FORM S-4/A
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 6, 2009
Registration No. 333-157208
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Amendment No. 3
to
Form S-4
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING
CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as
specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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6211
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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82-0543156
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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4211 South
102nd
Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68127
(402) 331-7856
(Address, including Zip Code,
and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrants
Principal Executive Offices)
David L.
Lambert, Esq.
Deputy General
Counsel Finance/Securities
6940 Columbia Gateway
Dr.
Columbia, Maryland
21046
(443) 539-2124
(Name, Address, including Zip
Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for
Service)
With copies to:
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Larry W. Sonsini, Esq.
Martin W. Korman, Esq.
Michael S. Ringler, Esq.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional
Corporation
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
(650) 493-9300
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Ida K. Kane
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
thinkorswim Group Inc.
45 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 2012
New York, New York 10111
(801) 816-6918
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Ethan A. Klingsberg, Esq.
Benet J. OReilly, Esq.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
(212) 225-2000
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Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale of the
securities to the public: As soon as practicable
after this Registration Statement becomes effective and upon
completion of the merger described in the enclosed document.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being
offered in connection with the formation of a holding company
and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the
following
box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated
filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of
large accelerated filer, accelerated
filer and smaller reporting company in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large
accelerated
filer þ
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller reporting
company o
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(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the
appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this
transaction:
Exchange Act
Rule 13e-4(i)
(Cross-Border Issuer Tender
Offer) o
Exchange Act
Rule 14d-1(d)
(Cross-Border Third-Party Tender
Offer) o
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum
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Title of Each Class of
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Offering
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Proposed Maximum Aggregate
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Amount of
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Securities to be Registered(1)
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Amount to be Registered(2)
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Price per Unit
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Offering Price(3)
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Registration Fee(4)
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Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
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27,927,074
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N/A
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$314,004,154
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$12,340.36
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(1)
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This Registration Statement relates
to shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the
Registrant issuable to holders of shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of thinkorswim Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation (thinkorswim), in the proposed
acquisition of thinkorswim by the Registrant pursuant to the
terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
January 8, 2009, by and among thinkorswim, the Registrant,
Tango Acquisition Corporation One and Tango Acquisition
Corporation Two.
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(2)
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Based on the maximum number of
shares to be issued in connection with the merger, calculated as
the product of (a) 70,168,526 shares, the maximum number of
shares of thinkorswim common stock that may be cancelled and
exchanged in the merger and (b) an exchange ratio of
0.3980 shares of the Registrants common stock for
each share of thinkorswim common stock.
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(3)
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Estimated solely for purposes of
calculating the registration fee in accordance with
Rules 457(c) and 457(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, based upon the product of (A) $7.815, the average of
the high and low prices per share of thinkorswim common stock on
February 4, 2009, as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market,
multiplied by (B) 70,168,526, the maximum number of shares of
thinkorswim common stock that may be cancelled and exchanged in
the merger; less $234,362,877, the aggregate amount of cash that
would be payable to the holders of thinkorswim common stock in
the merger assuming 70,168,526 shares of thinkorswim common
stock were outstanding.
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(4)
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This fee has been previously paid.
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the
Registration Statement shall become effective on such dates as
the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may
determine.
Information
contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These
securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted
prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of
these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction.
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PRELIMINARY
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED MAY 6,
2009
MERGER
PROPOSAL, OPTION EXCHANGE PROPOSAL AND PLAN AMENDMENT
PROPOSAL
YOUR VOTE
IS VERY IMPORTANT
Dear stockholder:
On January 8, 2009, thinkorswim Group Inc., referred to as
thinkorswim, and TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, referred to
as TD AMERITRADE, announced a business combination in which
thinkorswim would merge with a subsidiary of TD AMERITRADE. If
this merger is completed, you will have the right to receive
$3.34 in cash, without interest and less any applicable
withholding, referred to as the cash consideration, and 0.3980
of a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock, referred to as the
stock consideration, and together with the cash consideration,
referred to as the merger consideration, for each outstanding
share of common stock of thinkorswim that you hold immediately
prior to the merger.
The value of the merger consideration will fluctuate with the
market price of TD AMERITRADE common stock. The following table
shows the closing sale prices of TD AMERITRADE common stock and
thinkorswim common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market and the NASDAQ Global Market, respectively, on
January 7, 2009, the last trading day before the
announcement of the potential merger, and on May 5, 2009,
the last practicable trading day before the distribution of this
document. This table also shows the implied value of the merger
consideration proposed for each share of thinkorswim common
stock, which we calculated by adding to the cash consideration
the product obtained by multiplying the closing price of TD
AMERITRADE common stock on those dates by 0.3980, the exchange
ratio for the stock consideration.
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Implied Value of
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One Share of
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thinkorswim
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TD AMERITRADE
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thinkorswim
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Common
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Common Stock
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Common Stock
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Stock
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At January 7, 2009
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$
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13.48
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$
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5.65
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$
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8.705
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At May 5, 2009
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$
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16.53
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$
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9.83
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$
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9.919
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The market prices of both TD AMERITRADE common stock and
thinkorswim common stock will fluctuate before the merger. You
should obtain current stock price quotations for TD AMERITRADE
common stock and thinkorswim common stock. TD AMERITRADE common
stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the
symbol AMTD. thinkorswim common stock is quoted on
the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SWIM.
We cannot complete the merger unless thinkorswims
stockholders approve and adopt the merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, referred to as the merger
proposal. thinkorswim will hold a special meeting of its
stockholders to vote on the merger proposal at the Hilton New
York located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10019 at 9:00 A.M., local time, on June 9, 2009.
Your vote is important. The market price of TD AMERITRADE
common stock will continue to fluctuate following the date of
the stockholder vote on the approval and adoption of the merger
agreement at the special meeting. Consequently, at the time of
the stockholder vote, the value of the merger consideration will
not yet be determined. Regardless of whether you plan to attend
the special meeting, please take the time to vote your shares in
accordance with the instructions contained in this proxy
statement/prospectus. Failing to vote will have the same effect
as voting against the merger proposal. You will also have an
opportunity to vote to approve the adjournment of the special
meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of
the approval of the merger proposal, referred to as the
adjournment proposal.
In connection with the proposed transaction, thinkorswim has
agreed to implement, subject to stockholder approval, a stock
option exchange program, referred to as the exchange program,
that will permit thinkorswims eligible employees and
independent contractors, referred to as eligible individuals, to
exchange certain thinkorswim options, which were issued under
the thinkorswim Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option
Plan, the Telescan, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option
Plan, the Telescan, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan and the
Telescan, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, for
thinkorswim restricted stock units, which will be assumed by TD
AMERITRADE if the merger is completed. At the special meeting,
thinkorswim stockholders will have an opportunity to vote to
approve the exchange program and an amendment to
thinkorswims Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option
Plan to permit the grant of thinkorswim restricted stock units.
The proposal relating to the option exchange program is referred
to as the option exchange proposal. The proposal relating to the
amendment of the Stock Option Plan is referred to as the plan
amendment proposal. Approval of the option exchange proposal and
the plan amendment proposal is not a condition to completion of
the merger but the exchange of thinkorswim options for
thinkorswim restricted stock units will occur only if the option
exchange proposal and the plan amendment proposal are both
approved and the merger is completed.
The thinkorswim board of directors unanimously recommends
that thinkorswim stockholders vote FOR approval of the merger
proposal, the option exchange proposal, the plan amendment
proposal and the adjournment proposal.
This proxy statement/prospectus describes the special meeting,
the merger proposal, the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal and the adjournment proposal, the documents
related to each proposal, and other related matters. Please
carefully read this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including
Risk Factors beginning on page 12, for a
discussion of the risks relating to the merger proposal. You
also can obtain information about our companies from documents
that each of us has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
By Order of the Board of Directors
LEE K. BARBA
Chairman of the Board
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved the
TD AMERITRADE common stock to be issued under this proxy
statement/prospectus or determined if this proxy
statement/prospectus is accurate or adequate. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this proxy
statement/prospectus is May 6, 2009, and it is first being
mailed or otherwise delivered to thinkorswim stockholders on or
about May 8, 2009.
THINKORSWIM
GROUP INC.
45 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 2012
New York, NY 10111
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
May 6,
2009
To the stockholders of thinkorswim Group Inc.:
thinkorswim Group Inc. (thinkorswim) will hold a
special meeting of stockholders at the Hilton New York located
at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10019
at 9:00 A.M., local time, on June 9, 2009 to consider
and vote upon the following proposals to:
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approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
January 8, 2009, by and among TD AMERITRADE Holding
Corporation, Tango Acquisition Corporation One, Tango
Acquisition Corporation Two and thinkorswim, as such agreement
may be amended from time to time, and the transactions
contemplated thereby (the Merger Proposal);
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approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to
solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not
sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve
the Merger Proposal (the Adjournment Proposal);
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approve a stock option exchange program that, conditioned upon
completion of the merger, will permit thinkorswims
eligible employees and independent contractors to exchange
underwater thinkorswim options, issued under the thinkorswim
Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan, the
Telescan, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan, the
Telescan, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan and the Telescan, Inc.
Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, for thinkorswim
restricted stock units, which will be assumed by
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation if the merger is
completed (the Option Exchange Proposal); and
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approve an amendment to thinkorswims Second Amended and
Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan to permit the grant of
thinkorswim restricted stock units (the Plan Amendment
Proposal).
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The thinkorswim board of directors has fixed the close of
business on April 24, 2009 as the record date for the
special meeting. Only thinkorswim stockholders of record at that
time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special
meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the special
meeting. In order for the Merger Proposal to be approved, the
holders of at least a majority of the thinkorswim shares
outstanding and entitled to vote thereon must vote in favor of
approval of the Merger Proposal. In order for the Option
Exchange Proposal, the Plan Amendment Proposal and the
Adjournment Proposal to be approved, the holders of a majority
of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy
must vote in favor of approval of each of the Option Exchange
Proposal, the Plan Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal.
Regardless of whether you plan to attend the special meeting,
please submit your proxy with voting instructions. Please vote
as soon as possible. If you hold stock in your name as a
stockholder of record, please vote your shares by
(i) completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed
proxy card, (ii) using the telephone number on your proxy
card, or (iii) using the Internet voting instructions on
your proxy card. If you hold your stock in street
name through a bank or broker, please direct your bank or
broker to vote in accordance with the instructions you have
received from your bank or broker. This will not prevent you
from voting in person, but it will help to secure a quorum and
avoid added solicitation costs. Any holder of thinkorswim common
stock who is present at the special meeting may vote in person
instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any previous proxy. In
any event, a proxy may be revoked in writing at any time before
the special meeting in the manner described in the accompanying
document.
The thinkorswim board of directors has unanimously approved
the Merger Proposal, the Option Exchange Proposal, and the Plan
Amendment Proposal and unanimously recommends that thinkorswim
stockholders vote FOR approval of the Merger
Proposal, the Option Exchange Proposal, the Plan Amendment
Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Paul A. Helbling
Secretary
May 6, 2009
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE
VOTE YOUR SHARES PROMPTLY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO
ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING.
REFERENCES
TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business
and financial information about TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim from documents that are not included in or delivered
with this document. You can obtain documents incorporated by
reference in this proxy statement/prospectus, other than certain
exhibits to those documents, by requesting them in writing or by
telephone from the appropriate company at the following
addresses:
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TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
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thinkorswim Group Inc.
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4211 South
102nd
Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68127
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone:
(402) 331-7856
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13947 South Minuteman Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone: (801) 816-6918
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You will not be charged for any of these documents that you
request. thinkorswim stockholders requesting documents should do
so by June 2, 2009 (which is five business days prior to
the date of the special meeting) in order ensure that you to
receive them before the special meeting.
See Where You Can Find More Information on
page 88.
ABOUT
THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This proxy statement/prospectus, which forms a part of a
registration statement on
Form S-4
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, referred to
as the SEC, by TD AMERITRADE, constitutes a prospectus of
TD AMERITRADE under Section 5 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, referred to as the Securities Act, with
respect to the shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock to be
issued to thinkorswim stockholders in connection with the
merger. This document also constitutes a proxy statement under
Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, referred to as the Exchange Act, and the rules
thereunder, and a notice of meeting with respect to the special
meeting of thinkorswim stockholders to consider and vote upon
the merger proposal, the adjournment proposal, the option
exchange proposal and the plan amendment proposal.
Except as otherwise provided herein, all descriptions of and
calculations made under the terms of the merger agreement and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including
the merger, assume that no thinkorswim stockholders exercise
appraisal rights under Delaware law.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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1
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7
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8
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11
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12
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57
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QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE SPECIAL
MEETING
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Q: |
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Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus? |
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A: |
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TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, referred to as TD AMERITRADE,
has agreed to acquire thinkorswim Group Inc., referred to as
thinkorswim, by means of a merger with a subsidiary of
TD AMERITRADE. Please see The Merger beginning
on page 22 and The Merger Agreement beginning
on page 48 for a description of the merger and the merger
agreement. A copy of the merger agreement is attached to this
proxy statement/prospectus as Appendix A. |
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In connection with the proposed transaction, thinkorswim has
agreed to implement, subject to stockholder approval, a stock
option exchange program that permits thinkorswims eligible
employees and independent contractors to exchange certain
underwater thinkorswim options for thinkorswim restricted stock
units, referred to as the option exchange proposal. Please see
thinkorswim Proposal 3 Option
Exchange beginning on page 77 for a description of
the option exchange proposal. |
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To complete the merger, thinkorswim stockholders must vote to
approve the merger proposal. thinkorswim will hold a special
meeting of stockholders to obtain this approval. You will also
be given an opportunity to vote to approve the adjournment of
the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies
in favor of the merger proposal, referred to as the adjournment
proposal. |
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At the special meeting, you will also have an opportunity to
vote to approve the option exchange proposal and an amendment to
thinkorswims Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option
Plan to permit the grant of thinkorswim restricted stock units,
referred to as the plan amendment proposal. Please see
thinkorswim Proposal 4 Amendment of the
Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Plan beginning on
page 83 for a description of the plan amendment proposal. |
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What do I need to do now? |
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After you have carefully read this proxy statement/prospectus
and have decided how you wish to vote your shares, please vote
your shares promptly. If you hold stock in your name as a
stockholder of record, please vote your shares by
(i) completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed
proxy card, (ii) using the telephone number on your proxy
card or (iii) using the Internet voting instructions on
your proxy card. If you have Internet access, we encourage you
to record your vote via the Internet. |
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If you hold your stock in street name through a bank
or broker, you must direct your bank or broker to vote in
accordance with the instructions you have received from your
bank or broker. Submitting your proxy card or directing your
bank or broker to vote your shares will ensure that your shares
are represented and voted at the special meeting. |
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Why is my vote important? |
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If you do not vote by proxy or vote in person at the special
meeting, it will be more difficult for us to obtain the
necessary quorum to hold our special meeting. In addition, your
failure to vote, by proxy or in person, or failure to instruct
your broker, will have the same effect as a vote against
approval of the merger proposal. The merger proposal must be
approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
of thinkorswim common stock entitled to vote at the special
meeting. In order for the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal or the adjournment proposal to be approved,
the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and
present in person or by proxy must vote in favor of approval of
such proposal. The thinkorswim board of directors unanimously
recommends that you vote to approve the merger proposal, the
option exchange proposal, the plan amendment proposal and the
adjournment proposal. |
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If my shares of common stock are held in street name by my
broker, will my broker automatically vote my shares for me? |
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No. Your broker cannot vote your shares without
instructions from you. You should instruct your broker as to how
to vote your shares, following the directions your broker
provides to you. Please check the voting form used by your
broker. |
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What if I abstain from voting or fail to instruct my
broker? |
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If you abstain from voting, the abstention will be counted
toward a quorum at the special meeting, but it will have the
same effect as a vote against approval of the merger proposal,
the option exchange proposal, the plan amendment proposal and
the adjournment proposal. If you fail to instruct your broker,
it will have the same effect as a vote against approval of the
merger proposal, the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal and the adjournment proposal. |
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Q: |
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Can I attend the special meeting and vote my shares in
person? |
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Yes. All stockholders, including stockholders of record and
stockholders who hold their shares through banks, brokers,
nominees or any other holder of record, are invited to attend
the special meeting. Holders of record of thinkorswim common
stock can vote in person at the special meeting. If you are not
a stockholder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in
your favor, from the record holder of your shares, such as a
broker, bank or other nominee, to be able to vote in person at
the special meeting. If you plan to attend the special meeting,
you must hold your shares in your own name or have a letter from
the record holder of your shares confirming your ownership and
you must bring a form of personal photo identification with you
in order to be admitted. We reserve the right to refuse
admittance to anyone without proper proof of share ownership or
without proper photo identification. |
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Q: |
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Can I change my vote? |
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A: |
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Yes. You may revoke any proxy at any time before it is voted by
signing and returning a proxy card with a later date, delivering
a written revocation letter to the Secretary of thinkorswim, or
by attending the special meeting in person, notifying the
Secretary and voting by ballot at the special meeting. The
thinkorswim Secretarys mailing address is 13947 South
Minuteman Drive, Draper, Utah 84020. |
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Any stockholder entitled to vote in person at the special
meeting may vote in person regardless of whether a proxy has
been previously given, but the mere presence (without notifying
the Secretary of thinkorswim) of a stockholder at the special
meeting will not constitute revocation of a previously given
proxy. |
|
Q: |
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If I am a thinkorswim stockholder, should I send in my
thinkorswim stock certificates now? |
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A: |
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No. You should not send in your thinkorswim stock
certificates at this time. After the merger is consummated, TD
AMERITRADE will send you instructions for exchanging thinkorswim
stock certificates for the merger consideration. Unless
thinkorswim stockholders specifically request to receive TD
AMERITRADE stock certificates, the shares of TD AMERITRADE stock
they receive in the merger will be issued in
book-entry
form. |
|
Q: |
|
When do you expect to complete the merger? |
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A: |
|
We currently expect to complete the merger within the next six
months. However, we cannot assure you when or if the merger will
occur. We must first obtain the approval of thinkorswim
stockholders at the special meeting and the necessary regulatory
approvals. |
|
Q: |
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Whom should I call with questions? |
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A: |
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thinkorswim stockholders should call Georgeson Inc.,
thinkorswims proxy solicitor, at
(866) 741-9560
with any questions about the merger. |
ii
SUMMARY
This summary highlights material information from this proxy
statement/prospectus. It may not contain all of the information
that is important to you. We urge you to read carefully the
entire proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents to
which we refer in order to fully understand the merger and the
related transactions. See Where You Can Find More
Information on page 88. Each item in this summary
refers to the page of this proxy statement/prospectus on which
that subject is discussed in more detail.
In the merger, thinkorswim stockholders will have a right to
receive a cash amount of $3.34, without interest and less any
required withholding under United States federal, state, local
or foreign law, and 0.3980 of a share of TD AMERITRADE common
stock for each outstanding share of thinkorswim common stock.
(page 48)
On January 8, 2009, TD AMERITRADE entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger, referred to as the merger agreement, by and
among TD AMERITRADE, Tango Acquisition Corporation One, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of TD AMERITRADE, referred to as Merger
Sub One, Tango Acquisition Corporation Two, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of TD AMERITRADE, referred to as Merger Sub Two, and
thinkorswim. The merger agreement provides for the acquisition
of thinkorswim by TD AMERITRADE by means of a merger of Merger
Sub One with and into thinkorswim, referred to as the first-step
merger, with thinkorswim as the interim surviving corporation,
immediately followed by a merger of thinkorswim, as the interim
surviving corporation, with and into Merger Sub Two, referred to
as the second-step merger, with Merger Sub Two as the final
surviving corporation. Unless otherwise specified herein, the
second-step merger, taken together with the first-step merger,
is referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the merger.
As a result of the merger, thinkorswim will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of TD AMERITRADE. See Material
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Merger Two-Step Merger for an explanation of
the two-step merger structure.
Each share of thinkorswim common stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be
converted into the right to receive a cash amount of $3.34,
without interest and less any required withholding under United
States federal, state, local or foreign law, plus 0.3980 of a
share of TD AMERITRADE common stock, referred to as the per
share merger consideration. The total cash consideration to be
paid in the merger is approximately $225 million, and the
total number of shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock to be
issued is approximately 28 million. TD AMERITRADE plans to
utilize cash dividends from its subsidiaries and, if necessary,
borrow on its $300 million revolving line of credit, to
finance the payment of the cash consideration.
The merger agreement is included as Appendix A to this
proxy statement/prospectus.
What
Holders of thinkorswim Stock Options and Other Equity-Based
Awards Will Receive (page 48)
Each of the vested and unvested options to purchase shares of
thinkorswim common stock that are outstanding at the effective
time of the merger and that are not cancelled and not exchanged
for restricted stock units pursuant to the exchange program
described below will be assumed by TD AMERITRADE, and, at the
effective time of the merger, converted into the right to
receive options to purchase shares of TD AMERITRADE common
stock, and will otherwise be subject to the terms and conditions
of such awards prior to the completion of the merger.
Each of thinkorswims unvested restricted stock units
(including restricted stock units issued in exchange for
thinkorswim options pursuant to the exchange program) and shares
of restricted stock outstanding at the effective time of the
merger (and, in the case of shares of restricted stock, that
have not become vested either immediately prior to, or as a
result of, completion of the merger) will be assumed by TD
AMERITRADE, and, at the effective time of the merger, converted
into the right to receive TD AMERITRADE restricted stock units
or shares of restricted stock, as the case may be, and will
otherwise be subject to the terms and conditions of such awards
prior to the completion of the merger. Shares of thinkorswim
restricted stock that have become vested either immediately
prior to or as a result of completion of the merger will be
treated as outstanding shares and will be cancelled and
exchanged for the merger consideration.
1
Exchange
Program (pages 77 and 83)
In connection with the proposed transaction, thinkorswim has
agreed to implement, subject to stockholder approval, an
exchange program that permits thinkorswims eligible
employees and independent contractors to exchange outstanding
thinkorswim options with an exercise price equal to or greater
than the total value of the per share merger consideration
(based on the volume-weighted average price of a share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock on the trading day immediately prior to
the effective time of the merger) for a number of restricted
stock units to be granted under thinkorswims Second
Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan. The exchange of
thinkorswim options for thinkorswim restricted stock units will
occur only if the merger is completed.
thinkorswim is asking its stockholders to approve the option
exchange proposal and an amendment to thinkorswims Second
Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan to permit the grant
of restricted stock units.
United
States Federal Income Tax Consequences to thinkorswim
Stockholders if the Merger is a Reorganization
(page 66)
The merger is intended to qualify as a reorganization for United
States federal income tax purposes, and it is a condition to the
obligations of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim to complete the
merger that each of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim receive a
legal opinion to that effect. If the merger qualifies as a
reorganization, a U.S. holder of thinkorswim common stock
receiving TD AMERITRADE common stock and cash in exchange for
such thinkorswim common stock in the merger generally will
recognize gain only to the extent of such cash consideration,
and will not be subject to current taxation on the amount of any
gain in excess of that cash. More precisely, a U.S. holder will
recognize gain equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of cash
received by the U.S. holder (excluding any cash received in lieu
of fractional shares) and (ii) the excess of the amount
realized by the U.S. holder over the U.S. holders
tax basis in the thinkorswim common stock. The amount
realized by the U.S. holder will equal the sum of the fair
market value of the TD AMERITRADE common stock and the amount of
cash (including any cash received in lieu of fractional shares)
received by the U.S. holder. Losses will not be permitted to be
recognized. Realized gain or loss must be calculated separately
for each identifiable block of shares (i.e., shares
acquired at different times and prices) exchanged in the merger,
and a loss realized on the exchange of one block cannot be used
to offset a gain realized on the exchange of another block.
The United States federal income tax consequences described
above may not apply to all holders of thinkorswim common stock.
Your tax consequences will depend on your individual situation.
Accordingly, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim strongly urge
you to consult with your tax advisor for a full understanding of
the particular tax consequences of the merger to you.
Comparative
Market Prices and Share Information (page 75)
TD AMERITRADE common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market under the symbol AMTD and thinkorswim common
stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol
SWIM. The following table shows the closing sale
prices of TD AMERITRADE common stock and thinkorswim common
stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the
NASDAQ Global Market, respectively, on January 7, 2009, the
last trading day before we announced the signing of the merger
agreement, and on May 5, 2009, the last practicable trading
day before the distribution of this proxy statement/prospectus.
This table also shows the implied value of the merger
consideration proposed for each share of thinkorswim common
stock, which we calculated by adding $3.34 to the product
obtained by multiplying the closing price of a share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock on those dates by 0.3980, the exchange
ratio for the stock consideration.
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Implied Value of
|
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thinkorswim
|
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One Share of
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TD AMERITRADE
|
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Common
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|
thinkorswim
|
|
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Common Stock
|
|
Stock
|
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Common Stock
|
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At January 7, 2009
|
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$
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13.48
|
|
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$
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5.65
|
|
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$
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8.705
|
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At May 5, 2009
|
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$
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16.53
|
|
|
$
|
9.83
|
|
|
$
|
9.919
|
|
2
The market price of TD AMERITRADE common stock and
thinkorswim common stock will fluctuate prior to the merger. You
should obtain current market quotations for the shares.
The
thinkorswim Board of Directors Unanimously Recommends that
thinkorswim Stockholders Vote FOR the Proposals
(pages 30, 76, 82 and 87)
The thinkorswim board of directors believes that the merger is
in the best interests of thinkorswim and its stockholders and
has unanimously approved the merger and the merger agreement.
The thinkorswim board of directors unanimously recommends that
thinkorswim stockholders vote FOR the merger
proposal, FOR the option exchange proposal,
FOR the plan amendment proposal and FOR
the adjournment proposal.
UBS
Securities LLC Provided an Opinion to the thinkorswim Board of
Directors (page 30)
In connection with the proposed transaction, thinkorswims
board of directors received a written opinion, dated
January 7, 2009, from UBS Securities LLC, referred to as
UBS, as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as
of the date of such opinion, of the per share consideration to
be received in the transaction by holders of thinkorswim common
stock (other than thinkorswim stockholders who have entered into
voting agreements with TD AMERITRADE and their respective
affiliates, collectively referred to as excluded holders). The
full text of UBS written opinion, dated January 7,
2009, is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as
Appendix C. Holders of thinkorswim common stock are
encouraged to read UBS opinion carefully in its entirety.
UBS opinion was provided for the benefit of
thinkorswims board of directors in connection with, and
for the purpose of, its evaluation of the per share merger
consideration from a financial point of view and does not
address any other aspect of the transaction. The opinion does
not address the relative merits of the transaction as compared
to other business strategies or transactions that might be
available with respect to thinkorswim or thinkorswims
underlying business decision to effect the transaction. The
opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder
as to how such stockholder should vote or act with respect to
the transaction. Although subsequent developments may affect its
opinion, UBS does not have any obligation to update, revise or
reaffirm its opinion.
thinkorswims
Officers and Directors Have Financial Interests in the Merger
That Differ From Your Interests (page 36)
A number of thinkorswims executive officers and directors
have interests in the merger that are different from those of
other thinkorswim stockholders. As of the record date, all
directors and executive officers of thinkorswim, together with
their affiliates, beneficially owned approximately 20.69% of the
outstanding shares of thinkorswim common stock, which includes
shares of restricted stock that will vest within sixty days of
such date, and shares underlying vested options and options that
will vest within sixty days of such date. Additionally, certain
executive officers and the non-employee directors of thinkorswim
will be entitled to additional benefits upon or as a result of
the consummation of the merger.
Certain
Executive Officers of thinkorswim Have Agreed to Vote in Favor
of the Merger (page 65)
In connection with the execution of the merger agreement,
certain executive officers of thinkorswim entered into voting
agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their
shares of thinkorswim common stock in favor of the merger. These
executive officers own shares representing approximately 16.17%
of thinkorswims issued and outstanding common stock as of
the record date. They have also agreed to comply with certain
restrictions on the disposition of their shares, subject to the
terms and conditions contained in the voting agreements.
Pursuant to their terms, such voting agreements will terminate
concurrently with any termination of the merger agreement.
The form of voting agreement is included as Appendix B to
this proxy statement/prospectus.
Holders
of thinkorswim Common Stock Are Entitled to Appraisal Rights
(page 43)
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, referred to as the
DGCL, holders of thinkorswim common stock who do not vote for
the approval of the merger proposal have the right to seek
appraisal of the fair value
3
of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery
if the merger is completed, but only if they comply with all
requirements of Delaware law, which are summarized in this proxy
statement/prospectus. This appraisal amount could be more than,
the same as, or less than the amount a thinkorswim stockholder
would be entitled to receive under the merger agreement. Any
holder of thinkorswim common stock intending to exercise
appraisal rights, among other things, must submit a written
demand for appraisal to thinkorswim prior to the vote on the
approval of the merger proposal and must not vote or otherwise
submit a proxy in favor of approval of the merger proposal.
Failure to follow exactly the procedures specified under
Delaware law will result in the loss of appraisal rights.
Because of the complexity of the Delaware law relating to
appraisal rights, if you are considering exercising your
appraisal right, we encourage you to seek the advice of your own
legal counsel.
A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL is also included as
Appendix D to this proxy statement/prospectus.
Conditions
That Must Be Satisfied or Waived for the Merger to Occur
(page 60)
Currently, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim expect to complete the
merger within the next six months. As more fully described in
this proxy statement/prospectus and in the merger agreement, the
completion of the merger depends on a number of conditions being
satisfied or, where legally permissible, waived. These
conditions include, among others, approval of the merger
proposal by thinkorswim stockholders, the expiration or
termination of the applicable
Hart-Scott-Rodino
waiting period, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals
(including approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, referred to as FINRA, the Investment Industry
Regulatory Organization of Canada, referred to as IIROC, and
certain other Canadian securities regulators) and the receipt of
legal opinions by each company regarding the tax treatment of
the merger. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act
expired on February 25, 2009.
Neither TD AMERITRADE nor thinkorswim can be certain when, or
if, the conditions to the merger will be satisfied or waived, or
that the merger will be completed.
Termination
of the Merger Agreement (page 61)
Either TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim can terminate the merger
agreement under certain circumstances, which would prevent the
merger from being completed.
Termination
Fee (page 63)
A termination fee of $20,000,000 may be payable by thinkorswim
to TD AMERITRADE upon the termination of the merger agreement
under several circumstances.
Regulatory
Approvals Required for the Merger (page 46)
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have agreed to use reasonable best
efforts to obtain as promptly as practicable all regulatory
approvals that are required to complete the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement. These approvals include
approval from or notices to foreign and state securities
authorities, various other federal, state and foreign antitrust
and regulatory authorities, including the Department of Justice
and the Federal Trade Commission, and self-regulatory
organizations. In addition, the indirect change in control of
thinkorswims broker-dealer subsidiary resulting from the
merger is subject to approval by FINRA, and the indirect change
of ownership of thinkorswims Canadian broker-dealer
subsidiary resulting from the merger is subject to approval by
IIROC and a number of Canadian provincial securities
commissions, including the Ontario Securities Commission.
Although neither TD AMERITRADE nor thinkorswim know of any
reason why these regulatory approvals would not be obtained in a
timely manner, neither TD AMERITRADE nor thinkorswim can be
certain when or if the approvals will be obtained.
4
Board of
Directors and Management of TD AMERITRADE following Completion
of the Merger (page 43)
The directors of thinkorswim and its subsidiaries will resign as
of the effective time of the merger. The composition of TD
AMERITRADEs board of directors and management is not
anticipated to change in connection with the completion of the
merger.
The
Rights of thinkorswim Stockholders will Change as a Result of
the Merger (page 70)
The rights of thinkorswim stockholders will change as a result
of the merger due to differences in TD AMERITRADEs
and thinkorswims governing documents. This proxy
statement/prospectus contains a summary description of
stockholder rights under each of the TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim governing documents and describes the material
differences between them.
thinkorswim
will Hold its Special Meeting on June 9, 2009
(page 17)
The special meeting will be held on June 9, 2009 at
9:00 AM, local time, at the Hilton New York located at
1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019. At
the special meeting, thinkorswim stockholders will be asked to:
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approve and adopt the merger agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby;
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approve a stock option exchange program that will permit
thinkorswims eligible individuals to exchange underwater
thinkorswim options for thinkorswim restricted stock units;
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approve an amendment to thinkorswims Second Amended and
Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan to permit the grant of
thinkorswim restricted stock units, which will be assumed by TD
AMERITRADE if the merger is completed; and
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approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to
solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not
sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve
and adopt the merger agreement.
|
Record Date. Only holders of record at the
close of business on April 24, 2009 will be entitled to
vote at the special meeting. Each share of thinkorswim common
stock is entitled to vote. As of the record date,
66,812,819 shares of thinkorswim common stock were
outstanding, held by approximately 371 registered holders.
Required vote. Approval of the merger proposal
requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of thinkorswim common stock entitled to
vote at the special meeting. Because approval is based on the
affirmative vote of a majority of shares outstanding, a
thinkorswim stockholders failure to vote or an abstention
will have the same effect as a vote against approval of the
merger proposal.
Approval of each of the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal and the adjournment proposal requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy, and in the
case of the adjournment proposal, even if less than a quorum is
present. Because approval of each of these proposals requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person
or by proxy, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote
against these proposals.
Information
about the Companies (page 21)
TD
AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
TD AMERITRADE, a Delaware corporation, was established in 1971
as a local investment banking firm and began operations as a
retail discount securities brokerage firm in 1975. TD AMERITRADE
is a leading provider of securities brokerage services and
technology-based financial services to retail investors and
business partners, predominantly through the Internet, a
national branch network and relationships with one of the
largest groups of independent registered investment advisors. TD
AMERITRADE common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market under the symbol AMTD. The principal
executive offices of
5
TD AMERITRADE are located at 4211 South 102nd Street,
Omaha, Nebraska 68127, and its telephone number is
(402) 331-7856.
Additional information about TD AMERITRADE and its subsidiaries
is included in documents incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus. See Where You Can Find More
Information beginning on page 88.
Tango
Acquisition Corporation One
Tango Acquisition Corporation One, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TD AMERITRADE, was formed solely for the purpose of consummating
the merger. Tango Acquisition Corporation One has not carried on
any activities to date, except for activities incidental to its
formation and activities undertaken in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The principal
executive offices of Tango Acquisition Corporation One are
located at 4211 South
102nd Street,
Omaha, Nebraska 68127, and its telephone number is
(402) 331-7856.
Tango
Acquisition Corporation Two
Tango Acquisition Corporation Two, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TD AMERITRADE, was formed solely for the purpose of consummating
the merger. Tango Acquisition Corporation Two has not carried on
any activities to date, except for activities incidental to its
formation and activities undertaken in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The principal
executive offices of Tango Acquisition Corporation Two are
located at 4211 South 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127,
and its telephone number is
(402) 331-7856.
thinkorswim
Group Inc.
thinkorswim, a Delaware corporation, offers market-leading
investor education and brokerage and related financial products
and services for self-directed investors. The investor education
segment offers a full range of investor education products and
services that provide lifelong learning covering a broad range
of financial products, including equity securities, options,
fixed income, index products, futures, other derivatives and
foreign exchange.
The brokerage segment is a leading online brokerage and provider
of related technology-based financial services to self-directed
options traders and retail investors. The online brokerage
segment offers a broad range of products including equity
securities, index products, exchange traded options, futures,
mutual funds, bonds and foreign exchange. thinkorswim also
provides unique scalable software, desktop, mobile and wireless
front-end trading platforms that allow its customers to trade
electronically and to implement complex multi-leg options
strategies with single clicks.
thinkorswim common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market
under the symbol SWIM. The principal executive
offices of thinkorswim are located at 45 Rockefeller Plaza,
Suite 2012, New York, New York and its telephone number is
(801) 816-6918.
Additional information about thinkorswim and its subsidiaries is
included in documents incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus. See Where You Can Find More
Information beginning on page 88.
6
SELECTED
CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF TD
AMERITRADE
The following selected financial data of TD AMERITRADE as of and
for the five fiscal years in the period ended September 30,
2008, have been derived from TD AMERITRADEs audited
historical financial statements and the selected financial data
of TD AMERITRADE as of and for the three months ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007 have been derived from TD
AMERITRADEs unaudited consolidated financial statements.
In the opinion of TD AMERITRADEs management, this
information reflects all adjustments, which are all of a normal
recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of this data
for those periods. The data below are only a summary and should
be read in conjunction with TD AMERITRADEs consolidated
financial statements and accompanying notes, as well as TD
AMERITRADEs managements discussion and analysis of
financial condition and results of operations, all of which can
be found in publicly available documents, including those
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus.
For a complete list of documents incorporated by reference in
this proxy statement/prospectus, see Where You Can Find
More Information beginning on page 88.
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Fiscal Year Ended
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Three Months Ended December 31,
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Sept. 30,
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Sept. 30,
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Sept. 29,
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Sept. 30,
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Sept. 24,
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2008
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2007
|
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2008
|
|
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2007
|
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2006*
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2005
|
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2004
|
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(In thousands, except per share amounts)
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Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
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Net revenues
|
|
$
|
610,729
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|
|
$
|
641,616
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|
|
$
|
2,537,356
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|
|
$
|
2,176,946
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|
|
$
|
1,803,531
|
|
|
$
|
1,003,153
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|
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$
|
880,113
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Total expenses
|
|
|
310,167
|
|
|
|
285,629
|
|
|
|
1,274,782
|
|
|
|
1,148,124
|
|
|
|
1,027,648
|
|
|
|
449,661
|
|
|
|
421,026
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
644
|
|
|
|
928
|
|
|
|
5,881
|
|
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|
81,422
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|
|
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|
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Net income
|
|
|
184,398
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|
|
|
240,839
|
|
|
|
803,917
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|
|
|
645,900
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|
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|
526,759
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|
339,753
|
|
|
|
282,818
|
|
Earnings per share basic
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
|
$
|
1.35
|
|
|
$
|
1.08
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
0.84
|
|
|
$
|
0.68
|
|
Earnings per share diluted
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.06
|
|
|
$
|
0.95
|
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
|
$
|
0.66
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding basic
|
|
|
591,748
|
|
|
|
594,915
|
|
|
|
593,746
|
|
|
|
598,503
|
|
|
|
544,307
|
|
|
|
404,215
|
|
|
|
417,629
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding diluted
|
|
|
600,601
|
|
|
|
604,388
|
|
|
|
603,133
|
|
|
|
608,263
|
|
|
|
555,465
|
|
|
|
413,167
|
|
|
|
426,972
|
|
Dividends declared per share
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
6.00
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of
|
|
|
As of
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Sept. 30,
|
|
|
Sept. 30,
|
|
|
Sept. 29,
|
|
|
Sept. 30,
|
|
|
Sept. 24,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006*
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
1,154,155
|
|
|
$
|
494,317
|
|
|
$
|
674,135
|
|
|
$
|
413,787
|
|
|
$
|
363,650
|
|
|
$
|
171,064
|
|
|
$
|
137,392
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
118,148
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
369,133
|
|
|
|
76,800
|
|
|
|
65,275
|
|
|
|
229,819
|
|
|
|
17,950
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
12,495,222
|
|
|
|
18,859,233
|
|
|
|
15,951,522
|
|
|
|
18,092,327
|
|
|
|
16,558,469
|
|
|
|
16,417,110
|
|
|
|
15,277,021
|
|
Long-term obligations
|
|
|
1,434,860
|
|
|
|
1,474,907
|
|
|
|
1,444,544
|
|
|
|
1,481,948
|
|
|
|
1,710,712
|
|
|
|
45,736
|
|
|
|
37,803
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
3,078,090
|
|
|
|
2,386,659
|
|
|
|
2,925,038
|
|
|
|
2,154,921
|
|
|
|
1,730,234
|
|
|
|
1,518,867
|
|
|
|
1,210,908
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The growth in TD AMERITRADEs results of operations and
increase in long-term obligations during fiscal 2006 was
primarily due to the acquisition of TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. on
January 24, 2006. TD AMERITRADE declared and paid a
special cash dividend of $6.00 per share during fiscal 2006 in
connection with the TD Waterhouse acquisition. |
7
SELECTED
CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF THINKORSWIM
The following selected financial data of thinkorswim as of and
for the years ended December 31, 2004 through 2008 have
been derived from thinkorswims audited consolidated
financial statements. The data below are only a summary and
should be read in conjunction with thinkorswims
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, as
well as thinkorswims managements discussion and
analysis of financial condition and results of operations, all
of which can be found in publicly available documents, including
those incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus. For a complete list of documents
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus,
see Where You Can Find More Information beginning on
page 88.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007*
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
371,805
|
|
|
$
|
318,009
|
|
|
$
|
170,330
|
|
|
$
|
138,621
|
|
|
$
|
97,169
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
287,921
|
|
|
|
285,240
|
|
|
|
214,471
|
|
|
|
154,845
|
|
|
|
109,079
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
56,117
|
|
|
|
22,435
|
|
|
|
(40,732
|
)
|
|
|
(15,742
|
)
|
|
|
(11,727
|
)
|
Earnings per share basic
|
|
$
|
0.85
|
|
|
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
$
|
(0.90
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.35
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.26
|
)
|
Earnings per share diluted
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
$
|
(0.90
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.35
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.26
|
)
|
Weighted average shares outstanding basic
|
|
|
66,201
|
|
|
|
62,942
|
|
|
|
45,042
|
|
|
|
44,933
|
|
|
|
45,045
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding diluted
|
|
|
68,485
|
|
|
|
65,790
|
|
|
|
45,042
|
|
|
|
44,933
|
|
|
|
45,045
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of
|
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007*
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
$
|
82,560
|
|
|
$
|
63,080
|
|
|
$
|
75,064
|
|
|
$
|
28,337
|
|
|
$
|
24,576
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
510,342
|
|
|
|
509,330
|
|
|
|
131,637
|
|
|
|
72,699
|
|
|
|
49,778
|
|
Deferred revenues
|
|
|
110,783
|
|
|
|
161,870
|
|
|
|
159,575
|
|
|
|
77,516
|
|
|
|
40,378
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
285,689
|
|
|
|
347,435
|
|
|
|
195,288
|
|
|
|
96,438
|
|
|
|
57,010
|
|
Stockholders equity (deficit)
|
|
|
224,653
|
|
|
|
161,895
|
|
|
|
(63,651
|
)
|
|
|
(23,739
|
)
|
|
|
(7,232
|
)
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The growth in thinkorswim Group Inc.s results of
operations and changes in the total assets and liabilities
during fiscal 2007 was primarily due to the acquisition of
thinkorswim Holdings, Inc. on February 15, 2007. |
8
COMPARATIVE
PER SHARE DATA
The following table shows historical information about TD
AMERITRADEs and thinkorswims respective earnings per
share and book value per share, and similar information
reflecting the merger, referred to as pro forma information. In
presenting the comparative pro forma information for the periods
shown, TD AMERITRADE assumed that the merger was completed.
TD AMERITRADE is required to account for the merger as a
purchase of a business, as that phrase is used under
generally accepted accounting principles, for accounting and
financial reporting purposes. Under purchase accounting, the
assets acquired (including identifiable intangible assets) and
liabilities assumed (including executory contracts and other
commitments) of thinkorswim as of the completion of the merger,
will be recorded at their respective fair values and added to
those of TD AMERITRADE. Any excess of the purchase price
over the fair values will be recorded as goodwill. The financial
statements of TD AMERITRADE issued after the merger will reflect
these fair values and will not be restated retroactively to
reflect the historical financial position or results of
operations of thinkorswim.
