, vacation, severance
or other benefits to any officer, employee, consultant or former
employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except to the
extent providing benefits imposed or implied by applicable
foreign Law.
(b) Any Company Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) or 401(k) of the Code has received a
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and, to
the knowledge of the Company, continues to satisfy the
requirements for such qualification, except where the failure to
so qualify has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. Neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliates of the Company maintains or contributes to any
benefit plan covered by Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or penalty under
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or has
engaged in any transaction which is reasonably likely to result
in any liability or penalty which would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. Each Company Benefit Plan has been
maintained and administered in compliance with its terms and
with ERISA and the Code to the extent applicable thereto, except
for such non-compliance which has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Neither the
Company nor its Subsidiaries maintains or contributes to any
plan or arrangement which, and no Company Benefit Plan provides,
or has any liability to provide, life insurance or medical or
other employee welfare benefits to any employee or former
employee following his retirement or termination of employment,
except as required by applicable Law. The Company has not
amended the Company Benefit Plans in any manner whatsoever that
would increase materially the expense to the Company or its
Subsidiaries of maintaining the Company Benefit Plans above the
level or expense incurred in respect thereof for the year ended
December 31, 2003. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not, either alone or in
combination with another event (A) entitle any current or
former employee, consultant or officer of the Company or any its
Subsidiaries to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any
other payment, except as expressly provided in this Agreement or
as required by applicable Law, or (B) accelerate the time
of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation
due any such employee, consultant or officer, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, and no amounts payable
under the Company Benefit Plans will fail to be deductible for
federal
A-18
income tax purposes by virtue of Section 280G of the Code
(assuming no acceleration of any options set forth on
Section 3.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule).
(c) No Company Benefit Plan is a multiemployer
plan, as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA, or a multiple employer plan as such term is
defined in Section 413 of the Code. Each Company Benefit
Plan that is intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code satisfies the requirements of
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, except where failure to
satisfy such requirements has not had, and would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(d) With respect to each Company Benefit Plan that is not
subject to United States law (a Foreign Benefit
Plan): (i) all employer and employee contributions to
each Foreign Benefit Plan required by Law or by the terms of
such Foreign Benefit Plan have been made, or, if applicable,
accrued in accordance with GAAP, except for such contributions
or accruals, the failure of which to make or accrue has not had,
and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(ii) as of the Closing Date, the fair market value of the
assets of each funded Foreign Benefit Plan, the liability of
each insurer for any Foreign Benefit Plan funded through
insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign
Benefit Plan, together with any accrued contributions, will be
sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit
obligations, as of the Closing Date, with respect to all current
and former participants in such plan according to the actuarial
assumptions and valuations most recently used to determine
employer contributions to such Foreign Benefit Plan, and no
transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall cause such
assets or insurance obligations to be less than such benefit
obligations, except, in each case, for insufficiencies or
transactions that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company; and (iii) each Foreign Benefit Plan required
to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in
good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except for
such failures to register or maintain as have not had, and would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, ERISA
Affiliate means any business or entity which is a member
of the same controlled group of corporations, under
common control or an affiliated service
group with an entity within the meanings of
Sections 414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code, or
required to be aggregated with the entity under
Section 414(o) of the Code, or is under common
control with the entity, within the meaning of
Section 400l(a)(14) of ERISA, or any regulations
promulgated or proposed under any of the foregoing Sections of
ERISA and the Code.
Section 3.10 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Other than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as disclosed in
the Company SEC Documents, from December 31, 2003 through
the date of this Agreement, the businesses of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the
Company Minority Interest Businesses, have been conducted in the
ordinary course consistent with past practice, and there has not
been any event, occurrence, development or state of
circumstances or facts that has had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 3.11 Investigations;
Litigation. Except as described in the Company SEC
Documents:
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(a) there is no investigation or review pending (or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened) by any Governmental Entity
with respect to the Company, any of the Companys
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the
Company Minority Interest Businesses, which would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company; and |
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(b) there are no actions, suits, inquiries, investigations
or proceedings pending (or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened) against or affecting the Company, any of the
Companys Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company,
any of the Company Minority Interest Businesses, or any of their
respective properties at law or in equity before, and there are
no orders, judgments or |
A-19
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decrees of or before any Governmental Entity, in each case,
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. |
Section 3.12 Proxy
Statement; Registration Statement; Other Information.
None of the information with respect to the Company or its
Subsidiaries to be included in the Proxy Statement (as defined
below) or the Registration Statement (as defined in
Section 5.5(a)(i)) will, in the case of the Proxy Statement
or any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, at the time of
the mailing of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or
supplements thereto, and at the time of the Company Meeting, or,
in the case of the Registration Statement, at the time it
becomes effective, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all
material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The letters to
shareholders, notices of meeting, proxy statement and forms of
proxies to be distributed to shareholders in connection with the
Merger and any schedules required to be filed with the SEC in
connection therewith are collectively referred to herein as the
Proxy Statement.
Section 3.13 No
Rights Plan. There is no shareholder rights plan,
poison pill anti-takeover plan or other similar
device in effect, to which the Company is a party or otherwise
bound.
Section 3.14 Lack
of Ownership of Parent Common Stock. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any shares of Parent Common
Stock or other securities convertible into shares of Parent
Common Stock (exclusive of any shares owned by the
Companys employee benefit plans).
Section 3.15 Tax
Matters.
(a) The Company and each of the Companys Subsidiaries
has (A) duly and timely filed (or there has been filed on
its behalf) all material Tax Returns (as defined below) required
to be filed by it (taking into account all applicable
extensions) with the appropriate Tax Authority (as defined
below), (B) paid all Taxes shown as due on such Tax
Returns, except for such failures to file or pay which do not
have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(b) Except for such Liens which do not have, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, there are
no Liens for Taxes upon any property or assets of the Company or
any of the Companys Subsidiaries except for liens for
Taxes not yet due and payable or for which adequate reserves
have been provided in accordance with GAAP in the most recent
financial statements contained in the Company SEC Documents
filed prior to the date of this Agreement.
(c) There is no audit, examination, deficiency, refund
litigation or proposed adjustment with respect to any Taxes
other than those which do not have, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. As of the date hereof, none of
the Company or its Subsidiaries has received notice in writing
of any claim made by a Tax Authority in a jurisdiction where the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, does not file
a Tax Return, that the Company or such Subsidiary is or may be
subject to material taxation by that jurisdiction, where such
claim has not been resolved favorably to the Company or such
Subsidiary.
(d) There are no outstanding written requests, agreements,
consents or waivers to extend the statutory period of
limitations applicable to the assessment of any income Taxes or
income Tax deficiencies against the Company or any of the
Companys Subsidiaries, except, in each case, with respect
to income Taxes or deficiencies, as the case may be, which do
not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, and, as of the date hereof, no power of attorney
granted by either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with
respect to any material Taxes is currently in force.
A-20
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to any agreement providing for the allocation,
indemnification or sharing of Taxes other than such an agreement
exclusively between or among the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries (A) has been a member of an affiliated group
(or similar state, local or foreign filing group) filing a
material consolidated income Tax Return (other than a group the
common parent of which is the Company) or (B) has any
material liability (including as a result of any agreement or
obligation to reimburse or indemnify) for the Taxes of any other
Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign Tax law), as a transferee
or successor, by contract or otherwise.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has:
(A) agreed to make or is required to make any adjustment
for a taxable period ending after the Effective Time under
Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in
accounting method or otherwise, except where such adjustments do
not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company; (B) constituted either a distributing
corporation or a controlled corporation
(within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in
a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under
Section 355 of the Code (I) in the two years prior to
the date of this Agreement or (II) in a distribution which
could otherwise constitute part of a plan or
series of related transactions (within the meaning
of Section 355(e) of the Code) in connection with the
Merger; or (C) taken any action or knows of any fact,
agreement, plan or other circumstance that is reasonably likely
to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
(g) The Company and its Subsidiaries will not be required
to include any material item of income in, or exclude any
material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable
period (or portion thereof) ending after the Effective Time as a
result of any closing agreement described in
Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar
provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) executed on
or prior to the date hereof, except for such inclusions or
exclusions which do not have, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
(h) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in material
compliance with all applicable information reporting and Tax
withholding requirements under federal, state and local Tax
laws, except for such failures to comply which do not have, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(i) Section 3.15(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
lists all foreign jurisdictions in which the Company and any of
the Companys Subsidiaries files a material Tax Return.
(j) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) Taxes means any and all domestic or
foreign, federal, state, local or other taxes of any kind
(together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax
and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by
any Governmental Entity, including taxes on or with respect to
income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts,
property, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, employment,
unemployment, social security, workers compensation or net
worth, and taxes in the nature of excise, withholding, ad
valorem or value added; (ii) Tax Authority
means the Internal Revenue Service and any other domestic or
foreign Governmental Entity responsible for the administration
or collection of any Taxes; and (iii) Tax
Return means any return, report or similar filing
(including the attached schedules) required to be filed with
respect to Taxes, including any information return, claim for
refund, amended return, or declaration of estimated Taxes.
Section 3.16 Labor
Matters. Except to the extent imposed or implied by
applicable foreign Law, as of the date hereof, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by,
any collective bargaining agreement (or similar agreement or
arrangement in any foreign country) with employees, a labor
union or labor organization. Except for such matters which have
not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, (a) as of the date hereof, (i) there are
no strikes or lockouts with respect to any employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (Employees), and,
(ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there
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is no union organizing effort pending or threatened against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) there is no unfair
labor practice, labor dispute (other than routine individual
grievances) or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries; (c) there is no slowdown, or work
stoppage in effect or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened with respect to Employees; and (d) the Company
and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws
respecting (i) employment and employment practices,
(ii) terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours
and (iii) unfair labor practices. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities under the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the WARN
Act) as a result of any action taken by the Company (other
than at the written direction of Parent or as a result of the
Merger) and that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.
Section 3.17 Intellectual
Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, (i) either the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company owns, or is licensed or otherwise
possesses legally enforceable rights to use, all Intellectual
Property (as defined below) used in their respective businesses
as currently conducted, and (ii) the consummation of the
transactions will not alter or impair such rights. There are no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claims
by any Person challenging the use by the Company or its
Subsidiaries of any material trademarks, trade names, service
marks, service names, mark registrations, logos, assumed names,
registered and unregistered copyrights, patents or applications
and registrations therefor (collectively, the Intellectual
Property) in their respective businesses as currently
conducted that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, the conduct of the businesses of the Company and
its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon any intellectual
property rights or any other proprietary right of any Person,
and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any
written notice from any other Person pertaining to or
challenging the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to use
any of the Intellectual Property. As of the date hereof, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any claim of a
violation or infringement by others of its rights to or in
connection with the Intellectual Property used in their
respective businesses which violation or infringement has had,
or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.18 Opinion
of Financial Advisor. The Board of Directors of the
Company has received the opinion of Bear, Stearns & Co.
Inc. dated the date of this Agreement, substantially to the
effect that, as of such date, the Merger Consideration is fair
to the holders of the Company Common Stock from a financial
point of view. The Company has delivered a complete and accurate
copy of such opinion to Parent, which opinion shall be included
in the Proxy Statement.
Section 3.19 Required
Vote of the Company Shareholders. The affirmative vote
of the holders of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock,
voting together as a single class, representing at least
two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast by holders of
Company Common Stock is the only vote of holders of securities
of the Company which is required to approve and adopt this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (the
Company Shareholder Approval).
Section 3.20 Material
Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the
Company Benefit Plans and except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any material
contract (as such term is defined in item 601(b)(10)
of Regulation S-K of the SEC) (all contracts of the type
described in this Section 3.20 being referred to herein as
Company Material Contracts).
(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company
is in breach of or default under the terms of any Company
Material Contract where such breach or default has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. To the
knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Company Material
Contract is in breach of or default
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under the terms of any Company Material Contract where such
breach or default has had, or would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. Each Company Material Contract is a valid
and binding obligation of the Company or the Subsidiary of the
Company which is party thereto and, to the knowledge of the
Company, of each other party thereto, and is in full force and
effect, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to
creditors rights generally and (ii) equitable
remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms
of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to
the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor
may be brought.
Section 3.21 Domestic
Communications Regulatory Matters.
(a) Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
(the Company License Schedule) lists all licenses
and authorizations issued by the Federal Communications
Commission (the FCC) to the Company or its
Subsidiaries (the Company Licenses), together with
the name of the licensee or authorization holder, the expiration
date of the Company Licenses and, where applicable, the relevant
FCC market designation. The Company Licenses constitute all
authorizations necessary from the FCC for the business
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as they are
currently being conducted in the United States, except those
authorizations the absence of which has not had, or would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(b) Each Company License is valid and in full force and
effect and has not been suspended, revoked, cancelled or
adversely modified, except where the failure to be in full force
and effect, or the suspension, revocation, cancellation or
modification of which has not had or would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. No Company License is subject to
(i) any conditions or requirements that have not been
imposed generally upon licenses in the same service, unless such
conditions or requirements would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, or (ii) any pending regulatory
proceeding (other than those affecting the wireless industry
generally) or judicial review before a Governmental Entity,
unless such pending regulatory proceedings or judicial review
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. The Company and its Subsidiaries have no
knowledge of any event, condition or circumstance that would
preclude any Company License from being renewed in the ordinary
course (to the extent that such Company License is renewable by
its terms), except where the failure to be renewed has not had
or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(c) The licensee of each Company License is in compliance
with each Company License and has fulfilled and performed all of
its material obligations with respect thereto, including all
reports, notifications and applications required by the
Communications Act or the rules, regulations, policies,
instructions and orders of the FCC (the FCC Rules)
and the payment of all regulatory fees, contributions to the
Universal Service Fund, the TRS Fund and all other such funds to
which contributions are required by the FCC Rules, except
(i) for exemptions, waivers or similar concessions or
allowances and (ii) where such failure to be in compliance,
fulfill or perform its obligations or pay such fees or
contributions has not had, or would not reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.
(d) Except as provided in the Company License Schedule,
there are no outstanding material auction or other monetary
obligations due to the FCC, and the completion of the Merger
will not give rise to any unjust enrichment obligations related
to Company Licenses obtained through the FCCs auction
process.
(e) Except for structures that do not require registration,
each of the antenna structures used for the operation of the
Company Licenses has been registered with the FCC, except with
respect to registrations the failure of which to obtain have not
had, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Except with the consent of the FCC or as otherwise permitted in
accordance with the FCC Rules, no facility located in the United
States for the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has been constructed in a manner that has resulted in a
A-23
significant environmental effect, as defined by FCC Rules,
except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Other than as may affect the wireless industry generally, there
is no application, petition, objection or other proceeding
pending before any Governmental Entity that could affect the
Company Licenses or the business operations of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, except for such applications,
petitions, objections or other proceedings that have not had, or
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(f) The Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
owns one hundred percent (100%) of the equity and controls one
hundred percent (100%) of the voting power and decision-making
authority of each licensee of the Company Licenses.
(g) Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
lists all pending federal or state proceedings with regard to
efforts by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be
designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier.
Section 3.22 Foreign
Communications Regulatory Matters.
(a) Section 3.22 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
(the Foreign License Schedule) lists all the
licenses and authorizations issued by the
Telekom-Control-Kommission (the TKK), the
Rundfunk & Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH (the
RTR-GmbH) in Austria and the Commission for
Communications Regulation in Ireland (ComReg) to the
Company or its Subsidiaries (the Austrian and Irish
Company Licenses). Such licenses constitute all material
authorizations necessary from the TKK, the RTR-GmbH and ComReg
for the business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as they are currently being conducted in Austria and Ireland,
except those authorizations the absence of which has not had, or
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. To the
knowledge of the Company, the Company holds all licenses and
authorizations necessary for the business operations of the
Company in Bolivia, Georgia and Haiti, except those licenses and
authorizations the failure to hold which has not had, and would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The
Austrian and Irish Company Licenses, together with the material
licenses and authorizations in Bolivia, Georgia and Haiti are
hereinafter referred to collectively as the Foreign
Company Licenses.
(b) Each Foreign Company License is valid and in full force
and effect and has not been suspended, revoked, cancelled or
adversely modified, except where the failure to be in full force
and effect, or the suspension, revocation, cancellation or
modification of such license or licenses has not had or would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. No Foreign
Company License is subject to (i) any conditions or
requirements that have not been imposed generally upon licenses
in the same service, unless such conditions or requirements
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or
(ii) any pending regulatory proceeding (other than those
affecting the wireless industry generally) or judicial review
before a Governmental Entity, unless such pending regulatory
proceedings or judicial review would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(c) The licensee of each Foreign Company License is in
compliance with the terms of and the Laws that apply to each
applicable Foreign Company License and has fulfilled and
performed all of its material obligations with respect thereto,
including all material reports, notifications and applications
required by any Governmental Entity and the payment of all
regulatory fees, except (i) for exemptions, waivers or
similar concessions or allowances and (ii) where such
failure to be in compliance, fulfill or perform its obligations
or pay such fees or contributions has not had, or would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 3.23 Companys
Articles of Incorporation and WBCA 23B.19. The
Board of Directors of the Company has taken all actions so that
the restrictions contained in the Companys articles of
incorporation and the WBCA applicable to a significant
business transaction (as defined in Chapter 23B.19 of
the WBCA) will not apply to the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement
A-24
or the Voting Agreement, or to the consummation of the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Voting Agreement. To the knowledge of the Company, no other
state takeover statute is applicable to the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.24 Affiliate
Transactions. There are no Material Contracts or other
material transactions or agreements between the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any (a) officer
or director of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries,
(b) record or beneficial owner of five percent or more of
any class of the voting securities of the Company or
(c) affiliate of any such officer, director or beneficial
owner.
Section 3.25 Finders
or Brokers. Except for Bear, Stearns & Co.
Inc., a copy of whose engagement agreement has been provided to
Parent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
employed any investment banker, broker or finder in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement who might
be entitled to any fee or any commission in connection with or
upon consummation of the Merger.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents or in the
corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedule delivered by
Parent to the Company immediately prior to the execution of this
Agreement and signed by an authorized officer of Parent (the
Parent Disclosure Schedule, and together with the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Disclosure
Schedule) (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in
any section of the Parent Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed
disclosure with respect to any other section of this Agreement
to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent from
the face of such disclosure), Parent and Merger Sub represent
and warrant to the Company as follows:
Section 4.1 Qualification;
Organization, Etc.
(a) Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and has the corporate power and authority to own its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted. Parent is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the ownership of its properties or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification, except for jurisdictions in which
the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had,
and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. The copies
of Parents certificate of incorporation and by-laws which
have been delivered to the Company are complete and correct
copies thereof, each as amended through the date hereof. Parent
is not in violation of any provision of its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws.
(b) Section 4.1 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a list of (i) each Subsidiary of Parent, and
(ii) each other corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity that is not a Subsidiary but in which
Parent owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest, in each
case identifying the percentage and type of ownership held by
Parent. Each of Parents Subsidiaries (including Merger
Sub) is a corporation, partnership or other entity duly
organized, validly existing and, if applicable, in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization, has the power and authority to own its properties
and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and
is duly qualified or licensed to do business and, if applicable,
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership
of its property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except for jurisdictions in which the failure to
be so qualified or in good standing has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. All the
outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other ownership
interests in, Parents Subsidiaries which are corporations
are validly issued and, if applicable, fully paid and
non-assessable and all of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other ownership interests in, Parents
Subsidiaries which are owned by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens. There are no
existing options, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights,
calls, claims or commitments of any character relating to the
issued or unissued capital stock or other
A-25
securities of, or other ownership interests in, any Subsidiary
of Parent which are owned by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.2 Capital
Stock.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of
1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share (Parent Common Stock),
50,000,000 shares of voting cumulative preferred stock, par
value $25.00 per share (Par Preferred Stock),
and 50,000,000 shares of non-voting cumulative preferred
stock, no par value (No Par Preferred Stock, and
together with Par Preferred Stock, Parent Preferred
Stock). As of December 31, 2004,
(i) 302,267,959 shares of Parent Common Stock were
issued and outstanding and no shares were held in the treasury
of Parent, (ii) no shares of Par Preferred Stock were
outstanding, (iii) 12,288 shares of No Par Preferred
Stock, designated as $2.06 No Par Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, Series C, were issued and outstanding and
no shares were held in the treasury of Parent and
(iv) 32,190 shares of No Par Preferred Stock,
designated as $2.25 No Par Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock, Series D, were issued and outstanding and no shares
were held in the treasury of Parent. All the outstanding shares
of Parent Common Stock and Parent Preferred Stock are, and all
shares of Parent Common Stock which may be issued, including
shares of Parent Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to
this Agreement, shall be, when issued in accordance with the
respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued and
are fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights.
(b) Except as set forth in subsection (a) above,
as of the date hereof, (i) Parent does not have any shares
of its capital stock issued or outstanding, and (ii) there
are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls,
convertible securities, or other similar rights, agreements or
commitments relating to the issuance of capital stock to which
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party obligating Parent
or any Subsidiary of Parent to, in either case (A) issue,
transfer or sell any shares of capital stock or other equity
interests of Parent or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such shares or equity interests;
(B) grant, extend or enter into any such subscription,
option, warrant, call, convertible securities or other similar
right, agreement, arrangement or commitment to repurchase;
(C) redeem or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital
stock or other equity interests; or (D) provide a material
amount of funds to, or make any material investment (in the form
of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any Subsidiary.
(c) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has
outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations, the
holders of which have the right to vote (or which are
convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right
to vote) with the stockholders of Parent or such Subsidiary on
any matter.
(d) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or
understandings to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party with respect to the voting of the capital stock or other
equity interest of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) Neither Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent owns,
directly or indirectly, a material amount of any capital stock
or equity investment or debt security in any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business,
trust or other entity other than interests in another Subsidiary.
Section 4.3 Corporate
Authority Relative to this Agreement; No Violation.
(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub has requisite corporate
or limited liability company power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and the Voting Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Voting
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the
Board of Directors of Parent and the manager of Merger Sub and,
except for the filing of the Articles of Merger with the
Secretary of State of Washington, no other corporate proceedings
on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement and the Voting Agreement have been duly
and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and,
assuming this Agreement and the Voting Agreement constitute
valid and binding agreements of the other parties hereto or
thereto, this Agreement and the Voting Agreement constitute
valid and binding agreements of Parent and Merger Sub,
A-26
enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with
their terms (except to the extent that enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights
generally or by principles governing the availability of
equitable remedies).
