SUPPORT AGREEMENT

EX-2.2 4 f93682exv2w2.htm EXHIBIT 2.2 Exhibit 2.2
 

Exhibit 2.2

SUPPORT AGREEMENT

          This SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is entered into as of October 15, 2003 by and among Business Objects S.A., a societe anonyme organized under the laws of the Republic of France (“Parent”), Borg Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub 1”), Borg Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub 2”), Borg Merger Sub III, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub 3” and, collectively with Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2, “Merger Subs”), Business Objects Americas, a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“BOA”), and CB Cayman (“Minority Stockholder”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).

RECITALS

          WHEREAS, Parent, Merger Subs, Seagate Software (Cayman) Holdings, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability (together with any successor by deregistration and domestication, “HoldCo”) and Crystal Decisions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 18, 2003 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”) which provides for a transaction pursuant to which (1) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into HoldCo (the “HoldCo Merger”), (2) immediately following the HoldCo Merger, the surviving corporation of the HoldCo Merger will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second HoldCo Merger” and collectively with the HoldCo Merger, the “Holdco Mergers”), (3) immediately following the Second HoldCo Merger, Merger Sub 3 will merge with and into the Company (the “Company Merger”), and (4) immediately following the Company Merger, the surviving corporation of the Company Merger will merge with and into the surviving corporation of the Second HoldCo Merger, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;

          WHEREAS, as of the date of the Merger Agreement, New SAC (the “Majority Stockholder”) beneficially owned (as such term is defined pursuant to Rule 13d-3(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), 2,000 shares of capital stock of HoldCo, par value $1.00 per share, representing 100% of the then-current voting power of HoldCo;

          WHEREAS, since the date of the Merger Agreement, HoldCo has deregistered pursuant to §226 of the Companies Law (2003 Revision) of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the Companies Law (2003 Revision) and has been domesticated pursuant to §388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law as a Delaware corporation (the “Deregistration and Domestication”);

          WHEREAS, since the date of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub 2 assigned to BOA all of its rights, interests and obligations under the Merger Agreement;

          WHEREAS, Majority Stockholder has previously (i) entered into a Support Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2003 with Parent and Merger Subs, (ii) executed and delivered a written consent, dated as of July 22, 2003, as sole stockholder of HoldCo approving the HoldCo

 


 

Mergers and (iii) executed and delivered to Parent an irrevocable proxy with respect to the all of the 2,000 outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of HoldCo (the “HoldCo Shares”), constituting all of the voting capital stock of HoldCo after the Deregistration and Domestication; and

          WHEREAS, the Majority Stockholder wishes to transfer 100 of the outstanding HoldCo Shares to the Minority Stockholder, and as a condition and inducement to Parent’s, BOA’s and Merger Subs’ willingness to consent to that transfer, the Minority Stockholder is entering into this Agreement with respect to the HoldCo Shares to be held by the Minority Stockholder (the “Subject Shares”) and concurrently herewith delivering the irrevocable proxy with respect to the Subject Shares attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A (the “Proxy”);

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants, agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein, intending to be legally bound, the parties agree as follows:

          Section 1. Voting of Subject Shares. At every meeting of HoldCo’s shareholders and at every adjournment thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of HoldCo’s shareholders, Minority Stockholder agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, to the extent not voted by Parent as appointed by the Proxy, all of the Subject Shares:

               (a) in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the HoldCo Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

               (b) against approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with, the HoldCo Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and

               (c) against any actions (other than those actions that relate to the HoldCo Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) that are intended to, or could be reasonably expected to, impair the ability of HoldCo to consummate the HoldCo Mergers or otherwise impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the consummation of the HoldCo Mergers in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

Minority Stockholder further agrees not to enter into any agreement or understanding with any person to vote or give instructions in any manner inconsistent with or violative of the terms of this Section 1.

          Section 2. Irrevocable Proxy. Concurrent with the execution hereof, Minority Stockholder agrees to deliver the Proxy to Parent, which shall be irrevocable to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law, with respect to the Subject Shares. The parties agree that by reason of the Merger Agreement, the Proxy is a proxy coupled with an interest. At Parent’s request, Minority Stockholder will perform such further acts and execute such further documents as may be required to vest in Parent or its Representatives the sole power to vote the Subject Shares during the term of the Proxy in accordance with its terms.

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          Section 3. Transfer of Subject Shares. Except as otherwise contemplated by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement, from and after the date of this Agreement until the termination of this Agreement, Minority Stockholder will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Parent:

               (a) offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise in any way dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other agreement (oral or written) with respect to or consent to the offer for sale, sale, transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other disposition of, any or all of the Subject Shares, or any interest therein;

               (b) grant any proxies or powers of attorney, deposit any of the Subject Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any of the Subject Shares;

               (c) take any action that would reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing or disabling Minority Stockholder from performing Minority Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement or making any representation or warranty of Minority Stockholder contained in this Agreement untrue or incorrect; or

               (d) enter into any agreement or arrangement providing for any of the actions described in clause (a), (b) or (c) above.