The pro forma financial information includes estimated
adjustments to record certain assets and liabilities of
thinkorswim at their respective fair values. These pro forma
adjustments are subject to updates as additional information
becomes available and as additional analyses are performed.
Certain other assets and liabilities of thinkorswim will also be
subject to adjustment to their respective fair values. Pending
more detailed analyses, no pro forma adjustments are included
for those assets and liabilities, including additional
intangible assets that may be identified. Any change in the fair
value of the net assets of thinkorswim will change the amount of
the purchase price allocable to goodwill. Additionally, changes
to thinkorswims stockholders equity, including net
income through the date the merger is completed, will change the
amount of goodwill recorded. The final adjustments may differ
materially from the pro forma adjustments reflected in this
proxy statement/prospectus.
We also anticipate that the merger will provide TD AMERITRADE
with financial benefits that include increased revenue and
reduced operating expenses, but these financial benefits are not
reflected in the pro forma information. Accordingly, the
pro forma information does not attempt to predict or suggest
future results. It also does not necessarily reflect what the
historical results of TD AMERITRADE would have been had TD
AMERITRADE and thinkorswim been combined during the periods
presented.
The information in the following table is based on historical
financial information and related notes for thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE. You should read the summary financial information
provided in the following table together with historical
financial information and related notes. The historical
financial information of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE is also
incorporated into this document by reference. See Where
You Can Find More Information beginning on page 88
for a description of where you can find this historical
information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD AMERITRADE
|
|
|
thinkorswim
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Sept. 30, 2008
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept. 30, 2008
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Combined
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Equivalent(1)
|
|
|
Earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
1.35
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
0.85
|
|
|
$
|
0.86
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
|
$
|
0.85
|
|
Book value per share at period end
|
|
$
|
4.93
|
|
|
$
|
5.43
|
|
|
$
|
3.38
|
|
|
$
|
3.53
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD AMERITRADE
|
|
|
thinkorswim
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended December 31, 2008
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Combined
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Equivalent(1)
|
|
|
Earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
Book value per share at period end
|
|
$
|
5.22
|
|
|
$
|
5.72
|
|
|
$
|
3.38
|
|
|
$
|
3.72
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
The pro forma thinkorswim
equivalent per share amounts were calculated by applying an
exchange ratio of 0.65 to the pro forma combined earnings and
book value per share. The exchange ratio used in this pro forma
table reflects the value of the per share merger consideration
of $8.67 divided by the value of a share of TD AMERITRADE
common stock of $13.40, with each of the numerator and
denominator calculated based on the average of the closing price
for TD AMERITRADE common stock for the five trading day period
ended January 12, 2009. The final ratio of the per share
merger consideration to the value of a share of TD AMERITRADE
common stock will vary based on the trading price of TD
AMERITRADE common stock.
|
10
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement/prospectus contains or incorporates by
reference a number of forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about our beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include
statements preceded by, followed by, or including the words
could, would, should,
target, plan, believe,
expect, intend, anticipate,
estimate, project,
potential, possible or other similar
expressions. In particular, forward-looking statements contained
in this proxy statement/prospectus include expectations
regarding the financial conditions, results of operations,
earnings outlook and prospects of TD AMERITRADE, thinkorswim and
the potential combined company and may include statements
regarding the period following the completion of the merger.
The forward-looking statements involve certain risks and
uncertainties and may differ materially from actual results. The
ability of either TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim to predict
results or the actual effects of its plans and strategies, or
those of the combined company, is subject to inherent
uncertainty. Factors that may cause actual results or earnings
to differ materially from such forward-looking statements
include those set forth on page 12 under Risk
Factors, as well as, among others, the following:
|
|
|
|
|
factors discussed and identified in public filings with the SEC
made by TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim;
|
|
|
|
the effect of changes in domestic and global economic conditions
in general;
|
|
|
|
the completion of the merger is dependent on, among other
things, receipt of stockholder and regulatory approvals, the
timing of which cannot be predicted with precision and which may
not be received at all;
|
|
|
|
the merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated,
including as a result of unexpected factors or events and
unanticipated tax consequences of the merger;
|
|
|
|
the exposure to litigation, including the possibility that
litigation relating to the merger agreement and related
transactions could delay or impede the completion of the merger;
|
|
|
|
the integration of thinkorswims business and operations
with those of TD AMERITRADE may take longer than anticipated,
may be more costly than anticipated and may have unanticipated
adverse results relating to thinkorswims or TD
AMERITRADEs existing businesses; and
|
|
|
|
the anticipated cost savings and other synergies of the merger
may take longer to be realized or may not be achieved in their
entirety, and attrition in key client, partner and other
relationships relating to the merger may be greater than
expected.
|
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
statements, which speak only as of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus or the date of any document incorporated by
reference in this document. Except to the extent required by
applicable law or regulation, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim
undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
concerning the merger or other matters addressed in this proxy
statement/prospectus and attributable to TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim or any person acting on their behalf are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the preceding cautionary
statement.
11
RISK
FACTORS
In addition to the other information included in and
incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus,
including the matters addressed in the section entitled
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements beginning on page 11, you should carefully
consider the following risk factors before deciding whether to
vote for approval of the merger proposal, the option exchange
proposal, the plan amendment proposal and the adjournment
proposal. In addition, you should read and consider the risks
associated with the business of TD AMERITRADE because these
risks will also affect the combined company. These risks can be
found in TD AMERITRADEs Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 and its
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2008, which are
filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/prospectus. You should also read and consider the
other information in this proxy statement/prospectus and the
other documents incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/prospectus. See the section entitled Where You
Can Find More Information beginning on page 88.
Because thinkorswim stockholders will receive in the
merger (in addition to cash) a fixed number of shares of
TD AMERITRADE common stock rather than a fixed value, if
the market price of TD AMERITRADE common stock declines,
the value of the TD AMERITRADE common stock to be received
by thinkorswim stockholders will also decline.
Upon completion of the merger, each share of thinkorswim common
stock will be converted into merger consideration consisting of
an amount of cash of $3.34, without interest and less any
required withholding under United States federal, state, local
or foreign law, and 0.3980 of a share of TD AMERITRADE
common stock. The market value of the merger consideration may
vary from the closing price of TD AMERITRADE common stock
on the date the merger was announced, on the date that this
document was mailed to thinkorswim stockholders, on the date of
the special meeting of the thinkorswim stockholders and on the
date of completion of the merger and thereafter. Any change in
the market price of TD AMERITRADE common stock prior to
completion of the merger will affect the market value of the
merger consideration that thinkorswim stockholders will receive
upon completion of the merger. Accordingly, at the time of the
special meeting, thinkorswim stockholders will not know or be
able to calculate the market value of the merger consideration
they would receive upon completion of the merger. Neither
company is permitted to terminate the merger agreement or
resolicit the vote of thinkorswim stockholders solely because of
changes in the market prices of either companys stock.
There will be no adjustment to the merger consideration for
changes in the market price of either shares of
TD AMERITRADE common stock or shares of thinkorswim common
stock. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors,
including general market and economic conditions, changes in the
respective businesses, operations and prospects of
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim, or regulatory
considerations. Many of these factors are beyond the control of
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim. You should obtain current
market quotations for shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock
and for shares of thinkorswim common stock.
The market price of TD AMERITRADEs common stock
may decline as a result of the merger.
The market price of TD AMERITRADEs common stock may
decline as a result of the merger for a number of reasons,
including:
|
|
|
|
|
the integration of thinkorswim by TD AMERITRADE may be
unsuccessful;
|
|
|
|
TD AMERITRADE may not achieve the perceived benefits of the
merger as rapidly as, or to the extent, anticipated by financial
or industry analysts; or
|
|
|
|
the effect of the merger on TD AMERITRADEs financial
results may not be consistent with the expectations of financial
or industry analysts.
|
These factors are, to some extent, beyond
TD AMERITRADEs control. In addition, for thinkorswim
stockholders who hold their shares in certificated form, there
will be a time period between the effective time of the merger
and the time when thinkorswim stockholders actually receive
book-entry shares evidencing TD AMERITRADE common stock.
Until book-entry shares are received, thinkorswim stockholders
will not be able to sell their shares of TD AMERITRADE
common stock in the open market and, thus, will not be
12
able to avoid losses resulting from any decline in the market
price of TD AMERITRADE common stock during this period.
The failure of TD AMERITRADE to operate and manage
the combined company effectively could have a material adverse
effect on TD AMERITRADEs business, financial
condition and operating results.
TD AMERITRADE will need to meet significant challenges to
realize the expected benefits and synergies of the merger. These
challenges include:
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integrating the management teams, strategies, cultures,
technologies and operations of the two companies;
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retaining and assimilating the key personnel of each company;
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retaining existing clients of thinkorswim;
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creating uniform standards, controls, procedures, policies and
information systems; and
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achieving revenue growth because of risks involving (1) the
adoption by TD AMERITRADE clients of the education and trading
products offered by thinkorswim, (2) the ability to maintain
pricing for thinkorswims education and brokerage
businesses and (3) the ability to maintain growth or retain
clients in thinkorswims brokerage business.
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The accomplishment of these post-merger objectives will involve
considerable risk, including:
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the potential disruption of each companys ongoing business
and distraction of their respective management teams;
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the difficulty of incorporating acquired technology and rights
into TD AMERITRADEs products and services;
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unanticipated expenses related to technology
integration; and
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potential unknown liabilities associated with the merger.
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TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have operated and, until the
completion of the merger, will continue to operate,
independently. It is possible that the integration process could
result in the loss of the technical skills and management
expertise of key employees, the disruption of each
companys ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in
standards, controls, procedures and policies due to possible
cultural conflicts or differences of opinions on technical
decisions and product road maps that adversely affect
TD AMERITRADEs ability to maintain relationships with
clients, software developers, customers and employees or to
achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger.
Even if TD AMERITRADE is able to integrate the thinkorswim
business operations successfully, this integration may not
result in the realization of the full benefits of synergies,
cost savings, innovation and operational efficiencies that may
be possible from this integration and these benefits may not be
achieved within a reasonable period of time.
Failure to retain key employees could diminish the
anticipated benefits of the merger.
The success of the merger will depend in part on the retention
of personnel critical to the business and operations of the
combined company due to, for example, their technical skills or
management expertise. Employees may experience uncertainty about
their future role with thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE until
strategies with regard to these employees are announced or
executed. If thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE are unable to
retain personnel, including thinkorswims key management,
trading group, sales and client-facing personnel and brokerage
and education product and technical development staff, that are
critical to the successful integration and future operations of
the companies, thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE could face
disruptions in their operations, loss of existing customers,
loss of key information, expertise or know-how, and
unanticipated additional recruitment and training costs. In
addition, the loss of key personnel could diminish the
anticipated benefits of the merger.
13
Uncertainty regarding the merger may cause clients to
delay or defer decisions concerning TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim and adversely affect each companys ability to
attract and retain key employees.
The merger will happen only if stated conditions are met,
including the approval of the merger proposal by
thinkorswims stockholders, the receipt of regulatory
approvals, and the absence of any material adverse effect in the
business of thinkorswim or TD AMERITRADE. Many of the
conditions are outside the control of thinkorswim and
TD AMERITRADE, and both parties also have stated rights to
terminate the merger agreement. Accordingly, there may be
uncertainty regarding the completion of the merger. This
uncertainty may cause clients to delay or defer decisions
concerning thinkorswim or TD AMERITRADE, which could
negatively affect their respective businesses. Any delay or
deferral of those decisions or changes in existing agreements
could have a material adverse effect on the respective
businesses of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE, regardless of
whether the merger is ultimately completed. Moreover, diversion
of management focus and resources from the day-to-day operation
of the business to matters relating to the merger could have a
material adverse effect on each companys business,
regardless of whether the merger is completed. Current and
prospective employees of each company may experience uncertainty
about their future roles with the combined company. This may
adversely affect each companys ability to attract and
retain key management, sales, marketing and technical personnel.
The market price of TD AMERITRADE common stock after
the merger may be affected by factors different from those
affecting the shares of thinkorswim or TD AMERITRADE
currently.
The businesses of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim differ in
important respects and, accordingly, the results of operations
of the combined company and the market price of the combined
companys shares of common stock may be affected by factors
different from those currently affecting the independent results
of operations of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim. For a
discussion of the businesses of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim
and of certain factors to consider in connection with those
businesses, see the documents incorporated by reference in this
proxy statement/prospectus and referred to under Where You
Can Find More Information beginning on page 88.
The merger may go forward in certain circumstances even if
TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim suffers a material adverse
effect.
In general, either party can refuse to complete the merger if a
material adverse effect occurs with regard to the other party
before the closing. However, neither party may refuse to
complete the merger on that basis as a result of any fact,
circumstance, change or effect resulting from:
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general market, economic or political conditions in the United
States or any other jurisdiction in which TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim or any of their respective subsidiaries has
substantial business or operations and any changes therein
(including any condition or changes arising out of acts of
terrorism, war, weather conditions or other force majeure
events), to the extent they do not affect TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim, as applicable, disproportionately relative to other
companies organized and based in the United States and operating
in the same industries in which TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim operates;
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general conditions in the financial services industry, and any
changes therein (including any condition or changes arising out
of acts of terrorism, war, weather conditions or other force
majeure events), to the extent they do not affect
TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim, as applicable,
disproportionately relative to other companies organized and
based in the United States and operating in the same industries
in which TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim operates;
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changes or proposed changes in generally accepted accounting
principles or applicable federal, state, provincial, local,
municipal, foreign or other law;
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the public announcement of the merger agreement or pendency of
the merger, including any loss of or adverse change in the
relationship of TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim with their
respective employees, customers, partners or suppliers related
thereto to the extent resulting from the announcement of the
merger agreement or the pendency of the merger;
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any action or omission by TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim
taken with the prior written consent of the other party;
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any failure of TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim to meet
internal or analysts estimates, projections or forecasts
of revenues, earnings or other financial or business metrics, in
and of itself;
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any decline in the market price or change in the trading volume
of TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswims public equity securities,
in and of itself; or
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any of the matters disclosed in the respective disclosure
schedules of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim.
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If adverse changes occur but TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim
must still complete the merger, TD AMERITRADEs stock
price may suffer. This in turn may reduce the value of the
merger to thinkorswim stockholders.
thinkorswim stockholders will have a reduced ownership and
voting interest after the merger and will exercise less
influence over management. In addition, The Toronto-Dominion
Bank and the Ricketts holders exercise significant influence
over TD AMERITRADE.
thinkorswim stockholders currently have the right to vote in the
election of the board of directors of thinkorswim and on other
matters affecting thinkorswim. When the merger occurs, each
thinkorswim stockholder that receives shares of
TD AMERITRADE common stock will become a stockholder of
TD AMERITRADE with a percentage ownership of the combined
company that is much smaller than the stockholders
percentage ownership of thinkorswim. It is expected that the
former stockholders of thinkorswim as a group will own less than
5% of the outstanding shares of TD AMERITRADE immediately
after the merger. Because of this, thinkorswims
stockholders will have less influence on the management and
policies of TD AMERITRADE than they now have on the
management and policies of thinkorswim. Furthermore, as of
December 22, 2008, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and J. Joe
Ricketts, TD AMERITRADEs founder, members of his
family and trusts held for their benefit, referred to as the
Ricketts holders, owned approximately 40.3% and 22.2%,
respectively, of the outstanding voting securities of
TD AMERITRADE. TD AMERITRADE is party to a
stockholders agreement with these stockholders that contains
certain governance arrangements and various provisions relating
to board composition, stock ownership and transfers, voting and
other matters. Beginning January 26, 2009, The
Toronto-Dominion Bank is permitted to own up to 45% of the
outstanding common stock of TD AMERITRADE under the terms
of the stockholders agreement. Please see Comparison of
Stockholders Rights beginning on page 70 for a
description of certain provisions of the stockholders agreement.
As a result of their significant share ownership in
TD AMERITRADE, The Toronto-Dominion Bank or the Ricketts
holders may have the power, subject to applicable law, to
significantly influence actions that might be favorable to The
Toronto-Dominion Bank or the Ricketts holders, but not
necessarily favorable to other TD AMERITRADE stockholders.
In addition, the ownership position and governance rights of The
Toronto-Dominion Bank and the Ricketts holders could discourage
a third party from proposing a change in control or other
strategic transaction concerning TD AMERITRADE. As a result, the
common stock of TD AMERITRADE could trade at prices that do
not reflect a takeover premium to the same extent as
do the stocks of similarly situated companies that do not have a
stockholder with an ownership interest as large as The
Toronto-Dominion Banks and the Ricketts holders
combined ownership interest.
The merger agreement limits thinkorswims ability to
pursue alternatives to the merger.
The merger agreement contains no shop provisions
that, subject to limited exceptions, limit thinkorswims
ability to discuss, facilitate or commit to competing
third-party proposals to acquire all or a significant part of
thinkorswim, as well as a termination fee that is payable by
thinkorswim under certain circumstances. These provisions might
discourage a potential competing acquiror that might have an
interest in acquiring all or a significant part of thinkorswim
from considering or proposing that acquisition even if it were
prepared to pay consideration with a higher per share market
price than that proposed in the merger or might result in a
potential competing acquiror proposing to pay a lower per share
price to acquire thinkorswim than it might otherwise have
proposed to pay.
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The merger is subject to the receipt of consents and
approvals from regulatory authorities that may impose conditions
that could have an adverse effect on TD AMERITRADE or, if
not obtained, could prevent completion of the merger.
Before the merger may be completed, various approvals or
consents must be obtained from various domestic and foreign
securities regulatory and other authorities. While
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim believe that they will
receive the requisite regulatory approvals from these
governmental authorities, there can be no assurance of this. In
addition, these governmental authorities may impose conditions
on the completion of the merger or require changes to the terms
of the merger. Although TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim do
not currently expect that any such conditions or changes would
be imposed, there can be no assurance that they will not be, and
such conditions or changes could have the effect of delaying
completion of the merger or imposing additional costs on or
limiting the revenues of TD AMERITRADE following the
merger, any of which might have a material adverse effect on
TD AMERITRADE following the merger. For a full description
of the regulatory clearances, consents and approvals required
for the merger, please see The Merger
Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger beginning on
page 46.
Failure to complete the merger could negatively affect
thinkorswims stock price and its future business and
operations.
If the merger is not completed for any reason, including as a
result of an injunction granted in connection with the ongoing
thinkorswim stockholder litigation relating to the merger
(described on page 47), thinkorswim may be subject to a
number of material risks, including the following:
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thinkorswim may be required under certain circumstances to pay
TD AMERITRADE a termination fee of $20 million;
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the price of thinkorswims common stock may
decline; and
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costs related to the merger, such as financial advisory, legal,
accounting and printing fees, must be paid even if the merger is
not completed.
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If the merger agreement is terminated, thinkorswim may be unable
to pursue another business combination transaction on terms as
favorable as those set forth in the merger agreement, or at all.
This could limit thinkorswims ability to pursue its
strategic goals.
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim may waive one or more
of the conditions of the merger without re-soliciting
stockholder approval for the merger.
Each of the conditions to TD AMERITRADEs and
thinkorswims obligations to complete the merger may be
waived, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, by agreement of TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim, if the condition is a condition to both
TD AMERITRADEs and thinkorswims obligation to
complete the merger, or by the party for which such condition is
a condition of its obligation to complete the merger. The boards
of directors of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim may evaluate the
materiality of any such waiver to determine whether amendment of
this proxy statement/prospectus and re-solicitation of proxies
are necessary. TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim, however,
generally do not expect any such waiver to be significant enough
to require re-solicitation of stockholders. In the event that
any such waiver is not determined to be significant enough to
require re-solicitation of stockholders, the companies will have
the discretion to complete the merger without seeking further
stockholder approval. If the closing condition requiring receipt
by TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim of the opinions of their
respective tax counsel were waived, the merger would not be
completed before further approval of the thinkorswim
stockholders was obtained following delivery of relevant
additional disclosure to the stockholders.
16
THE
THINKORSWIM SPECIAL MEETING
This section contains information about the special meeting of
thinkorswim stockholders that has been called to consider and
approve the merger proposal, the option exchange proposal, the
plan amendment proposal and the adjournment proposal.
Together with this proxy statement/prospectus, thinkorswim is
also sending you a notice of the special meeting and a form of
proxy that is solicited by the thinkorswim board of directors.
Time,
Date and Place
The special meeting will be held on June 9, 2009 at
9:00 AM, local time, at the Hilton New York located at
1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019.
Matters
to Be Considered
The purpose of the special meeting is to vote for approval of
the merger proposal, the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal and the adjournment proposal.
Proxies
Each copy of this proxy statement/prospectus mailed to holders
of thinkorswim common stock is accompanied by a form of proxy
with instructions for voting. If you hold stock in your name as
a stockholder of record, you should vote your shares by
(i) completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed
proxy card, (ii) using the telephone number on your proxy
card or (iii) using the Internet voting instructions on
your proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted at the
special meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement of the
special meeting, regardless of whether you plan to attend the
special meeting.
If you hold your stock in street name through a bank
or broker, you must direct your bank or broker to vote in
accordance with the instructions you have received from your
bank or broker.
If you hold stock in your name as a stockholder of record, you
may revoke any proxy at any time before it is voted by signing
and returning a proxy card with a later date, delivering a
written revocation letter to thinkorswims Secretary, or by
attending the special meeting in person, notifying the
Secretary, and voting by ballot at the special meeting.
Any stockholder entitled to vote in person at the special
meeting may vote in person regardless of whether a proxy has
been previously given, but the mere presence (without notifying
the Secretary) of a stockholder at the special meeting will not
constitute revocation of a previously given proxy.
Written notices of revocation and other communications about
revoking your proxy should be addressed to:
thinkorswim Group Inc.
13947 South Minuteman Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attention: Paul A. Helbling
Secretary
If your shares are held in street name by a bank or
broker, you should follow the instructions of your bank or
broker regarding the revocation of proxies.
All shares represented by valid proxies that are received
through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be
voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. If
you make no specification on your proxy card as to how you want
your shares voted before signing and returning it, your proxy
will be voted FOR approval of the merger proposal,
FOR approval of the option exchange proposal,
FOR approval of the plan amendment proposal and
FOR approval of the adjournment proposal. According
to the thinkorswim amended and restated bylaws, as amended,
business to be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders
may only be brought before the meeting by or at the direction of
the thinkorswim board of directors, or by any thinkorswim
stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the
17
notice provisions set forth in the thinkorswim amended and
restated bylaws, as amended. No matters other than the matters
described in this document are anticipated to be presented for
action at the special meeting or at any adjournment or
postponement of the special meeting.
thinkorswim stockholders should not send thinkorswim stock
certificates with their proxy cards. After the merger is
completed, holders of thinkorswim common stock will be mailed a
transmittal form with instructions on how to exchange their
thinkorswim stock certificates for the merger consideration.
Solicitation
of Proxies
Since many thinkorswim stockholders are unable to attend the
special meeting, thinkorswims board of directors is
soliciting proxies to be voted at the special meeting to give
each stockholder an opportunity to vote on all matters scheduled
to come before the meeting and set forth in this proxy
statement/prospectus. thinkorswims board of directors is
asking stockholders to designate Mr. Lee Barba,
Ms. Ida Kane and Mr. Paul Helbling, or any one of
them, as their proxies.
TD AMERITRADE will pay the costs of printing and mailing this
proxy statement/prospectus to thinkorswims stockholders,
and thinkorswim will pay all other costs incurred by it in
connection with the solicitation of proxies from its
stockholders on behalf of its board of directors, including the
entire cost of soliciting proxies from you. In addition to
solicitation of proxies by mail, thinkorswim will request that
banks, brokers, and other record holders send proxies and proxy
material to the beneficial owners of thinkorswim common stock
and secure their voting instructions. thinkorswim will reimburse
the record holders for their reasonable expenses in taking those
actions. thinkorswim has also made arrangements with Georgeson
Inc. to assist it in soliciting proxies and has agreed to pay
them $25,000 plus reasonable expenses for these services.
Representatives of thinkorswims investor relations
consultant, ICR Inc., may also solicit proxies. ICR will not be
specially compensated for these services. thinkorswim has agreed
to indemnify Georgeson and ICR for claims related to these
services. If necessary, thinkorswim may use several of its
regular employees, who will not be specially compensated, to
solicit proxies from thinkorswim stockholders, either personally
or by telephone, facsimile, letter or other electronic means.
Record
Date
The close of business on April 24, 2009 has been fixed as
the record date for determining the thinkorswim stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special
meeting. At that time, 66,812,819 shares of thinkorswim
common stock were outstanding, held by approximately
371 registered holders.
Voting
Rights and Vote Required
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of one-third
of the outstanding shares of thinkorswim common stock entitled
to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the special
meeting. Abstentions will be counted for the purpose of
determining whether a quorum is present.
Approval of the merger proposal requires the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
thinkorswim common stock entitled to vote at the special
meeting. You are entitled to one vote for each share of
thinkorswim common stock you held as of the record date.
Because the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of thinkorswim common stock entitled to vote
at the special meeting is needed for us to proceed with the
merger contemplated by the merger agreement, the failure to vote
by proxy or in person will have the same effect as a vote
against the approval of the merger proposal. Abstentions and the
failure to instruct your broker also will have the same effect
as a vote against the approval of the merger proposal.
Accordingly, the thinkorswim board of directors urges
thinkorswim stockholders to promptly vote by
(i) completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed
proxy card, (ii) using the telephone number on your proxy
card, or (iii) using the Internet voting instructions on
your proxy card, or, if you hold your stock in street
name through a bank or broker, by following the voting
instructions of your bank or broker.
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Approval of each of the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal and the adjournment proposal requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy, and in the
case of the adjournment proposal, even if less than a quorum is
present. Because approval of each of these proposals requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person
or by proxy, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote
against these proposals. However, the failure to vote, either by
proxy or in person, and failure to instruct your broker, will
have no effect on the option exchange proposal, the plan
amendment proposal or the adjournment proposal. Approval of the
option exchange proposal and the plan amendment proposal is not
a condition to completion of the merger, and thus the failure to
approve the option exchange proposal or the plan amendment
proposal will have no impact on whether the merger is completed.
Stockholders will vote at the meeting by ballot. Votes cast at
the meeting, in person or by proxy, will be tallied by Georgeson
Inc., thinkorswims proxy solicitor.
As of the record date, directors and executive officers of
thinkorswim, and their affiliates, had the right to
vote 11,500,527 shares of thinkorswim common stock, or
17.21% of the outstanding thinkorswim common stock at that date.
thinkorswim currently expects that each of these individuals
will vote their shares of thinkorswim common stock in favor of
the proposals to be presented at the special meeting. Certain
executive officers of thinkorswim and their affiliates,
collectively holding 10,804,852 shares of thinkorswim
common stock, or 16.17% of the outstanding thinkorswim common
stock as of the record date have entered voting agreements with
TD AMERITRADE. Pursuant to the voting agreements, these officers
have agreed to vote such shares of thinkorswim common stock in
favor of the approval of the merger proposal, and have granted a
proxy to TD AMERITRADE to vote the shares in such manner.
Recommendation
of the thinkorswim Board of Directors
The thinkorswim board of directors has unanimously approved and
adopted the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby and have unanimously approved the exchange program. The
thinkorswim board of directors determined that the merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are
advisable and in the best interests of thinkorswim and its
stockholders and unanimously recommends that you vote
FOR approval of the merger proposal, FOR
approval of the option exchange proposal, FOR
approval of the plan amendment proposal and FOR
approval of the adjournment proposal. See thinkorswim
Proposal 1 The Merger
thinkorswims Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the
thinkorswim Board of Directors on page 28 for a more
detailed discussion of the thinkorswim board of directors
recommendation.
Attending
the Meeting
All holders of thinkorswim common stock, including stockholders
of record and stockholders who hold their shares through banks,
brokers, nominees or any other holder of record, are invited to
attend the special meeting. Stockholders of record can vote in
person at the special meeting. If you are not a stockholder of
record, you must obtain a proxy executed in your favor, from the
record holder of your shares, such as a broker, bank or other
nominee, to be able to vote in person at the special meeting. If
you plan to attend the special meeting, you must hold your
shares in your own name or have a letter from the record holder
of your shares confirming your ownership and you must bring a
form of personal photo identification with you in order to be
admitted. thinkorswim reserves the right to refuse admittance to
anyone without proper proof of share ownership and without
proper photo identification.
Voting By
Telephone or Via the Internet
In addition to voting by proxy or in person at the special
meeting, thinkorswim stockholders that hold their shares as the
stockholder of record also may vote their shares by using the
telephone number on the proxy card or using the Internet voting
instructions on the proxy card. thinkorswim stockholders that
hold their shares in street name through a bank or
broker may also vote their shares by following the telephone or
Internet voting instructions provided by the bank or broker. If
you have internet access, we encourage you to vote via the
Internet.
Adjournments
and Postponements
Although it is not currently expected, the special meeting may
be adjourned for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies if
thinkorswim has not received sufficient votes to approve the
merger proposal at the
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special meeting of stockholders. Any adjournments may be made
without notice, other than an announcement at the special
meeting, by approval of the affirmative vote of holders of at
least a majority of shares of thinkorswim common stock who are
present in person or represented by proxy at the special
meeting. Any adjournment of the special meeting for the purpose
of soliciting additional proxies will allow stockholders who
have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time
prior to their use.
At any time prior to convening the special meeting,
thinkorswims board of directors may postpone the special
meeting for any reason without the approval of thinkorswim
stockholders. If postponed, thinkorswim will provide notice of
the new meeting date as required by law. Although it is not
currently expected, thinkorswims board of directors may
postpone the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting
additional proxies if thinkorswim has not received sufficient
proxies to constitute a quorum or sufficient votes for adoption
of the merger agreement. Similar to adjournments, any
postponement of the special meeting for the purpose of
soliciting additional proxies will allow stockholders who have
already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior
to their use.
Householding
of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus and Other Special Meeting
Materials
To reduce the expenses of delivering duplicate proxy materials
to thinkorswim stockholders, thinkorswim is relying upon SEC
rules that permit it to deliver only one proxy
statement/prospectus to multiple stockholders who share an
address unless thinkorswim received contrary instructions from
any stockholder at that address. If you share an address with
another stockholder and have received only one proxy
statement/prospectus, you may write or call thinkorswim as
specified below to request a separate copy of this document and
thinkorswim will promptly send it to you at no cost to you.
Appraisal
Rights
Under Delaware law, thinkorswim stockholders are entitled to
appraisal rights in connection with the merger. Failure to take
any of the steps required under Delaware law on a timely basis
may result in the loss of these appraisal rights, as more fully
described in thinkorswim Proposal 1 The
Merger Appraisal Rights beginning on
page 43.
Other
Matters
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the
thinkorswim board of directors does not know of any other
business to be presented for consideration at the special
meeting. If other matters properly come before the special
meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy
intend to vote on such matters based on their best judgment and
they intend to vote the shares as the thinkorswim board of
directors may recommend.
Questions
and Additional Information
thinkorswim stockholders who would like additional copies,
without charge, of this proxy statement/prospectus or have
additional questions about the merger, including the procedures
for voting their shares of thinkorswim common stock, should
contact:
thinkorswim Group Inc.
13947 South Minuteman Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone:
(801) 816-6918
or thinkorswims solicitation agent:
Georgeson Inc.
199 Water Street
New York, New York 10038
Toll free: (866)
741-9560
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INFORMATION
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
TD
AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
TD AMERITRADE, a Delaware corporation, was established in 1971
as a local investment banking firm and began operations as a
retail discount securities brokerage firm in 1975. TD AMERITRADE
is a leading provider of securities brokerage services and
technology-based financial services to retail investors and
business partners, predominantly through the Internet, a
national branch network and relationships with one of the
largest groups of independent registered investment advisors. TD
AMERITRADE common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market under the symbol AMTD. The principal
executive offices of TD AMERITRADE are located at 4211
South 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127, and its
telephone number is
(402) 331-7856.
Additional information about TD AMERITRADE and its subsidiaries
is included in documents incorporated by reference in this
document. See Where You Can Find More Information
beginning on page 88.
Tango
Acquisition Corporation One
Tango Acquisition Corporation One, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TD AMERITRADE, was formed solely for the purpose of consummating
the merger. Tango Acquisition Corporation One has not carried on
any activities to date, except for activities incidental to its
formation and activities undertaken in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The principal
executive offices of Tango Acquisition Corporation One are
located at 4211 South 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127,
and its telephone number is
(402) 331-7856.
Tango
Acquisition Corporation Two
Tango Acquisition Corporation Two, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TD AMERITRADE, was formed solely for the purpose of consummating
the merger. Tango Acquisition Corporation Two has not carried on
any activities to date, except for activities incidental to its
formation and activities undertaken in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The principal
executive offices of Tango Acquisition Corporation Two are
located at 4211 South 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127,
and its telephone number is
(402) 331-7856.
thinkorswim
Group Inc.
thinkorswim, a Delaware corporation, offers market-leading
investor education and brokerage and related financial products
and services for self-directed investors. The investor education
segment offers a full range of investor education products and
services that provide lifelong learning covering a broad range
of financial products, including equity securities, options,
fixed income, index products, futures, other derivatives and
foreign exchange.
The brokerage segment is a leading online brokerage and provider
of related technology-based financial services to self-directed
options traders and retail investors. The online brokerage
segment offers a broad range of products including equity
securities, index products, exchange traded options, futures,
mutual funds, bonds and foreign exchange. thinkorswim also
provides unique scalable software, desktop, mobile and wireless
front-end trading platforms that allow its customers to trade
electronically and to implement complex multi-leg options
strategies with single clicks.
thinkorswim common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market
under the symbol SWIM. The principal executive
offices of thinkorswim are located at 45 Rockefeller Plaza,
Suite 2012, New York, New York and its telephone number is
(801) 816-6918.
Additional information about thinkorswim and its subsidiaries is
included in documents incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus. See Where You Can Find More
Information beginning on page 88.
21
THINKORSWIM
PROPOSAL 1 THE MERGER
Background
of the Merger
On September 18, 2006, thinkorswim (then known as
Investools Inc.) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire
thinkorswim Holdings, Inc. (then known as thinkorswim Group,
Inc.). On February 15, 2007, this acquisition was completed.
In 2006, prior to the execution of the agreement between
Investools Inc. and thinkorswim Group, Inc., senior executives
of thinkorswim Group, Inc. had met with senior executives of TD
AMERITRADE to discuss the nature of their respective businesses
and the possibility of exploring strategic initiatives the two
companies could jointly pursue. However, no specific proposals
were discussed or made at the time.
In August 2007, senior representatives of thinkorswim and a
publicly traded company in the brokerage sector, referred to as
Party A, engaged in preliminary discussions of potential
strategic transactions, including a possible combination of the
two companies. On September 20, 2007, at a meeting of
executives from Party A and thinkorswim and a representative
from thinkorswims financial advisor, Paragon Capital
Partners, LLC, referred to as Paragon, the parties discussed
preliminary transaction structures for a possible combination of
the businesses. The parties did not discuss a valuation for
thinkorswim. The parties ceased discussions following this
meeting because there was little agreement as to the potential
terms of a transaction.
Also in September 2007, senior executives of TD AMERITRADE
contacted Lee Barba, the Chairman and CEO of thinkorswim, to
express interest in a possible strategic transaction with
thinkorswim. Senior executives of both companies as well as
representatives of Paragon spoke over the phone and met in
person on several occasions during September 2007 to explore the
possibility of a strategic transaction. On September 17,
2007, the two companies signed a reciprocal confidentiality
agreement. In October 2007, an executive from TD AMERITRADE
informed a representative of Paragon that TD AMERITRADE would
not proceed with discussions at that time because TD AMERITRADE
was considering other strategic transactions. The executive from
TD AMERITRADE indicated that TD AMERITRADE might re-engage with
thinkorswim at another time.
In May 2008, a senior executive of TD AMERITRADE contacted
Mr. Barba to reinitiate discussions about the possibility
of exploring a strategic transaction. In consultation with
Paragon, thinkorswim resumed exploratory discussions with TD
AMERITRADE. Also in May 2008, the senior executive of a private
company engaged in the broker-dealer sector, referred to as
Party B, contacted a senior executive of thinkorswim to discuss
a possible business combination of Party B and thinkorswim. On
May 16, 2008, thinkorswim and Party B executed a reciprocal
confidentiality agreement. thinkorswim and Party B then engaged
in discussions exploring possibilities for a strategic
transaction, including a business combination.
On May 23, 2008, a senior executive of thinkorswim called a
senior executive of TD AMERITRADE to inform him that thinkorswim
was in negotiations with a potential partner for a strategic
transaction that would be an alternative to a combination of TD
AMERITRADE and thinkorswim. The senior executive from
TD AMERITRADE expressed continued interest in pursuing a
transaction with thinkorswim in view of the logical fit between
thinkorswim and the strategic interests of TD AMERITRADE. That
same day, Fredric Tomczyk, the then current chief operating
officer and incoming CEO of TD AMERITRADE, called Mr. Barba
and reiterated TD AMERITRADEs interest in thinkorswim. The
two parties, together with representatives of Paragon and
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
referred to as Merrill Lynch, TD AMERITRADEs
financial advisor, proceeded with initial management discussions
and due diligence over the next few days.
On May 27, 2008, senior management of thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE and representatives of Paragon and Merrill Lynch,
held a meeting to discuss each companys businesses and the
possibility of a business combination. During this meeting,
representatives of TD AMERITRADE indicated that the retention of
certain members of thinkorswims management team was
critical to TD AMERITRADEs interest in acquiring
thinkorswim.
22
On June 4, 2008, TD AMERITRADE presented thinkorswim with a
preliminary, non-binding written proposal to acquire thinkorswim
for consideration with a value of $11 to $13 per share (based on
the market value per share of TD AMERITRADE common stock of
$18.19 as of the market close on June 3, 2008) to be
paid in a combination of cash and TD AMERITRADE common stock. TD
AMERITRADE indicated that its proposal would not be subject to
any financing contingency. TD AMERITRADE also requested a period
of exclusive negotiations.
On or about June 4, 2008, a representative of Party B
communicated to a senior executive of thinkorswim and a
representative of Paragon the interest of Party B in a
stock-for-stock merger with thinkorswim. Party B did not propose
a specific valuation range or exchange ratio at that time.
On June 5, 2008, Mr. Tom Sosnoff, a director and
executive officer of thinkorswim and Joseph H. Moglia, the then
current CEO and current chairman of TD AMERITRADE, met and
discussed TD AMERITRADEs proposal.
On June 6, 2008, the thinkorswim board of directors held a
special meeting with thinkorswims senior management and
representatives of Paragon to consider the proposals of TD
AMERITRADE and Party B. Representatives of Paragon and senior
management reviewed with the board of directors their
discussions with TD AMERITRADE and Party B and the proposals
received from each. The board members discussed the relative
merits of each proposal and the other alternatives available to
thinkorswim, including continuing as a stand-alone business and
pursuing other combinations, acquisitions or divestitures. At
this meeting, the board of directors also received an update on
the ongoing investigation by the SEC relating to
thinkorswims investor education seminars and related
risks, referred to as the SEC Investigation.
The thinkorswim board of directors considered the TD AMERITRADE
proposal to be more favorable to thinkorswims stockholders
because the proposed mixture of cash and TD AMERITRADE stock as
consideration would provide thinkorswims stockholders with
reasonably certain value and the ability to participate in the
synergies created by the transaction. Furthermore, because TD
AMERITRADE was a large, well-established business entity and
Party B was a smaller, non-public entity, the board believed
there would be less execution risk in a transaction with TD
AMERITRADE than a transaction with Party B and that there would
be significant uncertainty as to the trading price of a share of
the combined company resulting from a merger with Party B. The
board of directors authorized the senior management of
thinkorswim to proceed with discussions with both TD AMERITRADE
and Party B and to make counterproposals to or invite revised
proposals from each party.
After the board of directors meeting, Mr. Barba called
Mr. Tomczyk to suggest a counterproposal for a merger
involving consideration valued at $13 to $14 per share of
thinkorswim common stock (based on the market value per share of
TD AMERITRADE common stock at that time). Mr. Barba also
sent a letter to TD AMERITRADE dated June 6, 2008,
indicating that thinkorswim would consider an offer of
consideration valued at $13 to $14 per share of thinkorswim
common stock.
On June 7, 2008, Party B delivered a non-binding proposal
contemplating a merger between Party B and thinkorswim in a
stock-for-stock merger in which thinkorswim stockholders would
be diluted by the exchange of newly issued shares of thinkorswim
common stock for the outstanding shares of Party B, with the
result being that thinkorswims pre-merger stockholders
would own approximately 40% of the combined companys
common stock, with the projected per share trading value being
approximately $11.15 per share.
Also on June 7, 2008, Mr. Tomczyk phoned
Mr. Barba and indicated that TD AMERITRADE was willing to
consider increasing the range of its proposal to $12 to $13 per
share of thinkorswim stock to be paid with a combination of cash
and TD AMERITRADE common stock. In a subsequent conversation,
Mr. Barba proposed $13 per share, and following an internal
discussion at TD AMERITRADE, Mr. Tomczyk indicated, subject
to completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive
documentation and approval by the TD AMERITRADE board of
directors, he would be willing to seek support from his senior
management team and board of directors for a merger transaction
in which the merger consideration would consist of a fixed
combination of TD AMERITRADE common stock and cash with a value
of $13 per share (based on the market value per share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock at that time).
23
On June 9, 2008, the thinkorswim board of directors held a
special board meeting to discuss, in consultation with
thinkorswims management and representatives of Paragon,
the ongoing discussions with TD AMERITRADE and Party B.
At the meeting a representative of Paragon described Party
Bs proposal and reported that, based on discussions with
Party Bs financial advisor, Paragon believed the proposal
represented Party Bs best and final offer. The members of
the board discussed Party Bs proposal, including the risks
and uncertainties to thinkorswims stockholders of engaging
in an all-stock merger with a company that had not yet gone
through the SEC registration process and would be valued at 60%
of the combined company.
A representative of Paragon then described TD AMERITRADES
proposal and reported that, after several discussions with
representatives of TD AMERITRADE and Merrill Lynch concerning
the consideration to be paid, a representative of TD AMERITRADE
had orally confirmed that TD AMERITRADE was willing to consider
a value of $13 per share (based on the market value per share of
TD AMERITRADE common stock at that time), consisting of a fixed
combination of cash and TD AMERITRADE common stock. The members
of the board discussed TD AMERITRADEs proposal, including
the advantages to stockholders in terms of certainty and value
and TD AMERITRADEs request to enter into an exclusivity
agreement as a condition to continuing discussions. Members of
the board expressed the belief that a transaction with Party B
would involve considerably greater execution risk and less
certain value for stockholders than a transaction with
TD AMERITRADE.
The members of the thinkorswim board of directors expressed
concern that, given the recent drop in thinkorswims
trading price following the public announcement of the SEC
Investigation, if word leaked that thinkorswim was considering
offers to sell itself, there were risks that thinkorswim would
be forced into a disorderly public auction process that would be
detrimental to the business operations of thinkorswim and not
obtain the best price for thinkorswims stockholders. The
thinkorswim board of directors deliberated about the existence
of other opportunities worth pursuing in lieu of the outstanding
offers of TD AMERITRADE and Party B. After discussion, including
consideration of thinkorswims stand-alone prospects, the
board determined that management should continue to pursue
discussions with TD AMERITRADE on an exclusive basis.