(b) Other than in connection with or in compliance with
(i) the provisions of the WBCA and the WLLCA, (ii) the
Securities Act, (iii) the Exchange Act, (iv) the HSR
Act, (v) the Communications Act, FCC Rules and any
applicable laws, rules, regulations, practices and orders of any
PUCs or similar state or foreign regulatory bodies regulating
competition and telecommunications businesses, (vi) any
applicable non-United States competition, antitrust and
investment laws, (vii) the approvals set forth on
Section 4.3 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule and
(viii) the rules and regulations of the NYSE (collectively,
the Parent Approvals), no authorization, consent or
approval of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity is
necessary for the consummation by Parent of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement, except
for such authorizations, consents, approvals or filings, that,
if not obtained or made, would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent or significantly impair or delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(c) The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement
and the Voting Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the
provisions hereof will not (i) result in any violation of,
or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a material
benefit under any loan, guarantee of indebtedness or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement,
contract, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, right or
license binding upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or result
in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets
of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with or
result in any violation of any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or other equivalent organizational
document, in each case as amended, of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, (iii) conflict with or violate any Laws
applicable to Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of
clauses (i) and (iii), any such violation, conflict,
default, right, loss or Lien that, has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Section 4.4 Reports
and Financial Statements.
(a) Parent has filed all forms, documents and reports
required to be filed prior to the date hereof by it with the SEC
since December 31, 2002 (the Parent SEC
Documents). As of their respective dates, or, if amended,
as of the date of the last such amendment, Parent SEC Documents
complied in all material respects, and all documents required to
be filed by Parent with the SEC after the date hereof and prior
to the Effective Time (the Subsequent Parent SEC
Documents) will comply in all material respects, with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the
case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and none of Parent SEC Documents
contained, and the Subsequent Parent SEC Documents will not
contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, or
will omit, to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, or are to be made,
not misleading.
(b) The consolidated financial statements (including all
related notes and schedules) of Parent included in Parent SEC
Documents fairly present in all material respects, and included
in the Subsequent Parent SEC Documents will fairly present in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the respective
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations
and their consolidated cash flows for the respective periods
then ended (subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to
normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other adjustments
described therein including the notes thereto) in conformity
with GAAP (except, in the case of the unaudited statements, as
permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes thereto). Since
December 31, 2002,
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Parent has not made any change in the accounting practices or
policies applied in the preparation of its financial statements,
except as required by GAAP, SEC rule or policy or applicable Law.
Section 4.5 Internal
Controls and Procedures. Parent has established and
maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal
control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in
Rule 13a-15(e) and (f) under the Exchange Act) as
required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act.
Parents disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably
designed to ensure that all material information required to be
disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files or furnishes
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the rules and
forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is
accumulated and communicated to Parents management as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure and to make the certifications required pursuant to
Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent and its
Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that
(a) transactions are executed in accordance with
managements general or specific authorizations;
(b) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and
to maintain asset accountability; (c) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with managements general or
specific authorization; and (d) the recorded accountability
for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences. Parent has delivered to the Company complete and
accurate copies of notices from its independent auditor of any
significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in Parents
internal control over financial reporting since
December 31, 2003 and any other management letter or
similar correspondence from any independent auditor of Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2002. Parent has
implemented such programs and taken such steps as it believes
are necessary to effect compliance with all provisions of
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are applicable
to Parent and has not received, orally or in writing, any
notification that its independent auditor (i) believes that
Parent will not be able to complete its assessment before the
reporting deadline, or, if completed, that it will not be
completed in sufficient time for the independent auditor to
complete its assessment or (ii) will not be able to issue
unqualified attestation reports with respect thereto.
Section 4.6 No
Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (i) as reflected or
reserved against in Parents consolidated balance sheets
(or the notes thereto) included in the Parent SEC Documents,
(ii) for liabilities and obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice,
since December 31, 2003, (iii) liabilities or
obligations which have been discharged or paid in full in the
ordinary course of business and (iv) liabilities and
obligations arising after December 31, 2003 which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Neither
Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or
otherwise, that would be required by GAAP to be reflected on a
consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Subsidiaries (or in
the notes thereto).
Section 4.7 No
Violation of Law; Permits.
(a) Parent and each of Parents Subsidiaries are in
compliance with and are not in default under or in violation of
any Laws applicable to Parent or such Subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or assets, including, without
limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, except where such
non-compliance, default or violation has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent and except as
would not reasonably be expected to significantly impair or
delay consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 4.7(a),
no representation or warranty shall be deemed to be made
pursuant to this Section 4.7(a) in respect of matters which
are the subject of representations and warranties made pursuant
to Sections 4.8, 4.9, 4.15, and 4.18.
(b) Parent and Parents Subsidiaries are in possession
of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits,
easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates,
approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity necessary for
Parent and Parents Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate
their
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properties and assets or to carry on their businesses as they
are now being conducted (the Parent Permits), except
where the failure to have any of the Parent Permits has not had,
and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent and except as
would not reasonably be expected to significantly impair or
delay consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. All
Parent Permits are in full force and effect, except where the
failure to be in full force and effect has not had, and would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent and except as
would not reasonably be expected to significantly impair or
delay consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.8 Environmental
Laws and Regulations. Parent and each of its
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws, which compliance includes, but is not limited to, the
possession by Parent and its Subsidiaries of all Parent Permits
required under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance
with the terms and conditions thereof, except for such
non-compliance or failure to possess which has not had, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent; and
(b) neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received
written notice of, or, is the subject of, Environmental Claims
which would reasonably be expected to result in, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Section 4.9 Employee
Benefit Plan.
(a) Section 4.9(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule
lists all material Parent Benefit Plans. Parent Benefit
Plans means all employee benefit plans, compensation
arrangements and other benefit arrangements, whether or not
employee benefit plans (within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA),
providing cash- or equity-based incentives, health, medical,
dental, disability, accident or life insurance benefits or
vacation, severance, retirement, pension or savings benefits,
that are sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of employees, directors,
consultants, former employees, former consultants and former
directors of Parent or its Subsidiaries and all employee
agreements providing compensation, vacation, severance or other
benefits to any officer, employee, consultant or former employee
of Parent or its Subsidiaries, except to the extent providing
benefits imposed or implied by applicable foreign Law.
(b) Any Parent Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) or 401(k) of the Code has received a
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and, to
the knowledge of Parent, continues to satisfy the requirements
for such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify
has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent. Neither Parent nor any Subsidiaries of Parent maintains
or contributes to any benefit plan covered by Title IV of
ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Neither Parent nor any of
its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or penalty under
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, or has
engaged in any transaction which is reasonably likely to result
in any liability or penalty which would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent. Each Parent Benefit Plan has been maintained
and administered in compliance with its terms and with ERISA and
the Code to the extent applicable thereto, except for such
non-compliance which has not had, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. Neither Parent nor its Subsidiaries
maintains or contributes to any plan or arrangement which, and
no Parent Benefit Plan provides, or has any liability to
provide, life insurance or medical or other employee welfare
benefits to any employee or former employee following his
retirement or termination of employment, except as required by
applicable Law. Parent has not amended the Parent Benefit Plans
in any manner whatsoever that would increase materially the
expense to Parent or its Subsidiaries of maintaining the Parent
Benefit Plans above the level or expense incurred in respect
thereof for the year ended December 31, 2003. The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
will not, either alone or in combination with another event
(A) entitle any current or former employee, consultant or
officer of Parent or any its Subsidiaries to severance pay,
unemployment compensation or any other payment, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement or as required by
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applicable Law, or (B) accelerate the time of payment or
vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due any such
employee, consultant or officer, except as expressly provided in
this Agreement.
(c) No Parent Benefit Plan is a multiemployer
plan, as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA, or a multiple employer plan as such term is
defined in Section 413 of the Code. Each Parent Benefit
Plan that is intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code satisfies the requirements of
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, except where failure to
satisfy such requirements has not had, and would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Section 4.10 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Other than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as disclosed in
the Parent SEC Documents, since December 31, 2003, the
businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries have been conducted in
the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and there has
not been any event, occurrence, development or state of
circumstances or facts that has had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.
Section 4.11 Investigations;
Litigation. Except as described in the Parent SEC
Documents:
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(a) there is no investigation or review pending (or, to the
knowledge of Parent, threatened) by any Governmental Entity with
respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent; and |
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(b) there are no actions, suits, inquiries, investigations
or proceedings pending (or, to Parents knowledge,
threatened) against or affecting Parent or its Subsidiaries, or
any of their respective properties at law or in equity before,
and there are no orders, judgments or decrees of or before any
Governmental Entity, in each case, which would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. |
Section 4.12 Proxy
Statement; Registration Statement; Other Information.
None of the information with respect to Parent or its
Subsidiaries to be included in the Proxy Statement or the
Registration Statement will, in the case of the Proxy Statement
or any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, at the time of
the mailing of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or
supplements thereto, and at the time of the Company Meeting, or,
in the case of the Registration Statement, at the time it
becomes effective, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all
material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 4.13 Lack
of Ownership of the Company Common Stock. Neither Parent
nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any shares of the Company
Common Stock or other securities convertible into shares of the
Company Common Stock (exclusive of any shares owned by
Parents employee benefit plans).
Section 4.14 Tax
Matters.
(a) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries has (A) duly
and timely filed (or there have been filed on its behalf) all
material Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into
account all applicable extensions) with the appropriate Tax
Authority, (B) paid all Taxes shown as due on such Tax
Returns, except for such failures to file or pay which do not
have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(b) Except for such Liens which do not have, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, there are no
Liens for Taxes upon any property or assets of Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries, except for liens for Taxes not yet due and
payable or for which adequate reserves have been provided in
accordance with GAAP in the most recent financial statements
contained in the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date of
this Agreement.
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(c) There is no audit, examination, deficiency, refund
litigation or proposed adjustment with respect to any Taxes
other than those which do not have, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. As of the date hereof, none of Parent
or its Subsidiaries has received notice in writing of any claim
made by a Tax Authority in a jurisdiction where Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries, as applicable, does not file a Tax Return,
that Parent or such Subsidiary is or may be subject to material
taxation by that jurisdiction, where such claim has not been
resolved favorably to Parent or such Subsidiary.
(d) There are no outstanding written requests, agreements,
consents or waivers to extend the statutory period of
limitations applicable to the assessment of any income Taxes or
income Tax deficiencies against Parent or any of Parents
Subsidiaries, except, in each case, with respect to income Taxes
or deficiencies, as the case may be, which do not have, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent and, as of the
date hereof, no power of attorney granted by either Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any material Taxes is
currently in force.
(e) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
to any agreement providing for the allocation, indemnification
or sharing of Taxes other than such an agreement exclusively
between or among Parent and any of its Subsidiaries, and neither
Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) has been a member of
an affiliated group (or similar state, local or foreign filing
group) filing a material consolidated income Tax Return (other
than a group the common parent of which is Parent) or
(B) has any material liability (including as a result of
any agreement or obligation to reimburse or indemnify) for the
Taxes of any other Person (other than Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries) under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision
of state, local or foreign Tax law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract or otherwise.
(f) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has:
(A) agreed to make or is required to make any adjustment
for a taxable period ending after the Effective Time under
Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in
accounting method or otherwise, except where such adjustments do
not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent; (B) constituted either a distributing
corporation or a controlled corporation
(within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in
a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under
Section 355 of the Code (I) in the two years prior to
the date of this Agreement or (II) in a distribution which
could otherwise constitute part of a plan or
series of related transactions (within the meaning
of Section 355(e) of the Code) in connection with the
Merger; or (C) taken any action or knows of any fact,
agreement, plan or other circumstance that is reasonably likely
to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
(g) Parent and its Subsidiaries will not be required to
include any material item of income in, or exclude any material
item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period
(or portion thereof) ending after the Effective Time as a result
of any closing agreement described in
Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar
provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) executed on
or prior to the date hereof, except for such inclusions or
exclusions which do not have, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.
(h) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries is in material
compliance with all applicable information reporting and Tax
withholding requirements under federal, state and local Tax
laws, except for such failures to comply which do not have, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(i) Section 4.14(i) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule
lists all foreign jurisdictions in which Parent and any of its
Subsidiaries files a material Tax Return.
(j) All of the outstanding equity securities of Merger Sub
are owned directly by Parent. Merger Sub has outstanding no
option, warrant, right, or any other agreement pursuant to which
any person other than Parent may acquire any equity security of
Merger Sub. Merger Sub owns no assets, and has engaged in no
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activities, other than those necessary to effectuate the Merger.
No election has been filed to cause Merger Sub to be classified
as a corporation for federal Tax purposes.
Section 4.15 Labor
Matters. Except to the extent imposed or implied by
applicable foreign Law, as of the date hereof, neither Parent
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, any
collective bargaining agreement (or similar agreement or
arrangement in any foreign country) with employees, a labor
union or labor organization. Except for such matters which have
not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent, (a) as of the date hereof, (i) there are no
strikes or lockouts with respect to any employees of Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries (Parent Employees), and,
(ii) to the knowledge of Parent, there is no union
organizing effort pending or threatened against Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries; (b) there is no unfair labor practice,
labor dispute (other than routine individual grievances) or
labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of
Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;
(c) there is no slowdown, or work stoppage in effect or, to
the knowledge of Parent, threatened with respect to Parent
Employees; and (d) Parent and its Subsidiaries are in
compliance with all applicable Laws respecting
(i) employment and employment practices, (ii) terms
and conditions of employment and wages and hours and
(iii) unfair labor practices. As of the date hereof,
neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities
under the WARN Act as a result of any action taken by Parent and
that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Section 4.16 Intellectual
Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent, (i) either Parent or a Subsidiary of
Parent owns, or is licensed or otherwise possesses legally
enforceable rights to use, all Intellectual Property used in
their respective businesses as currently conducted, and
(ii) the consummation of the transactions will not alter or
impair such rights. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of
Parent, threatened claims by any Person challenging the use by
Parent or its Subsidiaries of any material Intellectual Property
in their respective businesses as currently conducted that would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Except as would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, (i) the
conduct of the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries does
not infringe upon any intellectual property rights or any other
proprietary right of any Person, and (ii) neither Parent
nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice from any
other Person pertaining to or challenging the right of Parent or
any Subsidiary to use any of the Intellectual Property. As of
the date hereof, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has
made any claim of a violation or infringement by others of its
rights to or in connection with the Intellectual Property used
in their respective businesses which violation or infringement
has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.17 Parent
Material Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the
Parent Benefit Plans and except as set forth in the Parent SEC
Documents, as of the date hereof, neither Parent nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any material
contract (as such term is defined in item 601(b)(10)
of Regulation S-K of the SEC) (all contracts of the type
described in this Section 4.17 being referred to herein as
Parent Material Contracts).
(b) Neither Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent is in
breach of or default under the terms of any Parent Material
Contract where such breach or default has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. To the knowledge
of Parent, no other party to any Parent Material Contract is in
breach of or default under the terms of any Parent Material
Contract where such breach or default has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Each Parent
Material Contract is a valid and binding obligation of Parent or
the Subsidiary of Parent which is party thereto and, to the
knowledge of Parent, of each other party thereto, and is in full
force and effect, except that (i) such enforcement may be
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect,
relating to creditors rights generally and
(ii) equitable remedies
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of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of
equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may
be brought.
Section 4.18 Communications
Regulatory Matters.
(a) Section 4.18 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule
(the Parent License Schedule) lists all licenses and
authorizations issued by the FCC to Parent or its Subsidiaries
(the Parent Licenses), together with the name of the
licensee or authorization holder, the expiration date of the
Parent License and, where applicable, the relevant FCC market
designation. The Parent Licenses constitute all authorizations
necessary from the FCC for the business operations of Parent and
its Subsidiaries as they are currently being conducted in the
United States, except those authorizations the absence of which
has not had, or would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.
(b) Each Parent License is valid and in full force and
effect and has not been suspended, revoked, cancelled or
adversely modified, except where the failure to be in full force
and effect, or the suspension, revocation, cancellation or
modification of which has not had or would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. No Parent License is subject to any
conditions or requirements that have not been imposed generally
upon licenses in the same service, unless such conditions or
requirements would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent, or is subject to any pending regulatory proceeding
(other than those affecting the wireless industry generally) or
judicial review before a Governmental Entity. Parent and its
Subsidiaries have no knowledge of any event, condition or
circumstance that would preclude any Parent License from being
renewed in the ordinary course (to the extent that such Parent
License is renewable by its terms), except where the failure to
be renewed has not had or would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent.
(c) The licensee of each Parent License is in compliance
with each Parent License and has fulfilled and performed all of
its material obligations with respect thereto, including all
reports, notifications and applications required by the
Communications Act or FCC Rules and the payment of all
regulatory fees, contributions to the Universal Service Fund,
the TRS Fund and all other such funds to which contributions are
required by the FCC Rules, except (i) for exemptions,
waivers or similar concessions or allowances and (ii) where
such failure to be in compliance, fulfill or perform its
obligations or pay such fees or contributions has not had, or
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(d) Except as provided in the Parent License Schedule,
there are no outstanding material auction or other monetary
obligations due to the FCC, and the completion of the Merger
will not give rise to any unjust enrichment obligations related
to Parent Licenses obtained through the FCCs auction
process.
(e) Except for structures that do not require registration,
each of the antenna structures used for the operation of the
Parent Licenses has been registered with the FCC, except with
respect to registrations the failure of which to obtain have not
had, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Except
with the consent of the FCC or as otherwise permitted in
accordance with the FCC Rules, no facility located in the United
States for the operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries has
been constructed in a manner that has resulted in a significant
environmental effect, as defined by FCC Rules, except as would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Other than as
may affect the wireless industry generally, there is no
application, petition, objection or other proceeding pending
before any Governmental Entity that could affect the Parent
Licenses or the business operations of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, except for such applications, petitions,
objections or other proceedings that have not had, or would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
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(f) Parent or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent owns one
hundred percent (100%) of the equity and controls one
hundred percent (100%) of the voting power and
decision-making authority of each licensee of the Parent
Licenses.
(g) Section 4.18 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule
lists all pending federal or state proceedings with regard to
efforts by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to be designated as
an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier.
Section 4.19 Parents
Certificate of Incorporation. The provisions contained
in Article VIII of the Parents certificate of
incorporation do not apply to the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement or the Voting Agreement or the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement. To the
knowledge of Parent, no state takeover statute is applicable to
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.20 Affiliate
Transactions. There are no Parent Material Contracts or
other material transactions or agreements between Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any (a) officer
or director of Parent or of any of its Subsidiaries,
(b) record or beneficial owner of five percent or more of
any class of the voting securities of Parent or
(c) affiliate of any such officer, director or beneficial
owner.
Section 4.21 No
Vote of Parent Stockholders. No vote of the stockholders
of Parent or the holders of any other securities of Parent
(equity or otherwise), is required by Law, the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of Parent or the applicable rules of the
NYSE in order for Parent to issue shares of Parent Common Stock
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or to consummate the
Merger.