          Section 4. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Minority Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent, BOA and Merger Subs as follows:

               (a) Ownership. Upon consummation of the transfer of the Subject Shares from Majority Stockholder , and at all times prior to the termination of this Agreement, Minority Stockholder will be the beneficial owner of the Subject Shares. The Subject Shares constitute all of the issued and outstanding shares of HoldCo capital stock owned of record or beneficially owned by Minority Stockholder. Minority Stockholder has the sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all of the Subject Shares, with no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such rights, subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of this Agreement.

               (b) Power; Binding Agreement. Minority Stockholder has all requisite legal capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of Minority Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Minority Stockholder and when duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent, BOA and Merger Subs will constitute a valid and binding agreement of Minority Stockholder, enforceable against Minority Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles. There is no beneficiary or holder of a voting trust certificate or other interest of any trust of which Minority Stockholder is trustee whose consent is required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by Minority Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby.

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               (c) No Conflicts. Except as otherwise contemplated by the Merger Agreement, no filing or registration with, and no permit, authorization, order, filing, registration consent or approval of, any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other public body or authority is necessary for the execution of this Agreement by Minority Stockholder and the consummation by Minority Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, and none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Minority Stockholder, the consummation by Minority Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by Minority Stockholder with any of the provisions hereof will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any applicable organizational documents applicable to Minority Stockholder, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any third party right of termination, cancellation, material modification or acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation of any kind to which Minority Stockholder is a party or by which Minority Stockholder or any of Minority Stockholder’s properties or assets may be bound, except as could not reasonably be expected to impair the Minority Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder, (iii) require any material consent, authorization or approval of any Person or Governmental Entity that has not been obtained, or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Minority Stockholder or any of the Subject Shares.

               (d) No Encumbrances. Upon consummation of the transfer of the Subject Shares from the Majority Stockholder, and at all times prior to the termination of this Agreement, all of the Subject Shares will be held by Minority Stockholder free and clear of any Encumbrances other than any Encumbrances created under this Agreement, the Proxy or the Merger Agreement.

          Section 5. Legends. Minority Stockholder hereby agrees that it shall not transfer the Subject Shares during the term hereof, if and to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement, without first having a legend affixed to the certificates representing such Subject Shares stating that they are subject to this Agreement and the Proxy.

          Section 6. Further Assurances. From time to time, at Parent’s reasonable request and without further consideration, Minority Stockholder will perform such further acts and execute and deliver such additional documents as may be necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, this Agreement and the Proxy.

          Section 7. Termination. This Agreement will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated, (ii) the HoldCo Merger Effective Time, and (iii) the mutual agreement of the parties hereto in writing to terminate this Agreement. Following termination, this Agreement will be of no further force and effect except that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any material breach of this Agreement.

          Section 8. Stock Splits, Dividends, Etc. The “Subject Shares” shall be deemed to include any shares of capital stock of HoldCo issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, option or other convertible security which is issued as) a dividend,

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stock split or other distribution, recapitalization or reclassification with respect to, or in exchange for, or in replacement of, such Subject Shares.

          Section 9. Waiver of Appraisal Rights. Minority Stockholder hereby waives any dissenters’ or appraisal rights to which it might otherwise be entitled with respect to the HoldCo Merger and agrees to take any action necessary or appropriate to effectuate such waiver.

          Section 10. Miscellaneous.

               (a) Amendments. Subject to applicable law, this Agreement may not be amended except by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of Parent, BOA, Merger Subs and Minority Stockholder.

               (b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed duly given (i) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (ii) on the date of confirmation of receipt (or, the first business day following such receipt if the date is not a business day) of transmission by telecopy or telefacsimile, or (iii) on the date of confirmation of receipt (or, the first business day following such receipt if the date is not a business day) if delivered by a nationally recognized courier service. All notices hereunder will be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

         
    (i) if to Minority Stockholder, to:
         
    New SAC
    c/o Silver Lake Partners
    2725 Sand Hill Road
    Menlo Park, Palo Alto 94025
    Attention:   David Roux
    Telephone:   (650) 233-8120
    Facsimile:   (650) 233-8125

with a copy at the same address to the attention of the General Counsel and Secretary and with a copy to:

         
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    3330 Hillview Avenue
    Palo Alto, California 94304
    Attention:   Richard Capelouto
        Kirsten Jensen
    Telephone:   (650) 251-5000
    Facsimile:   (650) 251-5002

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    (ii) if to Parent, BOA or Merger Subs, to:
         
    Business Objects S.A.
    c/o Business Objects Americas
    3030 Orchard Parkway
    San Jose, CA 95134
    Attention:   General Counsel
    Telephone:   (408) 953-6000
    Facsimile:   (408) 953-6001

with a copy at the same address to the attention of the General Counsel and Secretary and with a copy to:

         
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
    525 University Avenue, Suite 1100
    Palo Alto, California 94301
    Attention:   Marc R. Packer
        Kenton J. King
    Telephone:   (650) 470-4500
    Facsimile:   (650) 470-4570

               (c) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by facsimile, all of which will be considered one and the same agreement and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

               (d) Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements among the parties hereto as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the exhibits hereto, (a) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and (b) are not intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies hereunder.