On June 12, 2008, thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE agreed to a
period of exclusive negotiations continuing until June 30,
2008 and an extension of their reciprocal confidentiality
agreement originally signed in September 2007. Following
execution of the exclusivity agreement, TD AMERITRADE received
access to confidential financial and operational information
regarding thinkorswim and both companies engaged in due
diligence review of each others business.
On June 13, 2008, Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP, referred to as Cleary Gottlieb, legal counsel to
thinkorswim, received a draft merger agreement from Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation,
referred to as Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, legal
counsel to TD AMERITRADE. Thereafter, until the termination of
negotiations by TD AMERITRADE, both companies worked to
negotiate and finalize draft documentation for the proposed
transaction.
On June 20, 2008, the thinkorswim board of directors held a
special board meeting to discuss and analyze, in consultation
with representatives of Paragon, Cleary Gottlieb and management,
updates on the status of the potential transaction, including
progress on due diligence, negotiation of transaction agreements
and further discussions with TD AMERITRADE. At this meeting,
representatives of Cleary Gottlieb reviewed the fiduciary duties
of the directors associated with their evaluation of different
strategic alternatives. Also at this meeting, the board
discussed, including in executive session without management,
the terms of the proposed merger agreement and voting agreement
and the insistence by TD AMERITRADE, as a condition to entering
into the merger agreement, that certain management stockholders
enter into voting agreements and employment agreements with TD
AMERITRADE.
Thereafter, due diligence and negotiation of definitive
documentation by the parties, Paragon, Merrill Lynch and the
parties respective legal advisors continued. On or about
June 23, 2008, TD AMERITRADE contacted representatives of
thinkorswim to indicate that, due to various concerns, including
concerns with the
24
potential exposure relating to the SEC Investigation, TD
AMERITRADE no longer wished to proceed with negotiations
regarding a potential transaction and was releasing thinkorswim
from its exclusivity obligations.
Following the termination of exclusive discussions with TD
AMERITRADE, thinkorswim resumed discussions with Party B
regarding a potential transaction, including a proposal
involving preferred equity of Party B that would have allocated
more voting power to the pre-merger thinkorswim stockholders,
but would not have meaningfully altered the overall economic
allocation of equity in the combined company as proposed on
June 7, 2008, and continued from time to time to engage in
discussions with TD AMERITRADE. On July 10, 2008,
representatives of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim briefly
discussed the possibility of a sale of only the brokerage
division of thinkorswim. On July 29, 2008, representatives
of thinkorswim and Party B met to discuss a potential
transaction. In August 2008, Party B indicated it was no longer
interested in proceeding with a transaction and
thinkorswims discussions with Party B terminated.
Throughout the fall of 2008, senior executives of TD AMERITRADE
continued to contact Mr. Barba to inquire about the status
of the SEC Investigation and the state of thinkorswims
business.
In November 2008, a senior executive from Party A contacted a
senior executive of thinkorswim to express interest in a
potential business combination of Party A and thinkorswim. On
November 24, 2008, senior executives of both companies met
and discussed a potential transaction.
On or about December 3, 2008, Mr. Barba and
Mr. Tomczyk met to discuss a potential transaction. During
this meeting, Mr. Tomczyk indicated that TD AMERITRADE was
considering making a proposal to acquire thinkorswim in a
transaction in which each outstanding share of thinkorswim
common stock would be converted into 0.58 to 0.61 of a share of
TD AMERITRADE common stock.
On December 4 and 5, 2008, Party As financial advisor
contacted a representative of Paragon to discuss the details of
a proposal for Party A to merge with thinkorswim. On
December 5, 2008, senior executives of Party A and
thinkorswim met again for discussions.
On or about December 9, 2008, Mr. Tomczyk contacted
Mr. Barba to inquire about thinkorswims reaction to
the terms discussed on December 3. Mr. Barba indicated
that thinkorswims senior management believed the proposal
would need to be increased to be of interest, but that it would
be discussed at the next meeting of the thinkorswim board of
directors. During this discussion, Mr. Tomczyk asked whether a
proposal that involved all-cash consideration would be more
attractive to thinkorswim. Mr. Barba indicated that he believed
that a mixture of stock and cash would be more attractive than
an all-cash proposal because it would allow thinkorswims
stockholders to benefit from the potential future growth of the
companies and share in the potential synergies created by the
merger.
On December 11, 2008, thinkorswim received a written
non-binding proposal from Party A for a merger in which each
outstanding share of thinkorswim common stock would be exchanged
for a portion of a share of Party As common stock with a
value of approximately $6.18, based on the closing price of
Party As common stock as of December 11, 2008. This
value excluded future value creation that would accrue to the
benefit of thinkorswim stockholders as a result of realizing the
anticipated synergies attributable to this potential
transaction. In connection with considering Party As
proposal, thinkorswims management and board of directors
took into account not only the current and historical market
value of Party As common stock, but also the potential for
this business combination to generate synergies and the benefits
of these synergies to thinkorswims stockholders as a
result of their retaining a significantly larger equity
ownership percentage in a Party A/thinkorswim combination than
in a TD AMERITRADE/thinkorswim combination. Party A also
indicated that it was willing to discuss replacing some of the
stock consideration with cash. Party A requested that
thinkorswim agree to exclusive negotiations for a period of two
weeks.
Also on December 11, 2008, thinkorswim received a written
non-binding proposal from TD AMERITRADE. The proposal provided
that, subject to the completion of confirmatory due diligence
and negotiation of definitive transaction documents, TD
AMERITRADE would propose to acquire all of thinkorswims
outstanding capital stock for a combination of cash and stock,
using approximately $145 million in cash and the remainder
paid in shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock, such that the
total consideration would imply an exchange ratio of 0.625 to
0.650. Based on the closing price of TD AMERITRADEs common
stock as of December 11, 2008, this implied a
25
value per fully diluted thinkorswim share of $8.08 to $8.40, and
represented a premium of 41% to 47% to the trading price of
thinkorswim common stock at the time. TD AMERITRADEs
letter also noted the significant work it had previously
conducted in connection with a proposed transaction and
indicated that, if thinkorswim agreed to exclusive negotiations,
TD AMERITRADE could complete its due diligence in two to three
weeks and negotiate definitive transaction documents
expeditiously. Later that day, Mr. Tomczyk called
Mr. Barba to discuss the terms of TD AMERITRADEs
proposal.
On December 12, 2008, the thinkorswim board of directors
held a special meeting to discuss the proposals from Party A and
TD AMERITRADE, as well as thinkorswims stand-alone
prospects and strategic alternatives. Representatives of Cleary
Gottlieb and Paragon participated in the meeting.
Representatives of Cleary Gottlieb reviewed the fiduciary duties
of the directors associated with their evaluation of different
strategic alternatives. Representatives of Paragon and
management then provided an overview of thinkorswims
stand-alone prospects and various strategic alternatives.
Representatives of Paragon also provided analysis of the
indicative proposals from TD AMERITRADE and Party A.
In consultation with the representatives of Cleary Gottlieb and
Paragon, members of senior management and the board of directors
engaged in a detailed discussion regarding TD AMERITRADEs
and Party As proposals. The board of directors analyzed
the relative premiums afforded by each of the proposals and,
based on current and historical trading prices, noted that TD
AMERITRADEs proposal would provide thinkorswims
stockholders with a significantly greater premium than Party
As proposal. The board of directors also noted that TD
AMERITRADE had already conducted significant due diligence and
thus was better prepared to enter into a definitive agreement
within a short timeframe, while Party A had not yet conducted
any significant due diligence. The board of directors discussed
TD AMERITRADEs and Party As future business
prospects.
The board of directors also considered thinkorswims
prospects if it remained independent, noting that thinkorswim
continued to face risks from the ongoing SEC Investigation, the
decline in economic conditions and the impact of those
conditions on the online brokerage industry, and the continuing
challenges of integration of the investor education and
brokerage sides of the thinkorswim business.
The board of directors also considered whether to approach other
potential acquirors of thinkorswim. After considering the
universe of other potential acquirors (including the withdrawn
proposal by Party B), the general financial situation of those
potential acquirors and their strategic fit with thinkorswim,
the board of directors, in consultation with Paragon and Cleary
Gottlieb, concluded that no other parties would be expected to
be interested in pursuing a strategic transaction on terms
superior to those proposed by TD AMERITRADE. The board of
directors also considered that both TD AMERITRADE and Party A
had insisted on a period of exclusivity before continuing with
further negotiations. The board discussed whether it would be
possible to continue engaging in discussions with both TD
AMERITRADE and Party A, but concluded that there was a
significant risk that one or both of the potential acquirors
would abandon negotiations if not granted a period of exclusive
negotiations. Following these discussions, the board of
directors unanimously agreed that management should pursue
exclusive negotiations with TD AMERITRADE, but should ensure
that TD AMERITRADE would assume the risks relating to the
SEC Investigation.
Following the December 12, 2008 board meeting,
Mr. Tomczyk met with Mr. Sheridan, a director and
executive officer of thinkorswim, and Mr. Sosnoff, to discuss
their interest in remaining with TD AMERITRADE following a
transaction and to answer questions from Mr. Sheridan and Mr.
Sosnoff about TD AMERITRADE.
On December 13, 2008, Mr. Barba communicated to
Mr. Tomczyk a counterproposal for a sale of thinkorswim for
a total of 35 million shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock
and $150 million in cash, implying consideration per fully
diluted share of thinkorswim common stock of approximately $2.15
in cash and 0.50 of a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock. Based
on the closing price of TD AMERITRADEs common stock as of
December 11, 2008, this implied a value per fully diluted
share of thinkorswim common stock of $8.61. Mr. Barba also
offered to enter into exclusive negotiations with TD AMERITRADE.
26
On December 14, 2008, Mr. Tomczyk agreed to consider
Mr. Barbas counterproposal subject to completion of
due diligence and requested to commence immediately due
diligence and the negotiation of definitive documentation.
On December 16, 2008, Mr. Tomczyk phoned
Mr. Barba and said that the M&A committee of
TD AMERITRADEs board of directors, which had met
earlier that day, had agreed to move forward with negotiations
and would consider a final offer price, subject to further
analysis and due diligence, in the range between the low end of
TD AMERITRADEs December 11, 2008 proposal and
thinkorswims counterproposal. That same day, thinkorswim
and TD AMERITRADE entered into a letter agreement for exclusive
negotiations until January 8, 2009.
Following execution of the exclusivity agreement, thinkorswim
and TD AMERITRADE each engaged in due diligence investigations,
including the exchange and review of draft disclosure schedules
to the merger agreement for thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE.
On December 17 and December 18, 2008, senior management of
thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE met for business and due diligence
discussions.
On December 19, 2008, the board of directors of thinkorswim
held a special meeting to review the progress of the
negotiations. Mr. Barba reported on his discussions with TD
AMERITRADE following the last board meeting, and representatives
of Paragon presented an overview of the progress on due
diligence and reverse due diligence. The board of directors also
received an update on the status of the SEC Investigation.
On December 21, 2008, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati delivered to Cleary Gottlieb a draft merger agreement
based on the draft merger agreement the parties had discussed in
June 2008, and then the parties began to negotiate the terms of
the merger agreement. On December 30, 2008,
Mr. Tomczyk met with Mr. Sosnoff and Mr. Barba to
discuss further the transaction. On December 31, 2008, the
board of directors of thinkorswim held a special meeting with
representatives of senior management, Paragon and Cleary
Gottlieb to review progress in the negotiation of the
transaction. The board discussed the proposed terms of the
merger agreement and the results of reverse due diligence. In
particular, the board revisited the issue of whether
TD AMERITRADE had agreed that the SEC Investigation would
not constitute a basis for not closing the transaction.
Management, in consultation with Paragon and Cleary Gottlieb,
explained that TD AMERITRADE had agreed to the inclusion of the
SEC Investigation, among other matters, in the disclosure
schedule to the merger agreement and that the merger agreement
would provide that the items in the disclosure schedule would
qualify the representations and warranties and the closing
condition that no material adverse effect had occurred.
On January 4, 2009, Mr. Tomczyk contacted
Mr. Barba by telephone and indicated that, as a result of
its review of thinkorswims business, risks and prospects,
TD AMERITRADE was now proposing to acquire thinkorswims
outstanding capital stock for approximately $145 million in
cash and 31.5 million shares of TD AMERITRADE common
stock. This proposal implied a total value of approximately
$8.52 per fully diluted share of thinkorswim common stock, based
on the closing price of TD AMERITRADE common stock on
January 2, 2009, of $14.25. Mr. Barba indicated that
he did not believe the thinkorswim board of directors would
approve a transaction at that level. Following continued
negotiations, Mr. Tomczyk proposed a transaction consisting
of approximately $225 million in cash and 28.3 million
shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock, representing the final per
fully diluted share price of $3.34 in cash and 0.3980 of a share
of TD AMERITRADE common stock. Based on the trading price
of TD AMERITRADE common stock at the close of business on
January 2, 2009, this proposal had an implied value of
$9.01 per fully diluted share of thinkorswim common stock.
Also on January 4, 2009, TD AMERITRADE delivered draft
employment agreements for Mr. Barba, Mr. Sheridan and
Mr. Sosnoff. TD AMERITRADE reiterated that its willingness
to enter into the merger agreement was conditioned on these
officers of thinkorswim entering into employment agreements with
TD AMERITRADE.
On the evening of January 6, 2009, the board of directors
of TD AMERITRADE met and approved the proposed transaction.
27
On the evening of January 7, 2009, the thinkorswim board of
directors held a meeting to consider the potential transaction
with TD AMERITRADE. Representatives of Cleary Gottlieb, Paragon
and UBS, which had been retained to render an opinion to the
thinkorswim board of directors as to the fairness, from a
financial point of view, of the proposed merger consideration,
participated in the meeting. A representative of Paragon
reviewed the history of negotiations between thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE, the terms of the proposed transaction and the
results of the reverse due diligence on TD AMERITRADE. The board
also discussed, in consultation with management and Paragon,
thinkorswims stand-alone prospects and alternatives.
Representatives of Cleary Gottlieb reviewed the proposed merger
agreement and voting agreement. Also at this meeting, UBS
reviewed with thinkorswims board of directors UBS
financial analysis of the per share merger consideration and
delivered to thinkorswims board of directors an oral
opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion
dated January 7, 2009, to the effect that, as of that date
and based on and subject to various assumptions, matters
considered and limitations described in its opinion, the per
share consideration to be received in the transaction by holders
of thinkorswim common stock (other than excluded holders) was
fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
The board of directors then considered the proposed terms of the
employment agreements that TD AMERITRADE was requiring
Mr. Barba, Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Sosnoff to enter
into as a condition to its execution of the merger agreement.
Following discussion of the proposed transaction, the
stand-alone prospects and alternatives for thinkorswim and
review of the merger agreement and the disclosure schedules,
voting agreements, employment agreements and related documents,
the thinkorswim board of directors unanimously approved the
merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement, including the merger, and resolved to recommend that
the stockholders of thinkorswim vote to adopt the merger
agreement and approve the merger.
The merger agreement and the voting agreements were entered into
on January 8, 2009, and the transaction was publicly
announced that same day.
thinkorswims
Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the thinkorswim Board
of Directors
thinkorswims board of directors consulted with
thinkorswims management, as well as thinkorswims
outside legal counsel and its financial advisor, Paragon, in its
evaluation of the merger. In reaching its conclusion to approve
and adopt the merger agreement and in determining that the
merger was advisable and in the best interests of thinkorswim
and its stockholders, the thinkorswim board considered a number
of factors and the potential benefits of the merger and the
risks of thinkorswim remaining as a stand-alone company,
including the following material factors, each of which the
board of directors believed supported its decision:
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its understanding of thinkorswims business, operations,
financial condition, earnings and prospects and, as discussed
above under thinkorswim Proposal 1 The
Merger Background of the Merger, potential
strategic alternatives, and TD AMERITRADEs business,
operations, financial condition, earnings and prospects;
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the current and prospective economic and financial environment
in which thinkorswim operates, which reflects challenging and
uncertain market conditions that the board of directors expected
to continue in the near future, including tightening of the
credit markets, volatile securities markets and generally
uncertain global and national economic conditions;
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the relative strength of TD AMERITRADEs capital position,
funding capabilities and liquidity as compared to thinkorswim as
a stand-alone company, and the ability of the substantially
larger and more diversified TD AMERITRADE to weather continued
economic difficulties and further crises that might develop;
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the fact that, as of the close of the last trading day before
the announcement of the signing of the merger agreement, the
value of the merger consideration represented a 54% premium over
the price per share of thinkorswim common stock;
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the fact that the complementary nature of the respective
businesses, customer bases, products and skills of thinkorswim
and TD AMERITRADE are expected to result in opportunities to
obtain synergies;
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28
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the value to thinkorswims stockholders of the stock
portion of the merger consideration, which would allow
thinkorswims stockholders to participate in a portion of
any improvement in thinkorswims business and synergies
resulting from the merger;
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the challenges of continuing to integrate the education and
brokerage divisions of thinkorswim;
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the fact that thinkorswim relies heavily on third-party vendors
for various services, including trade processing and customer
origination, and the interruption in or the cessation of service
by these
third-party
service providers may negatively impact thinkorswims
business;
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the fact that TD AMERITRADE is a large financial services
company and the thinkorswim board of directors belief that
its substantial capital resources will provide strong support
for thinkorswims existing operations, as well as possible
future growth;
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the inclusion of a reference to the SEC Investigation, among
other matters, in the disclosure schedule to the merger
agreement and the provisions in the merger agreement specifying
that the items in the disclosure schedule qualify the
representations and warranties and the definition of
material adverse effect;
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the historical and current market prices of TD AMERITRADEs
common stock and thinkorswims common stock;
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the right of thinkorswim to terminate the merger agreement to
accept a superior proposal, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the merger agreement;
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the expected tax treatment of the merger and of the receipt by
thinkorswims stockholders of the merger consideration;
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the opinion of UBS, dated January 7, 2009, to
thinkorswims board of directors as to the fairness, from a
financial point of view and as of the date of the opinion, of
the per share consideration to be received in the transaction by
holders of thinkorswim common stock (other than excluded
holders), as more fully described below under the caption
thinkorswim Proposal 1 The
Merger Opinion of UBS Securities LLC; and
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the right of the stockholders of thinkorswim to exercise
dissenters rights to assure that they receive a fair price
for their shares (see thinkorswim
Proposal 1 The Merger Appraisal
Rights below).
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The thinkorswim board of directors also considered a variety of
risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the
merger and the merger agreement, including the following:
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the challenges of integrating thinkorswims businesses,
operations and workforce with those of TD AMERITRADE, and
the risks associated with achieving anticipated cost savings and
other synergies, which were estimated to be approximately
$50 million to $60 million per year on a pre-tax basis.
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the need to obtain stockholder and regulatory approvals to
complete the merger, and the likelihood that such approvals will
be obtained;
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the fact that, as of December 22, 2008, The
Toronto-Dominion Bank and J. Joe Ricketts and members of his
family and trusts held for their benefit, owned approximately
40.3% and 22.2%, respectively, of TD AMERITRADEs
outstanding common stock, and that as a result of their
significant share ownership, these stockholders may have the
power, subject to applicable law, to significantly influence
actions that might be favorable to them, but not necessarily
favorable to other TD AMERITRADE stockholders (including former
thinkorswim stockholders following consummation of the merger),
and third parties may be discouraged from proposing a change in
control or other strategic transaction concerning TD AMERITRADE;
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the terms of the merger agreement, including the provisions
imposing restrictions on thinkorswim from soliciting or pursuing
alternative transactions and the termination fee of
$20 million that thinkorswim would be required to pay if
the transaction agreement were terminated under certain
circumstances,
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29
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which could limit the willingness of a third party to propose a
competing business combination transaction with thinkorswim; and
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the fact that thinkorswims directors and executive
officers have interests in the merger that are in addition to
their interests as thinkorswim stockholders (see
thinkorswim Proposal 1 The
Merger thinkorswims Directors and Officers
Have Financial Interests in the Merger below).
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The foregoing discussion of the information and factors
considered by the thinkorswim board of directors is not
exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by the
thinkorswim board of directors. In view of the wide variety of
factors considered by the thinkorswim board of directors in
connection with its evaluation of the merger and the complexity
of these matters, the thinkorswim board of directors did not
consider it practical to, nor did it attempt to, quantify, rank
or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors
that it considered in reaching its decision. The thinkorswim
board of directors evaluated the factors described above and
reached consensus that the merger was advisable and in the best
interests of thinkorswim and thinkorswims stockholders. In
considering the factors described above, individual members of
the thinkorswim board of directors may have given different
weights to different factors.
The thinkorswim board of directors determined that the merger,
the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement are advisable and in the best interests of
thinkorswim and its stockholders. Accordingly, the thinkorswim
board of directors unanimously approved the merger and approved
and adopted the merger agreement and unanimously recommends that
thinkorswim stockholders vote FOR approval of the
merger proposal.
Opinion
of UBS Securities LLC
On January 7, 2009, at a meeting of thinkorswims
board of directors held to evaluate the proposed transaction,
UBS delivered to thinkorswims board of directors an oral
opinion, which opinion was confirmed by delivery of a written
opinion dated January 7, 2009, to the effect that, as of
that date and based on and subject to various assumptions,
matters considered and limitations described in its opinion, the
per share consideration to be received in the transaction by
holders of thinkorswim common stock (other than excluded
holders) was fair, from a financial point of view, to such
holders.
The full text of UBS opinion describes the assumptions
made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on
the review undertaken by UBS. This opinion is attached as
Appendix C and is incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference. Holders of thinkorswim
common stock are encouraged to read UBS opinion carefully
in its entirety. UBS opinion was provided for the benefit
of thinkorswims board of directors in connection with, and
for the purpose of, its evaluation of the per share merger
consideration from a financial point of view and does not
address any other aspect of the transaction. The opinion does
not address the relative merits of the transaction as compared
to other business strategies or transactions that might be
available with respect to thinkorswim or thinkorswims
underlying business decision to effect the transaction. The
opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder
as to how such stockholder should vote or act with respect to
the transaction. Although subsequent developments may affect its
opinion, UBS does not have any obligation to update, revise or
reaffirm its opinion. The following summary of UBS
opinion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text of UBS opinion.
In arriving at its opinion, UBS, among other things:
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reviewed certain publicly available business and financial
information relating to thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE;
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reviewed certain internal financial information and other data
relating to thinkorswims business and financial prospects
that were not publicly available, including financial forecasts
and estimates prepared by thinkorswims management that
thinkorswims board of directors directed UBS to utilize
for purposes of its analysis;
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reviewed certain internal financial information and other data
relating to TD AMERITRADEs business and financial
prospects that were not publicly available, including financial
forecasts and estimates
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30
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prepared by TD AMERITRADEs management that
thinkorswims board of directors directed UBS to utilize
for purposes of its analysis;
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conducted discussions with members of the senior managements of
thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE concerning the businesses and
financial prospects of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE;
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reviewed publicly available financial and stock market data with
respect to certain other companies UBS believed to be generally
relevant;
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compared the financial terms of the transaction with the
publicly available financial terms of certain other transactions
UBS believed to be generally relevant;
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reviewed current and historical market prices of thinkorswim
common stock and TD AMERITRADE common stock;
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reviewed a draft, as of January 7, 2009, of the merger
agreement; and
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conducted such other financial studies, analyses and
investigations, and considered such other information, as UBS
deemed necessary or appropriate.
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In connection with its review, with the consent of
thinkorswims board of directors, UBS assumed and relied
upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and
completeness in all material respects of the information
provided to or reviewed by UBS for the purpose of its opinion.
In addition, with the consent of thinkorswims board of
directors, UBS did not make any independent evaluation or
appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities, contingent or
otherwise, of thinkorswim or TD AMERITRADE, and was not
furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. With respect to
the financial forecasts and estimates referred to above, UBS
assumed, at the direction of thinkorswims board of
directors, that such forecasts and estimates had been reasonably
prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available
estimates and judgments of the managements of thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE as to the future financial performance of thinkorswim
and TD AMERITRADE. UBS assumed, with the consent of
thinkorswims board of directors, that the transaction
would qualify for United States federal income tax purposes as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. UBS opinion was
necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and other
conditions as in effect on, and the information available to UBS
as of, the date of its opinion.
In connection with its engagement, UBS was not requested to, and
it did not, participate in the negotiation or structuring of the
transaction. While UBS was not authorized to solicit and did not
solicit indications of interest in a transaction with
thinkorswim from any party, representatives of thinkorswim
advised UBS that indications of interests in a transaction with
thinkorswim were solicited from third parties on behalf of
thinkorswim and that discussions with certain of these parties
were held prior to the date of UBS opinion. At the
direction of thinkorswims board of directors, UBS was not
asked to, and it did not, offer any opinion as to the terms,
other than the per share merger consideration to the extent
expressly specified in UBS opinion, of the merger
agreement or the form of the transaction. In addition, UBS
expressed no opinion as to the fairness of the amount or nature
of any compensation to be received by any officers, directors or
employees of any parties to the transaction, or any class of
such persons, relative to the per share merger consideration.
UBS expressed no opinion as to what the value of TD AMERITRADE
common stock would be when issued pursuant to the transaction or
the prices at which TD AMERITRADE common stock or thinkorswim
common stock would trade at any time. In rendering its opinion,
UBS assumed, with the consent of thinkorswims board of
directors, that (i) the final executed form of the merger
agreement would not differ in any material respect from the
draft that UBS reviewed, (ii) the parties to the merger
agreement would comply with all material terms of the merger
agreement, and (iii) the transaction would be consummated
in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement without any
adverse waiver or amendment of any material term or condition of
the merger agreement. UBS also assumed that all governmental,
regulatory or other consents and approvals necessary for the
consummation of the transaction would be obtained without any
material adverse effect on thinkorswim, TD AMERITRADE or the
transaction. Except as described above, thinkorswim imposed no
other instructions or limitations on UBS with respect to the
investigations made or
31
the procedures followed by UBS in rendering its opinion. The
issuance of UBS opinion was approved by an authorized
committee of UBS.
In connection with rendering its opinion to thinkorswims
board of directors, UBS performed a variety of financial and
comparative analyses which are summarized below. The following
summary is not a complete description of all analyses performed
and factors considered by UBS in connection with its opinion.
The preparation of a financial opinion is a complex process
involving subjective judgments and is not necessarily
susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. With
respect to the selected companies analyses of thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE and the selected transactions analysis summarized
below, no company or transaction used as a comparison was
identical to thinkorswim, TD AMERITRADE or the transaction.
These analyses necessarily involve complex considerations and
judgments concerning financial and operating characteristics and
other factors that could affect the public trading or
acquisition values of the companies concerned.
UBS believes that its analyses and the summary below must be
considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its
analyses and factors or focusing on information presented in
tabular format, without considering all analyses and factors or
the narrative description of the analyses, could create a
misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying
UBS analyses and opinion. UBS did not draw, in isolation,
conclusions from or with regard to any one factor or method of
analysis for purposes of its opinion, but rather arrived at its
ultimate opinion based on the results of all analyses undertaken
by it and assessed as a whole.
The estimates of the future performance of thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE provided by the managements of thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE or derived from public sources in or underlying
UBS analyses are not necessarily indicative of future
results or values, which may be significantly more or less
favorable than those estimates. In performing its analyses, UBS
considered industry performance, general business and economic
conditions and other matters, many of which were beyond the
control of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE. Estimates of the
financial value of companies do not purport to be appraisals or
necessarily reflect the prices at which companies actually may
be sold.
The merger consideration was determined through negotiation
between thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE and the decision by
thinkorswim to enter into the transaction was solely that of
thinkorswims board of directors. UBS opinion and
financial analyses were only one of many factors considered by
thinkorswims board of directors in its evaluation of the
transaction and should not be viewed as determinative of the
views of thinkorswims board of directors or management
with respect to the transaction or the merger consideration. UBS
was not asked to, and it did not, perform a financial analysis
of the stock option exchange program provided for in the merger
agreement and expressed no opinion as to such program.
The following is a brief summary of the material financial
analyses performed by UBS and reviewed with thinkorswims
board of directors on January 7, 2009, in connection with
UBS opinion relating to the proposed transaction. The
financial analyses summarized below include information
presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand
UBS financial analyses, the tables must be read together
with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not
constitute a complete description of the financial analyses.
Considering the data below without considering the full
narrative description of the financial analyses, including the
methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could
create a misleading or incomplete view of UBS financial
analyses. For purposes of the thinkorswim Financial
Analyses described below, the term implied value of
the per share merger consideration refers to the $8.98
implied value of the per share merger consideration based on the
per share cash portion of the merger consideration of $3.34 and
the implied value, utilizing the closing price of TD AMERITRADE
common stock on January 6, 2009, of the per share stock
portion of the merger consideration of 0.3980 of a share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock.
thinkorswim
Financial Analyses
thinkorswim Selected Companies Analysis. UBS
compared selected financial and stock market data of thinkorswim
with corresponding data of TD AMERITRADE and the following five
publicly traded companies in the online brokerage industry,
which is the industry in which thinkorswim operates. Two of
these
32
companies, referred to as the selected eBrokers, were selected
because they are primarily focused, as is thinkorswim, on the
execution of online trading transactions for retail customers
and three of these companies, referred to as the other selected
companies, were selected because they provide online brokerage
services even though they provide more diversified services than
thinkorswim:
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Selected eBrokers
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Other Selected Companies
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optionsXpress Holdings, Inc.
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The Charles Schwab Corporation
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TradeStation Group, Inc.
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E*TRADE Financial Corporation
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Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
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UBS reviewed, among other things, closing stock prices of the
selected companies and TD AMERITRADE on January 6, 2009 as
a multiple of latest 12 months earnings per share, or EPS,
and calendar years 2008 and 2009 estimated EPS. UBS then
compared these multiples derived for the selected companies and
TD AMERITRADE with corresponding multiples implied for
thinkorswim based both on the closing price of thinkorswim
common stock on January 6, 2009 and the implied value of
the per share merger consideration. Financial data for the
selected companies and TD AMERITRADE were based on publicly
available research analysts consensus estimates, public
filings and other publicly available information. Estimated
financial data for thinkorswim were based both on internal
estimates of thinkorswims management, referred to as
thinkorswim Management Estimates, and publicly
available research analysts consensus estimates, referred
to as thinkorswim Wall Street Consensus Estimates.
This analysis indicated the following implied multiples for each
of the selected eBrokers, as compared to corresponding multiples
implied for thinkorswim, and also indicated the following
implied mean multiples for the other selected companies referred
to above (implied multiples for E*TRADE Financial Corporation
were excluded from the calculation of implied mean multiples for
the other selected companies reflected in the table below since
multiples for E*TRADE Financial Corporation were negative for
two of the three periods observed) as well as the following
implied multiples for TD AMERITRADE:
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Implied Multiples
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for thinkorswim Based on
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Implied Value of Per Share
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Closing Stock Price on 1/6/09
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Merger Consideration
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thinkorswim
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thinkorswim
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Implied Multiples
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Implied Multiples
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thinkorswim
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Wall Street
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thinkorswim
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Wall Street
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for optionsXpress
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for TradeStation
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Management
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Consensus
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Management
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Consensus
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Holdings, Inc.
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Group, Inc.
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Estimates
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Estimates
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Estimates
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Estimates
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Closing Stock Price as
Multiple of EPS:
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Latest 12 Months
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8.6
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x
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9.0
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x
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5.9
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x
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5.9
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x
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8.8
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x
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8.8
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x
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Calendar Year 2008E
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9.0
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x
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9.1
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x
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7.0
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x
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6.3
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x
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10.5
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x
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9.4
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x
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Calendar Year 2009E
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10.1
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x
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11.5
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x
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8.5
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x
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7.8
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x
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12.8
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x
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11.7
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x
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Implied Mean
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Multiples for
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Other Selected
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Implied Multiples
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Companies
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for TD AMERITRADE
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Closing Stock Price as
Multiple of EPS:
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Latest 12 Months
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12.2
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x
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10.3
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x
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Calendar Year 2008E
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12.2
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x
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11.1
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x
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Calendar Year 2009E
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12.9
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x
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12.5
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x
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thinkorswim Selected Transactions
Analysis. UBS reviewed transaction values in the
following 15 selected transactions. These transactions were
selected because they involved acquired companies or businesses
in the online brokerage industry, which is the industry in which
thinkorswim operates:
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Announcement Date
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Acquiror
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Target
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7/14/2008
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The Bank of Nova Scotia
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E*TRADE Canada Securities Corporation
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6/25/2008
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optionsXpress Holdings, Inc.
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Open E Cry, LLC
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1/24/2007
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optionsXpress Holdings, Inc.
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Xpresstrade, LLC
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9/19/2006
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INVESTools, Inc.
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thinkorswim Group Inc.
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9/29/2005
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E*TRADE Financial Corporation
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BrownCo, LLC
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8/8/2005
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E*TRADE Financial Corporation
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Harrisdirect LLC
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6/22/2005
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Ameritrade Holding Corporation
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TD Waterhouse U.S.A.
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6/7/2004
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Ameritrade Holding Corporation
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JB Oxford & Company
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11/6/2003
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Ameritrade Holding Corporation
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Bidwell & Company
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5/10/2002
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Bank of Montreal
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Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
(online brokerage business)
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4/6/2002
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Ameritrade Holding Corporation
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Datek Online Holding Corporation
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11/28/2001
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Bank of Montreal
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CSFBdirect, Inc.
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7/30/2001
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Ameritrade Holding Corporation
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National Discount Brokers Corporation
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5/20/2001
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E*TRADE Group, Inc.
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Web Street, Inc.
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10/10/2000
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Deutsche Bank AG
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National Discount Brokers Group, Inc.
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UBS reviewed transaction values in the selected transactions,
calculated as purchase price paid for the target companys
equity, plus debt at book value, preferred stock at liquidation
value and minority interests at book value, less cash and cash
equivalents, as a multiple of number of core accounts as of the
most recent completed accounting period prior to public
announcement of the relevant transaction. UBS also reviewed
purchase prices paid in the selected transactions for the target
companys equity as a multiple of, to the extent publicly
available, latest twelve months net income and forward twelve
months estimated net income. UBS then compared these multiples
derived for the selected transactions with corresponding
multiples implied for thinkorswim based on the implied value of
the per share merger consideration. Multiples for the selected
transactions were based on publicly available information at the
time of announcement of the relevant transaction. Estimated
financial data for thinkorswim were based both on thinkorswim
Management Estimates and thinkorswim Wall Street Consensus
Estimates. This analysis indicated the following implied high,
mean, median and low multiples for the selected transactions, as
compared to corresponding multiples implied for thinkorswim (net
income multiples for the E*TRADE Group, Inc./Web Street, Inc.
transaction were negative and therefore excluded from the
calculation of high, mean, median and low multiples reflected in
the table below):
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Implied Multiples for
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thinkorswim Based on
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Value of Per Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
thinkorswim
|
|
|
Implied Multiples
|
|
thinkorswim
|
|
Wall Street
|
|
|
for Selected Transactions
|
|
Management
|
|
Consensus
|
|
|
High
|
|
Mean
|
|
Median
|
|
Low
|
|
Estimates
|
|
Estimates
|
|
Transaction Value as Multiple of Core Accounts
|
|
|
22,222
|
x
|
|
|
3,953
|
x
|
|
|
1,497
|
x
|
|
|
484
|
x
|
|
|
6,733
|
x
|
|
|
6,733
|
x
|
Purchase Price of Equity as Multiple of Earnings:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest 12 Months
|
|
|
33.7
|
x
|
|
|
25.4
|
x
|
|
|
30.6
|
x
|
|
|
7.9
|
x
|
|
|
8.8
|
x
|
|
|
8.8
|
x
|
Forward 12 Months
|
|
|
48.5
|
x
|
|
|
32.0
|
x
|
|
|
27.2
|
x
|
|
|
20.2
|
x
|
|
|
12.8
|
x
|
|
|
11.7
|
x
|
34
thinkorswim Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. UBS
performed a discounted cash flow analysis of thinkorswim using
financial forecasts and estimates relating to thinkorswim
prepared by thinkorswims management. UBS calculated a
range of implied present values (as of December 31,
2008) of the standalone after-tax levered free cash flows
that thinkorswim was forecasted to generate from January 1,
2009 until December 31, 2013 and of terminal values for
thinkorswim based on thinkorswims calendar year 2013
estimated normalized net income (normalized for the purpose of
calculating terminal value by reducing thinkorswims
estimated depreciation and amortization expense for calendar
year 2013 to an amount equal to thinkorswims estimated
capital expenditures for that period). Implied terminal values
were derived by applying a range of net income multiples of 8.0x
to 11.0x. Present values of cash flows and terminal values were
calculated using discount rates ranging from 14.0% to 18.0%. The
discounted cash flow analysis resulted in a range of implied
present values of approximately $5.92 to $8.33 per share of
thinkorswim common stock, as compared to the implied value of
the per share merger consideration of $8.98.
TD
AMERITRADE Financial Analyses
TD AMERITRADE Selected Companies Analysis. UBS
compared selected financial and stock market data of TD
AMERITRADE with corresponding data of the following five
publicly traded companies in the online brokerage industry,
which is the industry in which TD AMERITRADE operates. Two of
these companies, referred to as the selected diversified
eBrokers, were selected because they are financial services
companies engaged, as is TD AMERITRADE, in multiple businesses,
including online brokerage services, and three of these
companies, referred to as the other selected companies, were
selected because they provide online brokerage services even
though they provide less diversified services than TD AMERITRADE:
|
|
|
Selected Diversified eBrokers
|
|
Other Selected Companies
|
|
The Charles Schwab Corporation
|
|
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
|
E*TRADE Financial Corporation
|
|
optionsXpress Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
TradeStation Group, Inc.
|
UBS reviewed, among other things, closing stock prices of the
selected companies on January 6, 2009 as a multiple of
latest twelve months EPS and calendar years 2008 and 2009
estimated EPS. UBS then compared these multiples derived for the
selected companies with corresponding multiples implied for TD
AMERITRADE based on the closing price of TD AMERITRADE common
stock on January 6, 2009. Financial data for the selected
companies and TD AMERITRADE were based on publicly available
research analysts consensus estimates, public filings and
other publicly available information. This analysis indicated
the following implied multiples for each of the selected
diversified eBrokers (calendar years 2008 and 2009 estimated EPS
multiples for E*TRADE Financial Corporation were negative and
therefore considered not meaningful, or nm), as
compared to corresponding multiples implied for TD AMERITRADE,
and also indicated the following implied mean and median
multiples for the other selected companies referred to above:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Multiples
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Multiples
|
|
for E*TRADE
|
|
|
|
|
for The Charles Schwab
|
|
Financial
|
|
Implied Multiples
|
|
|
Corporation
|
|
Corporation
|
|
for TD AMERITRADE
|
|
Closing Stock Price as Multiple of EPS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest 12 Months
|
|
|
15.7
|
x
|
|
|
2.3
|
x
|
|
|
10.3
|
x
|
Calendar Year 2008E
|
|
|
15.8
|
x
|
|
|
nm
|
|
|
|
11.1
|
x
|
Calendar Year 2009E
|
|
|
17.4
|
x
|
|
|
nm
|
|
|
|
12.5
|
x
|
35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied Multiples
|
|
|
for Other Selected
|
|
|
Companies
|
|
|
Mean
|
|
Median
|
|
Closing Stock Price as Multiple of EPS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest 12 Months
|
|
|
8.7
|
x
|
|
|
8.6
|
x
|
Calendar Year 2008E
|
|
|
8.9
|
x
|
|
|
9.0
|
x
|
Calendar Year 2009E
|
|
|
10.0
|
x
|
|
|
10.1
|
x
|
TD AMERITRADE Discounted Cash Flow
Analysis. UBS performed a discounted cash flow
analysis of TD AMERITRADE using financial forecasts and
estimates relating to TD AMERITRADE prepared by
TD AMERITRADEs management. UBS calculated a range of
implied present values (as of December 31, 2008) of
the standalone after-tax levered free cash flows that TD
AMERITRADE was forecasted to generate from January 1, 2009
until September 30, 2013 and of terminal values for TD
AMERITRADE based on TD AMERITRADEs fiscal year 2013
estimated normalized net income (normalized for the purpose of
calculating terminal value by reducing TD AMERITRADEs
estimated depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year
2013 to an amount equal to TD AMERITRADEs estimated
capital expenditures for that period). Implied terminal values
were derived by applying a range of net income multiples of
11.0x to 14.0x. Present values of cash flows and terminal values
were calculated using discount rates ranging from 13.0% to
17.0%. The discounted cash flow analysis resulted in a range of
implied present values of approximately $13.19 to
$17.83 per share of TD AMERITRADE common stock, as compared
to the closing price of TD AMERITRADE common stock on
January 6, 2009 of $14.16.
Miscellaneous
UBS was engaged by thinkorswim in connection with the
transaction for purposes of rendering an opinion and thinkorswim
agreed to pay UBS an aggregate fee of $1.5 million in
connection with its opinion. No portion of UBS fee is
contingent upon completion of the merger. In addition,
thinkorswim agreed to reimburse UBS for its reasonable expenses,
including fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel, and
to indemnify UBS and related parties against liabilities,
including liabilities under federal securities laws, relating
to, or arising out of, its engagement.
As of the date of UBS opinion, UBS or an affiliate was a
participant in credit facilities of TD AMERITRADE for which
it received and, as of the date of UBS opinion, continued
to receive fees and interest payments. In the ordinary course of
business, UBS and its affiliates may hold or trade, for their
own accounts and the accounts of their customers, securities of
thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities. thinkorswim
selected UBS in connection with the transaction because UBS is
an internationally recognized investment banking firm with
substantial experience in similar transactions. UBS is regularly
engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in
connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts,
negotiated underwritings, competitive bids, secondary
distributions of listed and unlisted securities and private
placements.
thinkorswim
Officers and Directors Have Financial Interests in the
Merger
In considering the recommendation of the thinkorswim board of
directors that you vote to approve the merger proposal, you
should be aware that some of thinkorswims executive
officers and directors have financial interests in the merger
that are different from, or in addition to, those of
thinkorswims stockholders generally. The members of
thinkorswims board of directors were aware of and
considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating
and negotiating the merger agreement, and in recommending to the
stockholders that the merger agreement be approved and adopted.
For purposes of all of the thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE
agreements and plans described below, the completion of the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will
constitute a change in control.
36
Equity
Compensation Awards
The merger agreement provides that, upon completion of the
merger, each thinkorswim option, thinkorswim restricted stock
unit and unvested share of thinkorswim restricted stock will be
converted, based on the option exchange ratio, on the same terms
into an option, restricted stock unit or share of restricted
stock of TD AMERITRADE common stock and each then-issued and
outstanding share of restricted stock that, as of or resulting
from the completion of the merger, is or becomes vested will
represent the right to receive the merger consideration. Please
see thinkorswim Proposal 1 The
Merger The Merger Agreement Treatment of
thinkorswim Stock Options and Other Equity-Based Awards
beginning on page 48 for a detailed discussion of the option
exchange ratio.