Section 4.22 Finders
or Brokers. Except for Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Stephens, Inc. and
Goldman, Sachs & Co., a copy of whose engagement
agreements has been provided to the Company, neither Parent nor
any of its Subsidiaries has employed any investment banker,
broker or finder in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement who might be entitled to any fee
or any commission in connection with or upon consummation of the
Merger.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
Section 5.1 Conduct
of Business by the Company or Parent. From and after the
date hereof and prior to the Effective Time or the date, if any,
on which this Agreement is earlier terminated pursuant to
Section 7.1 (the Termination Date), and except
(i) as may be required by Law (provided that any party
availing itself of such exception must first consult with the
other party), (ii) as may be agreed in writing by Parent
and the Company after seeking consent from the other party
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned), (iii) as may be expressly permitted pursuant
to this Agreement or, (iv) as set forth in Section 5.1
of the Company Disclosure Schedule or Section 5.1 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule, as the case may be:
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(a) the Company covenants and agrees with Parent that the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted
only in, and such entities shall not take any action except in,
the ordinary course of business; and the Company for itself and
on behalf of its Subsidiaries agrees with Parent to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact
their business organizations and goodwill (except that any of
its Subsidiaries may be merged with or into, or be consolidated
with any of its other Subsidiaries or may be liquidated into the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries), to keep available the
services of those of their present officers, employees and
consultants who are integral to the operation of their
businesses as presently conducted and to preserve their present
relationships with significant customers and suppliers and with
other persons with whom they have significant business
relations; provided, however, that no action by the Company or
its Subsidiaries with respect to matters specifically addressed
by any other provision of this Section 5.1 shall be deemed
a breach of this sentence unless such action would constitute a
breach of |
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such other provision. The Company agrees with Parent, on behalf
of itself and its Subsidiaries, that between the date hereof and
the Effective Time, the Company: |
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(i) shall not, and shall not (except in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice) permit any of its
Subsidiaries that is not wholly-owned to, authorize or pay any
dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its
outstanding shares of capital stock (whether in cash, assets,
stock or other securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries); |
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(ii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, split, combine or reclassify any of its capital
stock or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other
securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for,
shares of its capital stock, except for any such transaction by
a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company which remains a
wholly-owned Subsidiary after consummation of such transaction; |
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(iii) except as required pursuant to existing written
agreements or employee benefit plans in effect prior to the
execution of this Agreement, or as otherwise required by Law,
shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to
(A) except in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice, increase the compensation, severance or
other benefits payable or to become payable to its directors,
officers or employees, (B) other than, in the case of
employees who are not executive officers, in the ordinary course
of business, consistent with past practice, grant any severance
or termination pay to, or enter into any severance agreement or
settle any employment claim by any employee with, any employee
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) enter into
any employment agreement with any director or officer of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except to the extent
necessary to replace a departing employee or as is customary
practice in any foreign jurisdiction and except for employment
agreements terminable on less than 30 days notice
without penalty), or (D) establish, adopt, enter into or amend
any collective bargaining agreement, plan, trust, fund, policy
or arrangement for the benefit of any current or former
directors, officers or employees or any of their beneficiaries,
except, in each case, as would not result in a material increase
in the cost of maintaining such collective bargaining agreement,
plan, trust, fund, policy or arrangement; |
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(iv) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries, to enter into or make any loans to any of its
officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents or
consultants (other than loans or advances in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice) or make any change in
its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf
of any of such persons, except as required by the terms of any
Company Benefit Plan; |
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(v) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, materially change accounting policies or procedures or any
of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other material
items for income Tax purposes, except as required by GAAP, SEC
rule or policy or applicable Law; |
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(vi) approve or authorize any action to be submitted to the
shareholders of the Company for approval that is intended or
would reasonably be expected to, prevent, impede, interfere
with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, provided that, nothing shall
prevent the Company from holding its 2005 Annual Meeting of
shareholders in the ordinary course, substantially consistent
with past practice; |
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(vii) except in respect of the Merger, or any mergers,
consolidations or business combinations in the ordinary course
of business among the Companys wholly-owned Subsidiaries,
shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
authorize, propose or announce an intention to authorize or
propose, or enter into agreements with respect to, any mergers,
consolidations or business combinations or acquisitions of
assets or securities (A) with a value or purchase price
(inclusive of assumption or incurrence of long-term indebtedness
incurred in connection therewith, including any current portion
thereof) in the aggregate in excess of $100 million in the
case of all transactions collectively (which consideration may
not be paid in |
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equity securities of the Company), or (B) which would
reasonably be expected to have the legal or practical effect of
delaying or preventing, or reducing the likelihood of
consummation of the Merger or the obtaining of any regulatory or
other consent or approval contemplated hereby; |
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(viii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, adopt any amendments to its articles of
incorporation or by-laws; |
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(ix) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or
authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance
of, any shares of its capital stock or other ownership interest
in the Company or any Subsidiaries or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any such shares or ownership interest,
or any rights, warrants or options to acquire or with respect to
any such shares of capital stock, ownership interest or
convertible or exchangeable securities or take any action to
cause to be exercisable any otherwise unexercisable option under
any existing stock option plan (except as otherwise required by
the express terms of any unexercisable options outstanding on
the date hereof) (other than (A) issuances of Company Common
Stock in respect of any exercise of stock options outstanding on
the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.1(a) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (B) issuances of Company
Common Stock upon conversion of the 4.625% Notes in
accordance with the terms of such Notes as in effect on the date
hereof, (C) the sale of shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant to the exercise of options to purchase Company Common
Stock if necessary to effectuate an optionee direction upon
exercise or for withholding, and (D) issuance of shares of
capital stock under the ESPP which shares are acquired by the
Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the
ESPP); |
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(x) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, grant, confer or award any options, warrants, convertible
security or other rights to acquire any shares of its capital
stock or take any action to cause to be exercisable any
otherwise unexercisable option under any existing stock option
plan (except as otherwise required by the express terms of any
unexercisable options outstanding on the date hereof); |
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(xi) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire any such shares, except that the
Company shall be permitted to acquire shares of Company Common
Stock from time to time as permitted by or in accordance with
Article IX of the Companys articles of incorporation; |
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(xii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, repurchase, redeem or repay the
4.625% Notes or the 9.250% Senior Notes of the Company
due 2013 (the 9.250% Notes and together with
the 4.625% Notes, the Notes); |
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(xiii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, incur, assume, guarantee, prepay or otherwise
become liable for any indebtedness for borrowed money (directly,
contingently or otherwise), other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice and except for
(A) indebtedness for borrowed money incurred pursuant to
the Companys existing $1.5 billion Credit Agreement,
dated as of May 28, 2004, (B) indebtedness for
borrowed money in replacement of or to refinance existing
indebtedness for borrowed money, (C) guarantees by the
Company of indebtedness for borrowed money of wholly-owned
Subsidiaries of the Company, which indebtedness is incurred in
compliance with this Section 5.1(a), (D) interest rate
swaps on customary commercial terms, consistent with past
practices, (E) indebtedness for borrowed money incurred
pursuant to agreements in effect prior to the execution of this
Agreement, and (F) indebtedness for borrowed money not to exceed
$400 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding at
any time incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with the Companys international operations
(inclusive of the principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed
money incurred to replace, renew, extend, refinance or refund
any existing indebtedness incurred in connection with the
Companys international operations); |
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(xiv) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, make any loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other
than by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company to or in the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; |
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(xv) shall not sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or
swap, mortgage or otherwise encumber (including
securitizations), or subject to any Lien or otherwise dispose of
any material portion of its properties or assets, including the
capital stock of Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice and except (A) for
ordinary course sales of mobile telephone equipment to customers
of the Company or services in the ordinary course of business,
(B) for sales, leases, licenses, transfers, mortgages or
encumbrances of obsolete assets, (C) pursuant to existing
agreements in effect prior to the execution of this Agreement,
and (D) as may be required by applicable Law or any
Governmental Entity in order to permit or facilitate the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; |
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(xvi) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, except as required by Law, (i) make or
change any material Tax election or settle or compromise any
material Tax liability, claim or assessment or agree to an
extension or waiver of the limitation period to any material Tax
claim or assessment or grant any power of attorney with respect
to material Taxes or (ii) change its fiscal year; |
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(xvii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, modify, amend, terminate or waive any rights
under any Material Contract in any material respect other than
in the ordinary course of business; |
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(xviii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, enter into any Company Material Contracts other
than in the ordinary course of business; |
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(xix) shall not adopt a shareholder rights plan,
poison pill or similar anti-takeover device unless,
by its terms, such shareholder rights plan, poison
pill or similar anti-takeover device is not applicable to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting
Agreement; and |
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(xx) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of
the foregoing actions. |
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(b) Parent covenants and agrees with the Company that the
business of Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted only
in, and such entities shall not take any action except in, the
ordinary course of business; and Parent for itself and on behalf
of its Subsidiaries agrees with the Company to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact
their business organizations and goodwill (except that any of
its Subsidiaries may be merged with or into, or be consolidated
with any of its other Subsidiaries or may be liquidated into
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries), to keep available the
services of those of their present officers, employees and
consultants who are integral to the operation of their
businesses as presently conducted and to preserve their present
relationships with significant customers and suppliers and with
other persons with whom they have significant business
relations; provided, however, that no action by Parent or its
Subsidiaries with respect to matters specifically addressed by
any other provision of this Section 5.1 shall be deemed a
breach of this sentence unless such action would constitute a
breach of such other provision. Parent agrees with the Company,
on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, that between the date
hereof and the Effective Time, Parent: |
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(i) shall not, and shall not (except in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice) permit any of its
Subsidiaries that is not wholly-owned to, authorize or pay any
dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its
outstanding shares of capital stock (whether in cash, assets,
stock or other securities of Parent or its Subsidiaries), except
that Parent may continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends
on the Parent Common Stock and Parent Preferred Stock consistent
with past practice in timing and amount (including customary
increases); |
A-37
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(ii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire any such shares, except in
accordance with Parents stock repurchase program
consistent with past practice; |
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(iii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, split, combine or reclassify any of its capital
stock or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other
securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for,
shares of its capital stock, except for any such transaction by
a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent which remains a wholly-owned
Subsidiary after consummation of such transaction; |
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(iv) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, materially change accounting policies or
procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions
or other material items for income Tax purposes, except as
required by GAAP, SEC rule or policy or applicable Law; |
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(v) (1) (A) shall not issue any shares of Parent
Common Stock (or other securities convertible into or
exercisable for shares of Parent Common Stock) in any
transaction or (B) repurchase, redeem or cause to cease to
be issued and outstanding any shares of Parent Common Stock if
in either case the taking of any such actions, individually or
in the aggregate, would have the effect of giving rise to a vote
of Parents stockholders with respect to the Merger or the
issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement, and (2) except in respect of the Merger,
or any mergers, consolidations or business combinations in the
ordinary course of business among Parents wholly-owned
Subsidiaries, shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, authorize, propose or announce an intention to
authorize or propose, or enter into agreements with respect to
any mergers, consolidations or business combinations or
acquisitions of assets or securities (A) with a value or
purchase price (inclusive of assumption or incurrence of
long-term indebtedness incurred in connection therewith,
including any current portion thereof) in the aggregate in
excess of $750 million in the case of all transactions
collectively (of which no more than $50 million may be paid
in equity securities of Parent), or (B) which would
reasonably be expected to have the legal or practical effect of
delaying or preventing, or reducing the likelihood of
consummation of the Merger or the obtaining of any regulatory or
other consent or approval contemplated hereby; provided, that
Parent shall inform the Company prior to entering into a
definitive agreement relating to any material acquisition; |
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(vi) shall not, and shall not permit Merger Sub to, adopt
any amendments to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws; |
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(vii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or
authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance
of, any shares of its capital stock or other ownership interest
in Parent or any Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable for any such shares or ownership interest, or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire or with respect to
any such shares of capital stock, ownership interest or
convertible or exchangeable securities or take any action to
cause to be exercisable any otherwise unexercisable option under
any existing stock option plan (except as otherwise required by
the express terms of any unexercisable options outstanding on
the date hereof) (other than (A) issuances of Parent Common
Stock in respect of any exercise of stock options outstanding on
the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.1(b) of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule, (B) issuances of up to
$50 million of equity securities of Parent as consideration
for the acquisition of, or in respect of rights, warrants or
options to acquire, equity securities of any Person that is the
subject of an acquisition permitted by this Agreement,
(C) the sale of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
the exercise of options to purchase Parent Common Stock if
necessary to effectuate an optionee direction upon exercise or
for withholding, and (D) issuance of stock options,
restricted stock or shares of capital stock or other ownership |
A-38
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interests of Parent or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice in connection with
compensation or retention of officers, directors or employees of
the Company or its Subsidiaries); |
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(viii) shall not sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange
or swap, mortgage or otherwise encumber (including
securitizations), or subject to any Lien or otherwise dispose of
properties or assets relating to its wireless telephony service
business, including the capital stock of Subsidiaries other than
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
and except (A) for ordinary course sales of mobile
telephone equipment to customers of Parent or services in the
ordinary course of business, (B) for sales, leases,
licenses, transfers, mortgages or encumbrances of obsolete
assets, (C) pursuant to existing agreements in effect prior
to the execution of this Agreement, (D) as may be required
by applicable Law or any Governmental Entity in order to permit
or facilitate the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (E) for the disposition (other than by way of a
dividend or distribution to its shareholders) of properties or
assets relating to its wireline telephony service business; |
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(ix) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, except as required by Law, (i) make or
change any material Tax election or settle or compromise any
material Tax liability, claim or assessment or agree to an
extension or waiver of the limitation period to any material Tax
claim or assessment or grant any power of attorney with respect
to any material Taxes or (ii) change its fiscal
year; and |
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(x) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing
actions. |
Section 5.2 Tax-Free
Reorganization Treatment.
(a) Neither the Company nor Parent shall, nor shall they
permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, take or cause to
be taken any action (including agreeing to any transaction or
entering into any agreement) that would result in the Merger
failing to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. Parent and the Company shall
use all reasonable efforts, and shall cause their respective
Subsidiaries to use all reasonable efforts, to cause the Merger
to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code, including providing the
representations, covenants and certificates referred to in
Sections 5.5(a)(v) and 6.1(g).
(b) Each of the Company and Parent shall report the Merger
as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Code on its United States federal income Tax return, unless
otherwise required pursuant to a determination
within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.
Section 5.3 Investigation.
Each of the Company and Parent shall afford to the other and to
its officers, employees, accountants, consultants, legal
counsel, financial advisors and agents and other representatives
(collectively, Representatives) reasonable access
during normal business hours, throughout the period prior to the
earlier of the Effective Time or the Termination Date, to its
and its Subsidiaries properties, contracts, commitments,
books and records and any report, schedule or other document
filed or received by it pursuant to the requirements of federal
or state securities laws and shall all reasonable efforts to
cause their respective Representatives to furnish promptly to
one another such additional financial and operating data and
other information as to its and its Subsidiaries
respective businesses and properties as the other or its
Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, except
that nothing herein shall require either the Company or Parent
or any of their respective Subsidiaries to disclose any
information to the other that would cause a violation of any
agreement to which the disclosing party is a party, would cause
a risk of a loss of privilege to the party disclosing such data
or information, or would constitute a violation of applicable
Laws. The parties hereby agree that each of them will treat any
such information in accordance with the Confidentiality
Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2004, between the
Company and Parent (the Confidentiality Agreement).
Subject to the exception in the first sentence of this section
and to the immediately preceding sentence, the Company and
Parent each agree to confer at such times as the other may
reasonably request with one or more directors,
A-39
officers, employees or agents of the Company or Parent, as
applicable, to report material operational matters and the
general status of their respective ongoing operations.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
no party shall be obligated to make any disclosure in violation
of applicable Laws or regulations.
Section 5.4 No
Solicitation.
(a) The Company agrees that neither it nor any Subsidiary
of the Company shall, and that it shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause its and their respective Representatives not
to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate,
encourage, knowingly facilitate or induce any inquiry with
respect to, or the making, submission or announcement of, any
Company Alternative Proposal, (ii) participate in any
negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any nonpublic
information with respect to, any Company Alternative Proposal or
in response to any inquiries or proposals that may reasonably be
expected to lead to any Company Alternative Proposal (except to
the extent specifically permitted pursuant to this
Section 5.4), (iii) engage in discussions with any
person with respect to any Company Alternative Proposal, except
to notify such person as to the existence of the provisions of
this Section 5.4 and except to the extent specifically
permitted under this Section 5.4, (iv) approve,
endorse or recommend any Company Alternative Proposal (except to
the extent specifically permitted under this Section 5.4)
or (v) enter into any letter of intent or similar document
or any agreement or commitment providing for, any Company
Alternative Proposal (except for confidentiality agreements
specifically permitted under Section 5.4(c)). The Company
shall immediately terminate, and shall cause its Subsidiaries
and its and their Representatives to immediately terminate, all
discussions or negotiations, if any, that are ongoing as of the
date hereof with any third party with respect to a Company
Alternative Proposal, or which could reasonably be expected to
lead to a Company Alternative Proposal.
(b) Promptly after receipt of any Company Alternative
Proposal, the Company shall provide Parent with written notice
of the material terms and conditions of such Company Alternative
Proposal, and the identity of the person or group making any
such Company Alternative Proposal. After receipt of the Company
Alternative Proposal, the Company shall keep Parent promptly
informed in all material respects of material amendments of any
such Company Alternative Proposal and use all reasonable efforts
to promptly provide to Parent a copy of all written materials
subsequently provided in connection with such Company
Alternative Proposal.
(c) If the Company receives a Company Alternative Proposal
which (i) constitutes a Company Superior Proposal or
(ii) which the Board of Directors of the Company determines
in good faith, after consultation with its outside financial and
legal advisors, after the taking of any of the actions referred
to in either of clause (x) or (y) below, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Company Superior Proposal,
the Company may take the following actions (and in such event it
shall provide Parent written notice of the Companys
intention to do so (a Company Action Notice))
(x) furnish nonpublic information to the third party making
such Company Alternative Proposal, if, and only if,
(A) prior to so furnishing such information, the Company
receives from the third party an executed confidentiality
agreement on terms no less restrictive than the Confidentiality
Agreement and (B) upon furnishing any such nonpublic
information to such third party, the Company uses all reasonable
efforts to furnish concurrently a copy of such nonpublic
information to Parent (to the extent such nonpublic information
has not been previously so furnished); and (y) engage in
discussions or negotiations with the third party with respect to
the Company Alternative Proposal.
(d) For a period of at least forty-eight (48) hours
after Parents receipt from the Company of each Company
Action Notice, the Company shall not effect a Company Change of
Recommendation.
(e) In response to the receipt of a Company Superior
Proposal that has not been withdrawn and continues to constitute
a Company Superior Proposal after the Companys compliance
with Section 5.4(d), the Board of Directors of the Company
may change, withhold or withdraw the Company Recommendation (a
Company Change of Recommendation) if the Board of
Directors of the Company has concluded in good faith, after
consultation with its outside legal counsel, that, in light of a
Company Superior Proposal, the failure of the Board of Directors
to effect a Company Change of Recommendation would be
A-40
reasonably likely to result in a breach by the directors of
their fiduciary obligations to the Companys shareholders
under applicable Law.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, to the extent permitted by applicable Law,
(i) the obligation of the Company to call, give notice of,
convene and hold the Company Meeting and to hold a vote of the
Companys shareholders on the approval of the Merger and
the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement at the Company
Meeting shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the
commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission to it of
any Company Alternative Proposal (whether or not a Company
Superior Proposal), or by any Company Change of Recommendation
and (ii) in any case in which the Company withholds or
withdraws the Company Recommendation pursuant to
Section 5.4(e), recognizing that special circumstances, as
provided in Section 23B.11.030 of the WBCA, exist in light
of the provisions of this Section 5.4 and/or the provisions
of the Voting Agreement, the Company shall submit this Agreement
and the Merger to a vote of its shareholders with no
recommendation as permitted by Section 23B.11.030(2) of the
WBCA.
(g) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the
Company or its Board of Directors from disclosing to its
shareholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and
14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, if, in the good
faith judgment of the Companys Board of Directors, after
consultation with its outside legal and financial advisors, such
disclosure is required in order for the Board of Directors to
comply with its fiduciary obligations, or is otherwise required,
under applicable Law.
(h) As used in this Agreement, Company Alternative
Proposal shall mean any bona fide proposal or offer made
by any person prior to the receipt of the Company Shareholder
Approval (other than a proposal or offer by Parent, any of its
Subsidiaries or its or their affiliates or associates) for
(i) the acquisition of the Company by merger or business
combination transaction, or for a merger of equals
with the Company; (ii) the acquisition by any person of
twenty percent (20%) or more of the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (iii) the
acquisition by any person of twenty percent (20%) or more of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.
(i) As used in this Agreement Company Superior
Proposal shall mean a bona fide Company Alternative
Proposal made by any person (and which has not been obtained by
or on behalf of the Company in violation of this
Section 5.4 and with respect to which the Company has
fulfilled its obligations pursuant to this Section 5.4) on
terms that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
good faith, after consultation with the Companys financial
and legal advisors, and considering such factors as the Board of
Directors considers to be appropriate (including the
conditionality and timing of such proposal), are more favorable
to the Company and its shareholders than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.5 Proxy
Material; Registration Statement.
(a) The Company and Parent shall together (unless any
action is specifically identified as the obligation of only one
of the parties hereto) or pursuant to an allocation of
responsibility to be agreed upon between them:
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(i) As soon as is reasonably practicable, Parent and the
Company shall prepare and the Company shall file with the SEC
the Proxy Statement and Parent and the Company shall prepare and
Parent shall file a registration statement on Form S-4
under the Securities Act with respect to the Parent Common Stock
issuable in the Merger (the Registration Statement)
which shall, except to the extent provided in
Section 5.4(e), include the recommendation of the
Companys Board of Directors that the Companys
shareholders approve and adopt this Agreement, and shall each
use all reasonable efforts to have the Proxy Statement cleared
by the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Registration Statement
declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act; |
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(ii) as soon as is reasonably practicable Parent shall take
all such action as may be required under state blue sky or
securities laws in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; |
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(iii) Parent shall promptly prepare and file with the NYSE
and such other stock exchanges as shall be agreed upon listing
applications covering the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
in the Merger and use all reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to
the Effective Time, approval for the listing of such Parent
Common Stock, subject only to official notice of issuance; |
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(iv) cooperate with each other in order to lift any
injunctions or remove any other impediment to the consummation
of the transactions contemplated herein; and |
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(v) cooperate with each other in obtaining a written
opinion of its respective legal counsel, Jones Day or Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz, in the case of the Company and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, in the case
of Parent (Tax Counsel), in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the Company and Parent, respectively (each such
opinion, a Tax Opinion), dated as of the Effective
Time, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations
and assumptions set forth in such opinion, the Merger will be
treated as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code and Parent and the Company each
will be treated as a party to the reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. Each of the Company,
Parent and Merger Sub shall deliver to Tax Counsel for purposes
of the Tax Opinion customary representations and covenants,
including those contained in certificates of the Company,
Parent, Merger Sub and others, reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to Tax Counsel. |
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (other
than this Section 5.5(b)), the parties agree that Parent
may convert Merger Sub from a limited liability company to an
entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes
in the event that Parent reasonably determines (following
consultation with the Company) that such change would result in
significant tax savings and will not have an adverse effect on
the tax treatment of the shareholders of the Company,
provided, however, that such change shall not be
made if either Parent or the Company is advised by its Tax
Counsel that such change would result in such Tax Counsels
inability to render the opinion specified in Section 6.1(g).
(c) Subject to the limitations contained in
Section 5.3, the Company and Parent shall each furnish the
other and to its counsel all such information as may be required
in order to effect the foregoing actions, and each represents
and warrants to the other that no information furnished by it in
connection with such actions, or otherwise in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in order
to make any information so furnished, in light of the
circumstances under which it is so furnished, not misleading.
(d) The Company shall cause the Proxy Statement to be
mailed to its shareholders as promptly as practicable after the
Registration Statement is declared effective under the
Securities Act.
(e) The Company shall take all action necessary in
accordance with the WBCA and its articles of incorporation and
by-laws to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting
of its shareholders as promptly as practicable following the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and mailing of the
Proxy Statement for the purpose of obtaining the Company
Shareholder Approval (the Company Meeting) and,
subject to Section 5.4, shall, through its Board of
Directors, recommend to its shareholders the approval and
adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby (the Company
Recommendation). Subject to Section 5.4 of this
Agreement, the Company will use all reasonable efforts to
solicit from its shareholder proxies in favor of the adoption
and approval of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger
and will take all other action necessary or advisable to secure
the vote or consent of its shareholders required by the rules of
The Nasdaq Stock Market and the WBCA to obtain such approvals.
The Company may not adjourn or postpone the Company Meeting if
there are sufficient shares of Company Common Stock represented
(either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary
to conduct the business of the Company Meeting and the Company
believes such shares will be voted in number sufficient to
approve and adopt this Agreement and the Merger. The Company
shall ensure that the Company Meeting is called, noticed,
convened, held and conducted, and that all proxies solicited by
the Company in connection with the Company Meeting are
solicited, in compliance with the WBCA, its articles of
incorporation and by-laws, the applicable rules of The Nasdaq
Stock
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Market and all other applicable legal requirements. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall not withdraw, amend or modify, or
propose or resolve to withdraw, amend or modify in a manner
adverse to Parent, the Company Recommendation, other than to the
extent permitted and in compliance with Section 5.4 of this
Agreement.
Section 5.6 Affiliate
Agreements. The Company shall, prior to the Effective
Time, deliver to Parent a list (reasonably satisfactory to
counsel for Parent), setting forth the names and addresses of
all persons who are, at the time of the Company Meeting, in the
Companys reasonable judgment, affiliates of
the Company for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities
Act. The Company shall furnish such information and documents as
Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of reviewing such
list. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to cause each
person who is identified as an affiliate in the list
furnished pursuant to this Section 5.6 to execute a written
agreement on or prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement, in
the form of Exhibit B hereto.
Section 5.7 Stock
Options; Restricted Stock; Employee Matters.
(a) Stock Options. At the Effective Time,
each outstanding unexpired and unexercised option to purchase or
acquire a share of Company Common Stock under the Option Plan or
otherwise (each, a Company Stock Option) shall be
converted into an option to purchase the number of shares of
Parent Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the Stock
Option Conversion Fraction multiplied by (y) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock which could have been obtained
prior to the Effective Time upon the exercise of each such
option (rounded to the nearest whole share), at an exercise
price per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the
exercise price for each such share of Company Common Stock
subject to a Company Stock Option divided by the Stock Option
Conversion Fraction, and all references to the Company in each
such option shall be deemed to refer to Parent, where
appropriate. The other terms of such Company Stock Options shall
continue to apply in accordance with their terms, including any
provisions for the acceleration of vesting resulting from the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(or any subsequent termination of employment) pursuant to such
preexisting terms and conditions. Each Company Stock Option
converted pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.7(a)
shall be referred to as a Parent Exchange Option. In
connection with the issuance of Parent Exchange Options, Parent
shall reserve for issuance the number of shares of Parent Common
Stock that will become subject to Parent Exchange Options
pursuant to this Section 5.7(a). As promptly as reasonably
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall issue to each
holder of an outstanding Parent Exchange Option a document
evidencing the foregoing assumption by Parent. Parent shall file
a registration statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or
other appropriate form that Parent is eligible to use) under the
Securities Act on the Closing Date with respect to the shares of
Parent Common Stock subject to Parent Exchange Options and shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration
statement to remain effective until the exercise or expiration
of the Parent Exchange Options. For purposes of this
Section 5.7(a), the Stock Option Conversion Fraction shall
mean the sum of (x) the Mixed Election Stock Exchange Ratio
plus (y) the fraction resulting from dividing the Per Share
Cash Amount by the closing price per share of the Parent Common
Stock on the NYSE on the last trading day immediately preceding
the Closing Date.