               (e) Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

               (f) Specific Performance. The parties hereto 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 will be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of

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this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

               (g) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof. In addition, each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Delaware state court in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) 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 (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than a state court sitting in the State of Delaware.

               (h) Rules of Construction. The parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.

               (i) Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Parent may assign, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Minority Stockholder, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. Subject to the preceding sentence, but without relieving any party hereto of any obligation hereunder, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

               (j) No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in the exercise of any right hereunder will impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty or agreement herein, nor will any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right. All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

               (k) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF PARENT, MINORITY STOCKHOLDER, BOA AND EACH MERGER SUB HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF PARENT, MINORITY STOCKHOLDER, BOA OR EACH MERGER SUB IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

               (l) Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the party incurring such expenses whether or not the HoldCo Mergers are consummated.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized respective officers as of the date first written above.

         
    BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A
         
    By:  /s/ BERNARD LIAUTAUD
     
    Name: Bernard Liautaud
    Title:   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
         
    BORG MERGER SUB I, INC.
         
    By:  /s/ ELISABETH BLINET
     
    Name: Elisabeth Blinet
    Title: Secretary
         
    BORG MERGER SUB II, INC.
         
    By:  /s/ ELISABETH BLINET
     
    Name: Elisabeth Blinet
    Title: Secretary
         
    BORG MERGER SUB III, INC.
         
    By:  /s/ ELISABETH BLINET
     
    Name: Elisabeth Blinet
    Title: Secretary
         
    BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS
         
    By:  /s/ BERNARD LIAUTAUD
     
    Name: Bernard Liautaud
    Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPORT AGREEMENT]

 


 

         
    CB CAYMAN
         
    By:   /s/ William L. Hudson
     
    Name:   William L. Hudson
    Title:   Executive Vice President,
        General Counsel and Corporate
        Secretary

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPORT AGREEMENT]

 


 

EXHIBIT A

IRREVOCABLE PROXY

          CB Cayman (“Minority Stockholder”), a stockholder of Seagate Software (Cayman) Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“HoldCo”), hereby irrevocably appoints Bernard Liautaud and John Olsen and each of them and any designee thereof, as the sole and exclusive attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to the full extent of the undersigned’s rights with respect to the voting of the Subject Shares, as such term is defined in the Support Agreement entered into concurrently herewith by and among of Business Objects S.A., a societe anonyme organized under the laws of the Republic of France (“Parent”), Borg Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub 1”), Borg Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub 2”), Borg Merger Sub III, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub 3” and, collectively with Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2, “Merger Subs”), Business Objects Americas, a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“BOA”) and Minority Stockholder (the “Support Agreement”) with respect to the matters set forth below, until the earlier of (1) the date on which that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on July 18, 2003 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Parent, Merger Subs, HoldCo and Crystal Decisions, Inc. (the “Company”), which provides for a transaction pursuant to which (1) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into HoldCo (the “HoldCo Merger”), (2) immediately following the HoldCo Merger, the surviving corporation of the HoldCo Merger will merge with and into BOA (as assignee of Merger Sub 2) (the “Second HoldCo Merger” and collectively with the HoldCo Merger, the “Holdco Mergers”), (3) immediately following the Second HoldCo Merger, Merger Sub 3 will merge with and into the Company (the “Company Merger”), and (4) immediately following the Company Merger, the surviving corporation of the Company Merger will merge with and into the surviving corporation of the Second HoldCo Merger, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, is terminated or (2) the HoldCo Merger Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (such earlier date, the “Termination Date”).

          Until the Termination Date, this proxy is irrevocable to the extent permitted under Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, is coupled with an interest, is granted pursuant to the Support Agreement, and is granted in consideration of the consent of Parent, BOA and Merger Subs to the transfer by New SAC of the Subject Shares to the Minority Stockholder. Upon the execution hereof, all prior proxies given by the undersigned with respect to the Subject Shares are hereby revoked and no subsequent proxies will be given. The attorneys and proxies named above will be empowered at any time prior to the Termination Date to vote or cause to be voted all of the Subject Shares at every meeting of HoldCo’s stockholders and at every adjournment thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of HoldCo’s stockholders:

          1. in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the HoldCo Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

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          2. against approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with, the HoldCo Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and

          3. against any actions (other than those actions that relate to the HoldCo Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) that are intended to, or could be reasonably expected to, impair the ability of HoldCo to consummate the HoldCo Mergers or otherwise impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the consummation of the HoldCo Mergers in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

          Notwithstanding anything contained in this Proxy, this Proxy shall terminate when the Support Agreement terminates.

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Any obligation of the undersigned hereunder will be binding upon the successors and assigns of the undersigned.

Dated:           , 2003

         
    CB CAYMAN
         
    By:    
     
    Name:
    Title:

**************THIS PROXY IS IRREVOCABLE.*************

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