Pursuant to agreements with Mr. Barba, Ms. Ida Kane
and Mr. Paul Helbling, upon a change in control of
thinkorswim, their unvested thinkorswim options will become
fully vested and exercisable. Pursuant to agreements with
Mr. Sosnoff and Mr. Scott Sheridan, upon a change in
control of thinkorswim, certain of their unvested thinkorswim
options would have become vested in full, but for the waiver
described below. Pursuant to agreements with Mr. Barba,
Ms. Kane and Mr. Helbling, upon a change in control of
thinkorswim, their unvested shares of thinkorswim restricted
stock will vest in full, except as otherwise described below.
The following table identifies, for each of Mr. Barba,
Ms. Kane and Mr. Helbling (A) the number of
unvested options to acquire shares of thinkorswim common stock
(at exercise prices ranging from $5.18 to $13.79) that would
vest upon completion of the merger as a result of the
transactions contemplated and (B) the number of shares of
unvested thinkorswim restricted stock (not including the shares
of thinkorswim restricted stock described below) that would vest
upon completion of the merger as a result of the transactions
contemplated, in each case based on thinkorswim equity
compensation holdings as of January 8, 2009, and assuming a
closing date of June 30, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested thinkorswim
|
|
|
Unvested thinkorswim
|
|
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
|
|
Options Vesting upon
|
|
upon Completion of the
|
Name
|
|
Completion of Merger
|
|
Merger
|
|
Mr. Barba
|
|
|
161,725
|
|
|
|
42,500
|
|
Ms. Kane
|
|
|
23,750
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
Mr. Helbling
|
|
|
17,500
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
Pursuant to an agreement with Peter Santori, upon a voluntary
resignation within 180 days of a change in control of
thinkorswim or in the event his employment is terminated without
cause, unvested stock options and shares of restricted stock
held by Mr. Santori will vest in full. Based on thinkorswim
equity compensation holdings as of January 8, 2009, and
assuming a closing date of June 30, 2009, upon completion
of the merger, (A) the number of unvested options to
acquire shares of thinkorswim common stock (at an exercise price
of $8.11) held by Mr. Santori that would vest is 15,000 and
(B) the number of unvested shares of restricted stock in
respect of thinkorswim common stock held by Mr. Santori
that would vest is 15,000. Mr. Santori also received, as
part of his 2008 compensation, a grant of 3,850 shares of
restricted stock that will vest as a result of the change in
control only if his employment is terminated without cause
following the change in control (and not if he voluntarily
resigns).
As part of their 2008 compensation, Mr. Barba,
Ms. Kane and Mr. Helbling received grants of
115,000, 35,000 and 15,500 shares of thinkorswim
restricted stock respectively on January 14, 2009. In each
case, 50% of the grant vests on the first anniversary of the
date of grant and the remaining 50% vests on the second
anniversary of the date of grant. However, for Mr. Barba,
this grant of shares of thinkorswim restricted stock will vest
100% on the six-month anniversary of a change in control so long
as he remains employed until such date, or upon termination by
thinkorswim (or, following completion of the merger, by TD
AMERITRADE) without cause, due to his death or disability or by
constructive termination (as defined in his employment
agreement). For Ms. Kane and Mr. Helbling, this grant
of shares of restricted stock will vest 100% on the two-month
anniversary of a change in control unless, in each case, they
are terminated without cause, die or become disabled prior
thereto (in which case the awards will vest as of such
termination, death or disability).
37
thinkorswim also maintains agreements with Mr. Sheridan and
Mr. Sosnoff pursuant to which their respective unvested
shares of thinkorswim restricted stock (including the grant made
to each of them in January 2009 as part of their 2008
compensation) would vest in full upon a termination of
employment with thinkorswim in connection with a change in
control of thinkorswim. However, Mr. Sheridan and
Mr. Sosnoff have entered into employment agreements with TD
AMERITRADE which will become effective as of the completion of
the merger. Pursuant to these agreements with TD AMERITRADE,
which will supersede and replace all other agreements, including
the employment agreements with thinkorswim, Mr. Sheridan
and Mr. Sosnoff have agreed to waive their right to receive
any payments or benefits, including but not limited to any
vesting acceleration of outstanding thinkorswim options or
thinkorswim restricted stock awards granted under the
thinkorswim equity plans. The employment agreements with TD
AMERITRADE, which are described in further detail below,
generally provide for certain vesting acceleration of certain
equity awards granted by TD AMERITRADE under the TD AMERITRADE
equity plans in connection with a termination of employment
without cause or for good reason (as such terms are defined in
the employment agreements). These agreements do not provide for
vesting acceleration of any thinkorswim options or thinkorswim
restricted stock awards held by Mr. Sheridan and
Mr. Sosnoff.
Pursuant to agreements with the non-employee directors of
thinkorswim, namely Hans von Meiss, Douglas T. Tansill, F.
Warren McFarlan and Lisa Polsky, their awards of thinkorswim
restricted stock will vest as a result of the consummation of
the transaction. Upon consummation of the merger, by operation
of the merger agreement, the non-employee directors of
thinkorswim will cease to be directors and their unvested shares
of thinkorswim restricted stock will vest in full. The following
table identifies, for each of Mr. von Meiss, Mr. Tansill,
Mr. McFarlan and Ms. Polsky, the number of shares of
unvested thinkorswim restricted stock that would vest upon
completion of the merger as a result of the transactions
contemplated, based on thinkorswim equity compensation holdings
as of January 8, 2009, and assuming a closing date of
June 30, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested thinkorswim
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
|
|
upon Completion of the
|
Name
|
|
Merger
|
|
Mr. von Meiss
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
Mr. Tansill
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
Mr. McFarlan
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
Ms. Polsky
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
In addition, Mr. von Meiss, Mr. Tansill, Mr. McFarlan
and Ms. Polsky each received a grant of 7,000 shares
of thinkorswim restricted stock on January 14, 2009. These
shares of thinkorswim restricted stock will fully vest upon
completion of the merger as a result of their resignation from
the board pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement.
Option
Exchange
Under the terms of the merger agreement, thinkorswim has
commenced offer to certain holders of underwater options
outstanding under thinkorswim option plans, to be completed
immediately prior to the completion of the merger, whereby the
holder may agree to the cancellation of all such holders
underwater options in exchange for the grant by thinkorswim of
an award of restricted stock units. Certain thinkorswim
executive offices holding underwater options are eligible to
participate in the exchange program. The terms of the exchange
program are described in further detail in thinkorswim
Proposal 3 Option Exchange beginning on
page 77 and thinkorswim Proposal 4
Amendment of the Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock
Plan beginning on page 83. The acceptance of thinkorswim
options tendered in, and completion by thinkorswim of, this
offer will only occur if the merger is consummated. At the
consummation of the merger, each thinkorswim restricted stock
unit granted pursuant to the exchange program described above
that is outstanding immediately prior to such consummation will
be assumed by TD AMERITRADE and converted into a right to
receive TD AMERITRADE common stock upon the vesting of such
unit. Each assumed restricted stock unit will otherwise be
subject to the same terms and conditions (including as to
vesting) as
38
were applicable under the respective thinkorswim restricted
stock unit immediately prior to the consummation of the merger.
Protection
of thinkorswim Directors and Officers Against
Claims
TD AMERITRADE has agreed to cause the surviving corporation in
the merger to indemnify and hold harmless each present and
former director and officer of thinkorswim from liability for
matters arising at or prior to the completion of the merger to
the fullest extent provided by applicable law. TD AMERITRADE
also has agreed that it will maintain in place existing
indemnification and exculpation rights in favor of thinkorswim
directors, officers and employees for six years after the merger
and that it will enter into a policy of directors and
officers liability insurance coverage providing at least
equivalent insurance coverage of thinkorswim directors and
officers, for six years following completion of the merger,
except that TD AMERITRADE is not required to incur premium
expense in excess of $1,500,000.
Certain
Employment Agreements
Each of Ms. Kane and Mr. Santori are party to an
employment agreement that provides that, in the event that their
employment is terminated by thinkorswim or its successor without
cause, or upon a voluntary resignation by Ms. Kane
(provided she no longer reports to the then current chief
executive officer of thinkorswim) or Mr. Santori within one
hundred eighty days, following a change in control of
thinkorswim, they would be entitled to receive cash severance in
an amount equal to twelve months base salary. In addition,
Ms. Kane would be entitled to receive up to twelve months
continued health coverage. In the event that
Ms. Kanes employment is terminated without cause (not
within one hundred eighty days following a change in control),
she would receive cash severance in an amount equal to six
months base salary and up to six months of company-paid
continued health care coverage. In the event that
Mr. Santoris employment is terminated without cause
(not within one hundred eighty days following a change in
control), he would receive cash severance in an amount equal to
six months base salary and full vesting of his stock options and
restricted stock.
In addition, Mr. Helbling is party to a letter agreement
that provides that, in the event his employment is terminated
without cause within one hundred eighty days of a change in
control of thinkorswim, he would receive cash severance in an
amount equal to twelve months base salary and up to twelve
months of company-paid continued health coverage.
Employment
Arrangements with TD AMERITRADE
In connection with the merger, TD AMERITRADE has entered into
employment agreements with Mr. Sosnoff and
Mr. Sheridan and has entered into an employment agreement
amendment with Mr. Barba, each of which is conditioned and
becomes effective upon completion of the merger. It is possible
that other members of thinkorswims current management team
will enter into arrangements with TD AMERITRADE or its
affiliates, after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Any new arrangements are currently expected to be entered into
at or prior to completion of the merger and would not become
effective until after the merger is completed.
Barba Employment Agreement
Amendment. Mr. Barba has entered into an
employment agreement amendment with TD AMERITRADE pursuant to
which TD AMERITRADE will assume his existing employment
agreement with thinkorswim and change his role to that of
Integration Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, reporting to
the Chief Executive Officer of TD AMERITRADE, for the purpose of
assisting in the integration of thinkorswims operations
into those of TD AMERITRADE. The term of Mr. Barbas
employment in this capacity under the agreement is six months
from the date of consummation of the merger. At that time,
Mr. Barba will cease to be employed with TD AMERITRADE or
its subsidiaries, and will be entitled to severance as provided
in his employment agreement. Specifically, Mr. Barba would
be entitled to receive, in addition to accrued but unpaid base
salary and benefits as provided in his employment agreement,
(A) a lump sum payment, within thirty days of termination,
of cash severance in an amount equal to two years of
(i) his base salary and (ii) the greater of his target
bonus (equal to 100% of his base salary) for the year of
termination or the actual bonus earned by him in the year
immediately preceding such termination, (B) an additional
cash
39
severance payment in an amount equal to a pro rata portion of
his target bonus for the year of termination, (C) two years
of continued coverage under certain health and welfare plans,
unless such continued coverage is not permissible (in which case
Mr. Barba will be entitled to alternative coverage for such
period), and (D) full vesting acceleration of all
outstanding stock options and shares of restricted stock then
held by him. In addition, pursuant to Mr. Barbas
employment agreement amendment, upon termination without cause
or constructive termination (as defined in his employment
agreement), Mr. Barbas vested, exercisable options
will remain exercisable until the earlier of one year after his
termination or the expiration of the original option term.
The provisions of Mr. Barbas employment agreement
with thinkorswim regarding severance or other payments or
benefits continue to govern in all other material respects. In
particular, in the event that Mr. Barba would become
subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code,
his employment agreement provides that Mr. Barba will be
entitled to receive an amount such that, after payment by
Mr. Barba of all taxes imposed upon the amounts payable in
accordance with the employment agreements severance
provisions, including but not limited to income tax and the
Section 4999 excise tax, Mr. Barba will retain an
amount equal to the amount of such excise tax on the payments or
benefits.
Pursuant to the employment agreement amendment, Mr. Barba
is bound by a
lock-up
arrangement pursuant to which he is prohibited from directly or
indirectly selling, offering, contracting for or granting any
option to sell, pledge, swap, hedge, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any shares issued to him as consideration in the
merger (totaling 1,366,065 shares, assuming the exercise by
Mr. Barba of all outstanding options prior to the
consummation of the merger) or from publicly announcing an
intention to do so for a period commencing on the consummation
of the merger and ending, for 50% of the shares he receives as
merger consideration, after the six-month anniversary of the
consummation of the merger and, for the remaining 50% of the
shares he receives as merger consideration, after the first
anniversary of the consummation of the merger. This
lock-up will
cease to apply in the event of Mr. Barbas death.
Mr. Barba will not be entitled to any additional
compensation or perquisites while he serves in the position of
Integration Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer.
Sheridan and Sosnoff Employment Agreement. The
employment agreements between each of Mr. Sheridan and
Mr. Sosnoff and TD AMERITRADE provide that, in the event of
a termination of employment (A) by TD AMERITRADE
without cause or by Mr. Sheridan or Mr. Sosnoff for
good reason (as each term is defined in the agreement) or
(B) upon the expiration of the initial term of these
agreements because TD AMERITRADE provided written notice of
non-renewal, the employee will become entitled to certain
payments and benefits under the agreement, including a severance
payment of $600,000, as well as an additional severance payment
determined by pro-rating the then-current years annual
incentive target to the date of termination. In addition,
Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Sosnoff would be entitled to
receive (A) full vesting of all
time-based
restricted share units granted under TD AMERITRADEs long
term incentive plan that would have become vested within twelve
months of the end of the calendar year of such termination,
(B) vesting of that portion of the performance-based
restricted share units granted under TD AMERITRADEs
long-term incentive plan that would vest during the twelve-month
period following the end of the calendar year in which such
termination occurs, depending upon the achievement of the
applicable performance criteria, and (C) company-paid COBRA
coverage under TD AMERITRADEs group medical and dental
plans for a period of up to twelve months following the date of
termination. The receipt of severance is subject to each
employee executing and not revoking a separation and release of
claims agreement and complying with the non-solicitation,
non-competition and non-disparagement provisions of the
employment agreement during employment with TD AMERITRADE
and for a certain period of time following termination. The
initial term of these agreements is three years following
completion of the merger, subject to an automatic one-year
renewal unless either party delivers written notice of
non-renewal prior to the expiration of the initial term.
Subject to obtaining approval by the compensation committee of
TD AMERITRADEs board of directors, each of
Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Sosnoff will receive a special
award upon the consummation of the merger of a stock option to
purchase 600,000 shares of common stock of TD AMERITRADE.
Additionally, each of Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Sosnoff
will be eligible to receive, pursuant to the terms of TD
AMERITRADEs long term incentive program, an annual equity
award with a grant-date value of approximately $400,000, and an
40
annual cash bonus with a target of $400,000, for each full
fiscal year of employment with TD AMERITRADE. The employment
agreements entitle each of Mr. Sheridan and
Mr. Sosnoff to an annual base salary of $200,000. While it
is not anticipated that any of the current thinkorswim directors
will serve on the thinkorswim board following completion of the
merger, Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Sosnoff are obligated,
under the employment agreements that will become effective upon
completion of the merger, to serve, without additional
compensation, as a director of a TD AMERITRADE subsidiary, if
requested by TD AMERITRADE.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, each of Mr. Sheridan
and Mr. Sosnoff is bound by a
lock-up
arrangement pursuant to which he is prohibited from directly or
indirectly selling, offering, contracting for or granting any
option to sell, pledge, swap, hedge, transfer or otherwise
disposing of 1,000,000 of the shares issued to him as
consideration in the merger or from publicly announcing an
intention to do so for a period commencing on the consummation
of the merger and ending on the second anniversary of the
consummation of the merger. This
lock-up will
cease to apply in the event that Mr. Sheridans or
Mr. Sosnoffs employment with TD AMERITRADE is
terminated by TD AMERITRADE without cause or by
Mr. Sheridan or Mr. Sosnoff with good reason during
the stock
lock-up
period.
The following table identifies, for each of Mr. Barba,
Ms. Kane, Mr. Helbling, Mr. Santori,
Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Sosnoff, the estimated values of
the (A) cash severance payments and (B) continued
benefit coverage to which such executive will be entitled
pursuant to the agreement described above, assuming that the
executives employment is terminated by TD AMERITRADE
for reasons other than cause, death or disability, or where
applicable, the executive resigns voluntarily, for good reason,
due to constructive termination or upon providing services for a
specified period after consummation of the merger, based on the
terms of the employment agreements as described above.
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Estimated Value of
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Estimated Cash
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|
Continued Benefit
|
Name
|
|
Severance Payments
|
|
Coverage
|
|
Mr. Barba(1)
|
|
$
|
2,700,000
|
|
|
$
|
71,713
|
(3)
|
Ms. Kane(1)
|
|
$
|
285,000
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|
|
$
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14,460
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Mr. Helbling(1)
|
|
$
|
225,000
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|
|
$
|
15,024
|
|
Mr. Santori(1)
|
|
$
|
285,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Sheridan(1)(2)
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|
$
|
800,000
|
|
|
$
|
19,356
|
|
Mr. Sosnoff(1)(2)
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$
|
800,000
|
|
|
$
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19,356
|
|
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|
(1) |
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Solely for the purposes of calculating the amounts in this
table, an estimated date of termination of June 30, 2009
has been assumed. |
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(2) |
|
Reflects the terms of severance payments to be made to the
executive under the employment agreement entered into between
the executive and TD AMERITRADE as described above, pursuant to
which such executive waived any severance payments and benefits
under his employment agreement with thinkorswim. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Barbas estimated value of continued benefit coverage
is based on the average amount of his medical plan benefits for
2008 and 2007. |
TD
AMERITRADEs Reasons for the Merger
The TD AMERITRADE board of directors unanimously approved the
merger agreement at a special meeting held on January 6,
2009, and determined that the merger agreement and the merger
are in the best interests of TD AMERITRADE and its stockholders.
In reaching this decision, the TD AMERITRADE board considered
the financial performance and condition, business operations and
prospects of each of TD AMERITRADE, thinkorswim and the combined
company, the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and
the ancillary documents, including the implied thirty and
ninety day premiums based on the agreed merger
consideration, the results of the due diligence investigation
conducted by TD AMERITRADEs management, accountants and
legal counsel, and the analysis of TD AMERITRADEs legal
and financial advisors.
41
The TD AMERITRADE board of directors also considered a number of
potential benefits of the merger, including those listed below:
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the acquisition of thinkorswim is expected to complement and
extend TD AMERITRADEs active trader leadership position,
particularly among option traders;
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the merger will permit TD AMERITRADE to enhance offerings to
existing clients, including sophisticated software applications,
options trading, futures, foreign exchange trading and portfolio
margining;
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the merger will enable TD AMERITRADE to provide its clients with
significantly expanded access to education content and seminars;
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the merger is expected to provide TD AMERITRADE with a
fast-growing channel for new account growth focused on active
traders and education;
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the expected 3-7% GAAP accretion of the merger in fiscal year
2010 and the expected 10-15% GAAP accretion in the twelve months
following integration (in each case, including the effects of
the repurchase of approximately 28 million shares of TD
AMERITRADE common stock);
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the merger will permit TD AMERITRADE to use its cash in an
accretive manner in the current low interest rate environment;
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the merger enhances TD AMERITRADEs management team depth
and technical expertise through the addition of certain of
thinkorswims senior management and technical personnel and
other employees;
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the merger advances TD AMERITRADEs trading and education
strategy by several years; and
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the merger is expected to increase operational efficiency and
create opportunities for cost reduction through the elimination
of redundant overhead expenses and public company costs.
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The TD AMERITRADE board of directors also considered a number of
potentially negative factors, including those listed below:
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the risk that the value of the thinkorswim business could
decline after the execution of the merger agreement,
particularly in light of the fact that the merger consideration
would not be adjusted to reflect declines in the market price of
thinkorswim common stock;
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the risk that the potential benefits of the merger would not be
realized fully as a result of challenges the companies might
face in integrating their technology, personnel and operations,
as well as general industry-wide or economic conditions or other
factors;
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the risk that, if the merger is not consummated, TD
AMERITRADEs management would have devoted substantial time
and resources to the combination at the expense of attending to
and growing TD AMERITRADEs business or other business
opportunities;
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|
the risk associated with the additional demands that the
acquisition of thinkorswim would place on TD AMERITRADE and
its management, including the potential disruption of TD
AMERITRADEs ongoing business as TD AMERITRADEs
management and employees are required to dedicate significant
time and effort in order to integrate the two companies
systems, cultures, processes, controls and two separate client
experiences; and
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the risk and cost associated with the SEC Investigation on the
thinkorswim business prior to completion of the merger and on
the TD AMERITRADE business after completion of the merger,
including the cost of a potential settlement with the SEC and
the potential impact of any such settlement on the ability to
continue conducting the thinkorswim investor education business.
|
The foregoing list comprises the material factors considered by
the TD AMERITRADE board of directors in its consideration of the
merger. In view of the variety of factors and information
considered, the TD AMERITRADE board of directors 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 decision. Rather,
42
the decision was made after consideration of all of the factors
as a whole. In addition, individual members of the TD AMERITRADE
board of directors may have given different weight to different
factors.
Board of
Directors and Management of TD AMERITRADE Following Completion
of the Merger
Upon completion of the merger, the current directors and
officers of TD AMERITRADE are expected to continue in their
current positions. Information about the current TD AMERITRADE
directors and executive officers can be found in the documents
listed under the heading TD AMERITRADE SEC Filings
in the section entitled Where You Can Find More
Information beginning on page 88.
Public
Trading Markets
TD AMERITRADEs common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global
Select Market under the symbol AMTD.
thinkorswims common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global
Market under the symbol SWIM. Upon completion of the
merger, thinkorswim common stock will be delisted from the
NASDAQ Global Market and deregistered under the Exchange Act.
The newly issued TD AMERITRADE common stock issuable pursuant to
the merger agreement will be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market. The shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock to be issued in
connection with the merger will be freely transferable under the
Securities Act.
TD
AMERITRADEs Dividend Policy
TD AMERITRADE has not declared or paid regular cash dividends on
its common stock. TD AMERITRADEs credit agreement
prohibits the payment of cash dividends to its stockholders. The
payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of TD
AMERITRADEs board of directors, subject to the provisions
of its credit agreement, and will depend upon a number of
factors, including future earnings, the success of TD
AMERITRADEs business activities, capital requirements, the
general financial condition and future prospects of TD
AMERITRADEs business, general business conditions and such
other factors as TD AMERITRADEs board of directors
may deem relevant.
Appraisal
Rights
Under Section 262 of the DGCL, any holder of thinkorswim
common stock who does not wish to accept the merger
consideration may elect to exercise appraisal rights in lieu of
receiving the merger consideration. A stockholder who exercises
appraisal rights may petition the Delaware Court of Chancery to
determine the fair value of his, her or its shares,
exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the first-step merger, and
receive payment of fair value in cash, together with interest,
if any. However, the stockholder must comply with the provisions
of Section 262 of the DGCL.
The following discussion is a summary of the law pertaining to
appraisal rights under the DGCL. The full text of
Section 262 of the DGCL is attached to this proxy
statement/prospectus as Appendix D. All references in
Section 262 of the DGCL and in this summary to a
stockholder are to the record holder of the shares
of thinkorswim common stock who exercises appraisal rights.
Under Section 262 of the DGCL, when a merger is submitted
for approval at a meeting of stockholders, as in the case of the
merger agreement, the corporation, not less than twenty days
prior to the meeting, must notify each of its stockholders
entitled to appraisal rights that appraisal rights are available
and include in the notice a copy of Section 262 of the
DGCL. This proxy statement/prospectus constitutes such notice,
and the applicable statutory provisions are attached to this
proxy statement/prospectus as Appendix D. This summary of
appraisal rights is not a complete summary of the law pertaining
to appraisal rights under the DGCL and is qualified in its
entirety by the text of Section 262 of the DGCL attached as
Appendix D. Any holder of thinkorswim common stock, who
wishes to exercise appraisal rights or who wishes to preserve
the right to do so, should review the following discussion and
Appendix D carefully. Failure to comply with the procedures
of Section 262 of the DGCL in a timely and proper manner
will result in the loss of appraisal rights. If you lose your
appraisal rights, you will be entitled to receive the merger
consideration described in the merger agreement.
43
Stockholders wishing to exercise the right to seek an appraisal
of their shares must do ALL of the following:
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The stockholder must not vote in favor of the proposal to adopt
and approve the merger agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby. Because a proxy that does not contain
voting instructions will, unless revoked, be voted in favor of
the proposal, a stockholder who votes by proxy and who wishes to
exercise appraisal rights must vote against the proposal,
abstain or not vote its shares.
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The stockholder must deliver to thinkorswim a written demand for
appraisal before the vote on the merger agreement at the special
meeting.
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The stockholder must continuously hold the shares from the date
of making the demand through the effective time of the merger. A
stockholder will lose appraisal rights if the stockholder
transfers the shares before the effective time of the merger.
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The stockholder must file a petition in the Delaware Court of
Chancery requesting a determination of the fair value of the
shares within one hundred twenty days after the effective time
of the merger. The surviving company is under no obligation to
file any petition and has no intention of doing so.
|
Voting, in person or by proxy, against, abstaining from voting
on or failing to vote on the proposal to adopt and approve the
merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby will
not constitute a written demand for appraisal as required by
Section 262 of the DGCL. The written demand for appraisal
must be in addition to and separate from any proxy or vote.
Only a holder of record of shares of thinkorswim common stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time
of the merger may assert appraisal rights for the shares of
stock registered in that holders name. A demand for
appraisal must be executed by or on behalf of the stockholder of
record, fully and correctly, as the stockholders name
appears on the stock certificates. The demand must reasonably
inform thinkorswim of the identity of the stockholder and that
the stockholder intends to demand appraisal of his, her or its
common stock. STOCKHOLDERS WHO HOLD THEIR SHARES IN BROKERAGE
ACCOUNTS OR OTHER NOMINEE FORMS, AND WHO WISH TO EXERCISE
APPRAISAL RIGHTS, SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR BROKERS TO DETERMINE
THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES FOR THE NOMINEE HOLDER TO MAKE A
DEMAND FOR APPRAISAL OF THOSE SHARES. A PERSON HAVING A
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SHARES HELD OF RECORD IN THE NAME OF
ANOTHER PERSON, SUCH AS A BROKER OR NOMINEE, MUST ACT PROMPTLY
TO CAUSE THE RECORD HOLDER TO FOLLOW PROPERLY AND IN A TIMELY
MANNER THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PERFECT APPRAISAL RIGHTS.
A stockholder who elects to exercise appraisal rights under
Section 262 of the DGCL should mail or deliver a written
demand to:
thinkorswim Group Inc.
13947 South Minuteman Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attention: Corporate Secretary
If the merger is completed, thinkorswim will give written notice
of the effective time of the merger within ten days after such
effective time to each former thinkorswim stockholder who did
not vote in favor of the merger agreement and who made a written
demand for appraisal in accordance with Section 262 of the
DGCL. Within one hundred twenty days after the effective time of
the merger, but not later, either the surviving company or any
dissenting stockholder who has complied with the requirements of
Section 262 of the DGCL may file a petition in the
Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the
value of the shares of thinkorswim common stock held by all
dissenting stockholders. The surviving company is under no
obligation to file any petition and has no intention of doing
so. Stockholders who desire to have their shares appraised
should initiate any petitions necessary for the perfection of
their appraisal rights within the time periods and in the manner
prescribed in Section 262 of the DGCL.
44
Within one hundred twenty days after the effective time of the
first-step merger, any stockholder who, to that point in time,
has complied with the provisions of Section 262 of the
DGCL, may receive from the surviving company, upon written
request, a statement setting forth the aggregate number of
shares not voted in favor of the merger agreement and with
respect to which thinkorswim has received demands for appraisal,
and the aggregate number of holders of those shares. The
surviving company must mail this statement to the stockholder
within the later of ten days of receipt of the request or ten
days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for
appraisal.
If any party files a petition for appraisal in a timely manner,
the Delaware Court of Chancery will determine which stockholders
are entitled to appraisal rights and may require the
stockholders demanding appraisal who hold certificated shares to
submit their stock certificates to the court for notation of the
pendency of the appraisal proceedings and any stockholder who
fails to comply with such direction may be dismissed from such
proceedings. The Delaware Court of Chancery will thereafter
determine the fair value of the shares of thinkorswim common
stock held by dissenting stockholders, exclusive of any element
of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the
merger, but together with interest, if any, to be paid on the
amount determined to be fair value.
In determining the fair value, the Delaware Court of Chancery
will take into account all relevant factors. The Delaware
Supreme Court has stated that proof of value by any
techniques or methods that are generally considered acceptable
in the financial community and otherwise admissible in
court should be considered in the appraisal proceedings.
In addition, Delaware courts have decided that the statutory
appraisal remedy, in cases of unfair dealing, may or may not be
a dissenters exclusive remedy. If no party files a
petition for appraisal in a timely manner, then stockholders
will lose the right to an appraisal, and will instead receive
the merger consideration described in the merger agreement. The
fair value of their shares as determined under Section 262
of the DGCL could be greater than, the same as, or less than the
merger consideration. An opinion of an investment banking firm
as to the fairness from a financial point of view of the
consideration payable in a merger is not an opinion as to, and
does not in any manner address, fair value under
Section 262 of the DGCL.
The Delaware Court of Chancery will determine the costs of the
appraisal proceeding and will allocate those costs to the
parties as the Delaware Court of Chancery determines to be
equitable under the circumstances. Upon application of a
stockholder, the Delaware Court of Chancery may order all or a
portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in
connection with the appraisal proceeding, including reasonable
attorneys fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be
charged pro rata against the value of all shares entitled to
appraisal.
Any stockholder who has duly demanded an appraisal in compliance
with Section 262 of the DGCL may not, after the effective
time of the merger, vote the shares subject to the demand for
any purpose or receive any dividends or other distributions on
those shares, except dividends or other distributions payable to
holders of record of shares as of a record date prior to the
effective time of the merger.
Any stockholder may withdraw a demand for appraisal and accept
the merger consideration by delivering a written withdrawal of
the demand for appraisal to the surviving company, except that
any attempt to withdraw made more than sixty days after the
effective time of the merger will require written approval of
the surviving company, and no appraisal proceeding in the
Delaware Court of Chancery will be dismissed as to any
stockholder without the approval of the Delaware Court of
Chancery, and may be conditioned on such terms as the Delaware
Court of Chancery deems just. If the stockholder fails to
perfect, successfully withdraws or loses the appraisal right,
the stockholders shares will be converted into the right
to receive the merger consideration.
Failure to follow the steps required by Section 262 of
the DGCL for perfecting appraisal rights may result in the loss
of appraisal rights. In that event, you will be entitled to
receive the consideration for your dissenting shares in
accordance with the merger agreement. In view of the complexity
of the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL, if you are a
thinkorswim stockholder and are considering exercising your
appraisal rights under the DGCL, you should consult your own
legal advisor.
45
Regulatory
Approvals Required for the Merger
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have agreed to use reasonable best
efforts to obtain as promptly as practicable all regulatory
approvals required to complete the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement. These approvals include approval from or
notices to foreign and state securities authorities, various
other federal, state and foreign antitrust and regulatory
authorities and self-regulatory organizations.
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have completed, or will
complete, the filing of applications and notifications to obtain
the required regulatory approvals.
Department of Justice/Federal Trade
Commission. The merger is subject to review by
the Department of Justice, referred to as the DOJ, and the
Federal Trade Commission, referred to as the FTC. The
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, referred to as
the HSR Act, and the related rules prohibit the completion of
transactions such as the merger unless the parties notify the
FTC and the DOJ in advance. TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim filed
the requisite HSR Act notification forms on January 26,
2009 and January 14, 2009, respectively. The HSR Act
further provides that a transaction or portion of a transaction
that is notifiable under the HSR Act, such as the merger, may
not be consummated until the expiration of a thirty
calendar-day
waiting period, or the early termination of that waiting period,
following the later of the parties filing of their
respective HSR Act notification forms. The waiting period under
the HSR Act expired on February 25, 2009.
At any time before or after the acquisition is completed, either
the DOJ or FTC could take action under the antitrust laws in
opposition to the merger, including seeking to enjoin the
acquisition or seeking divestiture of substantial assets of TD
AMERITRADE or thinkorswim or their subsidiaries. Private parties
also may seek to take legal action under the antitrust laws
under some circumstances. Based upon an examination of
information available relating to the businesses in which the
companies are engaged, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim believe
that the completion of the merger will not violate
U.S. antitrust laws. However, TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim can give no assurance that a challenge to the merger
on antitrust grounds will not be made, or, if such a challenge
is made, that TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim will prevail.
In addition, the merger may be reviewed by the state attorneys
general in the various states in which TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim operate. While TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim
believe there are substantial arguments to the contrary, these
authorities may claim that there is authority, under the
applicable state and federal antitrust laws and regulations, to
investigate
and/or
disapprove the merger under the circumstances and based upon the
review set forth in applicable state laws and regulations. There
can be no assurance that one or more state attorneys general
will not attempt to file an antitrust action to challenge the
merger or that, if a challenge is made, TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim will prevail.
Other Requisite Approvals, Notices, and
Consents. Applications and notices are being
filed with various regulatory authorities and self-regulatory
organizations in connection with the merger, including
applications and notices in connection with the indirect change
in control, as a result of the merger, of certain subsidiaries
directly or indirectly owned by thinkorswim. The indirect change
in control of thinkorswims broker-dealer subsidiary
resulting from the merger is subject to approval by FINRA. TD
AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have filed and submitted, or will
shortly file and submit, all applications and notices required
to be submitted to obtain these approvals and provide these
notices.
Certain Foreign Approvals. Applications and
notices are being filed with various Canadian securities
regulators. The Canadian broker-dealer subsidiary of thinkorswim
is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization
of Canada, referred to as IIROC. Pursuant to IIROC rules,
thinkorswims Canadian broker-dealer subsidiary is required
to provide notice to IIROC and file for IIROC District Council
approval regarding the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement. In addition, thinkorswims Canadian
broker-dealer subsidiary is registered in all Canadian provinces
as an investment dealer (or equivalent). Under provincial
securities laws and regulations, thinkorswims Canadian
broker-dealer subsidiary and TD AMERITRADE are required to
provide notice to, or obtain approval from, a number of the
provincial securities commissions, including the Ontario
Securities Commission.
46
Timing. TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim cannot
assure you that all of the regulatory approvals described above
will be obtained and, if obtained, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim
cannot assure you as to the timing of any approvals, the ability
to obtain the approvals on satisfactory terms or the absence of
any litigation challenging such approvals. TD AMERITRADE also
cannot assure you that the DOJ, the FTC or any state attorney
general will not attempt to challenge the merger on antitrust
grounds, and, if such a challenge is made, TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim cannot assure you as to its result.
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim believe that the merger does not
raise substantial antitrust or other significant regulatory
concerns and that they will be able to obtain all requisite
regulatory approvals on a timely basis without the imposition of
any condition that would have a material adverse effect on
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim. The parties obligation
to complete the merger is conditioned upon the expiration or
termination of all applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act,
and, subject to certain exceptions, the receipt of all
clearances, approvals and consents required to be obtained in
connection with the merger under all applicable foreign laws
governing antitrust or unfair competition, and approval by
FINRA, IIROC and certain Canadian provincial securities
regulators of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement.
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim are not aware of any material
governmental approvals or actions that are required for
completion of the merger other than those described above. It is
presently contemplated that if any such additional governmental
approvals or actions are required, those approvals or actions
will be sought. There can be no assurance, however, that any
additional approvals or actions will be obtained.
Litigation
Relating to the Merger
On January 26 and 27, 2009, two purported class actions lawsuits
were filed on behalf of thinkorswim stockholders in the Circuit
Court of Cook County, Illinois docketed as Jonathan
Simons v. Tom Sosnoff, et al., Case No. 09CH02970,
and Jim Burns v. thinkorswim Group Inc., et al.,
Case No. 09CH03435, referred to as the Illinois complaints,
which are filed as exhibits 99.4 and 99.5 of the registration
statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part.
On February 11, 2009, a purported class action lawsuit was
filed on behalf of thinkorswim stockholders in the Supreme Court
of the State of New York, docketed as James A.
Bordeleau v. thinkorswim Group, Inc., et al., referred to
herein as the New York complaint. The Illinois complaints name
each of the members of the thinkorswim board of directors,
thinkorswim, TD AMERITRADE and Merger Sub One as defendants. The
New York complaint names each of the members of the thinkorswim
board of directors and thinkorswim as defendants. The lawsuits
allege, among other things, that the members of the thinkorswim
board of directors breached their fiduciary duties to
thinkorswims stockholders by entering into a merger
agreement with TD AMERITRADE for an unfair price and failing to
engage in a fair sale process with respect to the merger. They
also allege that the thinkorswim directors are attempting to
obtain personal financial benefits at the expense of the
thinkorswim stockholders. The Illinois complaints further allege
that TD AMERITRADE and Merger Sub One aided and abetted the
directors of thinkorswim in the alleged breaches of their
fiduciary duties. The plaintiffs are seeking relief that
includes, among other things, preliminary and permanent
injunctions prohibiting consummation of the merger, rescission
or damages if the merger is consummated prior to entry of the
courts final judgment and payment of the plaintiffs
costs and expenses.
The Illinois complaints were consolidated by court order dated
February 25, 2009. On March 5, 2009, plaintiffs filed
a consolidated amended complaint, which is filed as exhibit 99.6
of this registration statement of which this proxy
statement/prospectus forms a part. The consolidated amended
complaint includes additional allegations that this proxy
statement/prospectus does not disclose certain information. The
plaintiff in the New York complaint filed an amended complaint
on March 5, 2009, which is filed as exhibit 99.7 of the
registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus
forms a part. The amended complaint includes additional
allegations that this proxy statement/prospectus does not
disclose certain information. The defendants have filed a motion
to dismiss or stay the New York complaint on the ground that the
claims asserted are the subject of the prior, consolidated class
action filed in the Illinois court. thinkorswim and TD
AMERITRADE believe the lawsuits to be without merit, and
thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE intend to
47
vigorously contest the plaintiffs claims. There can be no
assurance, however, with regard to the outcome of the lawsuits.
THE
MERGER AGREEMENT
The following description describes the material terms of the
merger agreement. This description of the merger agreement is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the
merger agreement which is attached as Appendix A to this
proxy statement/prospectus and is incorporated herein by
reference. The merger agreement has been included to provide you
with information regarding its terms. TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim encourage you to read the entire merger agreement.
The merger agreement is not intended to provide any other
factual information about TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim. Such
information can be found elsewhere in this proxy
statement/prospectus and in the other public filings each of TD
AMERITRADE and thinkorswim makes with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, which are available without charge at
www.sec.gov.
The
Merger
Each of the thinkorswim board of directors and TD AMERITRADE
board of directors has approved the merger agreement, which
provides for the merger of Merger Sub One with and into
thinkorswim, with thinkorswim, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TD AMERITRADE, remaining as the interim surviving
corporation, immediately followed by the merger of the
interim surviving corporation with and into Merger
Sub Two, with Merger Sub Two remaining as the surviving
corporation. The first-step merger and the second-step merger
are referred to collectively as the merger.
Per
Share Merger Consideration
Each share of thinkorswim common stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time of the first-step merger
will be converted into the right to receive a cash amount of
$3.34, without interest and less any required withholding under
United States federal, state, local or foreign law, referred to
as the per share cash amount, plus 0.3980 of a share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock, which, together with the per share cash
amount, is referred to as the per share merger consideration.
The per share merger consideration is subject to future
adjustment for stock splits, recapitalizations,
reclassifications or other similar changes, as well as for
dividends or distributions in cash by TD AMERITRADE, in each
case occurring prior to the completion of the first-step merger.
No fractional shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock will be
issued in the first-step merger. Instead, each thinkorswim
stockholder otherwise entitled to a fraction of a share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock (after aggregating all fractional shares
of TD AMERITRADE common stock issuable to such stockholder) will
be entitled to receive in cash the dollar amount (rounded to the
nearest whole cent), determined by multiplying such fraction by
the volume-weighted average price (rounded to the nearest
one-tenth of a cent) of a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock on
the NASDAQ Global Select Market over the five trading days
immediately prior to the date the first-step merger is completed.
As a result of the first-step merger, the common stock of Merger
Sub One will be converted into common stock of the
interim surviving corporation. Each share of common
stock of the interim surviving corporation issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the
second-step merger will be converted into common stock of Merger
Sub Two.
Treatment
of thinkorswim Stock Options and Other Equity-Based
Awards
thinkorswim
Stock Options
Each outstanding option to acquire thinkorswim common stock
granted under thinkorswims stock incentive plans that is
not cancelled pursuant to the exchange program will be converted
automatically at the effective time
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of the merger into an option to purchase TD AMERITRADE common
stock and will continue to be governed by the terms of the
thinkorswim stock plan and related grant agreements under which
it was granted, except that:
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the number of shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock subject to
each converted TD AMERITRADE stock option will be equal to the
product, rounded down to the nearest whole share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock, of (A) the number of shares of
thinkorswim common stock previously subject to the thinkorswim
stock option and (B) the option exchange ratio, which is
equal to the sum of (X) 0.3980 and (Y) the decimal
representing the fraction whose numerator is the per share cash
amount and whose denominator is the volume-weighted average
price for a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock (rounded to the
nearest one-tenth of a cent) on the NASDAQ Global Select Market
for the trading day immediately prior to the date the merger is
completed; and
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the exercise price per share of TD AMERITRADE common stock
subject to each converted TD AMERITRADE stock option will
be equal to the exercise price for each share of thinkorswim
common stock previously subject to the thinkorswim stock option
divided by the option exchange ratio, rounded up to the nearest
cent.
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Example
If the
volume-weighted
average price for a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock (rounded
to the nearest one-tenth of a cent) on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market for the trading day immediately prior to the effective
time of the merger is $12.79, then the option exchange ratio
will be 0.6591 (.3980 + (3.34/12.79)).
If a thinkorswim option holder holds an option covering
1,000 shares with an exercise price of $5.00, and such
option is assumed by TD AMERITRADE pursuant to the terms of the
merger agreement, the option would convert into an option to
acquire 659 TD AMERITRADE shares (1,000 x .6591) and have an
exercise price of $7.59 per share ($5.00/.6591).
thinkorswim
Restricted Stock
Shares of thinkorswim common stock that remain, as of the
effective time of the merger, unvested or subject to a
repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other conditions under
any restricted stock purchase agreement or other agreement or
arrangement with thinkorswim (taking into account any
accelerated vesting or lapse of a repurchase option or risk of
forfeiture as a result of the consummation of the merger
pursuant to the terms applicable to such award of restricted
stock), referred to as restricted stock, will be converted
automatically at the effective time of the merger into shares of
restricted stock of TD AMERITRADE. The number of shares of
restricted stock of TD AMERITRADE to be issued upon conversion
of the shares of thinkorswim restricted stock will be equal to
the product of (A) the number of shares of thinkorswim
restricted common stock, times (B) the option exchange
ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share. The shares of TD
AMERITRADE restricted stock will be payable or distributable in
accordance with the terms of the agreement, plan or arrangement
relating to the restricted stock.
thinkorswim
Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units in respect of thinkorswim common stock
outstanding immediately prior to the merger will be converted
automatically at the effective time of the merger into
restricted stock units in respect of shares of TD AMERITRADE
common stock. The number of shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock
subject to each converted restricted stock unit will be equal to
the product of (A) the number of shares of thinkorswim
common stock previously subject to the thinkorswim restricted
stock unit, times (B) the option exchange ratio, rounded
down to the nearest whole share. The TD AMERITRADE restricted
stock units will be payable or distributable in accordance with
the terms of the agreement, plan or arrangement relating to the
restricted share units.