The number of shares subject to any Parent Exchange Option and
the exercise price per share of such Parent Exchange Option
shall be determined in a manner which would not result in the
conversion of Company Stock Options into Parent Exchange Options
being treated as a new grant of stock options under
Section 409A of the Code, and the Company and Parent shall
agree upon any adjustments to this Section 5.7(a) necessary
to avoid such new grant of stock options.
(b) Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company
shall take all actions necessary pursuant to the terms of the
ESPP in order to (i) shorten the offering period under the
ESPP in effect at the Effective Time (the Current
Offering), such that the Current Offering shall terminate
immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) ensure that
no offering periods under the ESPP commence after the date
hereof, (iii) permit participants in the ESPP to exercise,
effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, any
purchase rights existing immediately prior to the Effective Time
under the ESPP to acquire shares of
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Company Common Stock at the purchase price set forth in the ESPP
and (iv) refund to participants in the ESPP the funds that
remain in the Participants accounts after such purchase.
At the Effective Time the Company shall terminate the ESPP.
(c) Employee Benefits.
(i) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall honor
all Company Benefit Plans and compensation arrangements and
agreements in accordance with their terms as in effect
immediately before the Effective Time. For a period of one year
following the Effective Time, Parent shall provide to current
and former employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the
Company Employees) welfare, compensation and
employee benefits plans, programs and arrangements (it being
understood that discretionary equity and equity based awards
will remain discretionary) that are not less favorable, in the
aggregate, than those provided to Company Employees immediately
before the Effective Time; it being understood that nothing
contained herein shall preclude Parent from changing or
terminating any existing plan, program or arrangement pursuant
to its terms, so long as Parent complies with the provisions of
this sentence. Following such one year period, Company Employees
will receive compensation and benefits pursuant to the welfare,
compensation and employee benefit plans, programs and
arrangements of Parent as then in effect other than plans,
programs and arrangements of Parent that are not open to new
participants generally (such as frozen pension
plans).
(ii) For purposes of vesting, eligibility to participate
and level of benefits (but not benefit accrual under pension or
similar plans) under the employee benefit plans of Parent and
its Subsidiaries providing benefits to any Company Employees
after the Effective Time (the New Plans), each
Company Employee shall be credited with his or her years of
service with the Company and its Subsidiaries before the
Effective Time, to the same extent as such Company Employee was
entitled, before the Effective Time, to credit for such service
under any similar Company employee benefit plan in which such
Company Employee participated or was eligible to participate
immediately prior to the Effective Time, provided, that
the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that its application
would result in a duplication of benefits or for newly
established plans and programs for which prior service of Parent
employees is not taken into account. In addition, and without
limiting the generality of the foregoing: (i) each Company
Employee shall be immediately eligible to participate, without
any waiting time, in any and all New Plans to the extent
coverage under such New Plan is comparable to Company employee
benefit plan or compensation arrangement or agreements in which
such Company Employee participated immediately before the
consummation of the Merger (such plans, collectively, the
Old Plans); and (ii) for purposes of each New
Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision
benefits to any Company Employee, Parent shall cause all
pre-existing condition exclusions and actively-at-work
requirements of such New Plan to be waived for such employee and
his or her covered dependents, unless such conditions would not
have been waived under the comparable plans of the Company or
its Subsidiaries in which such employee participated immediately
prior to the Effective Time and Parent shall cause any eligible
expenses incurred by such employee and his or her covered
dependents during the portion of the plan year of the Old Plan
ending on the date such employees participation in the
corresponding New Plan begins to be taken into account under
such New Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible,
coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to
such employee and his or her covered dependents for the
applicable plan year as if such amounts had been paid in
accordance with such New Plan.
(iii) The Company may provide a retention pool (the
Retention Pool) for the purpose of retaining the
services of key Company Employees, on the terms set forth on
Section 5.7(c)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
Subject to the terms set forth on Section 5.7(c)(iii) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, John Stanton, or in the event
that he is not able to perform such function, his designee
(Mr. Stanton or such designee, the
Administrator), shall determine the size of the
Retention Pool, the Company Employees eligible to receive
retention awards from the Retention Pool (each a Retention
Bonus) and any criteria for payment of the Retention
Bonus, and shall determine the final allocation of payments from
the Retention Pool. Participants in the Retention Pool shall
receive, within 10 days following employment termination,
any Retention Bonus which would have been otherwise due to them
in the event that their employment is constructively terminated
or terminated without cause or as a result of
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death or disability prior to the date of required service for
the Retention Bonus. The Administrator shall be indemnified for
all good faith actions taken in connection with the Retention
Pool, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Parent
shall have no obligation to make payments pursuant to the
Retention Pool in the event this Agreement is terminated or
abandoned. The decision of the Administrator upon all matters
within the scope of its authority shall be conclusive and
binding on all parties.
(iv) Parent shall honor the Company severance program (the
Program) set forth on Section 5.7(c)(iv) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule that shall be applicable in the
event of a participants qualifying termination (as
described in the Program) of employment during the two
(2) year period immediately following the Closing. The
Program shall be administered by the Administrator, who shall
have discretionary authority with respect to the interpretation
and application of the Program. The decision of the
Administrator upon all matters within the scope of its authority
shall be conclusive and binding on all parties. The
Administrator shall be indemnified for all good faith actions
taken in connection with the Program, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Law.
Section 5.8 Notification
of Certain Matters. The Company shall give prompt notice
to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company,
of (1) the occurrence of any event known to it which would
reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate,
(A) have a Material Adverse Effect on it or (B) cause
any condition set forth in Article VI to be unsatisfied in
any material respect at any time prior to the Effective Time; or
(2) any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened which
questions or challenges the validity of this Agreement;
provided, however, that the delivery of any notice
pursuant to this Section 5.8 shall not limit or otherwise
affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving
such notice nor shall the party giving such notice be prejudiced
with respect to any such matters solely by virtue of having
given such notice.
Section 5.9 Filings;
Other Action.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable
efforts (subject to, and in accordance with, applicable Law) to
take promptly, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do
promptly, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with
the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate
and make effective the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) the obtaining
of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and
approvals, including the Company Approvals, from Governmental
Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and
filings and the taking of all steps as may be necessary to
obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or
proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining
of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third
parties, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal
proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (iv) the execution and
delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided and
without limiting the foregoing, the Company and Parent shall
(i) promptly but in no event later than fifteen
(15) days after the date hereof make their respective
filings and thereafter make any other required submissions under
the HSR Act, (ii) promptly (but in no event later than
fifteen (15) days after the date hereof) file applications
(the FCC Applications) required to be filed with the
FCC to effect the transfer of control of the Licenses (the
FCC Consents) and respond as promptly as practicable
to any additional requests for information received from the FCC
by any party to an FCC Application, (iii) use all
reasonable efforts to cure not later than the Effective Time any
violations or defaults under any FCC Rules, (iv) use all
reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other in
(x) determining whether any filings are required to be made
with, or consents, permits, authorizations or approvals are
required to be obtained from, any third parties or other
Governmental Entities (including any foreign jurisdiction in
which the Companys Subsidiaries are operating any
business) in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and (y) timely making all such filings and timely
seeking all such consents, permits, authorizations or approvals,
(v) use all reasonable efforts to take, or
A-45
cause to be taken, all other actions and do, or cause to be
done, all other things necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated
hereby, including, taking all such further action as reasonably
may be necessary to resolve such objections, if any, as the
Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice, state antitrust enforcement authorities
or competition authorities of any other nation or other
jurisdiction or any other person may assert under relevant
antitrust or competition laws with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby; and (vi) subject to applicable legal
limitations and the instructions of any Governmental Entity,
keep each other apprised of the status of matters relating to
the completion of the transactions contemplated thereby,
including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices
or other communications received by the Company or Parent, as
the case may be, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, from
any third party and/or any Governmental Entity with respect to
such transactions.
(c) In furtherance and not in limitation of the covenants
of the parties contained in this Section 5.9, if any
administrative or judicial action or proceeding, including any
proceeding by a private party, is instituted (or threatened to
be instituted) challenging any transaction contemplated by this
Agreement as violative of any Regulatory Law (as defined below),
each of the Company and Parent shall cooperate in all respects
with each other and use all reasonable efforts to contest and
resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated,
lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction
or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent,
that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this
Agreement, nothing in this Section 5.9 shall limit a
partys right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 7.1(b) or 7.1(c) so long as such party has, prior
to such termination, complied with its obligations under this
Section 5.9.
(d) If any objections are asserted with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby under any Regulatory Law or if
any suit is instituted by any Governmental Entity or any private
party challenging any of the transactions contemplated hereby as
violative of any Regulatory Law, each of the Company and Parent
shall use all reasonable efforts to resolve any such objections
or challenge as such Governmental Entity or private party may
have to such transactions under such Regulatory Law so as to
permit consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Parent be required
to, or the Company be permitted to, agree to any divestiture of
any businesses, assets or product lines of the Company, Parent
or any of their respective Subsidiaries in order to enable any
approval under any Regulatory Law that is necessary to
consummate the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by
this Agreement, except as set forth on Section 5.9(d)
hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, Regulatory
Law means the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act, as
amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as
amended, the Communications Act and all other federal, state or
foreign, if any, statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees,
administrative and judicial doctrines and other laws that are
designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions
having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of
trade or lessening competition, whether in the communications
industry or otherwise, through merger or acquisition.
Section 5.10 Takeover
Statute. If any fair price,
moratorium, control share acquisition or
other form of antitakeover statute or regulation shall become
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the
Company and Parent and the members of their respective Boards of
Directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as
are reasonably necessary so that the transactions contemplated
hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the
terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to eliminate or
minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.11 Public
Announcements. The Company and Parent will consult with
and provide each other the opportunity to review and comment
upon any press release or other public statement or comment
prior to the issuance of such press release or other public
statement or comment relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated herein and shall not issue any such
press release or other public statement or comment prior to such
consultation except as may be required by Law or by
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obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national
securities exchange. Parent and the Company agree to issue a
press release announcing this Agreement.
Section 5.12 Indemnification
and Insurance.
(a) Parent and Merger Sub agree that all rights to
exculpation and indemnification for acts or omissions occurring
at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed
prior to, at or after the Effective Time (including any matters
arising in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement), now existing in favor of the current or former
directors, officers or employees, as the case may be (the
Indemnified Parties), of the Company or its
Subsidiaries as provided in their respective articles of
incorporation or by-laws or in any agreement shall survive the
Merger and shall continue in full force and effect for a period
of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time. For a
period of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time,
Parent and Surviving Company shall (i) maintain in effect
(A) the current provisions regarding indemnification of
officers and directors contained in the articles of
incorporation and bylaws (or comparable organizational
documents) of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
(B) any indemnification agreements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries with any of their respective directors, officers
and employees existing as on the date hereof, and
(ii) jointly and severally indemnify the Indemnified
Parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. For a
period of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time,
the Surviving Company shall either cause to be maintained in
effect the current policies of directors and
officers liability insurance and fiduciary liability
insurance maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries or
provide substitute policies or purchase a tail
policy, in either case, of at least the same coverage and
amounts containing terms and conditions which are, in the
aggregate, no less advantageous to the insured with respect to
claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or before
the Effective Time, except that in no event shall the Surviving
Company be required to pay with respect to such insurance
policies in respect of any one policy year more than 200% of the
annual premium paid by the Company for such insurance for the
year ending December 31, 2005 (the Maximum
Amount), and if the Surviving Company is unable to obtain
the insurance required by this Section 5.12 it shall obtain
as much comparable insurance as possible for an annual premium
equal to the Maximum Amount.
(b) The provisions of this Section 5.12 are intended
to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of
the Indemnified Parties and their heirs and legal
representatives.
(c) The rights of the Indemnified Parties and their heirs
and legal representatives under this Section 5.12 shall be
in addition to any rights such Indemnified Parties may have
under the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or under any other applicable Laws.
(d) In the event that either Parent or the Surviving
Company or any of their respective successors or assigns
(A) consolidates with or merges into any other Persons, or
(B) transfers 50% or more of its properties or assets to
any Person, then and in each case, proper provision shall be
made so the applicable successors and assigns or transferees
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.12.
Section 5.13 Accountants
Comfort Letters. The Company and Parent will
each use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be
delivered to each other letters from their respective
independent accountants, dated as of a date within two Business
Days before the date of the Registration Statement, in form
reasonably satisfactory to the recipient and customary in scope
for comfort letters delivered by independent accountants in
connection with registration statements on Form S-4 under
the Securities Act.
Section 5.14 Additional
Reports and Information.
(a) From and after the date hereof, the Company and Parent
shall use all reasonable efforts to implement such programs and
take such steps reasonably necessary to comply with all
provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act not
later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadline
therefor.
(b) The Company and Parent shall each furnish to the other
copies of any reports of the type referred to in
Sections 3.4 and 4.4, respectively, which it files with the
SEC on or after the date hereof.
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(c) The Company shall provide Parent with a copy of the
then most recent draft of the Company 2004 Form 10-K and
each Form 10-Q for periods ending in prior to Closing, no
fewer than five (5) business days prior to filing it with
the SEC and provide as soon as practicable any material changes
thereto.
(d) To the extent required in connection with the
preparation of any registration statement or other report to be
filed with the SEC by Parent prior to the Closing, if reasonably
requested by Parent, the Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to (i) provide audited and unaudited financial
statements for inclusion therein with respect to periods
reasonably requested by Parent and (ii) assist in obtaining
any necessary consents from the Companys independent
accountants relating thereto.
Section 5.15 Section 16
Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to approve in advance
in accordance with the procedures set forth in Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP SEC No-Action Letter
(January 12, 1999) any dispositions of Company Common Stock
(including derivative securities with respect to Company Common
Stock) to or acquisitions of Parent Common Stock (including
derivative securities with respect to Parent Common Stock)
resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
by each officer or director of Parent or the Company who is
subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act (or who will
become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act as a
result of the transactions contemplated hereby) with respect to
equity securities of Parent or the Company.
Section 5.16 Control
of Operations. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or
direct the Companys operations prior to the Effective
Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall exercise,
consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
complete control and supervision over its respective operations.
Section 5.17 Internal
Controls and Procedures.
(a) The Company shall promptly deliver to Parent complete
and accurate copies of any notices received from its independent
auditor after the date hereof of any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses in the Companys internal control over
financial reporting, and any other management letter or similar
correspondence received after the date hereof from any
independent auditor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) From the date hereof until the Closing Date, the
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to continue
implementing such programs and taking such steps as it believes
are necessary to effect compliance with all provisions of
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that will become
applicable to the Company.
Section 5.18 Real
Estate Transfer Taxes. Any liability arising out of any
real estate transfer tax with respect to interests in real
property owned directly or indirectly by the Company and its
Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Merger, if applicable and
due with respect to the Merger, shall be borne by the Surviving
Company or Parent and expressly shall not be a liability of
shareholders of the Company.
Section 5.19 Parent
Covenant Concerning Subsidiary Indebtedness. Parent
covenants and agrees that at or prior to the Effective Time it
shall take one or more of the following actions to ensure that
no violation of the Subsidiary indebtedness covenant contained
in its credit agreement (as described in Section 4.3 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule) shall occur or be continuing as a
result of the consummation of the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby: Parent shall (i) pay or cause to be
paid all Subsidiary indebtedness (including for such purposes
any Subsidiary indebtedness outstanding immediately after the
consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby), (ii) obtain an appropriate waiver from the
requisite lenders under such credit agreement, or (iii) pay
or cause to be paid all indebtedness outstanding under such
credit agreement.
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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
Section 6.1 Conditions
to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by all parties)
at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
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(a) The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been
obtained, all in accordance with applicable Law and the rules
and regulations of The Nasdaq Stock Market. |
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(b) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree,
ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or enforced by any court or other tribunal or
Governmental Entity which prohibits the consummation of the
Merger, and shall continue to be in effect. |
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(c) The Registration Statement shall have become effective
in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act and no
stop order suspending such effectiveness shall have been issued
and remain in effect. |
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(d) The shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in the
Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject
only to official notice of issuance. |
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(e) Any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall
have expired or been earlier terminated and any other Company
Approvals and Parent Approvals required to be obtained for the
consummation, as of the Effective Time, of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, other than any Company Approvals
and Parent Approvals the failure to obtain which would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or Parent
(Required Approval) shall have been obtained. |
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(f) (i) Unless waived by the Company and Parent, all
FCC Consents other than any FCC Consents the failure to obtain
which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company or Parent shall have been granted
without the imposition of any condition that Parent or the
Company would not be required to agree to pursuant to
Section 5.9, and (ii) all such FCC Consents shall be
in full force and effect. |
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(g) Each of the Company and Parent shall have received a
Tax Opinion of its respective Tax Counsel, dated as of the
Effective Time, substantially to the effect that, on the basis
of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such
opinion, the Merger will be treated as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and each of
Parent and the Company will be treated as a party to the
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the
Code. In rendering such Tax Opinion, Tax Counsel may require and
rely upon customary representations and covenants, including
those contained in certificates of the Company, Parent, Merger
Sub and others, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
such Tax Counsel. |
Section 6.2 Conditions
to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger. The
obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further
subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:
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(a) (i) The representations and warranties of Parent
contained herein (other than the representation and warranties
set forth in Sections 4.2, 4.3(a), 4.4(b), 4.10 and 4.21)
shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time with the same
effect as though made as of the Effective Time except
(x) for changes specifically permitted by the terms of this
Agreement, (y) that the accuracy of representations and
warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of this
Agreement or some other date will be determined as of such date
and not as of the Effective Time and (z) where any such
failure of the representations and warranties in the aggregate
to be true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on Parent; (ii) the
representations and warranties of Parent set forth in
Sections 4.2, 4.3(a) and 4.4(b) shall be true and correct
in all material respects both when made and at and as of the
Effective Time except (x) for changes specifically
permitted by the terms of this Agreement, (y) that the
accuracy of representations and |
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warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of this
Agreement or some other date will be determined as of such date,
and (iii) the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 4.10 and 4.21 shall have been true and correct in
all respects when made and as of the Effective Time; |
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(b) Parent shall have performed in all material respects
all obligations and complied with all covenants required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the
Effective Time; and |
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(c) Parent shall have delivered to the Company a
certificate, dated the Effective Time and signed by its Chief
Executive Officer or any Executive Vice President certifying to
the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a)
and 6.2(b) have been satisfied. |
Section 6.3 Conditions
to Obligation of Parent to Effect the Merger. The
obligation of Parent to effect the Merger is further subject to
the fulfillment of the following conditions:
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(a) (i) The representations and warranties of the
Company contained herein (other than the representations and
warranties in Sections 3.2(a), 3.3(a), 3.4(b) and 3.10)
shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time with the same
effect as though made as of the Effective Time except
(x) for changes specifically permitted by the terms of this
Agreement, (y) that the accuracy of representations and
warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of this
Agreement or some other date will be determined as of such date
and (z) where any such failure of the representations and
warranties in the aggregate to be true and correct would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company; (ii) the representations and warranties of the
Company set forth in Sections 3.2(a), 3.3(a) and 3.4(b)
shall be true and correct in all material respects both when
made and at and as of the Effective Time except (x) for
changes specifically permitted by the terms of this Agreement,
(y) that the accuracy of representations and warranties
that by their terms speak as of the date of this Agreement or
some other date will be determined as of such date and
(iii) the representations and warranties contained in
Section 3.10 shall have been true and correct in all
respects when made and as of the Effective Time; |
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(b) The Company, shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations and complied with all covenants
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
it prior to the Effective Time; |
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(c) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a
certificate, dated the Effective Time and signed by its Chief
Executive Officer or Executive Vice President certifying to the
effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.3(a) and
6.3(b) have been satisfied. |
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(d) Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or in
the Company Disclosure Schedule or as expressly contemplated by
this Agreement, since the date of this Agreement, there shall
have been no event, occurrence, development or state of
circumstances or facts that would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. |
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination
or Abandonment. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated
and abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after any approval of the matters presented in
connection with the Merger by the respective shareholders of the
Company and Parent:
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(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent; |
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(b) by either the Company or Parent if (i) the
Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before
August 31, 2005 and (ii) the party seeking to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause 7.1(b) shall
not have breached in any material respect its obligations under
this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately caused
the failure to consummate the Merger on or before such |
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date, except that if, as of August 31, 2005, all conditions
set forth in Section 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 of this Agreement
have been satisfied or waived (other than those that are
satisfied by action taken at the Closing) other than the
conditions set forth in Section 6.1(e) or (f), then either
Parent or the Company may extend the Termination Date to
November 30, 2005, by providing written notice to the other
party on or before August 31, 2005; |
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(c) by either the Company or Parent if (i) a statute,
rule, regulation or executive order shall have been enacted,
entered or promulgated prohibiting the consummation of the
Merger or (ii) an order, decree, ruling or injunction shall
have been entered permanently restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and such
order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have become final and
non-appealable and the party seeking to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this clause 7.1(c)(ii) shall have used all
reasonable efforts to remove such injunction, order, decree or
ruling; |
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(d) by either the Company or Parent if the Company Meeting
shall have concluded and the Company Shareholder Approval
contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been obtained,
except that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
Section 7.1(d) shall not be available to the Company where
the failure to obtain the Company Shareholder Approval shall
have been caused by (i) the action or failure to act of the
Company and such action or failure to act constitutes a material
breach by the Company of this Agreement or (ii) a breach of
the Voting Agreement by any party thereto other than Parent; |
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(e) by the Company, if Parent shall have breached or failed
to perform in any material respect any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (1) would
result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.1
or 6.2 and (2) cannot be cured by the Termination Date,
provided that the Company shall have given Parent written
notice, delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to such
termination, stating the Companys intention to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(e) and the
basis for such termination; |
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(f) by Parent, if the Company shall have breached or failed
to perform in any material respect any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (1) would
result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.1
or 6.3 and (2) cannot be cured by the Termination Date,
provided that Parent shall have given the Company written
notice, delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to such
termination, stating Parents intention to terminate the
Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(f) and the basis for
such termination; |
In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 7.1, this Agreement shall terminate (except for the
confidentiality agreement referred to in Section 5.4 and
the provisions of Sections 7.2, 8.2, 8.4 and 8.5), and
there shall be no other liability on the part of the Company or
Parent to the other except liability arising out of an
intentional breach of this Agreement or as provided for in the
Confidentiality Agreement in which case the aggrieved party
shall be entitled to all rights and remedies available at law or
in equity.