Option
Exchange for Underwater thinkorswim Stock Options
In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement,
thinkorswim has proposed an exchange program to all holders of
outstanding options to acquire thinkorswim common stock that
have an exercise price equal to or
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greater than the total value of the per share merger
consideration (based on the volume-weighted average price for a
share of TD AMERITRADE common stock (rounded to the nearest
one-tenth of a cent) on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for the
trading day immediately prior to the date the merger is
completed), referred to as underwater options. The terms of the
exchange program are described in more detail elsewhere in this
proxy statement/prospectus. See thinkorswims
Proposal 3 Option Exchange beginning on
page 77 and thinkorswim Proposal 4
Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock
Plan beginning on page 83. Underwater options that are not
exchanged for restricted stock units of TD AMERITRADE pursuant
to the terms of the exchange program will be assumed by TD
AMERITRADE.
TD AMERITRADE has agreed to file a registration statement with
the SEC on an appropriate form to the extent necessary to
register TD AMERITRADE common stock subject to the converted
stock options and other equity or equity-based awards.
Completion
of the Merger
The merger agreement requires the parties to complete the merger
after all of the conditions to the completion of the merger
contained in the merger agreement are satisfied or waived,
including the adoption of the merger agreement by the
stockholders of thinkorswim. The first-step merger will become
effective upon the filing of a certificate of merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later
time as is agreed by TD AMERITRADE, Merger Sub One and
thinkorswim and specified in the certificate of merger. The
second-step merger will become effective at the time of filing
of the certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware. Because the completion of the merger is
subject to the receipt of governmental and regulatory approvals
and the satisfaction of other conditions, the exact timing of
the completion of the merger cannot be predicted.
Conversion
of Shares; Exchange of Certificates
The merger agreement provides that TD AMERITRADE will select a
reputable bank or trust company, reasonably acceptable to
thinkorswim, to act as the payment and exchange agent. The
merger agreement provides that on or prior to the date of
completion of the first-step merger, TD AMERITRADE will deposit
with the exchange agent a sufficient amount of cash to make
payments of the cash amount payable and stock certificates
representing the shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock issuable
in exchange for shares of thinkorswim common stock and a
sufficient amount of cash to make payments in lieu of fractional
shares and in respect of dividends or distributions to which
holders of thinkorswim common stock are entitled pursuant to the
terms of the merger agreement. The exchange agent will be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the cash amounts payable to
any thinkorswim stockholder the amounts it is required to deduct
and withhold under any federal, state, local or foreign tax law.
If the exchange agent withholds any amounts, these amounts will
be treated for all purposes of the merger as having been paid to
the stockholders from whom they were withheld.
The merger agreement contemplates that, as promptly as
practicable following the completion of the merger, the exchange
agent for the merger will mail to each record holder of
thinkorswim common stock immediately prior to the completion of
the merger a letter of transmittal and instructions for
surrendering and exchanging the record holders thinkorswim
stock certificates. The merger agreement provides that, upon
surrender of a thinkorswim common stock certificate for exchange
to the exchange agent (or upon receipt of an appropriate
agents message in the case of book-entry shares), together
with a duly signed letter of transmittal, and such other
documents as the exchange agent or TD AMERITRADE may reasonably
require, the holder of the thinkorswim stock certificate will be
entitled to receive the following:
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the per share cash amount payable for each share of thinkorswim
common stock;
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a certificate representing a number of shares of TD AMERITRADE
common stock calculated based on the exchange ratio;
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cash in lieu of any fractional share of TD AMERITRADE common
stock; and
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cash in respect of any dividends or other distributions declared
by TD AMERITRADE after the effective time of the merger.
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After the completion of the first-step merger, all holders of
certificates representing shares of thinkorswim common stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to the completion of the
first-step merger will cease to have any rights as stockholders
of thinkorswim, other than the right to receive the merger
consideration and subject to the rights described under
thinkorswim Proposal 1 Appraisal
Rights. In addition, no transfer of thinkorswim common
stock after the completion of the first-step merger will be
registered on the stock transfer books of thinkorswim.
If any thinkorswim stock certificate has been lost, stolen or
destroyed, TD AMERITRADE may, in its discretion and as a
condition to the payment of cash or the issuance of any
certificate representing TD AMERITRADE common stock in
exchange therefor, require the owner of such certificate to
deliver an affidavit claiming such certificate has been lost,
stolen or destroyed and deliver a bond as indemnity against any
claim that may be made with respect to that certificate against
TD AMERITRADE, the surviving corporation or the exchange agent.
Stock certificates should not be surrendered for exchange by
thinkorswim stockholders before the completion of the first-step
merger and should be sent only pursuant to instructions set
forth in the letters of transmittal which the merger agreement
provides will be mailed to thinkorswim stockholders as promptly
as practicable following the completion of the merger. In all
cases, the cash payments, certificates representing shares of TD
AMERITRADE common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares
will be delivered only in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the letter of transmittal.
Representations
and Warranties
The merger agreement contains customary representations and
warranties that TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim made to, and
solely for the benefit of, each other. None of the
representations and warranties in the merger agreement will
survive the completion of the merger. The assertions embodied in
those representations and warranties are qualified by
information in confidential disclosure schedules that TD
AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have exchanged in connection with
signing the merger agreement. While TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim do not believe that these disclosure schedules
contain information securities laws require the parties to
publicly disclose other than information that has already been
so disclosed, they do contain information that modifies,
qualifies and creates exceptions to the representations and
warranties set forth in the merger agreement. Accordingly, you
should not rely on the representations and warranties as
characterizations of the actual state of facts, since they were
only made as of the date of the merger agreement and are
modified in important part by the underlying disclosure
schedules. These disclosure schedules contain information that
has been included in the companies general prior public
disclosures, as well as additional non-public information.
Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the
representations and warranties may have changed since the date
of the merger agreement, which subsequent information may or may
not be fully reflected in the companies public disclosures.
In the merger agreement, thinkorswim, TD AMERITRADE, Merger Sub
One and Merger Sub Two each made representations and warranties
relating to, among other things:
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organization and standing;
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corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its
obligations under, and enforceability of, the merger agreement;
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the absence of conflicts with organizational documents, other
contracts and applicable laws;
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required regulatory filings and consents and approvals of
governmental entities;
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capitalization;
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documents filed with the SEC and other governmental authorities;
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financial statements and controls;
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the absence of undisclosed liabilities;
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the absence of certain changes since September 30, 2008;
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compliance with laws and orders and permits;
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the absence of litigation and orders;
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tax matters; and
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brokers fees.
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In the merger agreement, TD AMERITRADE, Merger Sub One and
Merger Sub Two also each made representations and warranties
relating to:
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their not owning any shares of thinkorswim common stock; and
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the absence of agreements with thinkorswims directors or
executive officers relating to the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement, other than the employment agreements and
the voting agreements described under thinkorswim
Proposal 1 thinkorswim Officers and Directors
Have Financial Interests in the Merger and Voting
Agreements.
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In the merger agreement, thinkorswim also made representations
and warranties relating to:
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subsidiaries;
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material contracts;
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employee benefits;
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labor matters;
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real property;
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environmental matters;
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assets and personal property;
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intellectual property;
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insurance;
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the absence of transactions with related parties;
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state anti-takeover statutes;
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receipt by the thinkorswim board of directors of an opinion from
UBS; and
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the value of assets and revenues from thinkorswims
Canadian operations.
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Material
Adverse Effect
Several of the representations, warranties, covenants, closing
conditions and termination provisions of TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim in the merger agreement use the phrase
material adverse effect. The merger agreement
provides that material adverse effect means, with
respect to either TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim, as the case may
be, any fact, circumstance, change or effect that, individually
or when taken together with all other such facts, circumstances,
changes or effects that:
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has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on the assets, liabilities, business, operations,
financial condition or results of operations of TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim, as applicable, and its respective subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;
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would materially impair TD AMERITRADEs or
thinkorswims ability, as applicable, to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and applicable
legal requirements; or
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would materially delay the consummation of the merger and the
other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
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52
The merger agreement provides, however, that none of the
following will be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account
in determining whether there has occurred, a material adverse
effect on TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim, as applicable:
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general market, economic or political conditions in the United
States or any other jurisdiction in which TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim or any of their respective subsidiaries has
substantial business or operations and any changes therein
(including any condition or changes arising out of acts of
terrorism, war, weather conditions or other force majeure
events), to the extent they do not affect TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim, as applicable, disproportionately relative to other
companies organized and based in the United States and operating
in the same industries in which TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim operates;
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general conditions in the financial services industry, and any
changes therein (including any condition or changes arising out
of acts of terrorism, war, weather conditions or other force
majeure events), to the extent they do not affect TD AMERITRADE
or thinkorswim, as applicable, disproportionately relative to
other companies organized and based in the United States and
operating in the same industries in which TD AMERITRADE or
thinkorswim operates;
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changes or proposed changes in generally accepted accounting
principles or applicable federal, state, provincial, local,
municipal, foreign or other law;
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the public announcement of the merger agreement or pendency of
the merger, including any loss of or adverse change in the
relationship of TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim with their
respective employees, customers, partners or suppliers related
thereto to the extent resulting from the announcement of the
merger agreement or the pendency of the merger;
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any action or omission by TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim taken
with the prior written consent of the other party;
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any failure of TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim to meet internal or
analysts estimates, projections or forecasts of revenues,
earnings or other financial or business metrics, in and of
itself;
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any decline in the market price or change in the trading volume
of TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswims public equity securities,
in and of itself; and
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any of the matters disclosed in the respective disclosure
schedules of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim (which include
certain legal proceedings disclosed in thinkorswims
periodic reports filed with the SEC before the execution of the
merger agreement, including the SEC inquiry relating to
thinkorswims investor education seminars).
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Covenants;
Conduct of Business Prior to the Merger
Interim
Conduct of the Business
thinkorswim has undertaken customary covenants that place
restrictions on it and its subsidiaries until the effective time
of the merger. In general, thinkorswim agreed to (1) carry
on its business in the ordinary course and in compliance with
all applicable laws, (2) take all steps necessary to cause
its subsidiary, thinkorswim, Inc., to maintain specified minimum
levels of net capital and (3) use commercially reasonable
efforts to preserve intact its present business organization,
keep available the services of its present officers and
employees and preserve its relationships with persons and
entities with which it has significant business dealings.
thinkorswim further agreed that, except (a) as expressly
contemplated or permitted by the merger agreement, (b) as
specifically set forth in thinkorswims disclosure
schedule, (c) as required by applicable law, or
(d) with TD AMERITRADEs prior written consent,
thinkorswim will not, and will not permit any of its
subsidiaries to, among other things, undertake the following
actions:
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amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws;
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authorize for issuance, issue, sell, or deliver any securities
of thinkorswim or any of its subsidiaries, except for the
issuance and sale of shares or capital stock pursuant to
outstanding thinkorswim equity awards or certain grants to newly
hired employees issued in the ordinary course of business;
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acquire, redeem, or amend any securities of thinkorswim or its
subsidiaries, except to the extent that such acquisition or
redemption is pursuant to the terms of an employee benefit plan
or any agreement subject to any such employee benefit plan;
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pay any dividends, split, combine or reclassify any shares of
capital stock of thinkorswim or make any other distribution in
respect of the shares of capital stock of thinkorswim, other
than dividends or distributions made by a subsidiary of
thinkorswim to thinkorswim or one of its subsidiaries;
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propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization of thinkorswim or any
of its subsidiaries;
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(i) except to or from subsidiaries of thinkorswim, incur or
assume any indebtedness or issue any debt securities, assume or
guarantee the obligations of any other person or acquire or make
any capital contributions to or investments in any other person,
(ii) except for advances made in the ordinary course of
business, make any loans or advances to employees of thinkorswim
or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) mortgage or pledge
any of thinkorswim or its subsidiaries assets, tangible or
intangible, or create or suffer to exist any lien, subject to
certain exceptions;
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(i) except as required by law or the terms of a thinkorswim
employee benefit plan in effect at the time of the merger
agreement, enter into, adopt, amend, modify or terminate any
thinkorswim employee benefit plan in any material respect,
(ii) except for certain limited increases made in the
ordinary course of business, increase or decrease the
compensation or fringe benefits of any director, executive
officer or employee, pay any bonus or special remuneration to
any director, officer or employee, or (iii) pay any benefit
not required by any thinkorswim employee benefit plan;
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forgive any loans to any employees, officers or directors of
thinkorswim or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their
respective affiliates;
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make any deposits or contributions to or fund the compensation
or benefits under thinkorswims employee plans or contracts
subject to the employee plans, other than as required pursuant
to the terms of the employee benefit plans or any contracts
subject to the employee benefit plans;
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enter into, amend, or extend any collective bargaining agreement;
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acquire, lease or license any property or assets with a fair
market value in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate per fiscal
quarter, or sell, lease, license or dispose of any property or
assets with a fair market value in excess of $500,000 in the
aggregate per fiscal quarter, except for (i) transactions
required under existing contracts, or (ii) in the case of a
sale or disposition, sales of loans or investment securities
subject to repurchase, or pledges of assets to secure public
deposits accepted, as long as such sales or pledges are in the
ordinary course of business;
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except as may be required as a result of a change in applicable
laws or in generally accepted accounting principles, make any
change in any of the accounting principles or practices used by
thinkorswim;
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make or change any material tax election, settle or compromise
any material United States federal, state, local or
non-United
States tax liability or consent to any extension or waiver of
any limitation period with respect to any claim or assessment
for material taxes;
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enter into or amend any licenses of thinkorswim intellectual
property, except, in the ordinary course of business, to
customers, or for
non-exclusive
in-bound licenses for commercially available technology;
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grant any exclusive rights with respect to any of
thinkorswims intellectual property, divest any of
thinkorswims intellectual property, or materially modify
thinkorswims warranty terms, except if such divestiture,
amendment or modification individually or in the aggregate, is
not material to thinkorswim or any of its subsidiaries;
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authorize, incur or commit to incur any capital expenditures
which, individually or in the aggregate, is or are material to
thinkorswim, other than pursuant to existing contracts;
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at any time permit the net capital of its subsidiary,
thinkorswim, Inc., to be less than the greater of (x) an
amount equal to
81/3%
of the aggregate indebtedness (as defined in
Rule 15c3-1
under the Exchange Act) of thinkorswim, Inc., and
(y) $2.5 million;
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(i) settle or compromise any pending or threatened legal
proceeding or pay, discharge or satisfy or agree to pay,
discharge or satisfy any claim, liability or obligation, unless
such settlement has been reserved for in, or incurred since the
date of, the thinkorswim balance sheet, is covered by existing
insurance policies or such payment does not exceed $250,000 in
the aggregate, or (ii) settle certain specified litigation
matters;
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except as required by applicable law or generally accepted
accounting principles, revalue in any material respect any of
its properties or assets including writing-off notes or accounts
receivable;
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except as required by applicable law, convene any stockholders
meeting other than the special meeting;
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other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, enter into, renew, extend, terminate or make any
material amendment or change in any material contract;
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enter into any lease or sublease of real property, modify, amend
or exercise any right to renew any lease or sublease of real
property, or open, relocate or close any branch office or other
real property;
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enter into any new line of business or change thinkorswims
material operating policies in any material respect, except as
required by law or by policies imposed by any governmental
authority;
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enter into any securitizations of any loans or create any
special purpose funding or variable interest entity;
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enter into a contract, or make any arrangement or understanding,
to do any of the foregoing; or
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knowingly take any action which results or is reasonably likely
to result in any of the conditions to the merger not being
satisfied, has or is reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on thinkorswim, would materially impair
thinkorswims ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement or would materially delay
the consummation of the merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement.
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Other
Covenants
The merger agreement also contains covenants relating to the
preparation of this proxy statement/prospectus and the holding
of the special meeting of thinkorswim stockholders, access to
information of the other company and public announcements with
respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement
and efforts to coordinate the repayment of thinkorswim
indebtedness concurrently with the completion of the merger.
Reasonable
Best Efforts of thinkorswim to Obtain the Required Stockholder
Vote
thinkorswim has agreed to hold a meeting of its stockholders as
promptly as practicable following the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus (and, if reasonably practicable, within
forty five days following the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus) for the purpose of obtaining stockholder
approval of the merger proposal, the option exchange proposal
and the plan amendment proposal. thinkorswim will use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain such approvals. Unless the
merger agreement is terminated, thinkorswim has agreed to submit
the merger agreement to a stockholder vote even if its board of
directors no longer recommends approval of the merger proposal.
55
Limitation
on the Solicitation, Negotiation and Discussion of Other
Acquisition Proposals by thinkorswim
thinkorswim also has agreed that neither it nor its subsidiaries
will, and that they will not authorize or permit their
respective directors, officers, or other employees, controlled
affiliates or advisors to, directly or indirectly:
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solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, facilitate or induce
any inquiries with respect to an acquisition
proposal or acquisition transaction (as
defined below);
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furnish to any person any nonpublic information relating to
thinkorswim or its subsidiaries, or provide access to its
business, assets, properties or books and records in a manner
intended to assist or facilitate any inquiry or proposal that is
or could lead to an acquisition proposal or an acquisition
transaction;
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participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations, or
enter into any agreement, regarding any acquisition proposal or
acquisition transaction; or
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take any action to exempt any person from applicable
anti-takeover laws.
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As used in the merger agreement, an acquisition
proposal means any indication of interest, offer or
proposal relating to an acquisition transaction.
As used in the merger agreement, acquisition
transaction means any transaction or series of related
transactions (other than a transaction with TD AMERITRADE or its
affiliates) involving:
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any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by any
person or group from thinkorswim of 15% or more of
thinkorswims total outstanding equity interests or voting
securities, or any tender offer or exchange offer that would
result in any person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of
thinkorswims total outstanding equity interests or voting
securities;
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any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition of 50% or
more of any class of equity or other voting securities of one or
more thinkorswim subsidiaries that, individually or in the
aggregate, generate or constitute 15% or more of
thinkorswims consolidated net revenues, net income or
assets (as of or for the twelve month period ending on the last
day of thinkorswims most recently completed fiscal year),
which are referred to as significant subsidiaries;
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any merger, consolidation, business combination or other similar
transaction involving thinkorswim or one or more of its
significant subsidiaries, pursuant to which thinkorswims
stockholders (as a group) or the stockholders of such
significant subsidiary, as applicable, would hold less than 85%
of the equity interests in or voting securities of the surviving
or resulting entity of such transaction;
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any direct or indirect sale, lease (other than in the ordinary
course of business), exchange, transfer, license (other than in
the ordinary course of business), acquisition or disposition of
assets of thinkorswim or one or more of its significant
subsidiaries; or
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any liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or other
significant corporate reorganization of thinkorswim or one or
more of its significant subsidiaries.
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thinkorswim has also agreed:
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to cease any existing activities, discussions or negotiations
with respect to any acquisition proposal or acquisition
transaction;
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to notify TD AMERITRADE promptly (but no later than forty eight
hours) after it receives any acquisition proposal, any request
for information that would reasonably be expected to lead to an
acquisition proposal, or any inquiry with respect an acquisition
proposal, and to provide TD AMERITRADE with relevant
information regarding the acquisition proposal or request;
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to keep TD AMERITRADE reasonably informed of the status and any
changes in the material terms and conditions of any such
acquisition proposal; and
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to provide TD AMERITRADE with prior written notice of a meeting
of its board (or any committee thereof) at which the board (or
any committee thereof) is reasonably expected to consider an
acquisition proposal or acquisition transaction.
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Exception
to the Limitation on the Negotiation and Discussion by
thinkorswim of Other Acquisition Proposals
However, prior to obtaining approval of the merger from its
stockholders, thinkorswim may engage and participate in
discussions and negotiations with respect to an unsolicited,
written acquisition proposal, and furnish non-public information
regarding thinkorswim to the party making such acquisition
proposal if:
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the thinkorswim board of directors determines reasonably in good
faith (after consultation with thinkorswims financial
advisors and outside legal counsel) that such acquisition
proposal is or is reasonably likely to lead to a superior
proposal (as defined below) and (after consultation with
thinkorswims outside legal counsel) that failure to take
these actions would reasonably be expected to result in a breach
of the boards fiduciary duties to thinkorswim stockholders
under Delaware law;
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none of thinkorswim, any of its subsidiaries, or any of their
respective directors, officers or other employees, controlled
affiliates or advisors have violated, with respect to such
acquisition proposal, the restrictions on solicitation of other
offers;
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thinkorswim has first entered into a confidentiality and
standstill agreement with the party making the
acquisition proposal on terms no less favorable to thinkorswim
than those in thinkorswims confidentiality agreement with
TD AMERITRADE;
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thinkorswim provides TD AMERITRADE with prior written notice of
its intent to participate in discussions with respect to such
acquisition proposal (including notice of the identity of the
party making the acquisition proposal and the material terms and
conditions of such acquisition proposal); and
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thinkorswim contemporaneously provides TD AMERITRADE with any
non-public information provided to the party making such
acquisition proposal.
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thinkorswim
Board Recommendation of the Merger
The thinkorswim board of directors has adopted a resolution
recommending that the thinkorswim stockholders approve and adopt
the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
Under the merger agreement, the thinkorswim board of directors
may not (1) withhold, withdraw, amend or modify, or
publicly propose to withhold, withdraw, amend or modify, in a
manner adverse to TD AMERITRADE or approval of the merger, its
recommendation, or (2) approve, endorse or recommend, or
publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any
acquisition proposal or acquisition transaction. Any of these
actions is referred to as a board recommendation change.
Board
Recommendation Change for Superior Proposal
However, prior to obtaining approval of the merger from the
thinkorswim stockholders, the thinkorswim board of directors may
make a board recommendation change and terminate the merger
agreement (as described in The Merger
Agreement Termination of the Merger
Agreement thinkorswims Termination
Rights) if it receives an unsolicited, written acquisition
proposal and, prior to making such board recommendation change:
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none of thinkorswim, any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective directors, officers or other employees, controlled
affiliates or advisors have violated, with respect to such
acquisition proposal (or any other acquisition proposal made by
the person making such acquisition proposal), the merger
agreements restrictions on solicitation of other offers
(as described in The Merger Agreement
Limitation on the Solicitation, Negotiation and Discussion of
Other acquisition proposals by thinkorswim);
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it reasonably determines in good faith (A) after
consultation with thinkorswims financial advisors and its
outside legal counsel, that such acquisition proposal
constitutes a superior proposal (as defined below) and
(B) after consultation with thinkorswims outside
legal counsel, that in light of such superior proposal, the
failure to make a board recommendation change would reasonably
be expected to result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under
Delaware law;
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it provides TD AMERITRADE at least five business days prior
written notice (A) of the identity of the person making
such superior proposal and all of the material terms and
conditions of such superior proposal, and (B) of its
intention to make a board recommendation change in response to
such superior proposal;
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during such five business day period, it provides TD AMERITRADE
the opportunity to meet with thinkorswim and its financial
advisors and outside legal counsel to discuss in good faith such
superior proposal, the merger agreement and the terms and
conditions thereof, and any modifications of the terms and
conditions of the merger agreement that TD AMERITRADE may
propose in response to such superior proposal; and
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after such five business day period (and, if requested by TD
AMERITRADE, the meetings described in the preceding bullet), it
reasonably determines in good faith (A) after consultation
with thinkorswims financial advisor and outside legal
counsel, that such acquisition proposal continues to constitute
a superior proposal, and (B) after consultation with
thinkorswims outside legal counsel, that in light of such
superior proposal and after good faith consideration of all
proposals (whether or not binding) by TD AMERITRADE, the failure
to make a board recommendation change would reasonably be
expected to result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under
Delaware Law.
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As used in the merger agreement, superior proposal
means any unsolicited, bona fide written offer or proposal to
acquire 100% of thinkorswims outstanding voting securities
that thinkorswims board of directors determines in good
faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and
outside legal counsel, is:
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more favorable, from a financial point of view, to
thinkorswims stockholders than the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement;
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reasonably likely to receive all requisite regulatory
approvals; and
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reasonably likely to be consummated on the terms and conditions
set forth in the written proposal.
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The merger agreement requires the board to take the following
factors, in addition to any factors the thinkorswim board of
directors determines to be relevant, into account as part of its
determination process: (A) all relevant financial
considerations, (B) the identity and prior history of the
person making such offer or proposal and of its sources of
financing, (C) the anticipated timing, conditions and
prospects for completion of the transaction contemplated by such
offer or proposal, (D) the other terms and conditions of
such offer or proposal and their implications on thinkorswim,
and (E) any offer capable of acceptance made by
TD AMERITRADE in response to such offer or proposal.
Board
Recommendation Change for Intervening Event
Prior to obtaining approval of the merger from thinkorswim
stockholders, the thinkorswim board of directors also may make a
board recommendation change if a material fact, event, change,
development or set of circumstances (other than an acquisition
proposal) that was not known by thinkorswims board of
directors on or prior to January 8, 2009, referred to as an
intervening event, occurs and:
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after consultation with its outside legal counsel, it reasonably
determines in good faith that in light of such intervening
event, the failure make a board recommendation change would
reasonably be expected to result in a breach of its fiduciary
duties under Delaware law;
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it provides TD AMERITRADE at least five business days prior
written notice of its intention to make a board recommendation
change;
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during such 5 business day period, it provides TD AMERITRADE the
opportunity to meet with it and thinkorswims financial
advisors and outside legal counsel to discuss in good faith
(A) the boards rationale for proposing to make a
board recommendation change,
and/or
(B) possible modifications of the terms and conditions of
the merger agreement so as to eliminate the boards need to
effect such board recommendation change in response to the
intervening event; and
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after such 5 business day period (and, if requested by TD
AMERITRADE, the meetings described in the preceding bullet), it
reasonably determines in good faith (after consultation with
outside legal counsel) that in light of such intervening event
and any proposals by TD AMERITRADE to modify the terms of the
merger agreement, the failure to make a board recommendation
change would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of its
fiduciary duties under Delaware Law.
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Employee
Matters
TD AMERITRADE has agreed to maintain, for a period of two years
after completion of the merger, employee benefit plans and
compensation opportunities for employees of thinkorswim and its
subsidiaries that are at least as favorable, in the aggregate,
as those made available to similarly situated employees of
TD AMERITRADE and its subsidiaries, or no less favorable,
in the aggregate, than those made available to employees of
thinkorswim and its subsidiaries immediately prior to the
completion of the merger, or a combination of the foregoing.
In addition, TD AMERITRADE has agreed, to the extent any
thinkorswim employee becomes eligible to participate in TD
AMERITRADE employee benefit plans following the merger:
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generally to recognize each employees service with
thinkorswim prior to the completion of the merger for purposes
of eligibility, vesting credits and, except under defined
benefit pension plans or to the extent it would result in a
duplication of these benefits, benefit accruals;
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to cause any exclusion for pre-existing conditions or
eligibility waiting periods under any TD AMERITRADE health
plans to be waived, to the extent the employee (and their
eligible dependents) were not subject to such pre-existing
conditions and eligibility waiting periods under comparable
thinkorswim plans as of the time immediately before the
completion of the merger; and
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to provide each employee with credit for any deductibles paid
under any thinkorswim plan that provides medical, dental or
vision benefits in the plan year in effect as of the closing of
the merger for purposes of satisfying any applicable deductible
or out-of-pocket requirements under any TD AMERITRADE medical,
dental or vision plans to the same extent that such expenses
were recognized under the comparable thinkorswim plan.
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TD AMERITRADE has also agreed to honor all existing thinkorswim
employment, change in control and severance agreements in
accordance with the terms thereof. TD AMERITRADE has the right
to amend or terminate thinkorswim employee benefit plans to the
extent permitted under the terms of such plans, and has no
obligation to continue the employment of any thinkorswim
employee for any period following the merger.
Indemnification
and Insurance
The merger agreement requires the current rights of the
directors and officers of thinkorswim and its subsidiaries to
indemnification under these entities organizational
documents and other disclosed agreements to continue in effect
for six years after completion of the merger. The merger
agreement also provides that, upon completion of the merger, TD
AMERITRADE will cause the surviving corporation to indemnify and
hold harmless, and provide advancement of expenses to, all past
and present officers and directors of thinkorswim and its
subsidiaries against all losses or liabilities incurred in their
capacities as such to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
laws.
The merger agreement requires TD AMERITRADE to obtain a
tail prepaid directors and officers
liability insurance policy with a claims period of six years
after completion of the merger with at least the same coverage
and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less
favorable than thinkorswims
59
current policy, with respect to acts or omissions occurring
prior to the effective time of the merger, except that TD
AMERITRADE is not required to incur premium expense greater than
$1,500,000.
Conditions
to Complete the Merger
Conditions
to the Obligations of TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim
The respective obligations of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE to
complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
certain conditions, including:
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the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this
proxy statement/prospectus is a part with respect to the TD
AMERITRADE common stock to be issued in the merger under the
Securities Act and the absence of any stop order or proceedings
initiated or threatened by the SEC for that purpose;
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the approval of the merger proposal by thinkorswim stockholders;
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the expiration or termination of all applicable waiting periods
under the HSR Act, and, subject to certain exceptions, the
receipt of all clearances, approvals and consents required to be
obtained in connection with the merger under all applicable
foreign laws governing antitrust or unfair competition;
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the approval by FINRA and IIROC of the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement;
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the approval of the listing of the TD AMERITRADE common stock to
be issued in the merger on the NASDAQ Global Select Market,
subject to official notice of issuance;
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the receipt by each of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim of a legal
opinion to the effect that the merger will constitute a
reorganization for United States federal income tax
purposes; and
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the absence of any order, decree or injunction by any court or
other governmental entity or other law that prohibits or makes
illegal completion of the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement (other than the exchange program).
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Conditions
to the Obligations of TD AMERITRADE
The merger agreement provides that the obligations of TD
AMERITRADE, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two to complete the
merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the
following conditions:
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the accuracy in all material respects of a limited number of
representations and warranties made by thinkorswim in the merger
agreement, including those relating to corporate organization,
authorization to enter into the merger agreement, required
governmental consents, capitalization, inapplicability of state
anti-takeover statutes and the absence of any arrangements
requiring the payment of brokers or finders fees
other than to thinkorswims financial advisors identified
in the merger agreement;
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the accuracy of the remaining representations and warranties
made by thinkorswim in the merger agreement, provided that
inaccuracies in such representations and warranties will be
disregarded to the extent that such inaccuracies, individually
or in the aggregate, do not constitute, and would not reasonably
be expected to have or result in, a material adverse effect on
thinkorswim;
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performance of or compliance with, in all material respects, by
thinkorswim all of its agreements and covenants set forth in the
merger agreement that are required to be performed or complied
with by thinkorswim at or prior to the completion of the merger;
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no event, development, change, circumstance or condition shall
have occurred or shall exist that would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
effect on thinkorswim;
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thinkorswims chief executive officer and chief financial
officer shall have delivered to TD AMERITRADE a certificate
confirming that certain conditions have been satisfied;
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there shall not be pending any legal proceeding brought by a
governmental body (including FINRA and IIROC) seeking to
restrain or prohibit the completion of any of the transactions
contemplated by the
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merger agreement, or the performance of any of the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement or the voting agreements
(other than the exchange program); and
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the approval by certain Canadian provincial securities
regulators of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement.
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Conditions
to the Obligations of thinkorswim
The merger agreement provides that the obligations of
thinkorswim to complete the merger are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions:
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the accuracy in all material respects of a limited number of
representations and warranties made by TD AMERITRADE in the
merger agreement, including those relating to corporate
organization, authorization to enter into the merger agreement,
required governmental consents, capitalization and the and the
absence of any arrangements requiring the payment of
brokers or finders fees other than to TD
AMERITRADEs financial advisor identified in the merger
agreement;
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the accuracy of the remaining representations and warranties
made by TD AMERITRADE in the merger agreement, provided that
inaccuracies in such representations and warranties will be
disregarded to the extent that such inaccuracies, individually
or in the aggregate, do not constitute, and would not reasonably
be expected to have or result in, a material adverse effect on
TD AMERITRADE;
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performance of or compliance with, in all material respects, by
TD AMERITRADE all of its agreements and covenants set forth in
the merger agreement that are required to be performed or
complied with by TD AMERITRADE at or prior to the
completion of the merger;
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no event, development, change, circumstance or condition shall
have occurred or shall exist that would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
effect on TD AMERITRADE; and
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TD AMERITRADEs chief executive officer and chief financial
officer shall have delivered to thinkorswim a certificate
confirming that certain conditions have been satisfied.
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Termination
of the Merger Agreement
The merger agreement provides that, at any time prior to the
completion of the first-step merger, either before or after the
requisite approval of thinkorswims stockholders has been
obtained, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim can terminate the merger
agreement by mutual written consent, if such action is duly
authorized by their respective boards of directors.
The merger agreement also provides that, at any time prior to
the completion of the first-step merger, either before or after
the requisite approval of thinkorswims stockholders has
been obtained, either company can terminate the merger agreement
if:
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the merger has not been completed by October 7, 2009,
provided that neither party will be permitted to terminate the
merger agreement under this provision of the merger agreement if
the failure to complete the merger by October 7, 2009, or
to satisfy any of the conditions to complete the merger by such
date, is attributable to an action or failure to act by such
party, and provided further that if TD AMERITRADE or any of
its subsidiaries announces, following the date of the merger
agreement and prior to October 7, 2009, entry into a
definitive agreement for a transaction that is reportable under
the HSR Act or subject to review by FINRA, the right of TD
AMERITRADE to terminate the merger agreement under this
provision will not be available until the later of
(1) 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on October 7,
2009 and (2) 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the
thirtieth day immediately following the earlier to occur of the
consummation or termination of such transaction;
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a court or governmental body has enacted or issued a law or a
final and non-appealable order prohibiting the completion of the
merger or any other transaction contemplated by the merger
agreement (other than the exchange program);
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a governmental body from which antitrust approval is required
has denied such approval, and such denial is final and
non-appealable; or
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the thinkorswim special meeting (including any postponements and
adjournments thereof) has been held, a final vote on the
approval of the merger proposal has been taken and
thinkorswims stockholders do not approve the merger
proposal.
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TD
AMERITRADEs Termination Rights
The merger agreement further provides that TD AMERITRADE may
terminate the merger agreement at any time prior to the
completion of the first-step merger, either before or after the
requisite approval of thinkorswims stockholders has been
obtained, if:
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any of the following events have occurred (which are referred to
as thinkorswim triggering events):
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any director or executive officer of thinkorswim (or any
employee, controlled affiliate, advisor or representative of
thinkorswim acting at the express direction of a thinkorswim
director or executive officer) materially breaches or violates
the provisions of the merger agreement relating to
(A) limitations on the solicitation of other acquisition
proposals, (B) thinkorswims obligation to hold a
meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining
stockholder approval of the merger proposal, or
(C) thinkorswims obligations in connection with its
board of directors recommendation that the thinkorswim
stockholders adopt the merger agreement;
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the thinkorswim board of directors makes a board recommendation
change;
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thinkorswim fails to include in this proxy statement/prospectus
its board of directors recommendation in favor of the
adoption of the merger agreement;
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a tender or exchange offer relating to securities of thinkorswim
is commenced and (A) thinkorswim does not issue a public
statement, within ten business days, reaffirming the thinkorswim
board of directors recommendation of the merger and
recommending rejection of the tender or exchange offer or
(B) at any time after such ten business day period,
thinkorswim issues a press release or files a
Schedule 14D-9
with the SEC relating to the tender or exchange offer that fails
to reaffirm its board of directors recommendation of the
merger and recommend rejection of the tender or exchange
offer; or
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the thinkorswim board of directors fails to reaffirm its
recommendation in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement
within ten days after TD AMERITRADE reasonably requests a
reaffirmation;
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subject to certain limitations, a limited number of the
representations and warranties (including those relating to
corporate organization, authorization to enter into the merger
agreement, required governmental consents, capitalization,
inapplicability of state anti-takeover statutes and the absence
of any arrangements requiring the payment of brokers or
finders fees other than to thinkorswims financial
advisors identified in the merger agreement) made by thinkorswim
in the merger agreement are inaccurate in any material respect,
provided that if any inaccuracy is curable, TD AMERITRADE may
not terminate the merger agreement under this provision unless
the inaccuracy remains uncured for a period of thirty days
following notice thereof (or such earlier date that thinkorswim
ceases to use commercially reasonable efforts to cure such
inaccuracy);
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subject to certain limitations, inaccuracies in the remaining
representations and warranties made by thinkorswim in the merger
agreement constitute or would reasonably be expected to have or
result in a material adverse effect on thinkorswim, provided
that if any inaccuracy is curable, TD AMERITRADE may not
terminate the merger agreement under this provision unless the
inaccuracy remains uncured for a period of thirty days following
notice thereof (or such earlier date that thinkorswim ceases to
use commercially reasonable efforts to cure such
inaccuracy); or
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subject to certain limitations, thinkorswim has breached any of
its covenants and obligations under the merger agreement in any
material respect, provided that if any breach is curable, TD
AMERITRADE may not terminate the merger agreement under this
provision unless the breach remains uncured for a period of
30 days following notice thereof (or such earlier date that
thinkorswim ceases to use commercially reasonable efforts to
cure such inaccuracy).
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thinkorswims
Termination Rights
Finally, the merger agreement provides that thinkorswim may
terminate the merger agreement if:
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at any time prior to obtaining the requisite approval of the
merger by thinkorswims stockholders, thinkorswim shall
have received an unsolicited, written acquisition proposal and
complied with the provisions of the merger agreement governing a
board recommendation change in connection with a superior
proposal (as described in The Merger Agreement
thinkorswim Board Recommendation of the Merger
Recommendation Change for Superior Proposal), provided
that concurrently with such termination (and as a condition to
the effectiveness of such termination), thinkorswim
(A) enters into a definitive agreement for such superior
proposal and (B) pays to TD AMERITRADE a termination fee of
$20 million;
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at any time prior to the completion of the first-step merger,
either before or after the requisite approval of
thinkorswims stockholders has been obtained, subject to
certain limitations, a limited number of the representations and
warranties (including those relating to corporate organization,
authorization to enter into the merger agreement, required
governmental consents, capitalization, inapplicability of state
anti-takeover statutes and the absence of any arrangements
requiring the payment of brokers or finders fees
other than to TD AMERITRADEs financial advisors identified
in the merger agreement) made by TD AMERITRADE in the merger
agreement are inaccurate in any material respect, provided that
if any inaccuracy is curable, thinkorswim may not terminate the
merger agreement under this provision unless the inaccuracy
remains uncured for a period of thirty days following notice
thereof (or such earlier date that TD AMERITRADE ceases to use
commercially reasonable efforts to cure such inaccuracy);
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at any time prior to the completion of the first-step merger,
either before or after the requisite approval of
thinkorswims stockholders has been obtained, subject to
certain limitations, inaccuracies in the remaining
representations and warranties made by TD AMERITRADE in the
merger agreement constitute or would reasonably be expected to
have or result in a material adverse effect on
TD AMERITRADE, provided that if any inaccuracy is curable,
thinkorswim may not terminate the merger agreement under this
provision unless the inaccuracy remains uncured for a period of
thirty days following notice thereof (or such earlier date that
TD AMERITRADE ceases to use commercially reasonable efforts to
cure such inaccuracy); or
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at any time prior to the completion of the first-step merger,
either before or after the requisite approval of
thinkorswims stockholders has been obtained, TD AMERITRADE
has breached any of its covenants and obligations under the
merger agreement in any material respect, provided that if any
breach is curable, thinkorswim may not terminate the merger
agreement under this provision unless the breach remains uncured
for a period of thirty days following notice thereof (or such
earlier date that TD AMERITRADE ceases to use commercially
reasonable efforts to cure such inaccuracy).
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Expenses
and Termination Fees
The merger agreement provides that all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the merger agreement and the merger
will be paid by the party incurring such expenses.
The merger agreement provides that thinkorswim will pay TD
AMERITRADE a termination fee of $20 million if any of the
following events occur:
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(A) an acquisition proposal has been publicly announced or
otherwise become publicly known after the date of the merger
agreement and prior to the date of the thinkorswim special
meeting, (B) the merger agreement is terminated by
thinkorswim or TD AMERITRADE under the provision of the merger
agreement permitting such termination in the event that the
stockholders of thinkorswim have voted not to adopt the merger
agreement (or the merger agreement is terminated by thinkorswim
after such vote for any other reason), and (C) within
twelve months following the termination of the merger agreement,
thinkorswim either closes a specified acquisition transaction or
enters into an agreement providing for a specified acquisition
transaction and such specified acquisition transaction or any
other specified
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acquisition transaction is subsequently completed within twenty
four months after the date such agreement is signed;
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(A) an acquisition proposal has been publicly announced or
otherwise become publicly known after the date of the merger
agreement and prior to the date of the thinkorswim special
meeting, (B) the merger agreement is terminated by
thinkorswim or TD AMERITRADE under the provision of the merger
agreement permitting such termination in the event that the
merger is not completed by October 7, 2009 (or by TD
AMERITRADE at such later date as described in The Merger
Agreement Termination of the Merger
Agreement), and (C) within twelve months following
the termination of the merger agreement, thinkorswim either
closes a specified acquisition transaction or enters into an
agreement providing for a specified acquisition transaction and
such specified acquisition transaction or any other specified
acquisition transaction is subsequently completed within twenty
four months after the date such agreement is signed;
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(A) an acquisition proposal has been publicly announced or
otherwise become publicly known after the date of the merger
agreement and prior to the date of the thinkorswim special
meeting, (B) the merger agreement is terminated by TD
AMERITRADE under the provision of the merger agreement
permitting such termination in the event of uncured breaches or
inaccuracies of the representations, warranties and covenants
made by thinkorswim in the merger agreement, and (C) within
twelve months following the termination of the merger agreement,
thinkorswim either closes a specified acquisition transaction or
enters into an agreement providing for a specified acquisition
transaction and such specified acquisition transaction or any
other specified acquisition transaction is subsequently
completed within twenty four months after the date such
agreement is signed;
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the merger agreement is terminated by thinkorswim under the
provision of the merger agreement permitting such termination in
the event thinkorswim has received an unsolicited, written
acquisition proposal and complied with the provisions of the
merger agreement governing the making of a board recommendation
change in connection with a superior proposal (as described in
The Merger Agreement Termination of the Merger
Agreement thinkorswims Termination
Rights); or
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the merger agreement is terminated by TD AMERITRADE under the
provision of the merger agreement permitting such termination in
the event of the occurrence of any of the thinkorswim triggering
events described in the first bullet in The Merger
Agreement Termination of the Merger
Agreement TD AMERITRADEs Termination
Rights.
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A specified acquisition transaction has the same
meaning as an acquisition transaction except all
references to 15% or 85% are replaced by
50% instead.
Amendment
and Waiver
The merger agreement provides that the parties may amend the
merger agreement by written instrument signed by each of the
parties to the agreement. However, following adoption of the
merger proposal by thinkorswims stockholders, any
amendment that would require the approval of thinkorswims
stockholders may not be made without such approval.
The merger agreement also provides that, at any time before
completion of the first-step merger, any party to the merger
agreement may:
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extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of
the other parties to the merger agreement;
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waive any inaccuracy of a representation or warranty made to
such party in the merger agreement; and
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waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions in the
merger agreement for the benefit of such party.
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The parties will disclose any material amendments or waivers to
the merger agreement on a current report on Form 8-K. In
addition, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim will issue a joint press
release concurrently
64
with the filing of the Form 8-K to notify stockholders
promptly upon the occurrence of a material amendment or waiver
to the merger agreement.
VOTING
AGREEMENTS
Voting
Agreements
As a condition and inducement to TD AMERITRADEs
willingness to enter into the merger agreement, each of Messrs.
Barba, Sheridan and Sosnoff and the Sosnoff Trust, a trust for
the benefit of Mr. Sosnoffs spouse and children, has
entered into voting agreements with TD AMERITRADE. According to
the terms of the voting agreements, each of the parties agrees
to vote the beneficially owned shares (or to cause the holder of
record of such shares to so vote) and has granted TD AMERITRADE
irrevocable proxies to vote the beneficially owned shares in
favor of the merger, against any proposition made in opposition
or in competition with the merger, and generally against any
other proposed business transaction which would interfere with
the merger. As of April 24, 2009, Messrs. Barba, Sheridan,
Sosnoff and the Sosnoff Trust together beneficially owned
10,804,852 shares of thinkorswim common stock or
approximately 16.17% of the voting power of thinkorswim common
stock and together held stock options to purchase an additional
3,132,140 shares of thinkorswim common stock. The following
table identifies (A) the number of shares of thinkorswim
common stock beneficially owned as of April 24, 2009, by
each of Messrs. Barba, Sheridan and Sosnoff, and the Sosnoff
Trust and (B) the number of shares of thinkorswim common
stock beneficially owned as of April 24, 2009, by each of
Messrs. Barba, Sheridan and Sosnoff, issuable upon exercise of
outstanding stock options.
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Number of Shares of
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thinkorswim Common Stock
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Number of Shares of
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Beneficially Owned Upon
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thinkorswim Common Stock
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Exercise of Outstanding
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Name
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Beneficially Owned
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thinkorswim Options
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Mr. Barba
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1,755,746
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2,146,577
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Mr. Sheridan
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4,524,553
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492,781
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Mr. Sosnoff
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4,000
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492,782
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Sosnoff Trust
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4,520,553
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The voting agreements generally prohibit the sale, pledge,
encumbrance, assignment, transfer, tender or other disposition
by these thinkorswim stockholders of their shares of thinkorswim
common stock, or the entrance into an agreement or commitment to
do any of the foregoing.
Each stockholder executing a voting agreement has made
representations and warranties to TD AMERITRADE regarding
any information relating to and provided in writing by such
stockholder or his affiliates for inclusion in this proxy
statement/prospectus and regarding his ownership and
unencumbered title to the shares of thinkorswim stock subject to
the voting agreement. Each of these thinkorswim stockholders has
also made representations and warranties to TD AMERITRADE
regarding power and authority to execute the voting agreement,
and due execution and enforceability of the voting agreement.
The voting agreements will terminate at the earlier of the
effective time of the merger or the termination of the merger
agreement in accordance with its terms.
ACCOUNTING
TREATMENT
The merger will be accounted for as a purchase of a
business, as that phrase is used under generally accepted
accounting principles, for accounting and financial reporting
purposes. Under purchase accounting, the assets acquired
(including identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities
assumed (including executory contracts and other commitments) of
thinkorswim as of the acquisition date (i.e., the
completion of the merger) will be recorded at their respective
fair values and added to those of TD AMERITRADE. Any excess
of purchase price over the fair values will be recorded as
goodwill. The financial statements of TD AMERITRADE issued
after the merger will reflect these fair values and will not be
restated retroactively to reflect the historical financial
position or results of operations of thinkorswim.
65
MATERIAL
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE
MERGER
The following summary represents the opinion of Wilson Sonsini
Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, counsel
to TD AMERITRADE, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
LLP, counsel to thinkorswim, with respect to the material United
States federal income tax consequences of the merger to holders
of thinkorswim common stock who hold their stock as capital
assets (generally, for investment).
The summary is based on the Code, the Treasury regulations
issued under the Code, and administrative rulings and court
decisions in effect as of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus, all of which are subject to change at any
time, possibly with retroactive effect. For purposes of this
discussion, the term U.S. holder means:
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a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (including any entity treated as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized
under the laws of the United States or any of its political
subdivisions;
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a trust that (i) is subject to the supervision of a court
within the United States and the control of one or more United
States persons or (ii) has a valid election in effect under
applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a
United States person; or
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an estate that is subject to United States federal income tax on
its income regardless of its source.
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A
non-U.S. holder
means a beneficial owner of thinkorswim common stock (other than
a partnership) that is not a U.S. holder. If a partnership
(including any entity or arrangement, domestic or foreign,
treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax
purposes) holds thinkorswim common stock, the tax treatment of a
partner will generally depend on the status of the partners and
the activities of the partnership. If a holder is a partner in a
partnership holding thinkorswim common stock, the holder should
consult its tax advisors.
This summary is not a complete description of all the tax
consequences of the merger and, in particular, may not address
United States federal income tax considerations applicable to
holders of thinkorswim common stock who are subject to special
treatment under United States federal income tax law (including,
for example, certain former citizens or residents of the United
States, financial institutions, dealers in securities, insurance
companies or tax-exempt entities, holders who acquired
thinkorswim common stock pursuant to the exercise of an employee
stock option or right or otherwise as compensation, holders
exercising dissenters rights or appraisal rights, and
holders who hold thinkorswim common stock as part of a hedge,
straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction). This
summary does not address the tax consequences of any transaction
other than the merger, whether or not in connection with the
merger. This summary does not address the tax consequences to
any person who actually or constructively owns 5% or more of
thinkorswim common stock. Also, this summary does not address
United States federal income tax considerations applicable to
holders of options to purchase thinkorswim common stock, or
holders of debt instruments convertible into thinkorswim common
stock. In addition, no information is provided with respect to
the tax consequences of the merger under applicable state, local
or
non-United
States laws or under estate, gift, excise or other non-income
tax laws.
The obligations of TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim to
consummate the merger are conditioned on the receipt of opinions
of their respective tax counsel, Wilson Sonsini
Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation and Cleary
Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, dated the effective
date of the merger, to the effect that the merger will be
treated as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. Each of the tax opinions will
be subject to customary qualifications and assumptions,
including the assumption that the merger will be completed
according to the terms of the merger agreement and will rely on
representations contained in certificates of officers of TD
AMERITRADE and thinkorswim, which must be updated and confirmed
immediately prior to closing. In order for the merger to meet
the continuity of interest test necessary to qualify
as a reorganization, a sufficient amount of thinkorswim
proprietary interests must be preserved in the merger. Counsel
to TD AMERITRADE has indicated that if TD AMERITRADE declares a
cash dividend with a record date prior to closing, its
determination of whether a sufficient amount of thinkorswim
proprietary interest will be preserved in the merger would be
based on the closing date value of
66
TD AMERITRADE common stock. TD AMERITRADE has no current
intention to declare a dividend prior to closing, but is not
expressly prohibited from doing so under the terms of the merger
agreement. However, each of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE has
agreed to use reasonable best efforts to cause the conditions to
the merger to be satisfied and not to take any action that would
reasonably be expected to cause the merger to fail to qualify as
a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Code.
Neither the tax opinions nor the discussion that follows is
binding on the Internal Revenue Service, referred to as the IRS,
or the courts. In addition, the parties do not intend to request
a ruling from the IRS with respect to the merger. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge the
conclusion expressed in the tax opinions or the discussion
below, or that a court will not sustain such a challenge.
Two-step
merger
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim anticipate that the transaction
will qualify as a reorganization for U.S. federal income
tax purposes pursuant to Section 368(a) of the Code, and
will receive opinions of counsel to that effect. The two-step
merger structure has been adopted because it may reduce exposure
to corporate-level tax costs in certain circumstances. The
structure will not affect the tax treatment of thinkorswim
stockholders.
The following discussion assumes that the exchange of shares of
thinkorswim common stock for TD AMERITRADE common stock and
cash pursuant to the merger will constitute a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
United
States federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders if the
merger is a reorganization
A U.S. holder of thinkorswim common stock receiving TD
AMERITRADE common stock and cash in exchange for such
thinkorswim common stock in the merger generally will recognize
gain only to the extent of the cash consideration, and will not
be subject to current taxation on the amount of any gain in
excess of that cash. More precisely, a U.S. holder will
recognize gain equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of
cash received by the U.S. holder (excluding any cash received in
lieu of fractional shares) and (ii) the excess of the
amount realized by the U.S. holder over the U.S.
holders tax basis in the thinkorswim common stock. The
amount realized by the U.S. holder will equal the
sum of the fair market value of the TD AMERITRADE common stock
and the amount of cash (including any cash received in lieu of
fractional shares) received by the U.S. holder. No loss will be
recognized by U.S. holders of thinkorswim common stock in
the merger, except possibly in connection with the receipt of
cash in lieu of fractional shares, as discussed below. Any gain
recognized by a U.S. holder of thinkorswim common stock
generally will be long-term capital gain if the
U.S. holders holding period of the thinkorswim common
stock is more than one year. Capital gains of individuals
derived in respect of capital assets held for more than one year
are eligible for reduced rates of taxation.
The aggregate tax basis of the TD AMERITRADE common stock
received (including fractional shares deemed received and
redeemed as described below) will be equal to the aggregate tax
basis of the thinkorswim common stock surrendered, reduced by
the amount of cash the U.S. holder of thinkorswim common
stock received (excluding any cash received in lieu of
fractional shares), and increased by the amount of gain that the
U.S. holder of thinkorswim common stock recognizes, but
excluding any gain or loss from the deemed receipt and
redemption of fractional shares described below. The holding
period of TD AMERITRADE common stock received by a
U.S. holder of thinkorswim common stock in the merger will
include the holding period of the U.S. holders
thinkorswim common stock.
For a U.S. holder who acquired different blocks of
thinkorswim common stock at different times and at different
prices, realized gain or loss generally must be calculated
separately for each identifiable block of shares exchanged in
the merger, and a loss realized on the exchange of one block of
shares cannot be used to offset a gain realized on the exchange
of another block of shares. If a U.S. holder has differing
bases or holding periods in respect of shares of thinkorswim
common stock, the U.S. holder should consult its tax
advisor prior to the exchange with regard to identifying the
bases or holding periods of the particular shares of
TD AMERITRADE common stock received in the merger.
67
Cash received by a U.S. holder of thinkorswim common stock
in lieu of fractional shares will generally be treated as if the
U.S. holder received the fractional shares in the merger
and then received the cash in redemption of the fractional
shares. The U.S. holder should generally recognize capital
gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of the
cash received in lieu of fractional shares and the portion of
the U.S. holders tax basis allocable to the
fractional shares.
Reporting
requirements
U.S. holders of shares of thinkorswim common stock
receiving TD AMERITRADE common stock and cash in the merger will
be required to retain records pertaining to the merger.
U.S. holders who owned at least 5% (by vote or value) of
the total outstanding thinkorswim common stock before the merger
or whose tax basis in the thinkorswim common stock surrendered
pursuant to the merger equals or exceeds $1 million are
subject to certain reporting requirements with respect to the
merger. U.S. holders are urged to consult with their tax
advisors with respect to these and other reporting requirements
applicable to the merger.
United
States federal income tax consequences to
non-U.S.
holders if the merger is a reorganization
The receipt of TD AMERITRADE common stock and cash by a
non-U.S. holder
in exchange for thinkorswim common stock in the merger generally
will be exempt from United States federal income tax, unless:
(A) the gain on thinkorswim common stock, if any, is
effectively connected with the conduct by the
non-U.S. holder
of a trade or business in the United States (and, if certain
income tax treaties apply, is attributable to the
non-U.S. holders
permanent establishment in the United States) (in which case
(i) the
non-U.S. holder
will be subject to United States federal income tax as
described above under United States federal income tax
consequences to U.S. holders if the merger is a
reorganization, but such
non-U.S. holder
should provide appropriate documentation (that is, an IRS
Form W-8ECI)
in accordance with applicable requirements of the backup
withholding rules, and (ii) if the
non-U.S. holder
is a corporation, it may be subject to branch profits tax on
such gain at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified
under an applicable income tax treaty)); or (B) the
non-U.S. holder
is an individual who was present in the United States for one
hundred eighty three days or more in the taxable year and
certain other conditions are met (in which case the
non-U.S. holder
will be subject to tax at a flat rate of 30% (or such lower rate
as may be specified under an applicable income tax treaty) on
the gain from the exchange of the thinkorswim common stock
pursuant to the merger net of applicable United States losses
from sales or exchanges of other capital assets recognized
during the year).
Backup
withholding
Backup withholding may apply with respect to the consideration
received by a holder of thinkorswim common stock in the merger
unless the holder:
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in the case of a U.S. holder, is a corporation or comes
within certain other exempt categories and, when required,
demonstrates this fact, or provides a correct taxpayer
identification number (typically by completing and signing an
IRS
Form W-9),
certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and
that such holder is a United States person (including a United
States resident alien) and otherwise complies with applicable
requirements of the backup withholding rules; or
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in the case of a
non-U.S. holder,
provides a completed and signed IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or IRS
Form W-8ECI
if the holders gain is effectively connected with the
conduct of a United States trade or business) or other
applicable IRS
Form W-8.
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Further, a holder of thinkorswim common stock who does not
provide TD AMERITRADE (or the exchange agent) with its correct
taxpayer identification number may be subject to penalties
imposed by the IRS. Any amounts withheld under the backup
withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against
the holders federal income tax liability, provided that
the holder timely furnishes certain required information to the
IRS.
The foregoing discussion of United States federal income tax
consequences is not intended to constitute a complete
description of all tax consequences relating to the merger. The
tax consequences of the merger to a holder of thinkorswim common
stock will depend upon the facts of a holders particular
situation. Because individual circumstances may differ, holders
of thinkorswim common stock are urged to consult with their own
tax advisor regarding the applicability of the rules discussed
above and the particular tax effects of the merger, including
the application of state, local and foreign tax laws, and, in
the case of
non-U.S. holders,
possible eligibility for benefits under applicable income tax
treaties.
69
COMPARISON
OF STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim are both incorporated under
Delaware law. Any differences, therefore, between the rights of
TD AMERITRADE stockholders and the rights of thinkorswim
stockholders result from differences in the companies
respective certificates of incorporation and bylaws and
agreements, if any, defining rights of securityholders. In
addition, TD AMERITRADE is a party to a stockholders
agreement, referred to as the stockholders agreement, among
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, the stockholders listed
on Exhibit A thereto, referred to as the Ricketts holders,
and The Toronto-Dominion Bank, dated as of June 22, 2005,
as amended, which sets forth certain stockholder rights as
described below. Upon completion of the merger, thinkorswim
stockholders will exchange their shares of thinkorswim common
stock for cash and shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock,
and as a TD AMERITRADE stockholder your rights will be
governed by the TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation
and bylaws.
The following is a summary of the material differences between
the rights of holders of TD AMERITRADE common stock and the
rights of holders of thinkorswim common stock, but does not
purport to be a complete description of those differences. The
certificates of incorporation and bylaws of TD AMERITRADE and
thinkorswim are subject to amendment in accordance with their
terms. Copies of the governing corporate instruments are
available, without charge, to any person, including any
beneficial owner to whom this proxy statement/prospectus is
delivered, by following the instructions listed under
Where You Can Find More Information beginning on
page 88.
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TD AMERITRADE
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thinkorswim
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AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK
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Authorized Shares
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TD AMERITRADE is authorized under its certificate of
incorporation to issue 1,100,000,000 shares, consisting of
1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share.
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thinkorswim is authorized under its certificate of incorporation
to issue 101,000,000 shares, consisting of
100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share.
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Preferred Stock
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TD AMERITRADEs certificate of incorporation provides
that the board of directors is authorized to issue one or more
series of preferred stock and to fix the number, designation,
voting powers, preferences, special rights and limitations of
such series.
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thinkorswims certificate of incorporation provides that
the board of directors is authorized to issue one or more series
of preferred stock and to fix the number, designation, voting
powers, preferences, special rights and limitations of such
series.
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AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
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Under the DGCL, an amendment to the certificate of incorporation
requires (1) the approval of the board of directors,
(2) the approval of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding stock entitled to vote upon the proposed amendment,
and (3) the approval of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote thereon as a
class.
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The TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting
power of all shares of TD AMERITRADE stock entitled to vote
when the amendment relates to: (1) stockholder and director
rights to make investments or participate in a competing
business, (2) the fiduciary duties of directors and
officers in the event of a corporate opportunity, and
(3) The Toronto-Dominion Banks duties in the event of
a corporate opportunity.
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The thinkorswim certificate of incorporation requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting
power of all shares of thinkorswim stock entitled to vote in the
election of directors, voting as a single class, when the
amendment relates to: (1) the number, class and removal of
directors, (2) the requirements to call a special meeting of the
stockholders, (3) the requirements to amend, alter or repeal the
bylaws, and (4) the requirements to amend the certificate of
incorporation.
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TD AMERITRADE
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thinkorswim
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AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS
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Under the DGCL, bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by
the stockholders entitled to vote, and by the board of directors
if the corporations certificate of incorporation confers
the power to adopt, amend or repeal the corporations
bylaws upon the directors.
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The TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation provides
that the board of directors may adopt, amend or repeal the
bylaws, provided however, that the bylaw that requires
two-thirds approval by the board of directors to appoint the
chief executive officer may only be amended by the unanimous
vote of the board of directors or the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all shares of
TD AMERITRADE stock entitled to vote. The
TD AMERITRADE bylaws also prescribe specific requirements
regarding amendments to certain committees of the board of
directors.
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The thinkorswim certificate of incorporation provides that the
board of directors may adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws,
provided however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least 80% of the voting power of all shares of thinkorswim stock
entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as a
single class, is required to amend any provision of the bylaws
relating to (1) the number, class and removal of directors, (2)
the requirements to call a special meeting of stockholders, and
(3) the requirements to amend the bylaws.
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SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
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The TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation provides
that a special meeting of stockholders may be called for any
purpose at the request of stockholders owning 25% or more of the
outstanding shares of common stock or by a majority of the board
of directors.
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The thinkorswim certificate of incorporation provides that a
special meeting of the stockholders may be called by the board
of directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the majority
of the entire board of directors or as otherwise provided in the
bylaws.
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The thinkorswim bylaws provide that a special meeting of the
stockholders may be called by the chairman of the board of
directors, the president or the board of directors.
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STOCKHOLDER ACTION
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Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting
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The TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation prohibits
stockholder action by written consent.
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The thinkorswim certificate of incorporation does not prohibit
stockholder action by written consent.
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Quorum
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The TD AMERITRADE bylaws provide that a majority in voting
power of the stock entitled to vote at a meeting, present in
person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum.
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The thinkorswim bylaws provide that one-third of the shares
entitled to vote at any meeting, present in person or by proxy,
shall constitute a quorum.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
|
The TD AMERITRADE bylaws specify that nominations for the
board of directors and for proposal of business to be considered
by the stockholders may be made at a meeting of the stockholders
(a) by the board of directors or (b) by any
stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting who complies with
the notice provisions.
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The thinkorswim bylaws specify that nominations for the board of
directors and proposals of business to be considered by the
stockholders may only be made: (a) by the board of directors or
(b) by any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting who
complies with the notice provisions.
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71
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TD AMERITRADE
|
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thinkorswim
|
|
For director nominations and other business to be properly
brought by a stockholder before an annual meeting of
stockholders, the stockholder must deliver notice to the
secretary of TD AMERITRADE not less than ninety days nor
more than one hundred twenty days prior to the anniversary of
TD AMERITRADEs annual meeting in the preceding year,
except that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced or
delayed by more than thirty days from such anniversary date,
notice must be delivered not less than ninety days nor more than
one hundred twenty days prior to the date of the current
years annual meeting.
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For notice of director nominations to be timely, the notice must
be delivered to the secretary of thinkorswim not less than
ninety days prior to the anniversary of thinkorswims
annual meeting in the preceding year, except that if no annual
meeting was held in the preceding year or if the date of the
annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty days prior to, or
delayed more than sixty days after such anniversary date, the
notice must be received no later than close of business on the
tenth day following the day on which the date of such meeting
was publicly disclosed.
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For nominations or other business to be properly brought before
a special meeting of stockholders, the notice must be delivered
to the secretary of TD AMERITRADE not earlier than the
ninetieth day and not later than the sixtieth day prior to such
special meeting.
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Such notice must include: (1) for each nominee, all information
required pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act and (2)
as to the stockholder giving notice, the stockholders
name, address and the class and number of shares beneficially
owned by the stockholder.
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The notice must include: (1) for each nominee, all
information required pursuant to Regulation 14A of the
Exchange Act, (2) as to any other business, a brief
description of the business, the reasons for conducting such
business and any material interest of the stockholder or
beneficial owner in such business, and (3) the
stockholders or beneficial owners name, address and
the class and number shares beneficially owned by the
stockholder or beneficial owner.
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For business to be brought before a stockholder meeting by a
stockholder, the notice must be delivered to the secretary of
thinkorswim not less than fifty days prior to the meeting,
except that if less than fifty-five days notice of the
meeting date is given, the notice must be received no later than
close of business on the tenth day following the date on which
the date of the meeting was publicly disclosed.
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72
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TD AMERITRADE
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thinkorswim
|
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Pursuant to the terms of the stockholders agreement, the
composition of the TD AMERITRADE board of directors is as
follows: (i) three directors nominated by the Ricketts
holders, each to serve in a different class of directors,
(ii) five directors nominated by The Toronto-Dominion Bank,
including one Class I director, two Class II
directors, and two Class III directors, (iii) the
chief executive officer of TD AMERITRADE serves as a
Class I director, and (iv) three independent
directors. The parties to the stockholders agreement have agreed
to vote their shares to effect the nominations set forth above.
The composition may be adjusted from time to time in accordance
with the terms of the stockholders agreement. Specifically, the
number of directors that may be nominated by the Ricketts
holders and by The Toronto-Dominion Bank is based upon such
parties respective beneficial ownership percentages of TD
AMERITRADE common stock, and is subject to adjustment as such
ownership percentages change. The certificate of incorporation
and bylaws of TD AMERITRADE provide that, prior to the
termination of the stockholders agreement, any stockholder
entitled to nominate a director under the stockholders agreement
need not comply with the advance notice provisions as described
above.
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The notice must include: (a) a brief description of the business
and the reasons for conducting such business, (b) the
stockholders name and address, (c) the class and number of
shares beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any
material interest of the stockholder in such business.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Number of Directors
|
The TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation provides
that the board of directors will consist of twelve members.
After the termination of the stockholders agreement, the number
of directors will be such number as may be fixed and changed
from time to time by the board of directors.
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The thinkorswim bylaws provide that the board of directors will
consist of not less than three nor more than fifteen members,
such number to be fixed from time to time by the board of
directors.
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Classification
|
The TD AMERITRADE certificate of incorporation provides
that the board of directors will be divided into three classes,
of equal size as nearly as possible. Each class is to serve for
three years, subject to a directors earlier resignation or
removal.
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The thinkorswim certificate of incorporation provides that the
thinkorswim board of directors will be divided into three
classes, of equal size as nearly as possible. Each class is to
serve for three years, subject to a directors earlier
resignation or removal.
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Removal
|
The certificate of incorporation of TD AMERITRADE provides
that the holders of a majority of TD AMERITRADEs
outstanding common stock may remove directors of TD AMERITRADE
at any time (i) with cause and (ii) prior to the
termination of the stockholders agreement, without cause.
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The thinkorswim certificate of incorporation provides that
directors may be removed only for cause and only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting
power of all shares of thinkorswim stock entitled to vote in the
election of directors, voting as a single class.
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73
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TD AMERITRADE
|
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thinkorswim
|
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Special Meetings of the Board of Directors
|
The TD AMERITRADE bylaws provide that a special meeting of
the board of directors may be called by the chairman or vice
chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or by the
secretary upon the written request of a majority of the members
of the board of directors.
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The thinkorswim bylaws provide that a special meeting of the
board of directors may be called by the chairman of the board,
the president, any vice president, the secretary or by the
director.
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STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
|
TD AMERITRADE does not currently have a stockholder rights
plan in effect and its certificate of incorporation provides
that, prior to the termination of the stockholders agreement, TD
AMERITRADE may not adopt a stockholder rights plan unless such
plan expressly excludes The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its
affiliates and the Ricketts holders to the extent any actions
would be permitted by the terms of the stockholders agreement
and does not impair the rights of The Toronto-Dominion Bank and
its affiliates or the Ricketts holders under the stockholders
agreement.
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thinkorswim does not currently have a stockholder rights plan in
effect.
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74
COMPARATIVE
MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS
TD AMERITRADEs common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global
Select Market and thinkorswims common stock trades on the
NASDAQ Global Market. The following table sets forth the high
and low sales prices of shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock as
reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and thinkorswim
common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market and the
quarterly cash dividends declared per share for the periods
indicated.
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thinkorswim
|
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TD AMERITRADE
|
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Common Stock
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Common Stock
|
|
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High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Quarter ended March 31
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|
$
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8.80
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|
|
$
|
5.30
|
|
|
$
|
26.37
|
|
|
$
|
18.86
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Quarter ended June 30
|
|
|
9.88
|
|
|
|
7.47
|
|
|
|
22.19
|
|
|
|
13.50
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Quarter ended September 30
|
|
|
10.71
|
|
|
|
6.99
|
|
|
|
19.18
|
|
|
|
13.30
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Quarter ended December 31
|
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14.00
|
|
|
|
10.56
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|
|
|
19.69
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|
|
|
15.51
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2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Quarter ended March 31
|
|
|
17.49
|
|
|
|
12.71
|
|
|
|
18.67
|
|
|
|
14.80
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Quarter ended June 30
|
|
|
16.05
|
|
|
|
9.74
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|
|
|
21.31
|
|
|
|
14.67
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Quarter ended September 30
|
|
|
14.41
|
|
|
|
9.29
|
|
|
|
20.94
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|
|
|
13.82
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Quarter ended December 31
|
|
|
18.23
|
|
|
|
12.01
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|
|
|
21.13
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|
|
|
17.15
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2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Quarter ended March 31
|
|
|
17.77
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|
|
|
9.29
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|
|
|
20.64
|
|
|
|
15.06
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Quarter ended June 30
|
|
|
12.53
|
|
|
|
6.90
|
|
|
|
19.68
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|
|
|
16.50
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Quarter ended September 30
|
|
|
10.91
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|
|
|
6.41
|
|
|
|
23.49
|
|
|
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16.00
|
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Quarter ended December 31
|
|
|
9.45
|
|
|
|
4.63
|
|
|
|
18.43
|
|
|
|
9.34
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2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Quarter ended March 31
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9.06
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|
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5.48
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|
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14.88
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|
|
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10.09
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Quarter ending June 30 (through May 5, 2009)
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|
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9.94
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|
|
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8.43
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|
|
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17.00
|
|
|
|
13.23
|
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Neither TD AMERITRADE nor thinkorswim have declared dividends on
their common stock during the last three fiscal years, other
than a $6.00 per share special dividend on January 4, 2006,
declared by TD AMERITRADE in connection with the TD
Waterhouse acquisition.
On January 7, 2009, the last full trading day before the
public announcement of the potential merger, the high and low
sales prices of shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock as reported
on the NASDAQ Global Select Market were $14.03 and $13.44,
respectively. On May 5, 2009, the last full trading day
before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the high and
low sale prices of shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock as
reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market were $16.70 and
$16.40, respectively.
On January 7, 2009, the last full trading day before the
public announcement of the potential merger, the high and low
sales prices of shares of thinkorswim common stock as reported
on the NASDAQ Global Market were $5.89 and $5.48, respectively.
On May 5, 2009, the last full trading day before the date
of this proxy statement/prospectus, the high and low sales
prices of shares of thinkorswim common stock as reported on the
NASDAQ Global Market were $9.87 and $9.75, respectively.
As of May 5, 2009, the last date prior to printing this
document for which it was practicable to obtain this
information, there were approximately 739 registered
holders of TD AMERITRADE common stock and approximately
371 registered holders of thinkorswim common stock.
TD AMERITRADE stockholders and thinkorswim stockholders are
advised to obtain current market quotations for TD AMERITRADE
common stock and thinkorswim common stock. The market price of
TD AMERITRADE common stock and thinkorswim common stock
will fluctuate between the date of this document and the
completion of the merger. No assurance can be given concerning
the market price of TD AMERITRADE common stock or
thinkorswim common stock before or after the effective date of
the merger.
75
THINKORSWIM
PROPOSAL 2 POSSIBLE ADJOURNMENT OF THE
THINKORSWIM SPECIAL MEETING
If thinkorswim fails to receive a sufficient number of votes to
approve the merger proposal, thinkorswim may propose to adjourn
the special meeting, if a quorum is present, for the purpose of
soliciting additional proxies to approve the merger proposal.
Any adjournments may be made without notice, other than an
announcement at the special meeting. thinkorswim currently does
not intend to propose adjournment at the thinkorswim special
meeting if there are sufficient votes to approve the merger
proposal. If approval of the proposal to adjourn the special
meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies is
submitted to thinkorswims stockholders for approval at the
special meeting, such approval requires the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the votes cast in person or by
proxy at the special meeting. Any adjournment of the special
meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will
allow stockholders who have already sent in proxies to revoke
them at any time prior to their use.
Accordingly, the thinkorswim board of directors unanimously
recommends that thinkorswim stockholders vote FOR
the adjournment proposal.
76
THINKORSWIM
PROPOSAL 3 OPTION EXCHANGE
In connection with the proposed transaction, thinkorswim has
agreed to implement, subject to stockholder approval, a stock
option exchange program, referred to as the exchange program,
that permits thinkorswims eligible employees and
independent contractors, referred to as eligible individuals, to
exchange outstanding thinkorswim options with an exercise price
equal to or greater than the total value of the per share merger
consideration (based on the volume-weighted average price of a
share of TD AMERITRADE common stock on the trading day
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger), referred
to as underwater options or eligible options, for a lesser
number of thinkorswim restricted stock units to be granted under
thinkorswims Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option
Plan. TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim have determined that
such a program would benefit the combined company following the
merger.
Therefore, under the option exchange proposal, thinkorswim is
asking its stockholders to approve the option exchange program.
In addition, as described in proposal 4, thinkorswim is
asking its stockholders to approve an amendment to
thinkorswims Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option
Plan to permit the grant of restricted stock units pursuant to
the terms and conditions of the exchange program, referred to as
the plan amendment proposal. If the stockholders do not approve
both the option exchange proposal and the plan amendment
proposal, thinkorswim will not be able to issue restricted stock
units and therefore will not be able to complete the exchange
program.
Approval of the option exchange proposal and the plan
amendment proposal is not a condition to the completion of the
merger and a failure by thinkorswims stockholders to
approve either or both of these proposals will have no impact on
whether or not the merger is completed. The board of directors
of thinkorswim does not make, and does not intend to make, any
recommendation as to whether any holders of underwater options
should participate in the exchange program, and nothing in this
proxy statement/prospectus should be construed as such a
recommendation. A vote for or against the option exchange
proposal or the plan amendment proposal has no impact on a
stockholders eligibility to participate in the program if
it is approved.
For purposes of the exchange program, underwater options include
all thinkorswim options that satisfy the following conditions:
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the options were granted under the thinkorswim Group Inc. Second
Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan, the Telescan, Inc.
Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan, the Telescan, Inc.
2000 Stock Option Plan, and the Telescan, Inc. Amended and
Restated Stock Option Plan, referred to as the thinkorswim
option plans, with a per share exercise price equal to or
greater than the sum of (i) $3.34 plus (ii) the
product of (A) 0.3980 times (B) the volume-weighted
average price for a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock, rounded
to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, as reported on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market for the trading day immediately prior to
the day on which the effective time of the merger occurs;
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the options are held by eligible individuals; and
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the options are outstanding and unexercised at the expiration of
the exchange program.
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thinkorswim commenced the exchange program, subject to
stockholder approval, on April 17, 2009. Based on the
closing price of a share of TD AMERITRADE common stock on
April 16, 2009, underwater options would include any
outstanding thinkorswim option with an exercise price equal to
or greater than $9.95. However, because the threshold exercise
price that will determine eligibility will depend on the
volume-weighted average price for a share of TD AMERITRADE
common stock for the trading day immediately prior to the day on
which the effective time of the merger occurs, thinkorswim will
not be able to definitively determine the applicable threshold
exercise price until the trading day immediately prior to the
date on which the effective time of the merger occurs.
For a number of reasons, thinkorswim believes that the exchange
program will benefit the combined company following completion
of the merger. Like many companies in the financial services
industry, thinkorswims stock price has experienced
significant volatility and decline over the past few years. As a
77
result, many of thinkorswim employees hold thinkorswim options
with exercise prices significantly higher than the current
market price of thinkorswim common stock. These underwater
options may not be effective in retaining these individuals and
motivating them to enhance long-term stockholder value, yet
thinkorswim continues to recognize significant compensation
expense for accounting purposes with respect to these underwater
options. Other alternatives that could aid in retention and
providing incentives to thinkorswim employees include increasing
cash compensation and/or granting equity awards. Increasing cash
compensation, however, would substantially increase compensation
expenses and reduce cash flow from operations, while granting
additional equity awards could increase dilution due to
thinkorswim stockholders. thinkorswim believes that the
exchange program would:
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Re-incentivize the eligible individuals who participate in
the exchange program by issuing them restricted stock units that
will vest over a period of time following the exchange if they
remain with thinkorswim or, following the effective time of the
merger, with TD AMERITRADE. The thinkorswim restricted stock
units will provide immediate intrinsic value to eligible
individuals and, at the same time, the potential for greater
value if the price of thinkorswim common stock, or following the
effective time, the price of TD AMERITRADEs common stock,
increases. This is the primary purpose of this exchange program
and thinkorswim believes it will enhance long-term stockholder
value by more strongly aligning the interests of
thinkorswims (and, following completion of the merger,
TD AMERITRADEs) employees and independent contractors
with the interests of its stockholders. Because the individuals
who exchange underwater options generally need to continue to
provide services for three years following the completion of the
merger to receive any benefit from the restricted stock units,
we believe the restricted stock units will also aid in retaining
these individuals without providing them with a windfall.
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Meaningfully reduce thinkorswims (and, following
completion of the merger, TD AMERITRADEs) total
number of outstanding equity awards, or overhang, represented by
outstanding awards that have high exercise prices and may no
longer incentivize their holders to remain as thinkorswim (and,
following completion of the merger, TD AMERITRADE) employees and
independent contractors. Keeping these awards outstanding
dilutes the interests of thinkorswim (and, following completion
of the merger, TD AMERITRADE) stockholders without
providing the benefits intended by an equity compensation
program. By replacing the awards with a lesser number of
thinkorswim restricted stock units, retention and economic
incentives are more cost-effectively provided to thinkorswim
employees than by issuing additional equity awards or paying
additional cash compensation and potential dilution is
decreased. The remaining dilutive effect of the thinkorswim
restricted stock units will reflect an appropriate balance
between thinkorswims goals for its equity compensation
program and thinkorswims (and, following completion of the
merger, TD AMERITRADEs) interest in minimizing the
dilution of its stockholders interests.
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Although the exchange program has commenced, no thinkorswim
restricted stock units will be issued in exchange for
thinkorswim options if the merger does not occur or if both the
option exchange proposal and the plan amendment proposal are not
approved by thinkorswims stockholders. If
thinkorswims stockholders approve the merger proposal but
do not approve both the option exchange proposal and the plan
amendment proposal and the merger is completed, then thinkorswim
will terminate the exchange program and promptly return all
tendered eligible options to tendering holders, and eligible
options will remain outstanding and in effect in accordance with
their existing terms, with appropriate adjustments to reflect
the assumption of these thinkorswim options by
TD AMERITRADE (as described in further detail in
thinkorswim Proposal 1 The Merger
on page 22). If the merger does not occur, TD AMERITRADE
will not assume any thinkorswim options.
Material
Terms of the Exchange Program
The remainder of this proposal provides a summary of the
material terms of the exchange program commenced by thinkorswim
on April 17, 2009. However, a complete description of the
exchange program is set forth in the Offer to Exchange Eligible
Stock Options for Restricted Stock Units (and the other
documents filed therewith and incorporated therein) filed with
the SEC on April 17, 2009. These documents were
78
provided to eligible individuals holding eligible options and
are available free of charge from the SECs website at
www.sec.gov. See Where You Can Find More Information
beginning on page 88.
Eligibility
to Participate in the Exchange Program
The exchange program is open to all employees and independent
contractors holding eligible options that were providing
services to thinkorswim or its subsidiaries as of April 17,
2009, the start of the exchange program, and continue to provide
services as employees or independent contractors through the
date the exchange program ends. Former thinkorswim employees and
the current and former non-employee members of the thinkorswim
board of directors are not eligible to participate in the
exchange program.
Any thinkorswim employee or independent contractor holding
eligible options who elects to participate in the exchange
program but whose service with thinkorswim terminates for any
reason prior to the grant of the thinkorswim restricted stock
units, including voluntary resignation, retirement, involuntary
termination, layoff, death or disability, will retain his or her
eligible options subject to their existing terms but with
appropriate adjustments to reflect the assumption of these
thinkorswim options by TD AMERITRADE if the merger occurs (as
described in further detail in thinkorswim Proposal
1 The Merger on page 22).
thinkorswim
Options Eligible for the Exchange Program
Eligible options include thinkorswim options that satisfy each
of the following conditions:
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the options were granted under the thinkorswim option plans with
a per share exercise price equal to or greater than the sum of
(i) $3.34 plus (ii) the product of (1) 0.3980
times (2) the volume-weighted average price for a share of
TD AMERITRADE common stock, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of
a cent, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for the
trading day immediately prior to the day on which the effective
time of the merger occurs;
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the options are held by eligible individuals; and
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the options are outstanding and unexercised at the expiration of
the exchange program.
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Based on the closing price of a share of TD AMERITRADE
common stock on April 16, 2009, eligible underwater options
would include any outstanding thinkorswim option with an
exercise price equal to or greater than $9.95. However, because
the threshold exercise price that will determine eligibility
will depend on the volume-weighted average price for a share of
TD AMERITRADE common stock for the trading day immediately
prior to the day on which the effective time of the merger
occurs, thinkorswim will not be able to definitively determine
the applicable threshold exercise price until the trading day
immediately prior to the date on which the effective time of the
merger occurs.
As of April 16, 2009, thinkorswim options for approximately
5,424,091 shares of thinkorswim common stock were
outstanding under the thinkorswim option plans. Of these,
approximately 2,629,129 shares of thinkorswim common stock,
held by 118 eligible individuals, have exercise prices equal to
or greater than $9.95.
Number of
thinkorswim Restricted Stock Units to be Received in the
Exchange Program
The number of thinkorswim restricted stock units that will be
issued to eligible individuals for eligible options tendered in
the exchange program will depend on the number of options
exchanged, the exercise price of those options, and the
following exchange ratios:
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If the Exercise Price of
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The Exchange Ratio Would
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an Eligible Option is:
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be (Eligible Options to RSUs):
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$9.00 -to- $10.85
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2.0 -to- 1
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$12.92 -to- $14.73
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2.4 -to- 1
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$15.69 -to- $16.92
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2.7 -to- 1
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$23.54
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3.7 -to- 1
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$25.45 -to- $38.95
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10.0 -to- 1
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79
These exchange ratios are based on the weighted average fair
value of the eligible options (using the Black-Scholes model)
grouped together based on their exercise price. Setting the
exchange ratios in this manner is intended to result in the
issuance of restricted stock units that have a fair value
approximately equal to the fair value of the surrendered
eligible options they replace.
The total number of restricted stock units that a participating
individual will receive with respect to a canceled eligible
option will be determined by dividing the number of shares
subject to the option by the applicable exchange ratio and
rounding down to the nearest whole restricted stock unit. The
exchange ratios will be applied on a
grant-by-grant
basis based upon the exercise price of such grant.
For purposes of example only, if a participant exchanges an
eligible option to purchase 1,000 shares with an exercise
price of $10.00 per share, on the expiration date of the
exchange program, he or she will receive 500 restricted stock
units in exchange for the surrendered eligible option (1,000
divided by 2.0).
As described in further detail in thinkorswim
Proposal 1 The Merger The Merger
Agreement Treatment of thinkorswim Stock Options and
Other Equity-Based Awards beginning on page 48, each
thinkorswim restricted stock unit granted pursuant to the
exchange program that is outstanding immediately prior to the
consummation of the merger will be assumed by TD AMERITRADE and
adjusted to reflect this assumption. As a result, following the
merger, the number of shares subject to restricted stock units
granted pursuant to the exchange program will be different and
will likely be less than the number of shares subject to the
thinkorswim restricted stock units immediately prior to the
merger.
Vesting
of thinkorswim Restricted Stock Units Granted in Connection with
the Exchange Program
thinkorswim restricted stock units issued in the exchange
program will be completely unvested at the time they are granted
and will vest on the basis of the participants continued
employment or service with thinkorswim or one of its
subsidiaries or, following completion of the merger,
TD AMERITRADE or one of its subsidiaries. These thinkorswim
restricted stock units will be subject to the following new
vesting schedule: 100% will vest on the third anniversary of the
date of grant of the thinkorswim restricted stock units, unless,
following the merger, the participants employment or
service with TD AMERITRADE is terminated without cause (as
determined in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated
2001 Stock Option Plan and the individuals restricted
stock unit agreement). Following the merger, if the
participants employment or service with TD AMERITRADE is
terminated without cause, a portion of his or her restricted
stock units will vest as follows:
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one-third
(1/3)
of the restricted stock units will vest if the
participants employment or service is terminated without
cause before the second anniversary of the date of grant of the
restricted stock units; and
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two-thirds
(2/3)
of the restricted stock units will vest if the
participants employment or service is terminated without
cause after the second anniversary of the date of grant but
prior to the third anniversary of the date of grant.
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Participants
in the Exchange Program
Eligible individuals are not required to participate in the
exchange program. Participation in the exchange program is
voluntary.
Period of
Time to Decide Whether to Participate in the Exchange
Program
Eligible individuals currently have an election period of at
least twenty business days in which to determine whether they
wish to participate.
Terms and
Conditions Applicable to the thinkorswim Restricted Stock
Units
thinkorswim restricted stock units issued in the exchange
program will be granted pursuant to the Second Amended and
Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan, provided that
thinkorswims stockholders approve the plan
80
amendment proposal, and subject to a restricted stock unit
agreement between the participant and thinkorswim. The forms of
restricted stock unit agreement have been filed as exhibits to
the Offer to Exchange Eligible Stock Options for Restricted
Stock Units filed with the SEC on April 17, 2009. The forms
of restricted stock unit agreement were provided to eligible
individuals holding eligible options and are available free of
charge from the SECs website at www.sec.gov. See
Where You Can Find More Information beginning on
page 88.
Each restricted stock unit issued in the exchange program will
represent an unfunded right to receive one share of common stock
once the vesting conditions are satisfied. A participant is not
required to pay any monetary consideration to receive shares of
common stock upon settlement of his or her restricted stock
units. However, under United States federal tax law in effect as
of April 17, 2009, individuals generally will recognize
taxable income upon settlement of the restricted stock units, at
which time, TD AMERITRADE typically will have a tax withholding
obligation. Subject to applicable securities laws, employees and
independent contractors will be permitted to sell their shares
upon receipt.