Section 7.2 Termination
Fee. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to
the contrary, if (i) prior to the termination of this
Agreement, any Company Alternative Proposal is commenced,
publicly proposed or publicly disclosed prior to, and, in each
case, not withdrawn at the time of, the Company Meeting,
(ii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant
to Section 7.1(b) (but only if at such time Parent would
not be prohibited from terminating this Agreement by application
of Section 7.1(b)(ii)) or by Parent or the Company pursuant
to Section 7.1(d) and (iii) concurrently with or
within (A) nine (9) months after such termination, any
agreement relating to a Qualifying Transaction (as defined
below) shall have been entered into with the person who made the
Company Alternative Proposal that was existing at the time of
the Company Meeting, or any affiliate or associate thereof
(each, a Qualifying Person), or (B) six
(6) months after such termination, any agreement relating
to a Qualifying Transaction shall have been entered into with
any person other than a Qualifying Person or
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Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates or
associates, then, in either case, the Company shall pay to
Parent a fee of $120 million in cash and the Company shall
have no further liability with respect to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby to Parent or its shareholders
(provided that nothing herein shall release any party from
liability for intentional breach or fraud), such payment to be
made upon entering into an agreement relating to such Qualifying
Transaction, it being understood that in no event shall the
Company be required to pay the fee referred to in this
Section 7.2 on more than one occasion.
For purposes of this Agreement, Qualifying
Transaction shall mean any (i) acquisition of the
Company by merger or business combination transaction, or for a
merger of equals with the Company;
(ii) acquisition by any person (other than Parent, any of
its Subsidiaries or their affiliates or associates) of forty
percent (40%) or more of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (iii) acquisition by any
person of forty percent (40%) or more of the outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock.
Section 7.3 Amendment
or Supplement. At any time before or after approval of
the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the
respective stockholders of the Company and Parent and prior to
the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or
supplemented in writing by the Company and Parent with respect
to any of the terms contained in this Agreement, except that
following approval by the shareholders of the Company and Parent
there shall be no amendment or change to the provisions hereof
which by Law or in accordance with the rules of any relevant
stock exchange requires further approval by such shareholders
without such further approval nor any amendment or change not
permitted under applicable Law.
Section 7.4 Extension
of Time, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, the Company and Parent may:
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(a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or acts of the other party; |
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(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties of the other party contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto; or |
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(c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions of the other party contained herein. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the
Company or Parent in exercising any right hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial
exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any
other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party
hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if
set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 No
Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Merger.
Section 8.2 Expenses.
Except as set forth in Section 7.2, whether or not the
Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring or
required to incur such expenses, except expenses incurred in
connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and the
printing, filing and mailing of the Proxy Statement (including
applicable SEC filing fees) shall be shared equally by the
Company and Parent.
Section 8.3 Counterparts;
Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more consecutive counterparts (including by facsimile), each of
which shall be an original, with the same effect
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as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument, and shall become effective when one or more
counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and
delivered (by telecopy or otherwise) to the other parties.
Section 8.4 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof, except
the WBCA shall govern the internal affairs of the Company and
the WBCA and the WLLCA shall govern the Merger.
Section 8.5 Jurisdiction;
Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the
United States located in the State of Delaware or in Delaware
state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which
they are entitled at law or in equity. In addition, each of the
parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the
personal jurisdiction of any federal court located in the State
of Delaware or any Delaware state court in the event any dispute
arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion
or other request for leave from any such court and
(c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement in any court other than a federal or state court
sitting in the State of Delaware.
Section 8.6 Waiver
of Jury Trial. EACH OF PARENT, THE COMPANY AND MERGER
SUB HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON
CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF PARENT, THE COMPANY OR MERGER SUB IN
THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
HEREOF.
Section 8.7 Notices.
Any notice required to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if
in writing, and sent by facsimile transmission (provided that
any notice received by facsimile transmission or otherwise at
the addressees location on any business day after
5:00 p.m. (addressees local time) shall be deemed to
have been received at 9:00 a.m. (addressees local
time) on the next business day), by reliable overnight delivery
service (with proof of service), hand delivery or certified or
registered mail (return receipt requested and first-class
postage prepaid), addressed as follows:
To Parent or Merger Sub:
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ALLTEL Corporation |
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One Allied Drive |
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Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 |
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Attention: Chief Executive Officer |
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(with a copy to the Corporate Secretary) |
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Telecopy: (501) 905-5444 |
To the Company:
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Western Wireless Corporation |
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3650 131st Avenue, S.E. |
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Suite 400 |
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Bellevue, Washington 98006 |
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Attention: Chief Executive Officer |
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Telecopy: (425) 586-8700 |
A-53
with copies to:
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Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz |
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51 West 52nd Street |
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New York, New York 10019 |
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Telecopy:(212) 403-2000 |
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Attention: Daniel A. Neff |
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Mark
Gordon |
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and |
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Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP |
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1633 Broadway |
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New York, New York 10019 |
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Attention: Barry A. Adelman |
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Gregg
S. Lerner |
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Telecopy: (212) 833-1250 |
or to such other address as any party shall specify by written
notice so given, and such notice shall be deemed to have been
delivered as of the date so telecommunicated, personally
delivered or mailed. Any party to this Agreement may notify any
other party of any changes to the address or any of the other
details specified in this paragraph; provided that such
notification shall only be effective on the date specified in
such notice or five (5) business days after the notice is
given, whichever is later. Rejection or other refusal to accept
or the inability to deliver because of changed address of which
no notice was given shall be deemed to be receipt of the notice
as of the date of such rejection, refusal or inability to
deliver.
Section 8.8 Assignment;
Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by
any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other
parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall
be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 8.9 Date
For Any Action. In the event that any date on which any
action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the parties
hereto is not a business day, such action shall be required to
be taken on the next succeeding day which is a business day.
Section 8.10 Severability.
Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the
remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as
to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be
only so broad as is enforceable.
Section 8.11 Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
(including the exhibits and schedules hereto), the Voting
Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the
entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties, or
any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof and except for the provisions of Section 5.12
hereof, is not intended to and shall not confer upon any person
other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 8.12 Headings.
Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Agreement are for
convenience of the parties only, and shall be given no
substantive or interpretive effect whatsoever.
Section 8.13 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
to this Agreement is for reference purposes only and shall not
affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. Whenever the words include,
includes or including are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
without limitation. The words
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hereof, 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. All terms defined in this Agreement
shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or
other document made or delivered pursuant thereto unless
otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this
Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural
forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the
feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any agreement,
instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any
agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such
agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements
or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of
statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and
references to all attachments thereto and instruments
incorporated therein. References to a person are also to its
permitted successors and assigns. Each of the parties has
participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement.
If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises,
this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by all the
parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of authorship of any
of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 8.14 Definitions.
(a) References in this Agreement to
Subsidiaries of any party shall mean any
corporation, partnership, association, trust or other form of
legal entity of which (i) more than 50% of the outstanding
voting securities are on the date hereof directly or indirectly
owned by such party, or (ii) such party or any Subsidiary
of such party is a general partner (excluding partnerships in
which such party or any Subsidiary of such party does not have a
majority of the voting interests in such partnership).
References in this Agreement (except as specifically otherwise
defined) to affiliates shall mean, as to any person,
any other person which, directly or indirectly, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. As
used in this definition, control (including, with
its correlative meanings, controlled by and
under common control with) shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of management or policies of a person,
whether through the ownership of securities or partnership of
other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise. References
in the Agreement to person shall mean an individual,
a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or any
other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of
the Exchange Act) or organization, including, without
limitation, a Governmental Entity. References in this Agreement
to associate shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(b) Each of the following terms is defined on the pages set
forth opposite such term:
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2005 Plan
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14 |
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4.625% Notes
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15 |
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9.250% Notes
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36 |
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affiliates
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43 |
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Agreement
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5 |
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Articles of Merger
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6 |
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associate
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35 |
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Available Cash Election Amount
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7 |
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Cash Electing Company Share
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7 |
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Cash Election
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7 |
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Cash Election Amount
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6 |
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Cash Fraction
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7 |
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Certificates
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8 |
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Class A Common Stock
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6 |
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Class B Common Stock
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6 |
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Closing Date
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5 |
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Code
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5 |
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Communications Act
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15 |
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Company
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5 |
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Company Action Notice
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40 |
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Company Alternative Proposal
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41 |
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Company Approvals
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15 |
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Company Benefit Plans
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18 |
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Company Book-Entry Shares
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8 |
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Company Change of Recommendation
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40 |
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Company Common Stock
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6 |
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Company Disclosure Schedule
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13 |
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Company Employees
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44 |
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Company License Schedule
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23 |
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Company Licenses
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23 |
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Company Material Contracts
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22 |
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Company Meeting
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42 |
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Company Minority Interest Business
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13 |
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Company Permits
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17 |
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Company Preferred Stock
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14 |
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Company Recommendation
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42 |
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Company SEC Documents
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16 |
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Company Shareholder Approval
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22 |
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Company Stock Awards
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14 |
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Company Stock Options
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43 |
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Company Superior Proposal
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41 |
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ComReg
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24 |
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Confidentiality Agreement
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39 |
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Current Offering
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43 |
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Disclosure Schedule
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25 |
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Dissenting Shares
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8 |
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Effective Time
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6 |
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Election Date
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9 |
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eligible guarantor institution
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9 |
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Employees
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21 |
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Environmental Claims
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18 |
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Environmental Laws
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18 |
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ERISA
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18 |
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ERISA Affiliate
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19 |
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ESPP
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14 |
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Exchange Act
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9 |
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Exchange Agent
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8 |
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Exchange Ratio
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7 |
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FCC
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23 |
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FCC Applications
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45 |
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FCC Consents
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45 |
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FCC Rules
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23 |
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Foreign Benefit Plan
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19 |
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Foreign License Schedule
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24 |
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Form of Election
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9 |
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GAAP
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16 |
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Governmental Entity
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15 |
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HSR Act
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15 |
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Indemnified Parties
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47 |
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Intellectual Property
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22 |
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knowledge
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18 |
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Laws
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17 |
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Lien
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13 |
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Material Adverse Effect
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13 |
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Maximum Amount
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47 |
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Merger
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5 |
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Merger Consideration
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7 |
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Merger Sub
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5 |
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Mixed Consideration Electing Share
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7 |
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Mixed Election
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7 |
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No Par Preferred Stock
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26 |
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Non-Electing Company Share
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9 |
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Notes
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36 |
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Option Plan
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14 |
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Par Preferred Stock
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26 |
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Parent
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5 |
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Parent Approvals
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27 |
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Parent Benefit Plans
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29 |
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Parent Certificates
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10 |
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Parent Common Stock
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26 |
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Parent Disclosure Schedule
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25 |
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Parent Employees
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32 |
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Parent License Schedule
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Parent Licenses
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Parent Material Contracts
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Parent Permits
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Parent Preferred Stock
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Parent SEC Documents
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Per Share Cash Election Consideration
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person
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Program
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Proxy Statement
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PUCs
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Qualifying Person
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Qualifying Transaction
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Registration Statement
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A-57
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Regulatory Law
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Representatives
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Required Approval
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Retention Bonus
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Retention Pool
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RTR-GmbH
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Sarbanes-Oxley Act
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SEC
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Securities Act
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Shares
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Stock Consideration
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Stock Electing Company Share
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Stock Election
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Subsequent Company SEC Documents
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Subsequent Parent SEC Documents
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Subsidiaries
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Surviving Company
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Tax Authority
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Tax Counsel
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Tax Opinion
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Tax Return
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Taxes
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Termination Date
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TKK
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Voting Agreement
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WARN Act
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WBCA
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WLLCA
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A-58
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first
above written.
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Name: Scott T. Ford |
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Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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WIGEON ACQUISITION LLC |
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Name: Scott T. Ford |
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Title: President |
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WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION |
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Name: John W. Stanton |
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Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
A-59
EXECUTION COPY
VOTING AGREEMENT
VOTING AGREEMENT (this Agreement) dated as of
January 9, 2005, among ALLTEL Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware
(Parent), and each person listed on the signature
page hereof as a shareholder (each, a Shareholder
and, collectively, the Shareholders).
RECITALS
A. Western Wireless Corporation is a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Washington (the
Company). Each Shareholder beneficially
owns (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or to direct the
disposition of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of) the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock, no par value per
share, of the Company (the Class A Common
Stock) and of Class B Common Stock, no par value per
share, of the Company (the Class B Common Stock
and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the
Common Stock) set forth opposite such
Shareholders name on Schedule A hereto (such
shares of Common Stock, together with all other shares of
capital stock of the Company acquired by any Shareholder after
the date hereof and during the term of this Agreement, being
collectively referred to herein as the Subject
Shares).
B. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Parent, Wigeon Acquisition LLC, a limited liability
company organized under the laws of the State of Washington
(Merger Sub), and the Company are entering into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement)
providing for the merger of the Company with and into Merger
Sub, with Merger Sub surviving the Merger (the
Merger) upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth therein.
C. As a condition to entering into the Merger Agreement,
Parent has required that the Shareholders enter into this
Agreement, and the Shareholders desire to enter into this
Agreement to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement.
D. The Board of Directors of the Company has taken all
actions so that the restrictions contained in the Companys
articles of incorporation and the Washington Business
Corporation Act (the WBCA) applicable to a
significant business transaction (as defined in
Section 23B.19 of the WBCA) will not apply to the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the
Merger Agreement, or to the consummation of the Merger, this
Agreement and the Merger Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Representations and
Warranties of Each Shareholder.
Each Shareholder, jointly and severally, represents and warrants
to Parent as follows:
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(a) Authority. Such Shareholder, if not an
individual, is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization (as applicable). Such Shareholder has all requisite
legal power (corporate or other) and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by such Shareholder and constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder enforceable in
accordance with its terms subject to (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter
in effect relating to or affecting creditors rights
generally, and (ii) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity). If such Shareholder is married and the Subject Shares
of such Shareholder constitute community property or otherwise
need spousal or other approval for this |
B-1
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Agreement to be legal, valid and binding with respect to such
Subject Shares, this Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of, such Shareholders spouse, enforceable
against such spouse in accordance with its terms subject to
(i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting
creditors rights generally, and (ii) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity). If such Shareholder is a trust,
no consent of any beneficiary is required for the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. |
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(b) No Conflicts. (i) No filing by any
Shareholder with any governmental body or authority, and no
authorization, consent or approval of any other person is
necessary for the execution of this Agreement by any Shareholder
and the consummation by any Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby and (ii) none of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by such Shareholders, the
consummation by any Shareholder of the transactions contemplated
hereby or compliance by any Shareholder with any of the
provisions hereof shall (A) if such shareholder is not an
individual, conflict with or result in any breach of the
organizational documents of any Shareholder, (B) result in,
or give rise to, a violation or breach of or a default under
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any of the
terms of any material contract, trust agreement, loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, permit,
understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which any Shareholder is a party or by which any Shareholder or
any of its Subject Shares or assets may be bound, or
(C) violate any applicable order, writ, injunction, decree,
judgment, statute, rule or regulation, except for any of the
foregoing as would not reasonably be expected to prevent any
Shareholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement. |
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(c) The Subject Shares.
Schedule A sets forth, opposite each
Shareholders name, the number of Subject Shares over which
such Shareholder has record or beneficial ownership as of the
date hereof. As of the date hereof, each Shareholder is the
record or beneficial owner of the Subject Shares denoted as
being owned by such Shareholder on Schedule A (or is
trustee of a trust that is the record holder of and whose
beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of such Subject Shares)
and has the sole power to vote (or cause to be voted) such
Subject Shares. Except as set forth on such
Schedule A, no Shareholder nor any controlled
affiliate of a Shareholder owns or holds any right to acquire
any additional shares of any class of capital stock of the
Company or other securities of the Company or any interest
therein or any voting rights with respect to any securities of
the Company. Each Shareholder has good and valid title to the
Subject Shares denoted as being owned by such Shareholder on
Schedule A, free and clear of any and all pledges,
mortgages, liens, charges, proxies, voting agreements,
encumbrances, adverse claims, options, security interests and
demands of any nature or kind whatsoever, other than those
created by this Agreement, as disclosed on
Schedule A, or as would not prevent any Shareholder
from performing its obligations under this Agreement. |
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(d) Reliance By Parent. Such Shareholder
understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and
causing Merger Sub to enter into, the Merger Agreement in
reliance upon such Shareholders execution and delivery of
this Agreement. |
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(e) Litigation. As of the date hereof, there
is no action, proceeding or investigation pending or threatened
against such Shareholder that questions the validity of this
Agreement or any action taken or to be taken by such Shareholder
in connection with this Agreement. |
2. Representations and
Warranties of Parent.
Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Shareholders as
follows:
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(a) Due Organization, etc. Parent is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware. Parent has all requisite corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Parent and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent enforceable
in accordance with its terms subject to (i) bankruptcy, |
B-2
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insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter
in effect relating to or affecting creditors rights
generally, and (ii) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity). |
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(b) Conflicts. (i) No filing by Parent
with any governmental body or authority, and no authorization,
consent or approval of any other person is necessary for the
execution of this Agreement by Parent and the consummation by
Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby and
(ii) none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Parent, the consummation by Parent of the transactions
contemplated hereby or compliance by Parent with any of the
provisions hereof shall (A) conflict with or result in any
breach of the organizational documents of Parent,
(B) result in, or give rise to, a violation or breach of or
a default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or
both) any of the terms of any material contract, loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, permit,
understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which Parent is a party or by which Parent or any of its assets
may be bound, or (C) violate any applicable order, writ,
injunction, decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation,
except for any of the foregoing as would not prevent Parent from
performing its obligations under this Agreement. |
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(c) Reliance by the Shareholders. Parent
understands and acknowledges that the Shareholders are entering
into this Agreement in reliance upon the execution and delivery
of the Merger Agreement by Parent. |
3. Covenants of Each
Shareholder.
Until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 5, each Shareholder, in its capacity as such,
agrees as follows:
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(a) At the Company Meeting or at any adjournment,
postponement or continuation thereof or in any other
circumstances occurring prior to the Company Meeting upon which
a vote, consent or other approval (including by written consent)
with respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement is sought ,
each Shareholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject
Shares (and each class thereof) (i) in favor of the
approval of the Merger and the approval and adoption of the
Merger Agreement; and (ii) except with the written consent
of Parent, against any Company Alternative Proposal. Any such
vote shall be cast or consent shall be given in accordance with
such procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly
counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and
for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent.
Each Shareholder agrees not to enter into any agreement or
commitment with any person the effect of which would be
inconsistent with or violative of the provisions and agreements
contained in this Section 3(a). |
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(b) Each Shareholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly,
(i) sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber, assign or
otherwise dispose of (collectively, a Transfer) or
enter into any agreement, option or other arrangement with
respect to, or consent to a Transfer of, or convert or agree to
convert, any or all of the Subject Shares to any person if such
Transfer or agreement, option or other arrangement would result
in the Shareholders inability to perform his or her
obligations under Section 3(a) hereof, other than in
accordance with the Merger Agreement, or (ii) grant any
proxies (other than the Company proxy card in connection with
the Company Meeting if and to the extent such proxy is
consistent with the Shareholders obligations under
Section 3(a) hereof), deposit any Subject Shares into any
voting trust or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by
proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to any of the
Subject Shares, other than pursuant to this Agreement. Each
Shareholder further agrees not to commit or agree to take any of
the foregoing actions or take any action that would have the
effect of preventing, impeding, interfering with or adversely
affecting its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement. |
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(c) Such Shareholder shall not, nor shall such Shareholder
permit any controlled affiliate of such Shareholder to, nor
shall such Shareholder act in concert with or permit any
controlled affiliate to act in concert with any person to make,
or in any manner participate in, directly or indirectly, a
solicitation (as such term is used in the rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission) of |
B-3
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proxies or powers of attorney or similar rights to vote, or seek
to advise or influence any person with respect to the voting of,
any shares of Common Stock intended to facilitate any Company
Alternative Proposal or to cause shareholders of the Company not
to vote to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement. Such
Shareholder shall not, and shall direct any investment banker,
attorney, agent or other adviser or representative of such
Shareholder not to, directly or indirectly, through any officer,
director, agent or otherwise, enter into, solicit, initiate,
conduct or continue any discussions or negotiations with, or
knowingly encourage or respond to any inquiries or proposals by,
or provide any information to, any person, other than Parent,
relating to any Company Alternative Proposal. Each Shareholder
hereby represents that, as of the date hereof, it is not engaged
in discussions or negotiations with any party other than Parent
with respect to any Company Alternative Proposal. |
4. Shareholder Capacity.
No Person executing this Agreement who is or becomes during the
term of this Agreement a director or officer of the Company
shall be deemed to make any agreement or understanding in this
Agreement in such Persons capacity as a director or
officer. Each Shareholder is entering into this Agreement solely
in his or her capacity as the record holder or beneficial owner
of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the
beneficial owners of, such Shareholders Subject Shares and
nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by a
Shareholder in his or her capacity as a director or officer of
the Company to the extent specifically permitted by the Merger
Agreement or following the termination of the Merger Agreement.
5. Termination.
This Agreement shall terminate (i) upon the earlier of
(A) the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement at
the Company Meeting, (B) provided that the Company Meeting
shall have concluded, the failure of the shareholders of the
Company to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement at the Company
Meeting, and (C) the termination of the Merger Agreement,
or (ii) at any time upon notice by Parent to the
Shareholders. No party hereto shall be relieved from any
liability for intentional breach of this Agreement by reason of
any such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Section 6 and Sections 10 through 22, inclusive,
of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
6. Appraisal Rights.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Shareholder
hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from
the Merger that it may have under applicable law.
7. Publication.
Each Shareholder hereby authorizes Parent and the Company to
publish and disclose in the Proxy Statement and the Registration
Statement (including any and all documents and schedules filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating thereto)
its identity and ownership of shares of Common Stock and the
nature of its commitments, arrangements and understandings
pursuant to this Agreement.
8. Affiliate Letters.
Each Shareholder agrees to execute an affiliate agreement in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit B to the Merger
Agreement, as soon as practicable after the date hereof.
9. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to any
principles or rules of conflicts of laws thereof.
10. Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial.