Terms of
the Exchange Program Described in this Proposal
A complete description of the terms of the exchange program is
set forth in the Offer to Exchange Eligible Stock Options for
Restricted Stock Units (and other documents filed therewith and
incorporated therein) filed with the SEC on April 17, 2009.
These documents were provided to eligible individuals holding
eligible options and are available free of charge from the
SECs website at www.sec.gov. See Where You Can Find
More Information beginning on page 88. Although
thinkorswim does not anticipate that the staff of the SEC will
require it to materially modify the terms of the exchange
program, it is possible that thinkorswim may need to alter the
terms of the exchange program to comply with comments from the
staff.
Tax
Consequences to Eligible Individuals Participating in the
Exchange Program
The following is a summary of the anticipated material United
States federal income tax consequences of participating in the
exchange program. A more detailed summary of the applicable tax
considerations to participants is provided in the exchange
program documents. The law and regulations themselves are
subject to change, and the IRS is not precluded from adopting a
contrary position. The exchange of eligible options for
thinkorswim restricted stock units pursuant to the exchange
program should be treated as a non-taxable exchange and neither
thinkorswim nor any eligible individual should recognize any
income for United States federal income tax purposes upon
the surrender of eligible options and the grant of thinkorswim
restricted stock units.
Accounting
Treatment of thinkorswim Restricted Stock Units in the Exchange
Program
As of the beginning of thinkorswims 2006 fiscal year,
thinkorswim has adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting
Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123 (Revised), or SFAS 123(R), on accounting for
share-based payments. Under SFAS 123(R), thinkorswim will
recognize any incremental compensation cost, if any, of the
thinkorswim restricted stock units granted in the exchange
program. The incremental compensation cost will be measured as
the excess, if any, of the fair value of each award of
thinkorswim restricted stock units granted to employees in
exchange for surrendered eligible options, measured as of the
date the thinkorswim restricted stock units are granted, over
the fair value of the eligible options surrendered in exchange
for the thinkorswim restricted stock units, measured immediately
prior to the exchange.
As noted above, the manner in which the exchange ratios for the
exchange program have been set is intended to result in the
issuance of thinkorswim restricted stock units that have a fair
value approximately equal to the fair value of the exchanged
eligible options they replace. However, because the thinkorswim
restricted stock unit awards will be unvested,
TD AMERITRADE will recognize compensation expense for the
fair value of the thinkorswim restricted stock units over the
vesting period following completion of the merger. thinkorswim
already is recognizing compensation expense relating to the
eligible options, even though it does not fully provide the
intended incentive and retention benefits because they are
underwater. The exchange program will allow thinkorswim (and,
following completion of the merger, TD AMERITRADE) to
recapture
81
value from these compensation costs by replacing the underwater
options with thinkorswim restricted stock units that will
provide current and future incentive and retention benefits.
In the event that any of the restricted stock units are
forfeited prior to their vesting due to termination of service,
the compensation cost for the forfeited restricted stock units
will not be recognized.
Number of
Eligible Options to be Exchanged and thinkorswim Restricted
Stock Units to be Granted in the Exchange Program
Because the decision whether to participate in the exchange
program is completely voluntary and the threshold exercise price
that will determine whether an option will be eligible for
exchange under the exchange program will not be known until the
close of the trading day immediately preceding the expiration
date of the exchange program, thinkorswim is not able to predict
which or how many eligible individuals will elect to
participate, how many eligible options will be surrendered for
exchange, or how many thinkorswim restricted stock units may be
issued. However, based on the closing price of a share of TD
AMERITRADE common stock on April 16, 2009, eligible options
would include any outstanding thinkorswim option with an
exercise price equal to or greater than $9.95 (or a total of
2,629,129 options). Assuming that these options are in fact
eligible based on the threshold exercise price and thinkorswim
receives and accepts tenders from eligible individuals of all
options eligible to be tendered subject to the terms and
conditions of the exchange program, thinkorswim will grant
restricted stock units covering a total of approximately
882,142 shares of thinkorswim common stock, or
approximately 1.32% of the total shares of thinkorswim common
stock outstanding as of April 16, 2009.
Effect of
the Exchange Program on thinkorswims
Stockholders
thinkorswim is unable to predict the precise impact of the
exchange program on its stockholders because thinkorswim is
unable to predict how many or which eligible individuals will
exchange their eligible options. thinkorswim has designed the
proposed exchange program in a manner intended to ensure that
the value of the thinkorswim restricted stock units granted in
the exchange program is approximately equal to the value of the
thinkorswim options surrendered in the exchange program. The
exchange program is intended to restore competitive and
appropriate equity incentives for employees and independent
contractors of thinkorswim (and, following completion of the
merger, TD AMERITRADE) and to reduce thinkorswims
existing overhang.
Treatment
of thinkorswim Restricted Stock Units under the Merger
Agreement
The merger agreement provides that all restricted stock units
issued by thinkorswim under the exchange program will be assumed
by TD AMERITRADE upon the closing of the merger. The
thinkorswim restricted stock units issued in the exchange
program will automatically be converted into restricted stock
units based on TD AMERITRADE common stock pursuant to the
adjustment ratio described in thinkorswim
Proposal 1 The Merger.
Vote
Required to Approve the Exchange Program
To approve this proposal, a majority of the shares entitled to
vote and present in person or by proxy at the special meeting
must vote FOR this option exchange proposal.
thinkorswims board of directors unanimously recommends
that you vote FOR the approval of the option
exchange proposal.
82
THINKORSWIM
PROPOSAL 4 AMENDMENT OF THE SECOND AMENDED AND
RESTATED
2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Description
of the Amendment
thinkorswim is asking its stockholders to approve an amendment
to thinkorswims Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock
Option Plan, referred to as the 2001 plan, to permit the grant
of restricted stock units which will be necessary for the
exchange program described in proposal 3 above. Although
the option exchange proposal and the plan amendment proposal are
separate proposals, approval of both proposals is necessary for
the exchange program to be completed, subject to the merger
occurring. If the stockholders do not approve both proposals,
thinkorswim will terminate the exchange program and,
consequently, no thinkorswim restricted stock units will be
issued in exchange for thinkorswim options.
Summary
of the Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option
Plan
General
The purpose of the 2001 plan, is to further the interests of
thinkorswim, its subsidiaries and its stockholders by providing
incentives in the form of stock options to key employees,
consultants and non-employee directors who contribute to the
success and profitability of thinkorswim and its subsidiaries.
The 2001 plan provides for the grant to employees, consultants
and non-employee directors of thinkorswim (or its subsidiaries)
of options to purchase shares of thinkorswims common
stock. Subject to thinkorswim stockholders approving the
amendment to the 2001 plan, the 2001 plan will also provide for
the grant to employees, consultants and non-employee directors
of thinkorswim (or its subsidiaries) of awards of thinkorswim
restricted stock units. The 2001 plan is administered by the
compensation committee of the board of directors of thinkorswim,
referred to as the compensation committee, which has complete
discretion to select the individuals who will receive awards of
thinkorswim options or thinkorswim restricted stock units and to
establish the terms and conditions of each thinkorswim option or
award of thinkorswim restricted stock units, subject to the
provisions of the 2001 plan. Options granted under the 2001 plan
may be incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of
the Code, or nonstatutory stock options.
Shares
Subject to the 2001 Plan
Currently, a total of 12,000,000 shares of thinkorswim
common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2001
plan, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The maximum
number of shares underlying awards to an individual in any
calendar year may not exceed 2,000,000, subject to adjustment as
set forth in the plan. If any thinkorswim option or thinkorswim
restricted stock unit granted under the 2001 plan expires or
terminates for any reason without having been exercised or
settled in full, then the unpurchased or forfeited shares
subject to that option or restricted stock unit will once again
be available for additional grants of thinkorswim options or
thinkorswim restricted stock units. As of April 16, 2009,
options to acquire 8,961,181 shares of thinkorswim common
stock had been granted under the 2001 plan at exercises prices
ranging from $0.18 to $23.535 per share, or a weighted
average per share exercise price of $6.94 per share. As of April
16, 2009, options to acquire 5,155,645 shares of thinkorswim
common stock were outstanding at exercise prices ranging from $
0.20 to $23.535 per share, or a weighted-average exercise price
of $10.54 per share.
Proportionate adjustments may be made to the number, class
and/or kind
of shares for which thinkorswim options or thinkorswim
restricted stock units are authorized to be granted under the
2001 plan, the number, class or kind of shares then subject to
thinkorswim options or thinkorswim restricted stock units
previously granted under the 2001 plan, the price per share
payable upon exercise of each thinkorswim option outstanding
under the 2001 plan
and/or any
other affected term of an option or restricted stock unit, in
the discretion of thinkorswims board of directors, in the
event of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock dividend,
stock split, combination or exchange of shares, rights offering,
or other similar transaction or event. To the extent deemed
equitable and appropriate by thinkorswims board of
directors, and subject to any required stockholder action, any
thinkorswim option or thinkorswim restricted stock unit granted
under the 2001 plan will pertain to
83
the securities and other property to which a holder of the
number of shares of thinkorswim stock covered by the option or
restricted stock unit would have been entitled to receive in
connection with such event.
Stock
Option Terms
thinkorswim options granted under the 2001 plan may not be
exercised more than ten years after the date of grant and the
compensation committee may set a shorter option period.
thinkorswim options may be granted under the 2001 plan only
until December 3, 2011.
If an optionee ceases continuous service for thinkorswim for
cause, all thinkorswim options held by the optionee shall lapse
immediately following the last day that the optionee is employed
by thinkorswim or the effective date of the termination of his
services to thinkorswim. If an optionee ceases continuous
service for thinkorswim for any reason other than cause, death,
disability, or retirement on or after the age of sixty-five of
the optionee, all thinkorswim options held by the optionee will
lapse at the earlier of the end of the option period or ten days
following the last day that the optionee is employed by
thinkorswim or the effective date of the termination of his
services to thinkorswim; provided, however, the thinkorswim
options may be exercised only as to those shares that have
vested as of the termination date. In the case of death of the
optionee, the beneficiaries designated by the optionee shall
have one year from the optionees death or to the end of
the option period, whichever is earlier, to exercise the
thinkorswim option; provided, however, the thinkorswim option
may be exercised only as to those shares that have vested at the
time the optionee died. If the optionee retires on or after
attaining age sixty-five, the thinkorswim option shall lapse at
the earlier of the end of the option period or three months
after the date of retirement; provided, however, the thinkorswim
option may be exercised only as to those shares that have vested
on the retirement date. In the event of termination of
continuous service due to total and permanent disability (within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code), the thinkorswim
option shall lapse at the earlier of the end of the option
period or twelve months after the date of such termination;
provided, however, the thinkorswim option may be exercised only
as to those shares that have vested at the time the optionee
became disabled.
The exercise price of incentive stock options may not be less
than 100% of the fair market value of thinkorswim common stock
as of the date of grant (110% of the fair market value if the
grant is to an employee who owns more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of
thinkorswim). The Code currently limits to $100,000 the
aggregate value of thinkorswim common stock for which incentive
stock options may first become exercisable in any calendar year
under the 2001 plan or any other option plan adopted by
thinkorswim. Nonstatutory stock options may be granted under the
2001 plan at an exercise price of not less than the fair market
value of thinkorswim common stock on the date of grant. The
maximum number of shares with respect to which thinkorswim
options (incentive or nonstatutory) may be granted each calendar
year to an optionee is 2,000,000.
Unless otherwise provided by the compensation committee, a
thinkorswim option granted under the 2001 plan vests as to
one-quarter of the total number of shares covered by the option
during each twelve-month period commencing twelve months after
the date of grant of the thinkorswim option. thinkorswims
board of directors, may in its discretion and subject to
applicable law, provide for the exercise of thinkorswim options
either as to an increased percentage of shares per year or as to
all remaining shares.
Restricted
Stock Unit Terms
Awards of restricted stock units represent unfunded rights to
receive one share of thinkorswim common stock when the award
vests in accordance with terms and conditions established by the
compensation committee. The compensation committee determines
the number of thinkorswim restricted stock units to be granted
to any employee or non-employee director. In determining whether
an award of thinkorswim restricted stock units should be made,
and/or the
vesting schedule for any such award, the compensation committee
may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be
appropriate. The number of thinkorswim restricted stock units
paid out to the employee or non-employee director will depend on
the extent to which the vesting criteria are met. Upon
satisfying the applicable vesting criteria, the employee or
non-employee director shall be entitled to the payout specified
in the restricted stock unit agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at any
84
time after the grant of thinkorswim restricted stock units, the
compensation committee may reduce or waive any vesting criteria
that must be met to receive a payout.
Transferability
A thinkorswim option or award of thinkorswim restricted stock
units granted under the 2001 plan is not transferable otherwise
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant
to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code
or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder, and may be
exercised (if applicable) during the lifetime of a participant
only by him. The compensation committee may grant thinkorswim
options and awards of thinkorswim restricted stock units that
are transferable, without payment of consideration, to immediate
family members of a participant or to trusts or partnerships for
such family members. The compensation committee may also amend
outstanding thinkorswim options or awards of thinkorswim
restricted stock units to provide for such transferability.
Amendment
of the 2001 Plan
The compensation committee may amend the 2001 plan or condition
or modify thinkorswim options or restricted stock units awarded
under the 2001 plan in response to changes in securities or
other laws or rules, regulations or regulatory interpretations
applicable to the 2001 plan or to comply with stock exchange
rules or requirements without approval of the thinkorswim
stockholders. The compensation committee may, from time to time,
terminate or modify the 2001 plan in any respect; provided,
however, that, any amendment, whether with or without the
approval of the thinkorswim stockholders, that alters the terms
or provisions of a thinkorswim option or award of restricted
stock units granted before the amendment (unless the alteration
is expressly permitted under the 2001 plan) will be effective
only with the consent of the participant to whom the thinkorswim
option or award of restricted stock units was granted.
Awards to
be Granted
As of March 31, 2009, approximately 736 employees and
independent contractors were eligible to be considered for the
grant of thinkorswim options or, subject to stockholder
approval, thinkorswim restricted stock units under the 2001
plan. The grant of thinkorswim options or thinkorswim restricted
stock units to key employees and directors under the 2001 plan
is entirely in the discretion of the compensation committee. No
thinkorswim option grants are under consideration at the present
time. However, as described above, thinkorswim restricted stock
unit awards will be granted in connection with the exchange
program, assuming stockholder approval of proposals 3 and 4.
thinkorswim executive officers and employee directors have an
interest in this proposal because they are eligible to receive,
in exchange for their underwater thinkorswim options under all
of thinkorswims option plans, awards of restricted stock
units under the 2001 plan.
85
The following table sets forth (i) the total number of
shares of thinkorswim common stock subject to options
outstanding, under all of thinkorswims option plans, to
the listed persons and groups; (ii) the weighted average
per share exercise price of such thinkorswim options;
(iii) the total number of shares of thinkorswim common
stock subject to underwater options outstanding under all of
thinkorswims option plans (based on the assumptions
described in thinkorswim Proposal 3
Exchange Program thinkorswim Options Eligible for
the Exchange Program.); and (iv) the weighted average
per share exercise price of such thinkorswim underwater options.
The last reported trade price for shares of thinkorswim common
stock on April 16, 2009, the day immediately prior to the
commencement date of the exchange program, was $9.84.
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Number of
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Number of
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Weighted
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Securities
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Securities
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Average
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Underlying
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Weighted
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Underlying
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per
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Underwater
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Average
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thinkorswim
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Share
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thinkorswim
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per Share
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Options
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Exercise
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Options
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Exercise
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Name of Individual or Group
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Outstanding
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Price
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Outstanding
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Price
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Lee Barba
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2,146,577
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$
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2.53
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155,950
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13.75
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Ida Kane
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150,000
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6.04
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30,000
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13.76
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Paul Helbling
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314,627
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2.84
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31,890
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19.95
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Tom Sosnoff
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492,782
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19.19
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492,782
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19.19
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Scott Sheridan
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492,781
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19.19
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492,781
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19.19
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Peter Santori
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15,000
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8.11
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All executive officers as a group
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3,611,767
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7.27
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1,203,353
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18.37
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All directors who are not executive officers, as a group
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59,700
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6.09
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14,200
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14.08
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All employees who are not executive officers, as a group
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1,752,624
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16.63
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1,425,776
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18.97
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Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The following paragraphs are a summary of the material United
States federal income tax consequences associated with
thinkorswim options and thinkorswim restricted stock units
granted under the 2001 plan. The summary is based on existing
United States laws and regulations, and there can be no
assurance that those laws and regulations will not change in the
future. The summary does not purport to be complete and does not
discuss the tax consequences upon a plan participants
death, or the provisions of the income tax laws of any
municipality, state or foreign country in which the participant
may reside. As a result, tax consequences for any particular
plan participant may vary based on individual circumstances.
Nonstatutory Stock Options. No taxable income
is recognized when a nonstatutory stock option is granted to a
plan participant. Upon exercise, the plan participant will
recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of
the fair market value of the shares of thinkorswim common stock
on the exercise date over the exercise price. Any additional
gain or loss recognized upon later disposition of the shares of
thinkorswim common stock is capital gain or loss.
Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is
recognized when an incentive stock option is granted or
exercised (except for purposes of the alternative minimum tax,
in which case taxation is the same as for nonstatutory stock
options). If the plan participant exercises the thinkorswim
option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares
of thinkorswim common stock more than two years after the grant
date and more than one year after the exercise date, the
difference between the sale price and the exercise price will be
taxed as capital gain or loss. If the plan participant exercises
the thinkorswim option and then later sells or otherwise
disposes of the shares of thinkorswim common stock before the
end of the two- or one-year holding periods described above, he
or she generally will have ordinary income at the time of the
sale equal to the fair
86
market value of the shares of thinkorswim common stock on the
exercise date (or the sale price, if less) minus the exercise
price of the thinkorswim option. Any additional gain or loss
will be capital gain or loss.
thinkorswim Restricted Stock Units. A plan
participant generally will not have taxable income upon grant of
thinkorswim restricted stock units. Instead, the plan
participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of
vesting equal to the fair market value of the shares of
thinkorswim common stock on that date or the cash received minus
any amount paid.
Section 409A. Section 409A of the
Code provides certain new requirements for non-qualified
deferred compensation arrangements with respect to an
individuals deferral and distribution elections and
permissible distribution events. thinkorswim options and
thinkorswim restricted stock units granted under the 2001 plan
with a deferral feature will be subject to the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code. If a thinkorswim option or
thinkorswim restricted stock unit is subject to and fails to
satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the
recipient of that option or restricted stock unit, as the case
may be, may recognize ordinary income on the amounts deferred
under the option or restricted stock unit, to the extent vested,
which may be prior to when the compensation is actually or
constructively received. Also, if a thinkorswim option or
thinkorswim restricted stock unit that is subject to
Section 409A fails to comply with Section 409As
provisions, Section 409A imposes an additional 20% federal
income tax on compensation recognized as ordinary income, as
well as interest on such deferred compensation.
Tax Effect for thinkorswim. thinkorswim
generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with
an award of a thinkorswim option or thinkorswim restricted stock
unit under the 2001 plan in an amount equal to the ordinary
income realized by a participant and at the time the participant
recognizes such income (for example, the exercise of a
nonqualified stock option). Special rules limit the
deductibility of compensation paid to thinkorswims chief
executive officer and other covered employees as
determined under Section 162(m) of the Code and applicable
guidance.
Vote
Required to Approve the Amendment to the 2001 Plan
To approve this proposal, a majority of the shares entitled to
vote and present in person or by proxy at the special meeting
must vote FOR the plan amendment proposal.
thinkorswims board of directors unanimously recommends
that you vote FOR the approval of the plan amendment
proposal.
87
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the TD AMERITRADE common stock to be issued
in connection with the merger will be passed upon for
TD AMERITRADE by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati, Professional Corporation. Wilson Sonsini
Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, on behalf
of TD AMERITRADE, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP, on behalf of thinkorswim, will pass upon certain
legal matters to the effect that the merger will constitute a
tax-free reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of TD AMERITRADE
appearing in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
of TD AMERITRADE for the year ended September 30,
2008, and the effectiveness of TD AMERITRADEs
internal control over financial reporting as of
September 30, 2008, have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as
set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial
statements and TD AMERITRADE managements assessment
of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting as of September 30, 2008, are incorporated herein
by reference in reliance on such reports given on the authority
of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of
thinkorswim Group Inc. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007,
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 2008, and managements assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2008 have been incorporated by reference
herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the
reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting
firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
OTHER
MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the
thinkorswim board of directors does not know of any other
business to be presented for consideration at the special
meeting. If other matters properly come before the special
meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy
intend to vote on such matters based on their best judgment, and
they intend to vote the shares as the thinkorswim board of
directors may recommend.
In addition to solicitations by mail, directors, officers and
regular employees of thinkorswim (none of whom will be
specifically compensated for such services) may solicit proxies
by telephone or otherwise.
THINKORSWIM
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
thinkorswim will hold a 2009 annual meeting of stockholders only
if the merger is not completed. If it is determined that the
merger will not be completed as contemplated by the merger
agreement, thinkorswim will provide notice of the date fixed for
the annual meeting, as well as the deadline for submitting
stockholder proposals for such meeting and to have stockholder
proposals included in thinkorswims proxy statement.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
TD AMERITRADE has filed with the SEC a registration
statement under the Securities Act that registers the
distribution to thinkorswim stockholders of the shares of
TD AMERITRADE common stock to be issued in connection with
the merger. The registration statement, including the attached
exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information
about TD AMERITRADE and TD AMERITRADE stock. The rules and
regulations of the SEC allow TD AMERITRADE to omit certain
information included in the registration statement from this
proxy statement/prospectus.
88
You may read and copy this information at the Public Reference
Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the
operation of the SECs Public Reference Room by calling the
SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains
reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers,
like TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim, who file electronically with
the SEC. The address of the site is
http://www.sec.gov.
The reports and other information filed by TD AMERITRADE
with the SEC are also available at TD AMERITRADEs
website at
http://www.amtd.com.
The reports and other information filed by thinkorswim with the
SEC are also available at thinkorswims website at
http://www.thinkorswim.com.
The web addresses of the SEC, TD AMERITRADE, and
thinkorswim are included as inactive textual references only.
Except as specifically incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus, information on those web sites is not part
of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Incorporation
by Reference
The SEC allows TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim to incorporate
by reference information in this proxy statement/prospectus.
This means that TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim can disclose
important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this
proxy statement/prospectus, except for any information that is
superseded by information that is included directly in this
proxy statement/prospectus.
This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents listed below that TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim
previously filed with the SEC. They contain important
information about the companies and their financial condition.
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TD AMERITRADE SEC Filings
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(SEC File No. 00-49992; CIK No. 0001173431)
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Period or Date Filed
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Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended (including the
information incorporated by reference therein from
TD AMERITRADEs definitive proxy statement filed with
the SEC on January 6, 2009)
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Year ended September 30, 2008
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
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Quarter ended December 31, 2008
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Current Reports on Form 8-K
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January 14, 2009, January 20, 2009, February 23, 2009,
February 27, 2009 and April 21, 2009
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The description of TD AMERITRADE common stock set forth in
a registration statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act and any amendment or report filed for the purpose
of updating those descriptions.
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thinkorswim SEC Filings
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(SEC File No. 000-52012; CIK No. 0001145124)
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Period or Date Filed
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Annual Report on Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2008
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Current Reports on Form 8-K
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January 8, 2009, January 12, 2009, February 27, 2009 and
March 6, 2009
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In addition, TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim also incorporate
by reference additional documents that either company files with
the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act between the date of this proxy statement/prospectus
and the date of the thinkorswim special meeting. These documents
include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on
Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
and Current Reports on
Form 8-K,
as well as proxy statements.
TD AMERITRADE has supplied all information contained or
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus
relating to TD AMERITRADE, and thinkorswim has supplied all
information relating to thinkorswim.
Documents incorporated by reference are available from
TD AMERITRADE and thinkorswim without charge, excluding any
exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically
incorporated by reference
89
as an exhibit in this proxy statement/prospectus. You can obtain
documents incorporated by reference in this proxy
statement/prospectus by requesting them in writing or by
telephone from the appropriate company at the following
addresses:
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TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
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thinkorswim Group Inc.
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TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
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thinkorswim Group Inc.
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4211 South
102nd
Street
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Attention: Investor Relations
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Omaha, Nebraska 68127
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13947 South Minuteman Drive
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Investor Relations
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Draper, Utah 84020
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Telephone: (800) 237-8692
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Telephone: (801) 816-6918
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thinkorswim stockholders requesting documents should do so
by June 2, 2009 (which is five business days prior to the
special meeting) in order to ensure you receive them before the
special meeting. You will not be charged for any of these
documents that you request. If you request any incorporated
documents from TD AMERITRADE or thinkorswim, such company
will mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally
prompt means, within one business day after it receives your
request.
Neither TD AMERITRADE nor thinkorswim has authorized
anyone to give any information or make any representation about
the merger or the companies that is different from, or in
addition to, that contained in this proxy statement/prospectus
or in any of the materials that have been incorporated by
reference in 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 or the solicitation of proxies is 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. The information
contained herein speaks only as of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus unless the information specifically
indicates that another date applies.
This proxy statement/prospectus contains a description of the
representations and warranties that each of TD AMERITRADE
and thinkorswim made to the other in the merger agreement.
Representations and warranties made by TD AMERITRADE,
thinkorswim and other applicable parties are also set forth in
contracts and other documents (including the merger agreement)
that are attached or filed as exhibits to this proxy
statement/prospectus or are incorporated by reference into this
proxy statement/prospectus. These representations and warranties
were made as of specific dates, may be subject to important
qualifications and limitations agreed to between the parties in
connection with negotiating the terms of the merger agreement,
and may have been included in the agreement for the purpose of
allocating risk between the parties rather than to establish
matters as facts. These materials are included or incorporated
by reference only to provide you with information regarding the
terms and conditions of the agreements, and not to provide any
other factual information regarding thinkorswim,
TD AMERITRADE or their respective businesses. Accordingly,
the representations and warranties and other provisions of the
merger agreement should not be read alone, but instead should be
read only in conjunction with the other information provided
elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus or incorporated by
reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.
90
Appendix A
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION ONE
TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION TWO
AND
THINKORSWIM GROUP INC.
Dated as of January 8, 2009
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS & INTERPRETATIONS
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A-1
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1.1
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Certain Definitions
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A-1
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1.2
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Additional Definitions
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A-8
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1.3
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Certain Interpretations
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A-10
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ARTICLE II THE MERGER
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A-11
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2.1
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The Integrated Merger
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A-11
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2.2
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The Closing
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A-11
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2.3
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Effective Time of First Step Merger and Second Step Merger
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A-11
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2.4
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Effect of the First Step Merger and Second Step Merger
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A-11
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2.5
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Organizational Documents
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A-12
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2.6
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Directors and Officers
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A-12
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2.7
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Effect of First Step Merger on Capital Stock of Constituent
Corporations
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A-13
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2.8
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Company Stock Awards
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A-14
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2.9
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Exchange Fund; Exchange of Shares
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A-16
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2.10
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No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock
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A-18
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2.11
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Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
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A-18
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2.12
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Tax Treatment
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A-18
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2.13
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Taking of Necessary Further Action
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A-18
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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
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A-18
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3.1
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Organization and Standing
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A-19
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3.2
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Corporate Approvals
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A-19
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3.3
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Non-contravention; Required Consents
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A-19
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3.4
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Capitalization
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A-20
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3.5
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Subsidiaries
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A-21
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3.6
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SEC Reports; Other Reports
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A-22
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3.7
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Financial Statements and Controls
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A-23
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3.8
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No Undisclosed Liabilities
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A-24
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3.9
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Absence of Certain Changes
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A-24
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3.10
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Compliance with Laws and Orders
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A-25
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3.11
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Permits
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A-25
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3.12
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Litigation; Orders; Regulatory Agreements
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A-27
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3.13
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Material Contracts
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A-27
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3.14
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Taxes
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A-29
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3.15
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Employee Benefits
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A-31
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3.16
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Labor Matters
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A-33
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3.17
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Real Property
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A-34
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3.18
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Environmental Matters
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A-34
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3.19
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Assets; Personal Property
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A-34
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3.20
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Intellectual Property
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A-34
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3.21
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Insurance
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A-36
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3.22
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Related Party Transactions
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A-36
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3.23
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State Anti-Takeover Statutes
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A-36
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3.24
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Brokers
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A-37
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3.25
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Opinion of Financial Advisor
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A-37
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3.26
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Canadian Assets and Revenues
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A-37
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A-i
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND THE
MERGER SUBS
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A-37
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4.1
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Organization and Standing
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A-37
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4.2
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Authorization; Board Approvals
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A-37
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4.3
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Non-contravention; Required Consents
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A-38
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4.4
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Capitalization
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A-38
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4.5
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SEC Reports; Other Reports
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A-39
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4.6
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Financial Statements and Controls
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A-40
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4.7
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No Undisclosed Liabilities
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A-41
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4.8
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Absence of Certain Changes
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A-41
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4.9
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Compliance with Laws and Orders; Permits
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A-41
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4.10
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Litigation; Orders
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A-41
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4.11
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Taxes
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A-41
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4.12
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Ownership of Company Capital Stock
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A-42
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4.13
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No Contracts with Company Directors and Executive Officers
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A-42
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4.14
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Brokers
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A-42
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ARTICLE V INTERIM CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
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A-42
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5.1
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Affirmative Obligations of the Company
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A-42
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5.2
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Negative Obligations of the Company
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A-42
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ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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A-45
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6.1
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No Solicitation
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A-45
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6.2
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Reasonable Best Efforts to Complete
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A-47
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6.3
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Regulatory Filings
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A-47
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6.4
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Anti-Takeover Laws
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A-48
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6.5
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Registration Statement; Proxy Statement/Prospectus
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A-48
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6.6
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Company Stockholder Meeting
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A-50
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6.7
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Company Board Recommendation
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A-51
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6.8
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Access; Notice and Consultation
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A-53
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6.9
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Confidentiality
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A-54
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6.10
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Public Disclosure
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A-54
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6.11
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Employee Matters
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A-54
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6.12
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Directors and Officers Indemnification and Insurance
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A-56
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6.13
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Resignation of Officers and Directors of Company Subsidiaries
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A-57
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6.14
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Section 16 Resolutions
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A-57
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6.15
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Nasdaq Listing
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A-57
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6.16
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Registration Statements for Assumed Options and Other Awards
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A-57
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6.17
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Obligations of the Merger Subs
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A-57
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6.18
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Tax Matters
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A-57
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6.19
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Funded Debt
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A-58
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ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
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A-58
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7.1
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|
Conditions to Each Partys Obligations to Effect the Merger
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A-58
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7.2
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|
Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and the
Merger Subs
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A-59
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7.3
|
|
Additional Conditions to the Companys Obligations to
Effect the Merger
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A-60
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A-ii
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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
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A-61
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8.1
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Termination
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A-61
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8.2
|
|
Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination
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A-63
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8.3
|
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Fees and Expenses
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A-63
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8.4
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Amendment
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|
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A-65
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8.5
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Extension; Waiver
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A-65
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ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS
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A-65
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9.1
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Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants
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|
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A-65
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9.2
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Notices
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A-65
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9.3
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Assignment
|
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A-66
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9.4
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Entire Agreement
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A-66
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9.5
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Third Party Beneficiaries
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A-66
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9.6
|
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Severability
|
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A-66
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9.7
|
|
Other Remedies
|
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A-66
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9.8
|
|
Governing Law
|
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A-66
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9.9
|
|
Specific Performance
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A-66
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9.10
|
|
Consent to Jurisdiction
|
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A-67
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|
9.11
|
|
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
|
|
A-67
|
|
9.12
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
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A-67
|
|
A-iii
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this
Agreement) is made and entered into as of
January 8, 2009 by and among TD AMERITRADE Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Parent),
Tango Acquisition Corporation One, a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub
One), Tango Acquisition Corporation Two, a Delaware
corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(Merger Sub Two and together with Merger Sub
One, the Merger Subs), and thinkorswim Group
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company).
All capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement shall have
the respective meanings ascribed thereto in
Article I.
W I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS, each of the respective Board of Directors of Parent,
the Merger Subs and the Company has approved this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, and deems it advisable and
in the best interest of its respective stockholder(s) to enter
into this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby pursuant to which, among other things, and as a single
integrated transaction, Merger Sub One will be merged with and
into the Company (the First Step Merger) in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
DGCL), the Company will continue as the
surviving corporation of the First Step Merger and each share of
the Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to
receive the consideration set forth herein, all upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
WHEREAS, immediately following the First Step Merger, Parent
will cause the Company to merge with and into Merger Sub Two
(the Second Step Merger and, taken together
with the First Step Merger, the Integrated
Merger or the Merger).
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is
intended that the Integrated Merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and that this Agreement will be, and is hereby, adopted
as a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations
Section 1.368-2(g).
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to the willingness
of Parent and the Merger Subs to enter into this Agreement,
certain executive officers of the Company, in their respective
capacities as stockholders of the Company, are entering into
Voting Agreements with Parent substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A (each, a Voting
Agreement and collectively, the Voting
Agreements).
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to Parents
willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain employees of
the Company are entering into employment agreements with Parent
regarding their continued employment with Parent or an Affiliate
thereof on and after the Closing Date, each to be effective as
of the Effective Time (each, a Key Employee Employment
Agreement and collectively, the Key Employee
Employment Agreements).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and
the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set
forth herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and
accepted, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent, the
Merger Subs and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS &
INTERPRETATIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For all
purposes of and under this Agreement, the following capitalized
terms shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) Acquisition Proposal shall
mean any indication of interest, offer or proposal relating to
an Acquisition Transaction from any Person other than Parent or
any of its Affiliates.
(b) Acquisition Transaction shall
mean any transaction or series of related transactions (other
than a transaction with Parent or any of its Affiliates)
involving:
(i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by
any Person or group (as defined in or under
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) from the Company of
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the total outstanding equity
interests in or voting securities of the Company, or any tender
offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in
any Person or group (as defined in or under
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) beneficially owning
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the total outstanding equity
interests in or voting securities of the Company;
(ii) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition
of fifty percent (50%) or more of any class of equity or other
voting securities of one or more direct or indirect Subsidiaries
of the Company, the business(es) of which, individually or in
the aggregate, generate or constitute (as applicable) fifteen
percent (15%) or more of the consolidated net revenues, net
income or assets (as of or for the twelve month period ending on
the last day of the Companys most recently completed
fiscal year) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole;
(iii) any merger, consolidation, business combination or
other similar transaction involving the Company or one or more
of its Subsidiaries, the business(es) of which, individually or
in the aggregate, generate or constitute fifteen percent (15%)
or more of the consolidated net revenues, net income or assets
(as of or for the twelve month period ending on the last day of
the applicable partys most recently completed fiscal year)
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, pursuant
to which the stockholders of the Company (as a group) or such
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries, as applicable, immediately preceding
such transaction hold less than eighty five percent (85%) of the
equity interests in or voting securities of the surviving or
resulting entity of such transaction;
(iv) any direct or indirect sale, lease (other than in the
ordinary course of business), exchange, transfer, license (other
than in the ordinary course of business), acquisition or
disposition of assets of the Company or one or more of its
Subsidiaries that generate or constitute, individually or in the
aggregate, fifteen percent (15%) or more of the consolidated net
revenues, net income or assets (as of or for the twelve month
period ending on the last day of the applicable partys
most recently completed fiscal year) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(v) any liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or other
significant corporate reorganization of the Company or one or
more of its Subsidiaries, the business(es) of which,
individually or in the aggregate, generate or constitute fifteen
percent (15%) or more of the consolidated net revenues, net
income or assets (as of or for the twelve month period ending on
the last day of the applicable partys most recently
completed fiscal year) of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole; or
(vi) any combination of the foregoing transactions;
provided, however, that for the purposes of references to
an Acquisition Proposal or an Acquisition
Transaction in Section 8.3, the references in
this definition of Acquisition Transaction to fifteen
percent (15%) and eighty-five percent (85%)
shall be replaced by fifty percent (50%).
(c) Advisers Act shall mean the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute,
rules and regulations.
(d) Affiliate shall mean, with
respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or
indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with such Person. For purposes of the immediately preceding
sentence, the term control (including, with
correlative meanings, the terms controlling,
controlled by and under common control
with), as used with respect to any Person, means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
A-2
(e) Balance Sheet shall mean the
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as of September 30, 2008 included in the Companys
quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
as filed with the SEC.
(f) Business Day shall mean any
day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day which is a legal
holiday under the laws of the State of New York or is a day on
which banking institutions located in the State of New York are
authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to
close.
(g) CEA shall mean the Commodity
Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute, rules and
regulations thereto.
(h) CFTC shall mean the United
States Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any successor
thereto.
(i) Code shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute.
(j) Company Board shall mean the
Board of Directors of the Company.
(k) Company Capital Stock shall
mean the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.
(l) Company Common Stock shall
mean the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
(m) Company Intellectual Property
shall mean any and all Intellectual Property Rights that are
owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(n) Company Option shall mean an
option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
under any of the Company Option Plans.
(o) Company Option Plans shall
mean (i) the thinkorswim Group Inc. Second Amended and
Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan, (ii) the Telescan, Inc.
Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan, (iii) the
Telescan, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan, (iv) the Telescan,
Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, and any other
option plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(p) Company Preferred Stock shall
mean the Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company.
(q) Company Product shall mean
all products, technologies and services developed (including
products, technologies and services under development), owned,
made, provided, distributed, imported, sold or licensed by or on
behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(r) Company Regulatory Agreement
shall mean any
cease-and-desist
or other order or enforcement action issued to or against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries by, any written Contract,
consent agreement or memorandum of understanding that the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries have with, any commitment
letter or similar undertaking by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to, or any extraordinary supervisory letter to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries from, any order or directive
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by, or any board
resolutions adopted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at
the request of, any Governmental Authority.
(s) Company Restricted Stock
Units shall mean an award which promises to issue
a share of Company Common Stock in the future under any of the
Company Option Plans, and shall include the Restricted Stock
Units to be granted pursuant to the Option Exchange Program.
(t) Company Stock Awards shall
mean Company Options, Company Restricted Stock and Company
Restricted Stock Units.
(u) Contract shall mean any
contract, subcontract, agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, or other
legally binding instrument, commitment, arrangement or
understanding of any kind or character, whether oral or in
writing.
A-3
(v) Credit Agreement shall mean
the Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2007, among
the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A., as administrative agent.
(w) Delaware Law shall mean the
DGCL and any other applicable Law of the State of Delaware.
(x) DOL shall mean the United
States Department of Labor or any successor thereto.
(y) Environmental Law shall mean
any and all Laws relating to the protection of the environment
(including ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land) or
human health as affected by the environment or Hazardous
Substances or otherwise relating to the production, use,
emission, storage, treatment, transportation, recycling,
disposal, discharge, release, labeling or other handling of any
Hazardous Substances or any products or wastes containing any
Hazardous Substances including any Laws related to product
take-back or content requirements, or the investigation,
clean-up or
other remediation or analysis of Hazardous Substances, including
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Resource Recovery
and Conservation Act of 1976, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act, the Clean Water Act, European Union
Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE Directive) and European Union
Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction on the use of hazardous
substances (RoHS Directive).
(z) ERISA shall mean the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor
statue, rules and regulations thereto.
(aa) Exchange Act shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute,
rules and regulations thereto.
(bb) FINRA shall mean the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or any successor thereto.
(cc) GAAP shall mean generally
accepted accounting principles, as applied in the United States.
(dd) Governmental Authority shall
mean any government, any governmental or regulatory entity or
body, department, commission, board, agency, instrumentality or
self-regulatory organization (including FINRA and IIROC), and
any court, tribunal or judicial body, in each case whether
federal, state, county, provincial or local, and whether
domestic or foreign.
(ee) Hazardous Substance shall
mean any substance, material or waste that is characterized or
regulated under any Environmental Law as hazardous,
pollutant, contaminant,
toxic or words of similar meaning or effect, or is
otherwise a danger to health, reproduction or the environment,
including petroleum and petroleum products, polychlorinated
biphenyls and asbestos.
(ff) HSR Act shall mean the
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor
statute, rules and regulations thereto.
(gg) IIROC shall mean the
Investment Industry Regulatory Association of Canada or any
successor thereto.
(hh) Intellectual Property Rights
shall mean common law and statutory rights anywhere in the world
associated with (i) patents, patent applications and
inventors certificates, (ii) copyrights, copyright
registrations and copyright applications, and moral
rights, (iii) trade secrets (as defined in the Uniform
Trade Secrets Act) or under applicable common Law, proprietary
know-how and confidential information (Trade
Secrets), (iv) trademarks, trade names and
service marks (Trademarks), (v) Internet
domain names, (vi) divisions, continuations, renewals,
reissuances and extensions of the foregoing (as applicable) and
(vii) the right to enforce and recover damages for the
infringement or misappropriation of for any of the foregoing.
(ii) IRS shall mean the United
States Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto.
(jj) Knowledge of any Person,
with respect to any matter in question, shall mean the actual
knowledge of any of the directors or executive officers of such
Person.
A-4
(kk) Law shall mean any and all
applicable federal, state, provincial, local, municipal, foreign
or other law, statute, treaty, constitution, principle of common
law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, directive,
guidance, order, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued,
enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into
effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
(ll) Legal Proceeding shall mean
any action, claim, suit, litigation, proceeding (public or
private), arbitration, criminal prosecution, examination or
audit by any Person or pending before any Governmental Authority.
(mm) Liabilities shall mean any
liability, indebtedness, obligation or commitment of any kind,
nature or character (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
matured, unmatured or otherwise and whether or not required to
be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet prepared under GAAP).
(nn) Lien shall mean any lien,
pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest,
encumbrance, claim, option, right of first refusal, preemptive
right, community property interest or other legal restriction of
any nature (including any restriction on the voting of any
security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or
other asset, any restriction on the possession, exercise or
transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).
(oo) Loan shall mean any
extension of credit (including any commitment to extend credit).