(a) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and
unconditionally (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or
proceeding brought by any party hereto arising out of or based
upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may
be brought in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United
States District Court for the District of Delaware (each, a
Delaware Court), (ii) waives, to the fullest
extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may now
or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such
B-4
proceeding brought in any Delaware Court, and any claim that any
such action or proceeding brought in any Delaware Court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum, and (iii) submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of Delaware Courts in any suit,
action or proceeding. Each of the parties agrees that a judgment
in any suit, action or proceeding brought in a Delaware Court
shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in
any other courts to whose jurisdiction it is or may be subject,
by suit upon such judgment.
(b) Each of the parties agrees and acknowledges that any
controversy that may arise under this Agreement is likely to
involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each
such party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any
right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any
litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, or the breach, termination or validity of this
Agreement.
11. Specific Performance.
Each Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that (i) the
covenants, obligations and agreements of such Shareholder
contained in this Agreement relate to special, unique and
extraordinary matters, (ii) Parent is and will be relying
on such covenants in connection with entering into the Merger
Agreement and the performance of its obligations under the
Merger Agreement, and (iii) a violation of any of the terms
of such covenants, obligations or agreements will cause Parent
irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are not available
at law. Therefore, each Shareholder agrees that Parent shall be
entitled to seek an injunction, restraining order or such other
equitable relief (without the requirement to post bond) as a
court of competent jurisdiction may deem necessary or
appropriate to restrain such Shareholder from committing any
violation of such covenants, obligations or agreements.
12. Amendment, Waivers, Etc.
Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended or
otherwise modified other than by an instrument in writing signed
by Parent and the Shareholders. No provision of this Agreement
may be waived, discharged or terminated other than by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against whom the
enforcement of such waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
13. Assignment; No Third Party
Beneficiaries.
This Agreement shall not be assignable or otherwise transferable
by a party without the prior consent of the other parties, and
any attempt to so assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement
without such consent shall be void and of no effect; provided,
however, that Parent may, in its sole discretion, assign or
transfer all or any of its rights under this Agreement to Merger
Sub or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;
provided that any such assignment shall not relieve Parent of
its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the respective heirs, legal representatives and permitted
transferees of the parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed as giving any Person, other than the parties
hereto and their heirs, legal representatives and permitted
transferees, any right, remedy or claim under or in respect of
this Agreement or any provision hereof. No failure or delay by
any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this
Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single
or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege. The rights and remedies provided herein shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided
by law.
14. Notices.
All notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals and
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed validly given upon personal delivery
or one day after being sent by overnight courier service or by
telecopy (so long as for notices or other communications sent by
telecopy, the transmitting telecopy machine records electronic
conformation of the due transmission of
B-5
the notice), at the following address or telecopy number, or at
such other address or telecopy number as a party may designate
to the other parties:
If to Parent, to:
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ALLTEL Corporation |
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One Allied Drive |
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Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 |
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Attention: Chief Executive Officer |
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(with a copy to the Corporate Secretary) |
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Telecopy: (501) 905-5444 |
If to any Shareholder, at the address set forth under such
Shareholders name on Schedule A hereto or to
such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given
may have furnished to the other parties in writing in accordance
herewith, with copies to:
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Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz |
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51 West
52(nd) Street |
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New York, New York 10019 |
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Telecopy: (212) 403-2000 |
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Attention: Daniel A. Neff |
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Mark
Gordon |
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and |
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Friedman, Kaplan, Seiler, Adelman LLP |
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1633 Broadway |
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New York, New York 10019 |
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Telecopy: (212) 833-1250 |
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Attention: Barry A. Adelman |
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Gregg
S. Lerner |
15. Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, it shall be adjusted rather than
voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the
parties hereto to the maximum extent possible. In any event, the
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this
Agreement, including that provision, in any other jurisdiction.
16. Integration.
This Agreement (together with the Merger Agreement to the extent
referenced herein), including Schedule A hereto,
constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof and supersedes any and all prior understandings or
agreements relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
17. Mutual Drafting.
Each party hereto has participated in the drafting of this
Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of
extensive negotiations between the parties.
18. Section Headings.
The section headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and are not to be considered in construing this
Agreement.
B-6
19. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts
(including by facsimile), each of which shall be an original,
with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto
were upon the same instrument.
20. Acknowledgement.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is
entered into in accordance with the provisions of
Section 23B.07.310 of the Business Corporation Act of the
State of Washington.
21. Capitalized Terms.
For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used and not
defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
them in the Merger Agreement.
22. Definitions.
References in this Agreement (except as specifically otherwise
defined) to affiliates shall mean, as to any person,
any other person which, directly or indirectly, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. As
used in this definition, control (including, with
its correlative meanings, controlled by and
under common control with) shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of management or policies of a person,
whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or
other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise. References
in the Agreement to person shall mean an individual,
a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or any
other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of
the Exchange Act) or organization, including, without
limitation, a governmental body or authority.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
B-7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the day and date first above written.
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Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
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/s/
John W. Stanton
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Name: John.
W. Stanton |
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/s/
Theresa E. Gillespie
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Name: Theresa
E. Gillespie |
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STANTON FAMILY TRUST |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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STANTON COMMUNICATIONS |
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CORPORPATION |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
B-8
ANNEX C
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Tel 212.272.2000
www.bearstearns.com
January 9, 2005
The Board of Directors
Western Wireless Corporation
3650 131st Avenue, S.E. Suite 400
Bellevue, WA 98006
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We understand that Western Wireless Corporation (Western
Wireless), ALLTEL Corporation (ALLTEL) and
Wigeon Acquisition LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLTEL
(Merger Sub), have entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger (the Agreement) pursuant to which
Western Wireless will be merged with and into Merger Sub with
Merger Sub surviving (the Merger). Pursuant to the
Merger, each issued and outstanding share of Western Wireless
Class A Common Stock, no par value per share, and each
issued and outstanding share of Western Wireless Class B
Common Stock, no par value per share (other than shares held by
shareholders who properly exercise dissenters rights
(Dissenting Shares) and certain shares to be
canceled pursuant to the Agreement), will, at the election of
the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive one
of the following: (i) a combination of $9.25 in cash and
0.535 shares of ALLTEL Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (ALLTEL Common Stock);
(ii) $40.00 in cash or (iii) 0.7 shares of ALLTEL
Common Stock ((i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively
referred to herein as the Merger Consideration) all
as more further described in the Agreement, including certain
procedures and limitations set forth in the Agreement. You have
provided us with a copy of the Agreement dated as of
January 9, 2005.
You have asked us to render our opinion as to whether the Merger
Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the
shareholders of Western Wireless.
In the course of performing our review and analyses for
rendering this opinion, we have:
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reviewed the Agreement and the Voting Agreement, dated as of
January 9, 2005, among ALLTEL and the shareholders of
Western Wireless named therein; |
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reviewed Western Wireless and ALLTELs Annual Reports
to Shareholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the
years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, their
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended
March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004 and September 30,
2004, their Current Reports on Form 8-K for the three years
ended the date hereof and the preliminary results of Western
Wireless and ALLTEL for the quarter ended December 31, 2004
provided to us by the managements of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL, respectively; |
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reviewed certain operating and financial information relating to
Western Wireless and ALLTELs business and prospects.
This information included projections for the six years ended
December 31, 2009 for Western Wireless prepared by Western
Wireless management and for the year ended
December 31, 2004 for ALLTEL prepared by ALLTELs
management. We also reviewed publicly available research analyst
projections for the five years ended December 31, 2009 for
ALLTEL and reviewed and discussed such projections with the
managements of ALLTEL and Western Wireless. |
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reviewed certain estimates of cost savings and other combination
benefits expected to result from the Merger, prepared and
provided to us by ALLTELs management; |
ATLANTA - BEIJING - BOSTON - BUENOS
AIRES - CHICAGO - DALLAS - DUBLIN - HONG KONG - LONDON
LOS ANGELES - LUGANO - NEW YORK -
PUERTO RICO - SAN FRANCISCO - SÃO PAULO - SHANGHAI -
SINGAPORE - TOKYO
C-1
Western Wireless Corporation
January 9, 2005
Page 2
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met with certain members of Western Wireless and
ALLTELs senior managements to discuss each entitys
respective businesses, operations, historical and projected
financial results and future prospects; |
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reviewed the historical prices, trading multiples and trading
volumes of the common shares of each of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL; |
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reviewed publicly available financial data, stock market
performance data and trading multiples of companies which we
deemed generally comparable to each of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL; |
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reviewed the terms of recent mergers and acquisitions of
companies which we deemed generally comparable to Western
Wireless and the Merger; |
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performed discounted cash flow analyses based on the projections
for each of Western Wireless and ALLTEL and synergy estimates
for the combined company furnished to us; |
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reviewed the pro forma financial results, financial condition
and capitalization of ALLTEL giving effect to the
Merger; and |
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conducted such other studies, analyses, inquiries and
investigations as we deemed appropriate. |
We have relied upon and assumed, without independent
verification, the accuracy and completeness of the financial and
other information provided to us or discussed with us by Western
Wireless and ALLTEL, including, without limitation, the
projections and synergy estimates. With respect to the projected
financial results for Western Wireless and ALLTEL and the
potential synergies that could be achieved upon consummation of
the Merger, we have assumed that they have been reasonably
prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available
estimates and judgments of the persons who prepared such
projected financial results and potential synergies (and with
respect to ALLTEL, were also prepared on bases that are
consistent with the best currently available estimates and
judgments of ALLTEL management), as to the expected future
performance of Western Wireless and ALLTEL, as the case may be.
We have not assumed any responsibility for the independent
verification of any such information or any such projections and
synergy estimates, and we have further relied upon the
assurances of the senior managements of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL that they are unaware of any facts that would make the
information, and projections and synergy estimates, reviewed by
us incomplete or misleading.
In arriving at our opinion, we have not performed or obtained
any independent appraisal of the assets or liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) of Western Wireless and ALLTEL, nor
have we been furnished with any such appraisals. We have assumed
that the Merger will qualify as a tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. We have also
assumed that the Merger will be consummated in a timely manner
and in accordance with the terms of the Agreement without any
limitations, restrictions, conditions, amendments or
modifications, regulatory or otherwise, that collectively would
have a material effect on Western Wireless, ALLTEL or Merger Sub.
We do not express any opinion as to the price or range of prices
at which the shares of common stock of Western Wireless and
ALLTEL may trade subsequent to the announcement or consummation
of the Merger. We also do not express any opinion as to the
fairness of the Merger Consideration to the holders of
Dissenting Shares.
We have acted as a financial advisor to Western Wireless in
connection with the Merger and will receive a customary fee for
such services, a substantial portion of which is contingent on
successful consummation of the Merger. Bear Stearns has been
previously engaged by Western Wireless to provide certain
investment banking and financial advisory services for which we
have received or may in the future receive customary fees. In
the ordinary course of business, Bear Stearns and its affiliates
may actively trade the equity and debt securities and/or bank
debt of Western Wireless and ALLTEL for our own account and for
the account of our customers and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities or bank debt.
C-2
Western Wireless Corporation
January 9, 2005
Page 3
It is understood that this letter is intended for the benefit
and use of the Board of Directors of Western Wireless and does
not constitute a recommendation to the Board of Directors of
Western Wireless or any holders of Western Wireless common stock
as to how to vote in connection with the Merger. This opinion
does not address Western Wireless underlying business
decision to pursue the Merger, the relative merits of the Merger
as compared to any alternative business strategies that might
exist for Western Wireless or the effects of any other
transaction in which Western Wireless might engage. This letter
is not to be used for any other purpose, or be reproduced,
disseminated, quoted from or referred to at any time, in whole
or in part, without our prior written consent; provided,
however, that this letter may be included in its entirety in any
proxy statement/ prospectus to be distributed to the holders of
Western Wireless common stock in connection with the Merger. Our
opinion is subject to the assumptions and conditions contained
herein and is necessarily based on economic, market and other
conditions, and the information made available to us, as of the
date hereof. We assume no responsibility for updating or
revising our opinion based on circumstances or events occurring
after the date hereof.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that,
as of the date hereof, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the shareholders of Western Wireless.
Very truly yours,
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
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By: |
/s/ Louis P. Friedman
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Louis P. Friedman |
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Vice Chairman Investment Banking |
C-3
ANNEX D
CHAPTER 23B.13 OF THE WASHINGTON BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT
DISSENTERS RIGHTS
RCW 23B.13.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
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(1) Corporation means the issuer of the shares
held by a dissenter before the corporate action, or the
surviving or acquiring corporation by merger or share exchange
of that issuer. |
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(2) Dissenter means a shareholder who is
entitled to dissent from corporate action under RCW 23B.13.020
and who exercises that right when and in the manner required by
RCW 23B.13.200 through 23B.13.280. |
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(3) Fair value, with respect to a
dissenters shares, means the value of the shares
immediately before the effective date of the corporate action to
which the dissenter objects, excluding any appreciation or
depreciation in anticipation of the corporate action unless
exclusion would be inequitable. |
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(4) Interest means interest from the effective
date of the corporate action until the date of payment, at the
average rate currently paid by the corporation on its principal
bank loans or, if none, at a rate that is fair and equitable
under all the circumstances. |
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(5) Record shareholder means the person in
whose name shares are registered in the records of a corporation
or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights
granted by a nominee certificate on file with a corporation. |
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(6) Beneficial shareholder means the person who
is a beneficial owner of shares held in a voting trust or by a
nominee as the record shareholder. |
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(7) Shareholder means the record shareholder or
the beneficial shareholder. |
RCW 23B.13.020 Right to dissent.
(1) A shareholder is entitled to dissent from, and obtain
payment of the fair value of the shareholders shares in
the event of, any of the following corporate actions:
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(a) Consummation of a plan of merger to which the
corporation is a party (i) if shareholder approval is
required for the merger by RCW 23B.11.030, 23B.11.080, or the
articles of incorporation and the shareholder is entitled to
vote on the merger, or (ii) if the corporation is a
subsidiary that is merged with its parent under RCW 23B.11.040; |
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(b) Consummation of a plan of share exchange to which the
corporation is a party as the corporation whose shares will be
acquired, if the shareholder is entitled to vote on the plan; |
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(c) Consummation of a sale or exchange of all, or
substantially all, of the property of the corporation other than
in the usual and regular course of business, if the shareholder
is entitled to vote on the sale or exchange, including a sale in
dissolution, but not including a sale pursuant to court order or
a sale for cash pursuant to a plan by which all or substantially
all of the net proceeds of the sale will be distributed to the
shareholders within one year after the date of sale; |
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(d) An amendment of the articles of incorporation, whether
or not the shareholder was entitled to vote on the amendment, if
the amendment effects a redemption or cancellation of all of the
shareholders shares in exchange for cash or other
consideration other than shares of the corporation; or |
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(e) Any corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder
vote to the extent the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a
resolution of the board of directors provides that voting or
nonvoting shareholders are entitled to dissent and obtain
payment for their shares. |
(2) A shareholder entitled to dissent and obtain payment
for the shareholders shares under this chapter may not
challenge the corporate action creating the shareholders
entitlement unless the action fails to comply with the
procedural requirements imposed by this title, RCW 25.10.900
through 25.10.955, the articles of incorporation, or the bylaws,
or is fraudulent with respect to the shareholder or the
corporation.
(3) The right of a dissenting shareholder to obtain payment
of the fair value of the shareholders shares shall
terminate upon the occurrence of any one of the following events:
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(a) The proposed corporate action is abandoned or rescinded; |
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(b) A court having jurisdiction permanently enjoins or sets
aside the corporate action; or |
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(c) The shareholders demand for payment is withdrawn
with the written consent of the corporation. |
RCW 23B.13.030 Dissent by nominees and beneficial
owners.
(1) A record shareholder may assert dissenters rights
as to fewer than all the shares registered in the
shareholders name only if the shareholder dissents with
respect to all shares beneficially owned by any one person and
delivers to the corporation a notice of the name and address of
each person on whose behalf the shareholder asserts
dissenters rights. The rights of a partial dissenter under
this subsection are determined as if the shares as to which the
dissenter dissents and the dissenters other shares were
registered in the names of different shareholders.
(2) A beneficial shareholder may assert dissenters
rights as to shares held on the beneficial shareholders
behalf only if:
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(a) The beneficial shareholder submits to the corporation
the record shareholders consent to the dissent not later
than the time the beneficial shareholder asserts
dissenters rights, which consent shall be set forth either
(i) in a record or (ii) if the corporation has
designated an address, location, or system to which the consent
may be electronically transmitted and the consent is
electronically transmitted to the designated address, location,
or system, in an electronically transmitted record; and |
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(b) The beneficial shareholder does so with respect to all
shares of which such shareholder is the beneficial shareholder
or over which such shareholder has power to direct the vote. |
RCW 23B.13.200 Notice of dissenters
rights.
(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters
rights under RCW 23B.13.020 is submitted to a vote at a
shareholders meeting, the meeting notice must state that
shareholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters
rights under this chapter and be accompanied by a copy of this
chapter.
(2) If corporate action creating dissenters rights
under RCW 23B.13.020 is taken without a vote of shareholders,
the corporation, within ten days after the effective date of
such corporate action, shall deliver a notice to all
shareholders entitled to assert dissenters rights that the
action was taken and send them the notice described in RCW
23B.13.220.
RCW 23B.13.210 Notice of intent to demand
payment.
(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters
rights under RCW 23B.13.020 is submitted to a vote at a
shareholders meeting, a shareholder who wishes to assert
dissenters rights must (a) deliver to the corporation
before the vote is taken notice of the shareholders intent
to demand payment for the shareholders shares if the
proposed action is effected, and (b) not vote such shares
in favor of the proposed action.
D-2
(2) A shareholder who does not satisfy the requirements of
subsection (1) of this section is not entitled to
payment for the shareholders shares under this chapter.
RCW 23B.13.220 Dissenters
rights Notice.
(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters
rights under RCW 23B.13.020 is authorized at a
shareholders meeting, the corporation shall deliver a
notice to all shareholders who satisfied the requirements of RCW
23B.13.210.
(2) The notice must be sent within ten days after the
effective date of the corporate action, and must:
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(a) State where the payment demand must be sent and where
and when certificates for certificated shares must be deposited; |
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(b) Inform holders of uncertificated shares to what extent
transfer of the shares will be restricted after the payment
demand is received; |
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(c) Supply a form for demanding payment that includes the
date of the first announcement to news media or to shareholders
of the terms of the proposed corporate action and requires that
the person asserting dissenters rights certify whether or
not the person acquired beneficial ownership of the shares
before that date; |
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(d) Set a date by which the corporation must receive the
payment demand, which date may not be fewer than thirty nor more
than sixty days after the date the notice in
subsection (1) of this section is delivered; and |
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(e) Be accompanied by a copy of this chapter. |
RCW 23B.13.230 Duty to demand payment.
(1) A shareholder sent a notice described in RCW 23B.13.220
must demand payment, certify whether the shareholder acquired
beneficial ownership of the shares before the date required to
be set forth in the notice pursuant to RCW 23B.13.220(2)(c), and
deposit the shareholders certificates, all in accordance
with the terms of the notice.
(2) The shareholder who demands payment and deposits the
shareholders share certificates under
subsection (1) of this section retains all other
rights of a shareholder until the proposed corporate action is
effected.
(3) A shareholder who does not demand payment or deposit
the shareholders share certificates where required, each
by the date set in the notice, is not entitled to payment for
the shareholders shares under this chapter.
RCW 23B.13.240 Share restrictions.
(1) The corporation may restrict the transfer of
uncertificated shares from the date the demand for their payment
is received until the proposed corporate action is effected or
the restriction is released under RCW 23B.13.260.
(2) The person for whom dissenters rights are
asserted as to uncertificated shares retains all other rights of
a shareholder until the effective date of the proposed corporate
action.
RCW 23B.13.250 Payment.
(1) Except as provided in RCW 23B.13.270, within thirty
days of the later of the effective date of the proposed
corporate action, or the date the payment demand is received,
the corporation shall pay each dissenter who complied with RCW
23B.13.230 the amount the corporation estimates to be the fair
value of the shareholders shares, plus accrued interest.
D-3
(2) The payment must be accompanied by:
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(a) The corporations balance sheet as of the end of a
fiscal year ending not more than sixteen months before the date
of payment, an income statement for that year, a statement of
changes in shareholders equity for that year, and the
latest available interim financial statements, if any; |
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(b) An explanation of how the corporation estimated the
fair value of the shares; |
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(c) An explanation of how the interest was calculated; |
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(d) A statement of the dissenters right to demand
payment under RCW 23B.13.280; and |
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(e) A copy of this chapter. |
RCW 23B.13.260 Failure to take action.
(1) If the corporation does not effect the proposed action
within sixty days after the date set for demanding payment and
depositing share certificates, the corporation shall return the
deposited certificates and release any transfer restrictions
imposed on uncertificated shares.
(2) If after returning deposited certificates and releasing
transfer restrictions, the corporation wishes to undertake the
proposed action, it must send a new dissenters notice
under RCW 23B.13.220 and repeat the payment demand procedure.
RCW 23B.13.270 After-acquired shares.
(1) A corporation may elect to withhold payment required by
RCW 23B.13.250 from a dissenter unless the dissenter was the
beneficial owner of the shares before the date set forth in the
dissenters notice as the date of the first announcement to
news media or to shareholders of the terms of the proposed
corporate action.
(2) To the extent the corporation elects to withhold
payment under subsection (1) of this section, after
taking the proposed corporate action, it shall estimate the fair
value of the shares, plus accrued interest, and shall pay this
amount to each dissenter who agrees to accept it in full
satisfaction of the dissenters demand. The corporation
shall send with its offer an explanation of how it estimated the
fair value of the shares, an explanation of how the interest was
calculated, and a statement of the dissenters right to
demand payment under RCW 23B.13.280.
RCW 23B.13.280 Procedure if shareholder
dissatisfied with payment or offer.
(1) A dissenter may deliver a notice to the corporation
informing the corporation of the dissenters own estimate
of the fair value of the dissenters shares and amount of
interest due, and demand payment of the dissenters
estimate, less any payment under RCW 23B.13.250, or reject the
corporations offer under RCW 23B.13.270 and demand payment
of the dissenters estimate of the fair value of the
dissenters shares and interest due, if:
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(a) The dissenter believes that the amount paid under RCW
23B.13.250 or offered under RCW 23B.13.270 is less than the fair
value of the dissenters shares or that the interest due is
incorrectly calculated; |
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(b) The corporation fails to make payment under RCW
23B.13.250 within sixty days after the date set for demanding
payment; or |
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(c) The corporation does not effect the proposed action and
does not return the deposited certificates or release the
transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares within
sixty days after the date set for demanding payment. |
(2) A dissenter waives the right to demand payment under
this section unless the dissenter notifies the corporation of
the dissenters demand under subsection (1) of
this section within thirty days after the corporation made or
offered payment for the dissenters shares.
D-4
RCW 23B.13.300 Court action.
(1) If a demand for payment under RCW 23B.13.280 remains
unsettled, the corporation shall commence a proceeding within
sixty days after receiving the payment demand and petition the
court to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued
interest. If the corporation does not commence the proceeding
within the sixty-day period, it shall pay each dissenter whose
demand remains unsettled the amount demanded.
(2) The corporation shall commence the proceeding in the
superior court of the county where a corporations
principal office, or, if none in this state, its registered
office, is located. If the corporation is a foreign corporation
without a registered office in this state, it shall commence the
proceeding in the county in this state where the registered
office of the domestic corporation merged with or whose shares
were acquired by the foreign corporation was located.
(3) The corporation shall make all dissenters, whether or
not residents of this state, whose demands remain unsettled,
parties to the proceeding as in an action against their shares
and all parties must be served with a copy of the petition.
Nonresidents may be served by registered or certified mail or by
publication as provided by law.
(4) The corporation may join as a party to the proceeding
any shareholder who claims to be a dissenter but who has not, in
the opinion of the corporation, complied with the provisions of
this chapter. If the court determines that such shareholder has
not complied with the provisions of this chapter, the
shareholder shall be dismissed as a party.
(5) The jurisdiction of the court in which the proceeding
is commenced under subsection (2) of this section is
plenary and exclusive. The court may appoint one or more persons
as appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on the
question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described
in the order appointing them, or in any amendment to it. The
dissenters are entitled to the same discovery rights as parties
in other civil proceedings.
(6) Each dissenter made a party to the proceeding is
entitled to judgment (a) for the amount, if any, by which
the court finds the fair value of the dissenters shares,
plus interest, exceeds the amount paid by the corporation, or
(b) for the fair value, plus accrued interest, of the
dissenters after-acquired shares for which the corporation
elected to withhold payment under RCW 23B.13.270.
RCW 23B.13.310 Court costs and counsel fees.
(1) The court in a proceeding commenced under RCW
23B.13.300 shall determine all costs of the proceeding,
including the reasonable compensation and expenses of appraisers
appointed by the court. The court shall assess the costs against
the corporation, except that the court may assess the costs
against all or some of the dissenters, in amounts the court
finds equitable, to the extent the court finds the dissenters
acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith in
demanding payment under RCW 23B.13.280.
(2) The court may also assess the fees and expenses of
counsel and experts for the respective parties, in amounts the
court finds equitable:
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(a) Against the corporation and in favor of any or all
dissenters if the court finds the corporation did not
substantially comply with the requirements of RCW 23B.13.200
through 23B.13.280; or |
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(b) Against either the corporation or a dissenter, in favor
of any other party, if the court finds that the party against
whom the fees and expenses are assessed acted arbitrarily,
vexatiously, or not in good faith with respect to the rights
provided by chapter 23B.13 RCW. |
(3) If the court finds that the services of counsel for any
dissenter were of substantial benefit to other dissenters
similarly situated, and that the fees for those services should
not be assessed against the corporation, the court may award to
these counsel reasonable fees to be paid out of the amounts
awarded the dissenters who were benefited.
D-5
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHARTER
Scope:
The Audit Committee is a subcommittee of the Board of Directors.
The primary function of the Audit Committee is to represent the
Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities relating
to the accounting, auditing, reporting and financial practices
of Western Wireless Corporation and its subsidiaries
(collectively, the Company). The Audit
Committees role is to provide oversight regarding
financial information of the Company by:
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Reviewing the financial information provided to shareholders and
others, the business risk environment and the audit process. |
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Reviewing the systems of internal control which management and
the Board of Directors have established. |
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Providing an open avenue of communication between the Board of
Directors, management, the internal audit department and the
outside auditors. |
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Ensuring compliance with the Companys Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics. |
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Ensuring the ultimate accountability of the outside auditors to
the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee, and exercising
that authority though the selection, evaluation and if
necessary, replacement of the outside auditors. |
The Audit Committee is empowered to retain independent legal
counsel and other advisors as it deems necessary or appropriate
to assist the Audit Committee in performing its duties set forth
in this charter, and to approve the fees and other retention
terms of such advisors.
It is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to plan or
conduct audits or to determine whether the Companys
financial statement are complete and accurate or in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.
Composition:
The Audit Committee shall be comprised of:
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Three or more members of the Board of Directors, each of whom
shall be independent of the management of the
Company, and free from any relationship that, in the opinion of
the Board, would interfere with his or her independence. For the
purposes hereof, independent shall mean a director
who meets the independence requirements of th National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the NASD),
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC),
and any other regulations applicable tot he Company form time to
time. |
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Each member shall, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, be
financially literate and be able to read and understand the
fundamental financial statements of the Company, including the
Companys balance sheet, income statement and cash flow
statement. At least one member of the Audit Committee shall, in
the judgment of the Board of Directors, be an audit
committee financial expert as the term is defined in
applicable SEC rules. |
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The members Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board and
the Board may remove any member from the Audit Committee at any
time with or without cause. |
Meetings:
The Audit Committee shall:
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Conduct regular meetings, not less than one each quarter, either
in person or telephonically, as would be necessary to ensure the
successful achievement of the Board of Directors oversight |
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responsibilities. The majority of the members of the Audit
Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Audit Committee may act
by unanimous written consent. |
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Meet at least annually with management and with the outside
auditors to discuss any matters that the Audit Committee or each
of these groups believes requires discussion. |
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Meet in separate executive sessions with management and the
outside auditors, as necessary or appropriate, to discuss any
matters that the Audit Committee or any of these groups believe
should be discussed privately with the Audit Committee. |
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Conduct special meetings which may be called by the Chairman of
the Audit Committee, or at the request of management or the
outside auditors. |
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Report to the full Board of Directors with respect to its
meetings and on any significant matter arising from the Audit
Committees work with such recommendations as the Audit
Committee may deem appropriate. |
Areas of Focus and Responsibilities:
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Select and retain the outside auditors, oversee the work of the
outside auditors, review the fees of the outside auditors, and
if necessary, review and approve the discharge of the outside
auditors. Approve in advance the engage of the outside auditors
and their fees for all audit and permitted non-audit services.
Adopt specific policies and procedures for such preapproval,
ensuring that they provide sufficient detail so that the Audit
Committees responsibilities are not delegated to
management. Ensure that the Audit Committees approval of
any audit and permitted non-audit services is publicly disclosed
pursuant to applicable rules. |
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Enable direct communication between the outside auditors and the
Audit Committee at any time. Instruct the outside auditors to
report directly to the Audit Committee any serious difficulties
or disputes with management, and ensure such issues are resolved
in a timely and appropriate manner. |
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At least annually, obtain and review the letter and written
disclosures from the outside auditor consistent with
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, including a
written statement by the outside auditor delineating all
relationships between the auditor and the Company; engage in a
dialogue with the auditor with respect to that firms
independence and any disclosed relationships or services that
may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor; and
take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to
oversee the independence of the outside auditor. |
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Discuss with the outside auditor the matters required to be
discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards (SAS)
No. 61, Communications with Audit Committee, SAS
No. 89, Audit Adjustments, and SAS No. 90, Audit
Committee Communications, all as amended from time to time,
together with any other matters as may be required for public
disclosure or otherwise applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
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At least annually, evaluate the outside auditors
qualifications and performance. |
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Prepare annually the report required by the rules of the SEC to
be included in the Companys annual proxy statement. |
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Review and discuss with the outside auditors their audit
procedures, including the scope and timing of the audit, the
results of the annual audit examination, any accompanying
management letters, and any reports of the outside auditors with
respect to interim periods. |
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Review and assess the adequacy of the audit committee charter at
least annually, or as conditions require. |
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Review and discuss with management and the outside auditors the
Companys annual audited financial statements, including
disclosures made in Managements Discussion and Analysis,
and |
E-2
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make a recommendation regarding the inclusion of the audited
financial statements in the Companys annual report on
Form 10-K to the Board of Directors. |
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Review and discuss with management and the outside auditors the
Companys quarterly financial statements, including
disclosures made in Managements Discussion and Analysis,
prior to the filing of the Companys quarterly report on
Form 10-Q, and the results of the outside auditors
review of the quarterly financial statements. |
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Make specific inquiry with respect to the outside auditors
judgment regarding the quality of financial
information in addition to compliance with accounting standards
and conventions. |
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Review with management and the outside auditors the adequacy and
effectiveness of the Companys internal controls, and the
outside auditors related attestation. Consider with
management and the internal and outside auditors whether any
changes to such internal controls are appropriate. |
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Review disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the
Companys chief executive officer and chief financial
officer during their certification process for the
Companys reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q
regarding any significant deficiencies in the design or
operations of internal controls or material weaknesses therein
and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a
significant role in the Companys internal controls. |
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Review with management and the outside auditors the accounting
policies which may be viewed as critical, and review any
significant changes in accounting policies of the Company and
accounting and financial reporting proposal that may have a
significant impact on the Companys financial reports. |
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Review with management the Companys major financial risk
exposures and steps management has taken to monitor and control
such exposures, including the Companys risk assessment and
risk management policies. |
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Review compliance with audit committee membership requirements
annually, or as new members are added to the Committee.
Periodically evaluate the performance of and take steps to
improve the effectiveness of the Audit Committee in meeting its
responsibilities under the audit committee charter. |
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Review the internal audit departments staffing, budget and
responsibilities. Enable direct communication between the Audit
Committee and the internal audit department at any time, as
needed, to address concerns. |
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Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Company regarding accounting,
internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and the
confidential, and anonymous submission by employees of the
Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or
auditing matters. |
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Approve all related party transactions, as defined by applicable
NASD rules, to which the Company is a party for potential
conflict of interest situations. |
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Review the procedures established by management to monitor
compliance with the Companys Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics. Receive reports from management regarding the
Companys compliance with the Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics. |
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Review with management and the outside auditors changes in
accounting standards or rules proposed by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or the SEC that may effect the
Companys financial statements. |
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The Audit Committee may form a delegate authority to
subcommittees and may delegate authority to one or more
designated members of the Audit Committee when necessary or
appropriate. |
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Make relevant inquiries and take necessary actions to fulfill
the undertakings set forth in this charter. |
E-3
WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Adopted by Board of Directors December 30, 2004;
Approved by Shareholders
[ ],
2005;
Expires December 30, 2014)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page | |
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1.
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Purpose of the Plan |
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F-1 |
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2.
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Definitions |
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F-1 |
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(a) |
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Award |
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F-1 |
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(b) |
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Award Agreement |
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F-1 |
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(c) |
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Beneficial Ownership |
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F-1 |
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(d) |
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Board |
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F-1 |
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(e) |
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Code |
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F-1 |
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(f) |
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Committee |
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F-1 |
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(g) |
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Common Stock |
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F-1 |
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(h) |
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Company |
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F-1 |
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(i) |
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Company Holdings |
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F-1 |
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(j) |
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Consultant |
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F-1 |
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(k) |
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Continuous Status as a Participant |
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F-1 |
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(l) |
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Director |
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F-2 |
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(m) |
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Disability |
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F-2 |
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(n) |
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Employee |
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F-2 |
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(o) |
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Exchange Act |
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F-2 |
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(p) |
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Executive Officers |
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F-2 |
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(q) |
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Fair Market Value |
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F-2 |
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(r) |
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FAS 123 |
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F-3 |
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(s) |
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FLSA |
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F-3 |
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(t) |
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Former Plan |
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F-3 |
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(u) |
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Incentive Stock Option |
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F-3 |
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(v) |
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Independent Director |
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F-3 |
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(w) |
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Maximum Annual Participant Award |
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F-3 |
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(x) |
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Nasdaq |
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F-3 |
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(y) |
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New Awards |
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F-3 |
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(z) |
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Non-Employee Director |
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F-3 |
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(aa) |
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Nonqualified Stock Option |
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F-3 |
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(bb) |
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Option |
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F-3 |
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(cc) |
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Option Price |
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F-3 |
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(dd) |
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Parent |
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F-3 |
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(ee) |
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Participant |
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F-3 |
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(ff) |
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Performance Criteria |
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F-3 |
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(gg) |
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Plan |
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F-3 |
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(hh) |
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Reorganization |
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F-3 |
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(ii) |
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Reprice |
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F-3 |
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(jj) |
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Restricted Stock |
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F-3 |
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(kk) |
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Restricted Stock Units |
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F-3 |
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(ll) |
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SAR |
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F-3 |
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(mm) |
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SEC |
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F-3 |
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(nn) |
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Share |
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F-4 |
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F-i
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Page | |
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(oo) |
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Stand-Alone SARs |
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F-4 |
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(pp) |
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Subcommittee |
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F-4 |
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(qq) |
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Subsidiary |
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F-4 |
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(rr) |
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Tandem SARs |
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F-4 |
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3.
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Shares Subject to the Plan |
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F-4 |
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(a) |
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Reservation of Shares |
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F-4 |
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(b) |
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Substitutions and Assumptions |
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F-4 |
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(c) |
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Securities Law Compliance |
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F-4 |
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4.
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Adjustments to Shares Subject to the Plan |
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F-5 |
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(a) |
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Changes in Capitalization |
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F-5 |
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(b) |
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Issuance of Securities |
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F-5 |
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(c) |
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Corporate Structure |
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F-5 |
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5.
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Plan Administration |
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F-5 |
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(a) |
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Authority |
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F-5 |
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(b) |
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Powers of the Committee |
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F-6 |
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(c) |
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Effect of Committees Decision |
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F-6 |
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(d) |
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Delegation and Administration |
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F-6 |
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6.
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General Eligibility |
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F-7 |
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(a) |
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Awards |
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F-7 |
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(b) |
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Maximum Annual Participant Award |
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F-7 |
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(c) |
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No Employment/Service Rights |
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F-7 |
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7.
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Grant, Terms and Conditions of Options |
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F-7 |
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(a) |
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Designation |
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F-7 |
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(b) |
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Option Price |
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F-7 |
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(c) |
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Term of Options |
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F-7 |
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(d) |
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Vesting |
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F-7 |
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(e) |
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Substitution of SARs for Options |
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F-8 |
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(f) |
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Exercise |
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F-8 |
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8.
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Grant, Terms and Conditions of Stock Awards |
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F-8 |
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(a) |
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Designation |
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F-8 |
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(b) |
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Restrictions |
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F-8 |
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(c) |
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Performance Criteria |
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F-8 |
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(d) |
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Vesting |
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F-8 |
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9.
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Grant, Terms and Conditions of SARs |
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F-9 |
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(a) |
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Grants |
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F-9 |
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(b) |
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Tandem SARs |
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F-9 |
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(c) |
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Stand-Alone SARs |
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F-9 |
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10.
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Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder |
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F-9 |
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(a) |
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Procedure |
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F-9 |
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(b) |
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Method of Payment |
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F-10 |
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(c) |
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Withholding Obligations |
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F-10 |
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(d) |
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Shareholder Rights |
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F-10 |
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(e) |
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Non-Transferability of Awards |
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F-10 |
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F-ii
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Page | |
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11.
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Expiration of Awards |
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F-10 |
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(a) |
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Expiration, Termination or Forfeiture of Awards |
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F-10 |
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(b) |
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Extension of Term |
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F-11 |
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12.
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Term, Amendment and Termination of the Plan |
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F-11 |
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(a) |
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Term of Plan |
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F-11 |
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(b) |
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Amendment and Termination |
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F-11 |
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(c) |
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Participants in Foreign Countries |
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F-11 |
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(d) |
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Effect of Amendment or Termination |
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F-11 |
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13.
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Shareholder Approval |
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F-11 |
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F-iii
WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose of the Plan. The purposes of this
Plan are to further the growth, development and financial
success of the Company by attracting and retaining the most
talented Employees, Consultants and Directors available, and by
aligning the long-term interests of Employees, Consultants and
Directors with those of the shareholders by providing an
opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company and
by providing both performance rewards and long term incentives
for future contributions to the success of the Company.
The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options,
Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Units, or SARs, at the discretion of the Committee and as
reflected in the terms of the Award Agreement. Each Award will
be subject to conditions specified in the Plan, such as
continued employment or satisfaction of performance criteria.
This Plan will serve as a framework for the Committee to
establish sub-plans or procedures governing the grants to
Employees, Directors and Consultants, including such persons
working for the Company outside of the United States.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following
definitions shall apply:
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(a) Award shall mean any award or
benefits granted under the Plan, including Options, Restricted
Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and SARs. |
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(b) Award Agreement shall mean a
written or electronic agreement between the Company and the
Participant setting forth the terms of the Award. Such
agreements may contain other terms and conditions, including
without limitation a nondisclosure agreement and noncompetition
agreement, which the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion
in an Award Agreement. The provisions of the various Award
Agreements or other agreements entered into under the Plan need
not be identical. |
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(c) Beneficial Ownership shall
have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act. |
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(d) Board shall mean the Board of
Directors of the Company. |
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(e) Code shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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(f) Committee shall mean the
Compensation Committee appointed by the Board, which at all
times shall consist solely of Independent Directors. |
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(g) Common Stock shall mean the
Class A Common Stock of the Company, no par value per share. |
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(h) Company shall mean Western
Wireless Corporation, a Washington corporation and any successor
thereto. |
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(i) Company Holdings shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of the Plan. |
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(j) Consultant shall mean any
person, except an Employee, engaged by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, to render personal services to such
entity, including as an advisor. |
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(k) Continuous Status as a
Participant shall mean (i) for Employees, the
absence of any interruption or termination of service as an
Employee, (ii) for Directors, the absence of any
interruption or termination of service as a Director, and
(iii) for Consultants, the absence of any interruption,
expiration, or termination of such persons consulting or
advisory relationship with the Company or the occurrence of any
termination event as set forth in such persons Award
Agreement. Continuous Status as a Participant shall not be
considered interrupted (A) for an Employee in the case of
sick leave, maternity leave, infant care leave, medical
emergency leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence
in each case so long as such leave has been properly approved
and taken in accordance with the policies of the Company or any
applicable Subsidiary as may be in effect from |
F-1
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time to time, and (B) for a Consultant, in the case of any
temporary interruption in such persons availability to
provide services to the Company which has been authorized in
writing by a vice president of the Company prior to its
commencement. In the event a Subsidiary ceases to be a
Subsidiary, such event will constitute termination of Continuous
Status as a Participant with respect to Participants providing
services as an Employee, Consultant or Director of such
Subsidiary. |
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(l) Director shall mean a member
of the Board. |
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(m) Disability shall mean
(i) in the case of a Participant whose employment with the
Company or a Subsidiary is subject to the terms of an employment
or consulting agreement that includes a definition of
Disability, the term Disability as used
in this Plan shall have the meaning set forth in such employment
or consulting agreement during the period that such employment
or consulting agreement remains in effect; and (ii) in all
other cases, the term Disability as used in this
Plan shall mean a permanent and total disability as
the term is defined for purposes of Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code. |
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(n) Employee shall mean any
person, including an officer, who is a common law employee of,
receives remuneration for personal services to, is reflected on
the official human resources database as an employee of, and is
on the payroll of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
A person is on the payroll if he or she is paid from or at the
direction of the payroll department of the Company, or any
Subsidiary of the Company. Persons providing services to the
Company, or to any Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to an
agreement with a staff leasing organization, temporary workers
engaged through or employed by temporary or leasing agencies,
and workers who hold themselves out to the Company, or a
Subsidiary to which they are providing services, as being
independent contractors, or as being employed by or engaged
through another company while providing the services, and
persons covered by a collective bargaining agreement (unless the
collective bargaining agreement applicable to the person
specifically provides for participation in this Plan) are not
Employees for purposes of this Plan, whether or not such persons
are, or may be reclassified by the courts, the Internal Revenue
Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, or other person or
entity, as common law employees of the Company, or any
Subsidiary, either solely or jointly with another person or
entity. |
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(o) Exchange Act shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
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(p) Executive Officers shall mean
the officers of the Company as such term is defined in
Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act. |
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(q) Fair Market Value shall mean,
as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as
follows: |
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(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without
limitation the Nasdaq National Market System, the Fair Market
Value of a Share of Common Stock shall be the average of the
opening and closing sales prices for such stock (or the closing
bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such system or
exchange (or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading in
Common Stock) on the day of determination, as reported in the
Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee
deems reliable; |
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(ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System
(but not on the National Market System thereof) or is regularly
quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are
not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock
shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for
the Common Stock on the day of determination, as reported in the
Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee
deems reliable; and |
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(iii) In the absence of an established market for the
Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good
faith by the Committee as required. |
F-2
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(r) FAS 123 shall mean
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 123,
Accounting for Stock-based Compensation, as
promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. |
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(s) FLSA shall mean the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended. |
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(t) Former Plan shall mean the
Western Wireless Corporation Amended and Restated 1994
Management Incentive Stock Option Plan. |
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(u) Incentive Stock Option shall
mean any Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. |
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(v) Independent Director shall
mean a Director who: (1) meets the independence
requirements of Nasdaq, or if Nasdaq shall cease to be the
principal exchange or quotation system upon which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or quoted, then such exchange or
quotation system as the Company elects to list or quote its
shares of Common Stock and that the Committee designates as the
Companys principal exchange or quotation system;
(2) qualifies as an outside director under
Section 162(m) of the Code; (3) qualifies as a
non-employee director under Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (4) satisfies
independence criteria under any other applicable laws or
regulations relating to the issuance of Shares to Employees. |
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(w) Maximum Annual Participant Award
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(b) of the
Plan. |
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(x) Nasdaq shall mean The Nasdaq
Stock Market, Inc. |
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(y) New Awards shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of the Plan. |
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(z) Non-Employee Director shall
mean a Director who is not an Employee. |
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(aa) Nonqualified Stock Option
shall mean an Option that does not qualify or is not
intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
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(bb) Option shall mean a stock
option granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan. |
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(cc) Option Price shall mean the
per share purchase price of a Share purchased pursuant to an
Option, as specified by the Committee in the applicable Award
Agreement. |
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(dd) Parent shall mean a
parent corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. |
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(ee) Participant shall mean an
Employee, Director or Consultant who holds an outstanding Award. |
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(ff) Performance Criteria shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c). |
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(gg) Plan shall mean this Western
Wireless Corporation 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan,
including any amendments thereto. |
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(hh) Reorganization shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of the Plan. |
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(ii) Reprice shall mean the
adjustment or amendment of the exercise price of Options or SARs
previously awarded whether through amendment, cancellation,
replacement of grants or any other means. |
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(jj) Restricted Stock shall mean
a grant of Shares pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan. |
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(kk) Restricted Stock Units shall
mean a grant of the right to receive Shares in the future or
their cash equivalent (or both) pursuant to Section 8 of
the Plan. |
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(ll) SAR shall mean a stock
appreciation right awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the
Plan. |
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(mm) SEC shall mean the
Securities and Exchange Commission. |
F-3
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(nn) Share shall mean one share
of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 4
of the Plan. |
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(oo) Stand-Alone SARs shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 9(c) of the Plan. |
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(pp) Subcommittee shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 5(d) of the Plan. |
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(qq) Subsidiary shall mean
(1) in the case of an Incentive Stock Option a
subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, and
(2) in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, Restricted
Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit or a SAR, in addition to a
subsidiary corporation as defined in (1), (A) a limited
liability company, partnership or other entity in which the
Company controls fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power
or equity interests, or (B) an entity with respect to which
the Company possesses the power, directly or indirectly, to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
that entity, whether through the Companys ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise. |
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(rr) Tandem SARs shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 9(a) of the Plan. |
3. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Reservation of Shares. The number of
shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall
be 8,000,000 plus any shares of Common Stock subject to
outstanding awards under the Former Plan on the date of
shareholder approval of the Plan that later cease to be subject
to such awards for any reason other than such awards having been
exercised, which shares of Common Stock shall, as of the date
such shares cease to be subject to such awards, cease to be
available for grant and issuance under the Former Plan, but
shall be available for issuance under the Plan. The options
granted under the Former Plan shall continue to be administered
under the Former Plan until such time as those options have been
exercised, expire or become unexercisable for any reason.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, subject to the
provisions of Section 4(a), the maximum aggregate number of
Shares which may be granted through Incentive Stock Options
under the Plan shall not exceed 3,000,000. The aggregate number
of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be reduced
by one Share for each Share delivered in settlement of an Option
or award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or SAR. The
number of Shares underlying an Award not issued as a result of
any of the following actions shall again be available for
issuance under the Plan: (i) a payout of a Non-Tandem SAR,
or a performance-based Restricted Stock award in the form of
cash; (ii) a cancellation, termination, expiration,
forfeiture, or lapse for any reason (with the exception of the
termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related
Options, or the termination of a related Option upon exercise of
the corresponding Tandem SAR) of any Award; or
(iii) payment of the Option exercise price and/or payment
of any taxes arising upon exercise of the Option by withholding
Shares which otherwise would be acquired on exercise or issued
upon such payout. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of
Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the
Plan. The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired
shares of Common Stock.
(b) Substitutions and Assumptions. The Board
or the Committee shall have the right to substitute or assume
Awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations,
or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code
applies, provided such substitutions and assumptions are
permitted by Section 424 of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. The number of Shares reserved pursuant
to Section 3(a) may be increased by a corresponding number
of Awards assumed and, in the case of substitution, by the net
increase in the number of Shares subject to Awards before and
after the substitution.
(c) Securities Law Compliance. Shares shall
not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the
exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such
Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and
regulations promulgated under either such Act, and the
requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon
which the Shares may then be listed or
F-4
quoted, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel
for the Company with respect to such compliance.
4. Adjustments to Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. If any change
is made to the Shares by reason of any stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of
shares or other change affecting the outstanding Shares as a
class without the Companys receipt of consideration,
appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum
number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan,
(ii) the number and/or class of securities and/or the price
per Share covered by outstanding Awards under the Plan, and
(iii) the Maximum Annual Participant Award. The Committee
may also make adjustments described in (i)-(iii) of the previous
sentence in the event of any distribution of assets to
shareholders other than a normal cash dividend. In determining
adjustments to be made under this Section 4, the Committee
may take into account such factors as it deems appropriate,
including the restrictions of applicable law and the potential
tax consequences of an adjustment, and in light of such factors
may make adjustments that are not uniform or proportionate among
outstanding Awards. Adjustments, if any, and any determinations
or interpretations, including any determination of whether a
distribution is other than a normal cash dividend, made by the
Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. In lieu of the
payment of a dividend, the Committee in its discretion may
provide holders of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units a
dividend equivalent right, in the form of additional Shares or
units, with respect to the unvested Shares or unvested units the
Participant shall be entitled to receive or purchase. For
purposes of this Section 4, conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been
effected without receipt of consideration.
(b) Issuance of Securities. Except as
expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares
of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any
class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject
to an Award.
(c) Corporate Structure. In the event of a
merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock,
separation, reorganization or other change to the capital or
business structure of the Company (including, without
limitation, by means of an exchange offer or other transaction)
(collectively, a Reorganization) the effect of which
is to organize a parent company of the Company which will own
not less than 50% of the capital stock of the Company (such
parent company is hereinafter referred to as Company
Holdings) in which the shareholders of the Company prior
to the Reorganization hold the same proportional share interests
in Company Holdings after the Reorganization as they held in the
Company prior to the Reorganization, the Committee shall have
the authority to effect, without the consent of the
Participants, (i) the cancellation of all outstanding
Awards granted under the Plan and substitute therefor awards
with respect to shares of Company Holdings (New
Awards), or (ii) the assumption by Company Holdings
of Awards granted under the Plan; provided, however, that
(x) immediately after the Reorganization the excess of the
aggregate fair market value of all shares subject to New Awards
over the aggregate exercise prices of all shares subject to New
Awards shall equal but not be more than the excess of the
aggregate fair market value immediately preceding the
Reorganization of all Shares subject to Awards granted under the
Plan over the aggregate exercise prices of all Shares subject to
Awards granted under the Plan, and (y) New Awards, or the
assumption or substitution of Awards granted under the Plan, do
not give a Participant additional benefits which such
Participant did not have under Awards granted under the Plan.
Such a Reorganization shall not be treated as a Change of
Control for purposes of the Plan and related Award Agreements.
The grant of Awards under this Plan will in no way affect the
right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize, or
otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any
part of its business or assets or effect any other
Reorganization.
5. Plan Administration.
(a) Authority. The Plan shall be administered
by the Committee. The Committee shall have full and exclusive
power to administer the Plan on behalf of the Board, subject to
such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe. The
Board, in its sole discretion, may exercise any authority of the
F-5
Committee under the Plan in lieu of the Committees
exercise thereof and in such instances references in the Plan to
the Committee shall refer to the Board.
(b) Powers of the Committee. Subject to the
other provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have the
authority, in its discretion:
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(i) to grant Incentive Stock Options to Employees and to
grant Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Units, and SARs to Employees, Consultants and Directors
and to determine the terms and conditions of such Awards,
including the determination of the Fair Market Value of the
Shares and the exercise price, and to modify or amend each
Award, with the consent of the Participant when required; |
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(ii) to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors
to whom Awards, if any, will be granted hereunder, the timing of
such Awards, and the number of Shares to be represented by each
Award; |
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(iii) to construe and interpret the Plan, the Awards
granted hereunder, and any Award Agreement; |
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(iv) to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, including the form of Award Agreement, and
manner of acceptance of an Award, such as correcting a defect or
supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency so that
the Plan or any Award Agreement complies with applicable law,
regulations and listing requirements and to avoid unanticipated
consequences deemed by the Committee to be inconsistent with the
purposes of the Plan or any Award Agreement; |
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(v) to establish performance criteria for Awards made
pursuant to the Plan in accordance with a methodology
established by the Committee, and to determine whether
performance goals have been attained; |
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(vi) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the
Participant) the exercise or vested date of any Award; |
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(vii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an
Award previously granted by the Committee; |
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(viii) to establish subplans, procedures or guidelines for
the grant of Awards to Employees, Directors and Consultants,
including such persons working for the Company outside of the
United States; |
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(ix) to authorize the cancellation, forfeiture or
suspension of an Award; and |
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(x) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan; |
Provided that, no consent of a Participant is necessary under
clauses (i) or (vi) if a modification, amendment,
acceleration, or deferral, in the reasonable judgment of the
Committee confers a benefit on the Participant or is made
pursuant to an adjustment in accordance with Section 4.
(c) Effect of Committees Decision. All
decisions, determinations, and interpretations of the Committee
shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Participants, the
Company, any shareholder and all other persons.
(d) Delegation and Administration. Consistent
with the Committees charter, as such charter may be
amended from time to time, the Committee may delegate to one or
more subcommittees consisting of members of the Committee or
other Directors who are Independent Directors (any such
committee a Subcommittee) the administration of the
Plan, and such administrator(s) may have the authority to
directly, or under their supervision, execute and distribute
agreements or other documents evidencing or relating to Awards
granted by the Committee under this Plan, to maintain records
relating to the grant, vesting, exercise, forfeiture or
expiration of Awards, to process or oversee the issuance of
Shares upon the
F-6
exercise, vesting and/or settlement of an Award, to interpret
the terms of Awards and to take such other actions as the
Committee may specify. Any action by any such Subcommittee
within the scope of such delegation shall be deemed for all
purposes to have been taken by the Committee.
6. General Eligibility.
(a) Awards. Awards may be granted to
Employees, Directors or Consultants, provided however that
Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Employees.
Granting of all Awards is at the discretion of the Committee.
(b) Maximum Annual Participant Award. The
aggregate number of Shares with respect to which an Award or
Awards may be granted to any one Participant in any one taxable
year of the Company (the Maximum Annual Participant
Award) shall not exceed 2,000,000 shares of Common
Stock (adjusted, proportionately, in the event of any stock
split or stock dividend with respect to the Shares). If an
Option is in tandem with a SAR, such that the exercise of the
Option or SAR with respect to a Share cancels the tandem SAR or
Option right, respectively, with respect to each Share, the
tandem Option and SAR rights with respect to each Share shall be
counted as covering one Share for purposes of the Maximum Annual
Participant Award.
(c) No Employment/Service Rights. Nothing in
the Plan shall confer upon any Employee, Consultant or Director
the right to an Award or to continue in service as an Employee,
Consultant or Director for any period of specific duration, or
interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of
the Company (or any Subsidiary employing or retaining such
person), or of any Employee, Consultant or Director, which
rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such
persons services at any time for any reason, with or
without cause.
7. Grant, Terms and Conditions of Options.
(a) Designation. Each Option shall be
designated in an Award Agreement as either Incentive Stock
Options or Nonqualified Stock Options. However, notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, if an Option is not designated as an
Incentive Stock Option, such Option will be deemed to be a
Nonqualified Stock Option. To the extent that the aggregate Fair
Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Options
designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the
first time by any Employee during any calendar year exceeds
$100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonqualified
Stock Options. Options shall be taken into account in the order
in which they were granted.
(b) Option Price. The per Share exercise
price under an Incentive Stock Option (i) granted to an
Employee who, at the time of grant of such Incentive Stock
Option, owns Shares representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of Shares
of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, shall be no less
than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant, or (ii) granted to any other Participant, shall be
no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant. Subject to the discretion of the Committee, the per
Share exercise price under a Nonqualified Stock Option or SAR
shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. In no event
shall the Board or the Committee be permitted to Reprice an
Option after the date of grant.
(c) Term of Options. The term of each
Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than ten (10) years
from the date of grant. However, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to an Employee who, at the time the Option
is granted, owns Shares representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares
of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the
Option shall be no more than five (5) years from the date
of grant. The term of all Nonqualified Options shall be at the
discretion of the Committee.
(d) Vesting. Unless the Committee determines
otherwise, to the extent Options vest and become exercisable in
increments, such Options shall cease vesting as of the date of
the Participants death, Disability or termination of such
Participants Continuous Status as a Participant for any
other reasons.
F-7
(e) Substitution of SARs for Options.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is required to or
elects to expense the cost of Options pursuant to FAS 123
(or a successor or other standard), the Committee shall have the
sole discretion to substitute without receiving
Participants permission, SARs paid only in stock for
outstanding Options; provided, the terms of the substituted
stock SARs are the same as the terms of the Options, the number
of shares underlying the number of stock SARs equals the number
of shares underlying the Options and the difference between the
Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares and the grant price
of the SARs is equivalent to the difference between the Fair
Market Value of the underlying Shares and the exercise price of
the Options.
(f) Exercise. Any Option granted hereunder
shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as
determined by the Committee at the time of grant, and as shall
be permissible under the terms of the Plan. No fractional Shares
may be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.
8. Grant, Terms and Conditions of Stock
Awards.
(a) Designation. Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units may be granted either alone, in addition
to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may include a
dividend equivalent right, as permitted by Section 4. After
the Committee determines that it will offer Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units, it will advise the Participant in
writing or electronically, by means of an Award Agreement, of
the terms, conditions and restrictions, including vesting, if
any, related to the offer, including the number of Shares that
the Participant shall be entitled to receive or purchase, the
price to be paid, if any, and, if applicable, the time within
which the Participant must accept the offer. The offer shall be
accepted by execution of an Award Agreement or as otherwise
directed by the Committee. Restricted Stock Units may be paid
for as permitted by Section 10(b). The term of each award
of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be at the
discretion of the Committee.
(b) Restrictions. Subject to
Section 8(c), the Committee may impose such conditions or
restrictions on the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units
granted pursuant to the Plan as it may determine advisable,
including the achievement of specific performance goals, time
based restrictions on vesting, or others. If the Committee has
established performance goals, the Committee in its sole
discretion shall determine whether a Participant has satisfied
the performance goals.
(c) Performance Criteria. Restricted Stock
and Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the Plan that are
intended to qualify as performance based
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall
be subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to
the Performance Criteria selected by the Committee and specified
at the time such Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are
granted. For purposes of this Plan, Performance
Criteria means one or more of the following (as selected
by the Committee): (i) cash flow; (ii) earnings per
share; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, and
amortization; (iv) Adjusted EBITDA; (v) return on
equity; (vi) total shareholder return; (vii) share
price performance; (viii) return on capital;
(ix) return on assets or net assets; (x) revenue;
(xi) earnings growth; (xii) operating income;
(xiii) operating profit; (xiv) profit margin;
(xv) return on operating revenue; (xvi) return on
invested capital; (xvii) market price; (xviii) brand
recognition; (xix) customer satisfaction;
(xx) operating efficiency; (xxi) productivity;
(xxii) subscriber growth; or (xxiii) subscriber
retention. Any of these Performance Criteria may be used to
measure the performance of the Company as a whole or any
business unit or division of the Company.
(d) Vesting. Unless the Committee determines
otherwise, the Award Agreement shall provide for the forfeiture
of the non-vested Shares underlying Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units upon cessation of a Participants
Continuous Status as a Participant. To the extent that the
Participant purchased the Shares granted under such Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units and any such Shares remain
non-vested at the time of cessation of a Participants
Continuous Status as a Participant, the cessation of a
Participants Continuous Status as a Participant shall
cause an immediate sale of such non-vested Shares to the Company
at the original price per Share paid by the Participant.
F-8
9. Grant, Terms and Conditions of SARs.
(a) Grants. The Committee shall have the full
power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to
grant SARs to selected Employees, Consultants and Directors. The
Committee is authorized to grant both tandem stock appreciation
rights consisting of SARs with underlying Options (Tandem
SARs) and stand-alone stock appreciation rights consisting
of SARs with no underlying Options
(Stand-Alone SARs). The term of a SAR shall be
at the discretion of the Committee. In no event shall the Board
or the Committee be permitted to Reprice a SAR after the date of
grant without shareholder approval.
(b) Tandem SARs.
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(i) Participants may be granted a Tandem SAR,
exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee
shall establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying
Option for Shares or the surrender of the Option in exchange for
a distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess
of (A) the Fair Market Value (on the Option surrender date)
of the number of Shares in which the Participant is at the time
vested under the surrendered Option (or surrendered portion
thereof) over (B) the aggregate exercise price payable for
such vested Shares. |
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(ii) No such Option surrender shall be effective unless it
is approved by the Committee, either at the time of the actual
Option surrender or at any earlier time. If the surrender is so
approved, then the distributions to which the Participant shall
become entitled under this Section 9(b) may be made in
Shares valued at Fair Market Value (on the Option surrender
date), in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash, as the
Committee shall deem appropriate. |
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(iii) If the surrender of an Option is not approved by the
Committee, then the Participant shall retain whatever rights he
or she had under the surrendered Option (or surrendered portion
thereof) on the Option surrender date and may exercise such
rights at any time prior to the later of (A) five
(5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice
or (B) the last day on which the Option is otherwise
exercisable in accordance with the terms of the instrument
evidencing such Option, but in no event may such rights be
exercised more than ten (10) years after the date of the
Option grant. |
(c) Stand-Alone SARs.
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(i) A Participant may be granted a Stand-Alone SAR not
tied to any underlying Option under Section 7 of the Plan.
The Stand-Alone SAR shall cover a specified number of
Shares and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions
as the Committee shall establish. Upon exercise of the
Stand-Alone SAR, the holder shall be entitled to receive a
distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess
of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the exercise
date) of the Shares underlying the exercised right over
(B) the aggregate base price in effect for those Shares. |
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(ii) The number of Shares underlying each
Stand-Alone SAR and the base price in effect for those
Shares shall be determined by the Committee at the time the
Stand-Alone SAR is granted. In no event, however, may the
base price per Share be less than the Fair Market Value per
underlying Share on the grant date. |
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(iii) The distribution with respect to an exercised
Stand-Alone SAR may be made in Shares valued at Fair Market
Value on the exercise date, in cash, or partly in Shares and
partly in cash, as the Committee shall deem appropriate. |
10. Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a
Shareholder.
(a) Procedure. An Award shall be exercised
when written notice of exercise has been given to the Company,
or the brokerage firm or firms approved by the Company to
facilitate exercises and sales under this Plan, in accordance
with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise
the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which
the Award is exercised has been received by the Company or the
brokerage firm or firms, as applicable. The notification to the
brokerage firm shall be made in accordance with procedures of
such brokerage firm approved by the Company. Full payment may, as
F-9
authorized by the Committee, consist of any consideration and
method of payment allowable under the terms of this Plan. The
Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Share promptly
upon exercise of the Award. In the event that the exercise of an
Award is treated in part as the exercise of an Incentive Stock
Option and in part as the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock
Option pursuant to Section 7(a), the Company shall issue a
share certificate evidencing the Shares treated as acquired upon
the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and a separate share
certificate evidencing the Shares treated as acquired upon the
exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, and shall identify each
such certificate accordingly in its share transfer records. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which
the record date is prior to the date the Share is issued, except
as provided in Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) Method of Payment. The consideration to
be paid for any Shares to be issued upon exercise or other
required settlement of an Award, including a method of payment,
shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at
the time of grant of the Award or settlement, and which forms
may include at the Committees discretion: (i) check;
(ii) wire transfer; (iii) tender of shares of Common
Stock owned by the Participant in accordance with rules
established by the Committee from time to time; and (iv) a
request that the Company or a designated brokerage firm conduct
a cashless exercise of the Option. Shares used to pay the Option
Price shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise
date. Payment of the aggregate Option Price by means of
tendering previously-owned shares of Common Stock shall not be
permitted when the same may, in the reasonable opinion of the
Company, cause the Company to record a loss or expense as a
result thereof.
(c) Withholding Obligations. To the extent
required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, the
Committee may and/or a Participant shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any
withholding tax obligations that arise with respect to any
Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, SAR,
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or any sale of
Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares or to
recognize the disposition of such Shares until such obligations
are satisfied. These obligations may, at the sole discretion of
the Committee, be satisfied by having the Company withhold a
portion of the Shares that otherwise would be issued to a
Participant under such Award or by tendering Shares previously
acquired by the Participant in accordance with rules established
by the Committee from time to time.
(d) Shareholder Rights. Except as otherwise
provided in this Plan, until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the Shares, no
right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a
shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares subject to
the Award, notwithstanding the exercise of the Award.
(e) Non-Transferability of Awards. An Award
may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred,
or disposed of in exchange for consideration, and may not be
transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent or
distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Participant, only by the Participant; unless the Committee
permits further transferability, on a general or specific basis,
in which case the Committee may impose conditions and
limitations on any permitted transferability.
11. Expiration of Awards.
(a) Expiration, Termination or Forfeiture of
Awards. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable
Award Agreement or any severance agreement, vested Awards
granted under this Plan shall expire, terminate, or otherwise be
forfeited as follows:
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(i) Six (6) months and one (1) day (except in the
case of an Incentive Stock Option in which case such period
shall be shortened to three (3) months) after the date of
termination of a Participants Continuous Status as a
Participant other than in circumstances covered by (ii) or
(iii) below; |
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(ii) twelve (12) months after the date on which a
Participant ceased performing services as a result of his or her
total and permanent Disability; and |
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(iii) twenty-four (24) months from the date of the
death of a Participant whose Continuous Status as a Participant
terminated as a result of his or her death. |
(b) Extension of Term. Notwithstanding
subsection (a) above, the Committee shall have the
authority to extend the expiration date of any outstanding
Options or SARs other than an Incentive Stock Option in
circumstances in which it deems such action to be appropriate
(provided that no such extension shall extend the term of an
Option or SAR beyond the date on which the Award would have
expired or been forfeited if there had been no termination of
the Employees Continuous Status as a Participant).
12. Term, Amendment and Termination of the
Plan.
(a) Term of Plan. The Plan shall become
effective as of the date the Plan is first adopted by the Board
and shall continue in effect until the tenth anniversary of such
date or until sooner terminated under this Section 12 or
Section 13 of the Plan or extended by an amendment approved
by the shareholders of the Company pursuant to
Section 12(b).
(b) Amendment and Termination. The Board or
the Committee may amend or terminate the Plan from time to time
in such respects as the Board may deem advisable (including, but
not limited to amendments which the Board deems appropriate to
enhance the Companys ability to claim deductions related
to stock option exercises); provided that to the extent required
by the Code or the rules of Nasdaq or the SEC, shareholder
approval shall be required for any amendment of the Plan.
Subject to the foregoing, it is specifically intended that the
Board or Committee may amend the Plan without shareholder
approval to comply with legal, regulatory and listing
requirements and to avoid unanticipated consequences deemed by
the Committee to be inconsistent with the purpose of the Plan or
any Award Agreement.
(c) Participants in Foreign Countries. The
Committee shall have the authority to adopt such modifications,
procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to
comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which
the Company or its Subsidiaries may operate to assure the
viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants
performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives
of the Plan.
(d) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any
such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not affect
Awards already granted and such Awards shall remain in full
force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or
terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the
Participant and the Committee, which agreement must be in
writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.
13. Shareholder Approval. The Plan is subject
to approval by the shareholders of the Company in accordance
with applicable Nasdaq rules. Notwithstanding anything in the
Plan to the contrary, (i) no Awards other than Options may
be granted under the Plan prior to such shareholder approval,
(ii) no Options granted under the Plan may be exercised
prior to such shareholder approval and (iii) in the event
shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve
(12) months of the date the Plan is first adopted by the
Board, then any Options granted under the Plan shall be
forfeited by the holders thereof and the Plan shall be
terminated.
F-11
Directions to the
Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of
Western Wireless
Corporation
at
The Museum of History
and Industry
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, Washington 98112
(206) 324-1126
From Sea-Tac Airport, downtown Seattle hotels and Convention
Center
Take Interstate 5 North
Take the Bellevue-Kirkland/State Route 520 exit (168-B)
Stay in the far right lane
Take the Montlake Boulevard exit
After the signal light, go straight 1 block to 24th Avenue East
Turn left onto 24th Avenue East and into the Museum parking lot
From Bellevue and the Eastside hotels and Convention
Center
Take Westbound State Route 520
Take the Lake Washington Boulevard exit
This exit winds over State Route 520
Turn right at the signal light onto Lake Washington Boulevard
Turn right onto 24th Avenue East and into the Museum parking lot