(pp) Material Adverse Effect
shall mean, with respect to any Person, any fact, circumstance,
change or effect that, individually or when taken together with
all other such facts, circumstances, changes or effects that
exist at the date of determination of the occurrence of the
Material Adverse Effect, (x) has or would reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the assets
(including intangible assets), liabilities (including contingent
liabilities), business, operations, financial condition or
results of operations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, or (y) would materially impair such
Persons ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the terms
hereof and applicable Legal Requirements or (z) would
materially delay the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided,
however, that no facts, circumstances, changes or effects
(by themselves or when aggregated with any other facts,
circumstances, changes or effects) to the extent resulting from
the following shall be deemed to be or constitute a
Material Adverse Effect, and no facts,
circumstances, changes or effects to the extent resulting from
the following (by themselves or when aggregated with any other
facts, circumstances, changes or effects) shall be taken into
account when determining whether a Material Adverse
Effect has occurred or may, would or could occur:
(i) general market, economic or political conditions in the
United States or any other jurisdiction in which such Person or
any of its Subsidiaries has substantial business or operations,
and any changes therein (including any condition or changes
arising out of acts of terrorism, war, weather conditions or
other force majeure events), except and only to the extent that
such conditions have a disproportionate impact on such Person
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other
companies organized and based in the U.S. and operating in
the same industries in which such Person operates;
(ii) general conditions in the financial services industry,
and any changes therein (including any condition or changes
arising out of acts of terrorism, war, weather conditions or
other force majeure events), except and only to the extent that
such conditions have a disproportionate impact on such Person
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other
companies organized and based in the U.S. and operating in
the same industries in which such Person operates;
(iii) changes or proposed changes in GAAP or Law occurring
after the date of this Agreement;
(iv) the public announcement of this Agreement or pendency
of the Merger, including any loss of or adverse change in the
relationship of such Person and its Subsidiaries with their
respective employees, customers, partners or suppliers related
thereto to the extent resulting from the announcement of this
Agreement or the pendency of the Merger;
A-5
(v) any action or omission by such Person or its
Subsidiaries taken with the prior written consent of the other
parties hereto;
(vi) any failure of such Person to meet internal or
analysts estimates, projections or forecasts of revenues,
earnings or other financial or business metrics, in and of
itself (it being understood that, subject to the other
exceptions set forth above, the underlying cause(s) of any such
failure, as well as the business and financial performance of
such Person, may be taken into consideration when determining
whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or may, would or
could occur);
(vii) any decline in the market price or change in the
trading volume of such Persons public equity securities,
in and of itself (it being understood that, subject to the other
exceptions set forth above, the underlying cause(s) of any such
decline or change, as well as the business and financial
performance of such Person, may be taken into consideration when
determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or
may, would or could occur); and
(viii) with respect to the Company, any of the matters
disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule, and with respect
to Parent, any of the matters disclosed in the Parent Disclosure
Schedule.
(qq) Nasdaq shall mean the Nasdaq
Global Select Market, any successor stock exchange operated by
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC or any successor thereto.
(rr) Net Capital Rule shall mean
Rule 15c3-1
under the Exchange Act.
(ss) NFA shall mean the National
Futures Association or any successor thereto.
(tt) Open Source License shall
mean any license, including, but not limited to, the GNU General
Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL),
Mozilla Public License (MPL), BSD licenses, the Artistic
License, the Netscape Public License, the Sun Community Source
License (SCSL,) the Sun Industry Standards License (SISL) and
the Apache License, requiring software to be disclosed or
distributed as free software, open source
software or in source code form or redistributable at no
charge.
(uu) Option Exchange Ratio shall
mean the sum of (x) the Stock Consideration plus
(y) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the Cash
Consideration, by (2) the volume-weighted average price for
a share of Parent Common Stock, rounded to the nearest one-tenth
of a cent, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for
the trading day immediately prior to the day on which the
Effective Time occurs.
(vv) Order shall mean any
judgment, decision, decree, injunction, ruling, writ, assessment
or order of any Governmental Authority that is binding on any
Person or its property under applicable Laws.
(ww) OSC shall mean the Ontario
Securities Commission.
(xx) Parent Board shall mean the
board of directors of Parent.
(yy) Parent Common Stock shall
mean the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.
(zz) Permitted Liens shall mean
any or all of the following: (i) Liens disclosed on the
consolidated balance sheet of such Person included in the most
recent annual or quarterly report filed by such Person with the
SEC prior to the date of this Agreement, (ii) Liens for
Taxes and other similar governmental charges and assessments
which are not yet due and payable or liens for Taxes being
contested in good faith by any appropriate proceedings for which
adequate reserves have been established; (iii) Liens of
landlords and liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and
materialmen and other like Liens arising in the ordinary course
of business for sums not yet due and payable;
(iv) undetermined or inchoate Liens, charges and privileges
and any statutory Liens, licenses, charges, adverse claims,
security interests or encumbrances of any nature whatsoever and
claimed or held by any Governmental Authority that are related
to obligations that are not due or delinquent; (v) security
given in the ordinary course of business to any public utility,
Governmental Authority or other statutory or public authority;
(vi) covenants, easements and rights-of-way shown on public
records, (vii) Liens imposed on the underlying fee
A-6
interest in leased property that are not caused by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries; (viii) Liens imposed under
applicable Law, including federal, state or foreign securities
Laws, and (ix) Liens that do not materially interfere with
the value or the current use or operation of the property
subject thereto.
(aaa) Person shall mean any
individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation),
general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability
partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including
any limited liability company or joint stock company), firm or
other enterprise, association, organization, entity or
Governmental Authority.
(bbb) Registered Intellectual
Property shall mean applications, registrations
and filings for Intellectual Property Rights that have been
registered or filed, with or by any Government Authority.
(ccc) Sarbanes-Oxley Act shall
mean the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any successor thereto.
(ddd) SEC shall mean the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
thereto.
(eee) Securities Act shall mean
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute,
rules or regulations thereto.
(fff) Source Code shall mean
software code, which may be printed out or displayed in human
readable form.
(ggg) Subsidiary of any Person
shall mean (i) a corporation more than fifty percent (50%)
of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting stock of
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one
of more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and
one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, (ii) a partnership
of which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such
Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries
thereof, directly or indirectly, is the general partner and has
the power to direct the policies, management and affairs of such
partnership, (iii) a limited liability company of which
such Person or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or
such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly
or indirectly, is the managing member and has the power to
direct the policies, management and affairs of such company or
(iv) any other Person (other than a corporation,
partnership or limited liability company) in which such Person,
or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person
and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or
indirectly, has at least a majority ownership and power to
direct the policies, management and affairs thereof.
(hhh) Superior Proposal shall
mean any unsolicited, bona fide written offer or proposal
(that has not been withdrawn) for a transaction providing for
the acquisition of all of the outstanding voting securities of
the Company which the Company Board shall have reasonably
determined in good faith (after consultation with Paragon or
another financial advisor of nationally recognized standing and
the Companys outside legal counsel) (i) is more
favorable, from a financial point of view, to the holders of
Company Common Stock than the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) is reasonably likely to receive all
requisite regulatory approvals, and (iii) is reasonably
likely to be consummated on the terms and conditions
contemplated thereby, in each case taking into account, in
addition to any other factors determined by the Company Board to
be relevant, (A) all financial considerations relevant
thereto, including conditions in the financial and credit
markets, (B) the identity of the Person(s) making such
offer or proposal and the parties providing any of the financing
for the transaction contemplated thereby, and the prior history
of such Person(s) and sources of financing in connection with
the consummation or failure to consummate similar transactions,
(C) the anticipated timing, conditions and prospects for
completion of the transaction contemplated by such offer or
proposal, (D) the other terms and conditions of such offer
or proposal and the implications thereof on the Company,
including relevant legal, regulatory and other aspects of such
offer or proposal deemed relevant by the Company Board, and
(E) any offer capable of acceptance made by Parent in
connection therewith or response thereto.
(iii) Tax shall mean (i) any
and all U.S. federal, state, local and
non-U.S. taxes,
including taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts,
income, profits, sales, use and occupation, and value added, ad
A-7
valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture,
employment, escheat, excise and property taxes, together with
all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to
such amounts and (ii) any liability for the payment of any
amounts of the type described in clause (i) as a result of
being or ceasing to be a member of an affiliated, consolidated,
combined or unitary group for any period (including any
liability under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6
or any comparable provision of foreign, state or local law, and
including any arrangement for group or consortium relief or
similar arrangement).
(jjj) Tax Act shall mean the
Income Tax Act (Canada) and its regulations thereunder, as
amended.
(kkk) Tax Returns shall mean all
returns, declarations, reports, estimates, statements and other
documents filed or required to be filed in respect of any Taxes,
including any attachments, addenda or amendments thereto.
(lll) Underwater Option shall
mean each Company Option with a per share exercise price equal
to or greater than the sum of (i) the Cash Consideration
plus (ii) the product of (1) the Stock
Consideration times (2) the volume-weighted average
price for a share of Parent Common Stock, rounded to the nearest
one-tenth of a cent, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select
Market for the trading day immediately prior to the day on which
the Effective Time occurs.
1.2 Additional Definitions. The
following capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings
ascribed thereto in the respective sections of this Agreement
set forth opposite each of the capitalized terms below:
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Term
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Section Reference
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401(k) Plan
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6.11(b)
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Adjusted Restricted Stock
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2.8(a)
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Agreement
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Preamble
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Antitrust Approval
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7.1
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Assumed Option
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2.8(e)
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Assumed Restricted Stock Unit
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2.8(f)
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Book-Entry Shares
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2.9(b)
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Cancelled Company Shares
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2.7(b)
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Capitalization Date
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3.4(a)
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Cash Consideration
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2.7(b)
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Certificate
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2.9(b)
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Certificate of Merger
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2.3(a)
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Closing
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2.2
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Closing Date
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2.2
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Collective Bargaining Agreements
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3.16(a)
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Company
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Preamble
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Company Board Recommendation
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6.7(a)
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Company Board Recommendation Change
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6.7(a)
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Company Disclosure Schedule
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Article III
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Company Insiders
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6.14
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Company Registered Intellectual Property
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3.20(a)
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Company Restricted Stock
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2.8(a)
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Company SEC Reports
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3.6(a)
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Company Securities
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3.4(c)
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Company Stockholder Meeting
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6.6(a)
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Confidentiality Agreement
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6.9
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Consent
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3.3(b)
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Continuing Employees
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6.11(d)
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A-8
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Term
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Section Reference
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D&O Insurance
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6.12(b)
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Delaware Secretary of State
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2.3(a)
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DGCL
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Recitals
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Dissenting Company Shares
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2.7(b)
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Effective Time
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2.3(a)
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Employee Plans
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3.15(a)
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ERISA Affiliate
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3.15(a)
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Exchange Agent
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2.9(a)
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Exchange Fund
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2.9(a)
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Final Surviving Corporation
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2.1(b)
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First Step Merger
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Recitals
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Foreign Employees
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3.15(j)
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In-Licenses
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3.20(g)
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Incentives
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3.14(o)
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Indemnified Parties
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6.12(a)
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Integrated Merger
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Recitals
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Interim Surviving Corporation
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2.1(a)
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International Employee Plans
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3.15(a)
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Intervening Event
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6.7(b)
|
Investment Company Act
|
|
3.11(e)
|
IP Licenses
|
|
3.20(h)
|
Leased Real Property
|
|
3.17
|
Leases
|
|
3.17
|
Legal Proceeding Matters
|
|
6.8(d)
|
Material Contract
|
|
3.13(a)
|
Maximum Premium
|
|
6.12(b)
|
Merger
|
|
Recitals
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
2.7(b)
|
Merger Proposal
|
|
6.6(a)
|
Merger Sub One
|
|
Preamble
|
Merger Sub Two
|
|
Preamble
|
Option Exchange Program
|
|
2.8(b)
|
Option Exchange Proposal
|
|
2.8(c)
|
Out-Licenses
|
|
3.20(h)
|
Paragon
|
|
3.24
|
Parent
|
|
Preamble
|
Parent Disclosure Schedule
|
|
Article IV
|
Parent SEC Reports
|
|
4.5(a)
|
Permits
|
|
3.11(a)
|
Proxy Statement/Prospectus
|
|
6.5(a)
|
Qualifying Amendment
|
|
6.5(c)
|
Registration Statement
|
|
6.5(a)
|
Regulation M-A
Filing
|
|
6.5(d)
|
Regulatory Filings
|
|
3.11(c)
|
A-9
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section Reference
|
|
Requisite Merger Approval
|
|
3.2(c)
|
Requisite Option Exchange Approval
|
|
3.2(c)
|
Restricted Stock Units
|
|
2.8(b)
|
Reviewable Transaction
|
|
8.1(b)
|
RoHS Directive
|
|
1.1(y)
|
Second Step Merger
|
|
Recitals
|
Specified Company Representations
|
|
7.2(a)
|
Specified Parent Representations
|
|
7.3(a)
|
Stock Consideration
|
|
2.7(b)
|
Subsidiary Securities
|
|
3.5(d)
|
Tax Opinions
|
|
6.18
|
Termination Date
|
|
8.1(b)
|
Termination Fee Amount
|
|
8.3(b)
|
Trade Secrets
|
|
1.1(hh)
|
Trademarks
|
|
1.1(hh)
|
Voting Agreement(s)
|
|
Recitals
|
WEEE Directive
|
|
1.1(y)
|
1.3 Certain Interpretations.
(a) Unless otherwise indicated, all references herein to
Sections, Articles, Annexes, Exhibits or Schedules, shall be
deemed to refer to Sections, Articles, Annexes, Exhibits or
Schedules of or to this Agreement, as applicable.
(b) Unless otherwise indicated, the words
include, includes and
including, when used herein, shall be deemed in each
case to be followed by the words without limitation.
(c) As used in this Agreement, the word extent
and the phrase to the extent shall mean the degree
to which a subject or other thing extends, and such word or
phrase shall not mean simply if.
(d) As used in this Agreement, the singular or plural
number shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context
so requires.
(e) Unless otherwise indicated, all references herein to
dollars or $ shall mean and refer to
U.S. denominated dollars.
(f) Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise
requires, when reference is made herein to a Person, such
reference shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect
Subsidiaries of such Person.
(g) Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise
requires, all references herein to the Subsidiaries of a Person
shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect Subsidiaries
of such Person.
(h) The table of contents and headings set forth in this
Agreement are for convenience of reference purposes only and
shall not affect or be deemed to affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Agreement or any term or provision
hereof.
(i) 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,
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.
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ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
2.1 The Integrated Merger.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL, at
the Effective Time, Merger Sub One shall be merged with and into
the Company in the First Step Merger, the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub One shall thereupon cease and the
Company shall continue as the surviving corporation of the First
Step Merger and as a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent. The
Company, as the surviving corporation of the First Step Merger,
is referred to herein as the Interim Surviving
Corporation.
(b) As part of a single integrated plan, immediately
following the Effective Time, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement and the applicable
provisions of the DGCL, the Interim Surviving Corporation shall
be merged with and into Merger Sub Two in the Second Step
Merger, the separate corporate existence of the Interim
Surviving Corporation shall thereupon cease and Merger Sub Two
shall continue as the surviving corporation of the Second Step
Merger and as a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub
Two, as the surviving corporation of the Second Step Merger, is
referred to herein as the Final Surviving
Corporation.
2.2 The Closing. The consummation
of the Integrated Merger shall take place at a closing (the
Closing) to occur at the offices of Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation,
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor, New York, New
York, on a date and at a time to be agreed upon by Parent,
Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two and the Company, which date shall
be no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the
satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted hereunder) of
the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth
in Article VII (other than those conditions that by
their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to
the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted hereunder)
of such conditions), or at such other location, date and time as
Parent and the Company shall mutually agree upon in writing (the
date upon which the Closing shall actually occur pursuant hereto
being referred to herein as the Closing Date).
2.3 Effective Time of First Step Merger and Second
Step Merger.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, promptly after the Closing on the Closing
Date, Parent, Merger Sub One and the Company shall cause the
First Step Merger to be consummated under Delaware Law by filing
a certificate of merger in customary form and substance (the
Certificate of Merger) with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware (the Delaware Secretary
of State) in accordance with the applicable provisions
of the DGCL (the time of such filing and acceptance by the
Delaware Secretary of State, or such later time as may be agreed
in writing by Parent, Merger Sub One and the Company and
specified in the Certificate of Merger, being referred to herein
as the Effective Time).
(b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent
shall cause the Second Step Merger to be consummated under
Delaware Law by filing a certificate of merger in customary form
and substance with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
DGCL.
2.4 Effect of the First Step Merger and Second Step
Merger.
(a) At the Effective Time, the effect of the First Step
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable
provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing (and subject thereto), at the Effective Time, all of
the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the
Company and Merger Sub One shall vest in the Interim Surviving
Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the
Company and Merger Sub One shall become the debts, liabilities
and duties of the Interim Surviving Corporation.
(b) At the effective time of the Second Step Merger, the
effect of the Second Step Merger shall be as provided in the
applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing (and subject thereto), at the
effective time of the Second Step Merger, except as otherwise
agreed to pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, all of the
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the
Interim Surviving
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Corporation shall vest in Merger Sub Two as the surviving entity
in the Second Step Merger, and all debts, liabilities and duties
of the Interim Surviving Corporation shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of Merger Sub Two as the surviving entity
in the Second Step Merger.
2.5 Organizational Documents.
(a) Interim Surviving Corporation.
(i) At the Effective Time, subject to the provisions of
Section 6.12, the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company shall be amended and restated in its entirety to
read identically to the Certificate of Incorporation of Merger
Sub One as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time,
and such amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation shall
become the Certificate of Incorporation of the Interim Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Delaware Law and such Certificate of
Incorporation; provided, however, that at the Effective
Time the Certificate of Incorporation of the Interim Surviving
Corporation shall be amended so that the name of the Interim
Surviving Corporation shall be thinkorswim Group
Inc..
(ii) At the Effective Time, subject to the provisions of
Section 6.12, the Bylaws of Merger Sub One as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become the
Bylaws of the Interim Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of Delaware
Law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Interim Surviving
Corporation and such Bylaws.
(b) Final Surviving Corporation.
(i) Unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to the
Effective Time (but subject to Section 6.12), the
Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub Two as in effect
immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Step
Merger shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Final
Surviving Corporation in the Second Step Merger until thereafter
amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of Delaware
Law and such Certificate of Incorporation; provided,
however, that at the effective time of the Second Step
Merger, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Final Surviving
Corporation shall be amended so that the name of the Final
Surviving Corporation shall be thinkorswim Group
Inc..
(ii) Unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to the
Effective Time (but subject to Section 6.12), the
Bylaws of Merger Sub Two as in effect immediately prior to the
effective time of the Second Step Merger shall be the Bylaws of
the Final Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Delaware Law, the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Final Surviving Corporation
and such Bylaws.
2.6 Directors and Officers.
(a) Interim Surviving
Corporation. At the Effective Time, the
directors of Merger Sub One immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall become the directors of the Interim Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Interim Surviving
Corporation until their respective successors are duly elected
or appointed and qualified. At the Effective Time, the officers
of Merger Sub One immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
become the officers of the Interim Surviving Corporation, each
to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Interim Surviving Corporation
until their respective successors are duly appointed.
(b) Final Surviving
Corporation. At the effective time of the
Second Step Merger, the directors of the Interim Surviving
Corporation shall become the directors of the Final Surviving
Corporation, each to hold the office in accordance with the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Final Surviving
Corporation until their respective successors are duly elected
and qualified. At the effective time of the Second Step Merger,
the officers of the Interim Surviving Corporation immediately
prior to the effective time of the Second Step Merger shall
become the officers of the Final Surviving Corporation, each to
hold office in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Final Surviving Corporation until their
respective successors are duly appointed.
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2.7 Effect of First Step Merger on Capital Stock of
Constituent Corporations. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the
Effective Time, by virtue of the First Step Merger and without
any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub One, the Company,
or the holders of any shares of Company Common Stock:
(a) Merger Sub One Capital
Stock. Each share of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of Merger Sub One issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock of the Interim Surviving Corporation, whereupon each
certificate evidencing ownership of such shares of common stock
of Merger Sub One shall thereafter evidence ownership of shares
of common stock of the Interim Surviving Corporation.
(b) Company Capital Stock.
(i) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than
any Cancelled Company Shares and any Dissenting Company Shares),
including any Company Restricted Stock that shall have ceased,
as a result of or immediately prior to the Effective Time, to be
unvested or subject to a repurchase option, risk of forfeiture
or other condition pursuant to the terms of such Company Stock
Award or other agreement governing such Company Restricted Stock
(which shall include any vesting as a result of any resignation
delivered pursuant to Section 6.13 hereof) shall be
canceled and extinguished and automatically converted into the
right to receive a combination of (A) $3.34 in cash,
without interest (such per share cash amount being referred to
herein as the Cash Consideration) plus
(B) 0.3980 validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Parent Common Stock (such per share amount being
referred to herein as the Stock
Consideration), upon the surrender of the certificate
representing such share of Company Common Stock (or the receipt
of an agents message in the case of Book-Entry Shares) in
the manner set forth in Section 2.9 (or in the case
of a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, upon delivery of an
affidavit (and bond, if required) in the manner set forth in
Section 2.11). For all purposes of and under this
Agreement, the term Merger Consideration
shall mean the Cash Consideration plus the Stock
Consideration, together with any cash payable under
Section 2.7(b)(iii) in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant hereto.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, (A) the Stock Consideration shall be
adjusted appropriately to reflect fully the effect of any stock
split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any
dividend or distribution of securities convertible into shares
of Parent Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification or other like change with respect to Parent
Common Stock having a record date on or after the date hereof
and prior to the Effective Time, and (B) the Cash
Consideration and the Stock Consideration shall be adjusted
appropriately to reflect fully the effect of any stock split,
reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or
distribution of securities convertible into shares of Company
Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification or other like change with respect to Company
Common Stock having a record date on or after the date hereof
and prior to the Effective Time (it being understood and agreed
that the inclusion of this clause (B) shall not be deemed
to amend or modify in any respect the restrictions set forth in
Article V). Furthermore, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Cash Consideration
shall be increased by an amount equal to the product of
(x) the Stock Consideration times (y) the per
share amount of any cash dividend declared by Parent in respect
of Parent Common Stock having a record date on or after the date
hereof and prior to the Effective Time.
(iii) No fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock will be
issued by virtue of the First Step Merger or pursuant to this
Agreement, and in lieu thereof each holder of record of shares
of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a
fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after aggregating
all fractional shares of Parent Common Stock that otherwise
would be received by such holder of record) shall be entitled to
receive from Parent, upon surrender of such holders
Certificate(s) in the manner set forth in
Section 2.9, an amount of cash (rounded to the
nearest whole cent), without interest, equal to the product of
such fraction multiplied by the volume-weighted average price,
rounded
A-13
to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, of Parent Common Stock as
reported by Nasdaq for the five (5) trading days
immediately preceding the Closing Date.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the
First Step Merger and without any action on the part of Parent,
Merger Sub One, the Company, or the holders of any shares of
Company Common Stock, each share of Company Common Stock owned
by Parent, any Subsidiary of Parent or the Company (other than
shares in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like for the
benefit of customers, or shares held in satisfaction of a debt
previously contracted) (collectively, Cancelled Company
Shares), in each case as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be cancelled and extinguished without any
conversion thereof or consideration paid therefor.
(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, all shares of Company Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by
a stockholder who shall have neither voted in favor of the First
Step Merger nor consented thereto in writing and who shall have
properly and validly exercised such stockholders statutory
rights of appraisal in respect of such shares of Company Common
Stock in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL
(Dissenting Company Shares) shall not be
converted into, or represent the right to receive, the Merger
Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.7. Any such
stockholder shall be entitled to receive payment of the
appraised value of such Dissenting Company Shares in accordance
with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing,
all Dissenting Company Shares held by a stockholder who shall
have failed to perfect or who shall have effectively withdrawn
or lost such stockholders statutory right to appraisal of
such Dissenting Company Shares under such Section 262 of
the DGCL shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into,
and to have become exchangeable for, the right to receive the
Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, upon
surrender of the certificate or certificates that formerly
evidenced such shares of Company Common Stock in the manner set
forth in Section 2.9. The Company shall give Parent
(x) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal received by
the Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other
instruments served pursuant to Delaware Law and received by the
Company in respect of Dissenting Company Shares and (y) the
opportunity to direct and control all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under Delaware
Law in respect of Dissenting Company Shares. The Company shall
not, except with the prior written consent of Parent,
voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for
appraisal or settle or offer to settle any such demands for
payment in respect of Dissenting Company Shares.
2.8 Company Stock Awards.
(a) With respect to any awards of shares of Company Common
Stock that will be, immediately prior to the Effective Time,
unvested or subject to a repurchase option, risk of forfeiture
or other condition (including restrictions on transferability)
under any applicable restricted stock purchase agreement or
other agreement or arrangement with the Company
(Company Restricted Stock) that does not by
its terms provide that such repurchase option, risk of
forfeiture or other condition lapses upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, such Company Restricted Stock
shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, be
converted into restricted shares, on the same terms and
conditions as applied to each such share of Company Restricted
Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, with respect to
the number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock that is equal
to the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such
Company Restricted Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time
multiplied by the Option Exchange Ratio (rounded down to the
nearest whole share) (the Adjusted Restricted
Stock). The Adjusted Restricted Stock shall otherwise
remain subject to the terms governing the applicable Company
Stock Award evidencing the award of such Adjusted Restricted
Stock.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable Law and
Governmental Authorities, the Company shall make an offer to all
holders of Underwater Options outstanding under the Company
Option Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time, pursuant
to which the holder affirmatively would agree in writing to the
cancellation of all (but not less than all) of his or her
Underwater Options in exchange for the grant by the Company to
such holder of an award of restricted stock units (the
Option Exchange Program). The Company and the
Parent
A-14
shall work together in good faith to determine the terms and
conditions of both the Option Exchange Program and the
restricted stock units to be granted thereunder (the
Restricted Stock Units); provided,
however, that the Restricted Stock Units shall be exempt
from Section 409A of the Code; and, under all
circumstances, the acceptance and completion by the Company of
the Option Exchange Program shall occur immediately prior to the
Effective Time following the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VII.
(c) The Company shall, subject to and in accordance with
Section 6.6, seek stockholder approval (if required
by applicable Law) for (i) the Option Exchange Program,
(ii) amendment(s) to the applicable Company Option Plans or
approval of a new plan to permit the grant of Restricted Stock
Units to be issued pursuant to the Option Exchange Program; and
(iii) any increase in the share reserves of the applicable
Company Option Plans to ensure sufficient shares are available
to grant the Restricted Stock Units (collectively these
stockholder proposals are referred to hereinafter as the
Option Exchange Proposal).
(d) The Company shall perform its obligations under this
Section 2.8 in compliance with the applicable tender
offer rules of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The
terms and conditions of such a tender offer shall be subject to
the advance review and approval of Parent, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(e) At the Effective Time, each Company Option (including
any Underwater Option that is not cancelled pursuant to the
Option Exchange Program) that is outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested or exercisable
(each, an Assumed Option), shall be assumed
by Parent. In accordance with its terms and subject to the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, each Assumed
Option shall (i) be converted into an option to acquire
that number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the
product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option, and
(y) the Option Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest
whole share of Parent Common Stock, and (ii) have an
exercise price per share equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (x) the per share exercise price of Company Common
Stock subject to such Assumed Option, by (y) the Option
Exchange Ratio (which price per share shall be rounded up to the
nearest whole cent). Each Assumed Option shall otherwise be
subject to the same terms and conditions (including as to
vesting and exercisability) as were applicable under the
respective Company Option immediately prior to the Effective
Time. It is the intention of the parties that each Assumed
Option that qualified as an incentive stock option (as defined
in Section 422 of the Code) shall continue to so qualify,
to the maximum extent permissible, following the Effective Time.
(f) At the Effective Time, each Company Restricted Stock
Unit (which specifically shall include each Restricted Stock
Unit granted pursuant to the Option Exchange Program) that is
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
assumed by Parent (each, an Assumed Restricted Stock
Unit). In accordance with its terms, each Assumed
Restricted Stock Unit shall be converted into a restricted stock
unit to acquire that number of shares of Parent Common Stock
equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company
Restricted Stock Unit, and (y) the Option Exchange Ratio,
rounded down to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock.
Each Assumed Restricted Stock Unit shall otherwise be subject to
the same terms and conditions (including as to vesting) as were
applicable under the respective Company Restricted Stock Unit
immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(g) The Company shall take all actions necessary to
implement a program for Persons holding Company Options that are
or will be vested at any time prior to the Effective Time to
exercise such Company Options contingent upon the Closing;
provided, however, that in no event shall the
Company be obligated to recommend, request or require that any
such Company Options be exercised prior to the Effective Time.
(h) Prior to the Closing, and subject to prior review and
approval by Parent (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), the Company shall take all actions
necessary to effect the transactions anticipated by this
Section 2.8 under all Contracts relating to Company
Options, Restricted Stock Units and Company Restricted Stock
including specifically obtaining any required consents and
delivering all required notices.
(i) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if
consummation of the exchange offer in connection with the Option
Exchange Program contemplated by this Agreement requires
information regarding Parent that
A-15
Parent does not provide to the Company, then the Company shall
be released from all representations, warranties, covenants and
obligations under this Agreement expressly relating to the
Option Exchange Program or Option Exchange Proposal, including
under this Section 2.8, Article III and
Section 6.6.
2.9 Exchange Fund; Exchange of Shares.
(a) Exchange Fund.
(i) Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company reasonably
acceptable to the Company to act as the exchange agent for the
Merger (the Exchange Agent) pursuant to an
agreement reasonably acceptable to the Company entered into
prior to the date on which Parent and the Company disseminate
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
(ii) At or prior to the Closing, Parent shall deposit (or
cause to be deposited) with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit
of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, for exchange
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Article II, the following:
(A) a number of shares of Parent Common Stock sufficient to
issue all Stock Consideration issuable pursuant to
Section 2.7(b)(i);
(B) cash in an amount sufficient to pay all Cash
Consideration payable pursuant to
Section 2.7(b)(i); and
(C) cash in an amount sufficient to make all requisite
payments of cash in lieu of fractional shares payable pursuant
to Section 2.7(b)(iii) and any dividends or other
distributions which holders of shares of Company Common Stock
may be entitled pursuant to Section 2.9(c).
All shares of Parent Common Stock and cash deposited with the
Exchange Agent pursuant hereto shall hereinafter be referred to
as the Exchange Fund. Pursuant to irrevocable
instructions, the Exchange Agent shall promptly deliver the
Merger Consideration from the Exchange Fund to the former
Company stockholders who are entitled thereto pursuant to
Section 2.7.
(b) Exchange Procedures.
(i) Promptly following the Effective Time, Parent and
Merger Sub One shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each
holder of record (as of immediately prior to the Effective Time)
of a certificate that represented outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (a
Certificate), and each holder of record of
uncertificated shares of Company Common Stock represented by
book-entry shares (Book-Entry Shares) as of
immediately prior to the Effective Time, (A) a letter of
transmittal in customary form (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 (B) instructions for use in
effecting the surrender of Certificates (or Book-Entry Shares)
in exchange for the Merger Consideration issuable and payable in
respect thereof (in accordance with Section 2.7(b))
and any dividends or other distributions to which such holders
is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 2.9(c).
(ii) Upon surrender of Certificates for cancellation to the
Exchange Agent (or upon receipt of an appropriate agents
message in the case of Book-Entry Shares), together with a
letter of transmittal, properly completed and validly executed
in accordance with the instructions thereto, the holders of such
Certificates and Book-Entry Shares shall be entitled to receive
in exchange therefor (A) the number of whole shares of
Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all Certificates
surrendered by such holder of record) to which such holder is
entitled pursuant to Section 2.7(b) (which, at the
election of Parent, may be in uncertificated book entry form
unless a physical certificate is requested by the holder of
record or is otherwise required by applicable Law), (B) the
cash amounts such holders are entitled to receive pursuant to
Section 2.7(b), (C) the cash payable in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock such holder is entitled
to receive pursuant to Section 2.7(b)(iii), and
(D) any dividends or distributions to which such holders
are entitled pursuant to Section 2.9(c), and any
Certificates or Book-Entry Shares so surrendered shall forthwith
be canceled. The Exchange Agent shall accept such Certificates
and Book-Entry Shares upon compliance with such reasonable terms
and conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an
orderly
A-16
exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices.
No interest shall be paid or accrued for the benefit of holders
of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares on any cash amounts
payable upon the surrender of such Certificates or Book-Entry
Shares pursuant to this Section 2.9. Until so
surrendered, outstanding Certificates and Book-Entry Shares
shall be deemed, from and after the Effective Time, to evidence
only the right to receive the Merger Consideration issuable and
payable in respect thereof and any dividends or distributions
payable or issuable in respect thereof pursuant to
Section 2.9(c). Exchange of Book-Entry Shares shall
be effected in accordance with the customary procedures in
respect of shares represented by book entry on the stock ledger
of the Company.
(c) Dividends and Other
Distributions. No dividends or other
distributions declared or made after the date hereof with
respect to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the
Effective Time, and no payment in lieu of fractional shares
pursuant to Section 2.7(b)(iii), will be paid to the
holders of any unsurrendered Certificates or Book-Entry Shares
with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock represented
thereby until the holders of record of such Certificates or
Book-Entry Shares shall surrender such Certificates or
Book-Entry Shares in accordance with the terms of
Section 2.9(b). Subject to applicable Law, promptly
following the surrender of any such Certificates, the Exchange
Agent shall deliver to the record holders thereof, without
interest, any dividends or other distributions with a record
date after the Effective Time and theretofore paid with respect
to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock and, at the
appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date after the Effective Time and a
payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect
to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock.
(d) Transfers of Ownership. In the
event that shares of Parent Common Stock are to be issued in a
name other than that in which the Certificates surrendered in
exchange therefor are registered (including as a result of a
transfer of ownership of shares of Company Common Stock that has
not been registered in the stock transfer books or ledger of the
Company), it will be a condition of the issuance of such shares
of Parent Common Stock that the Certificates so surrendered are
properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for surrender and
transfer and the Person requesting such payment has paid to
Parent (or any agent designated by Parent) any transfer or other
Taxes required by reason of the issuance of shares of Parent
Common Stock in any name other than that of the registered
holder of the Certificates surrendered, or established to the
satisfaction of Parent (or any agent designated by Parent) that
such transfer or other Taxes have been paid or are otherwise not
payable.
(e) Required Withholding. Each of
the Exchange Agent, Parent and the Final Surviving Corporation
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration
payable or otherwise deliverable pursuant to this Agreement to
any holder or former holder of shares of Company Common Stock
such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld
therefrom under United States federal or state, local or foreign
law. To the extent that such amounts are so deducted or
withheld, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under
this Agreement as having been paid to the Person to whom such
amounts would otherwise have been paid.
(f) No Liability. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of
the Exchange Agent, Parent, the Interim Surviving Corporation,
the Final Surviving Corporation or any other party hereto shall
be liable to a holder of shares of Parent Common Stock or
Company Common Stock for any amount properly paid to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat
or similar Laws.
(g) Termination of Exchange
Fund. At the request of Parent, any portion
of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed or unclaimed on
the date that is six (6) months immediately following the
Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, and any holders of
the Certificates who have not theretofore surrendered
Certificates in compliance with this Section 2.9
shall thereafter look only to Parent for issuance or payment of
the Merger Consideration issuable and payable in respect thereto
pursuant to Section 2.7(b) and issuance and payment
of any dividends or other distributions payable or issuable in
respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.9(c). Any
portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed or
unclaimed as of immediately prior to such time as such amounts
would otherwise escheat to or become property of any
Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable Law, become the property of Parent, free and clear of
any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
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2.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common
Stock. Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.7, from and after the Effective Time, all
shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding
and shall automatically be cancelled, retired and cease to
exist, and each holder of a Certificate theretofore representing
any shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
Merger Consideration issuable and payable in respect thereof
pursuant to Section 2.7(b) and any dividends or
other distributions issuable or payable in respect thereof
pursuant to Section 2.9(c) upon the surrender
thereof in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.9. The Merger Consideration issued upon
the surrender for exchange of shares of Company Common Stock in
accordance with the terms hereof (including any cash paid in
respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.7(a) and
Section 2.9(c)), or with respect to the Assumed
Restricted Stock, shall be deemed to have been issued in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company
Common Stock, and there shall be no further registration of
transfers on the records of the Interim Surviving Corporation of
shares of Company Common Stock which were outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective
Time, Certificates are presented to Parent, the Interim
Surviving Corporation or the Final Surviving Corporation for any
reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this
Article II.
2.11 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates. In the event that any
Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the
Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the holder thereof, the Merger Consideration that is
issuable and payable in respect thereof pursuant to
Section 2.7(b) and any dividends or distributions
issuable or payable in respect thereof pursuant to
Section 2.9(c); provided, however, that
Parent
and/or the
Exchange Agent may, in its discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owners of such
lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates to deliver a bond in such
sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim
that may be made against Parent, the Interim Surviving
Corporation, the Final Surviving Corporation or the Exchange
Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed.
2.12 Tax Treatment. The Integrated
Merger is intended to constitute a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Parent
and the Company intend that the First Step Merger and the Second
Step Merger will constitute integrated steps in a single
plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treas.
Reg. § 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3, which plan of
reorganization the parties adopt by executing this Agreement.
2.13 Taking of Necessary Further
Action. If, at any time after the Effective
Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Interim Surviving
Corporation or the Final Surviving Corporation with full right,
title and possession to all assets, property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub
One, the directors and officers of the Company and Merger Sub
One shall take all such lawful and necessary action. If, at any
time after the effective time of the Second Step Merger, any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Final Surviving
Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets,
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the
Interim Surviving Corporation and Merger Sub Two, the directors
and officers of the Interim Surviving Corporation and Merger Sub
Two shall take all such lawful and necessary action.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by the
Company to Parent dated as of the date hereof (the
Company Disclosure Schedule), which expressly
identifies the Section (and, if applicable, subsection) to which
such exception relates (it being understood and hereby agreed
that any disclosure set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule
relating to one Section or subsection of this Agreement shall
also apply to any other Sections and subsections of this
Agreement if and solely to the extent that it is reasonably
apparent on the face of such disclosure (without reference to
the underlying documents referenced therein) that such
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disclosure also relates to such other Sections or subsections),
the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent, Merger Sub
One and Merger Sub Two as follows:
3.1 Organization and Standing. The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under Delaware Law. The Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its respective
business as it is presently being conducted and to own, lease or
operate its respective properties and assets. The Company is
duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or
leased or the nature of its activities make such qualification
necessary (to the extent the good standing concept
is applicable in the case of any jurisdiction outside the United
States), except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company has
delivered or made available to Parent complete and correct
copies of (a) the certificates of incorporation and bylaws
of the Company, in each case as in effect on the date hereof,
and (b) all actions taken by written consent and all
minutes (or, in the case of draft minutes or written consents,
the most recent drafts thereof) of all meetings of the
stockholders, the Company Board and each committee of the
Company Board since January 1, 2006. The Company is not in
material violation of its certificate of incorporation or
bylaws, and the Company has not violated its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws in any material respect since
January 1, 2006.
3.2 Corporate Approvals.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder, and subject to obtaining the Requisite
Merger Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company other
than, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, obtaining
the Requisite Merger Approval, and no additional corporate or
other actions or proceedings on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by Parent, Merger Sub One
and Merger Sub Two, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting or relating to
creditors rights generally and is subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) At a meeting duly called and held on January 7,
2009, the Company Board unanimously (i) determined that
this Agreement is advisable, (ii) determined that this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are fair to,
and in the best interests of, the Company stockholders,
(iii) approved this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, and (iv) resolved to recommend that
the stockholders of the Company approve the Merger Proposal at
the Company Stockholder Meeting. As of the date hereof, the
Company Board has not rescinded or modified in any way the
foregoing determinations and actions.
(c) Assuming that the representations of Parent and the
Merger Subs set forth in Section 4.12 are accurate,
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, voting together as a
class, in favor of the Merger Proposal (the Requisite
Merger Approval) is the only vote of the holders of
any class or series of Company Capital Stock necessary (under
applicable Laws or otherwise) to adopt this Agreement and
consummate the Merger. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock,
voting together as a class, in favor of the Option Exchange
Proposal (the Requisite Option Exchange
Approval) is the only vote of the holders of any class
or series of Company Capital Stock necessary (under applicable
Laws or otherwise) to consummate the Option Exchange Program.
3.3 Non-contravention; Required Consents.
(a) The execution, delivery or performance by the Company
of this Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby and the compliance by the
Company with any of the terms
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hereof do not and will not (i) violate or conflict with any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other
equivalent constituent documents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) subject to obtaining such Consents set
forth in Section 3.3(a)(ii) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, violate, conflict with, or result in the
breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice
or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or
result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance
required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration
under, any Contract to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets may be bound,
(iii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in
Section 3.3(b) and, in the case of the consummation
of the Merger, subject to obtaining the Requisite Merger
Approval, violate or conflict with any Law or Order applicable
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any of
their properties or assets are bound or (iv) result in the
creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of each
of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, for such
violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations,
accelerations or Liens which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(b) No consent, approval, Order or authorization of, or
filing or registration with, or notification to (any of the
foregoing being a Consent), any Governmental
Authority is required on the part of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby, except (i) the filing and recordation of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware, (ii) such filings and approvals as may be
required by any U.S. federal, state or
non-U.S. securities
laws or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, federal
commodity futures laws, or rules of a self-regulatory
organization, including compliance with any applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act, the Advisers Act, the CEA, or
the rules of FINRA or the NFA, (iii) such filings, notices
and approvals as may be required by any Canadian provincial or
territorial securities laws or securities regulators or rules of
IIROC or other self-regulatory organizations,
(iv) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR
Act and any applicable foreign antitrust, competition or merger
control laws and (v) such other Consents, the failure of
which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.4 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
(i) one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of Company
Common Stock, and (ii) one million (1,000,000) shares of
Company Preferred Stock. As of the close of business on
January 6, 2009 (the Capitalization
Date): (A) 66,760,578 shares of Company
Common Stock were issued and outstanding, of which 191,775 were
unvested and subject to a right of repurchase as of such date,
(B) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding and (C) there were no shares of Company Capital
Stock held by the Company as treasury shares. Since the close of
business on the Capitalization Date, the Company has not issued
or authorized the issuance of any shares of Company Capital
Stock other than pursuant to the exercise of Company Options
granted under a Company Option Plan in compliance with the terms
of this Agreement. All outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid, nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights.
(b) The Company has reserved 5,109,874 shares of
Company Common Stock for issuance under the thinkorswim Group
Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Option Plan. As of
the close of business on the Capitalization Date, with respect
to the Company Option Plans, there were outstanding Company
Options to purchase or otherwise acquire 5,505,591 shares
of Company Common Stock, of which 3,159,161 were exercisable as
of such date and, since such date, the Company has not granted,
committed to grant or otherwise created or assumed any
obligation with respect to any Company Options or Company
Restricted Stock, other than as permitted by
Section 5.1. The exercise price of each Company
Option is no less than the fair market value of a share of
Company Common Stock on the date of grant of such Company
Option. All grants of Company Options and shares of Company
Restricted Stock were validly issued and properly approved by
the Company Board in accordance with all applicable Laws and the
Employee Plans and no such grants involved any
backdating or similar practices with respect to the
effective date of grant.
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(c) Except as set forth in this Section 3.4,
there are (i) no outstanding shares of capital stock of, or
other equity or voting interest in, the Company, (ii) no
outstanding securities of the Company convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interest in, the Company, (iii) no outstanding
options, warrants, rights or other commitments or agreements to
acquire from the Company, or that obligates the Company to
issue, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest
in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest
in, the Company, (iv) no obligations of the Company to
grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right,
convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement
or commitment relating to any capital stock of, or other equity
or voting interest (including any voting debt) in, the Company
(the items in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), together
with the capital stock of the Company, being referred to
collectively as Company Securities) and
(v) no other obligations by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to make any payments based on the price or value of
any Company Securities. There are no outstanding agreements of
any kind which obligate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company
Securities. Section 3.4(c) Part 1 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to each
outstanding Company Option, the name of the holder of such
option, the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of such option, the exercise price of such
option, the date on which such option was granted, the vesting
schedule for such option (including any acceleration provisions
with respect thereto), including the extent unvested and vested
to date, and whether such option is intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the
Code. Section 3.4(c) Part 2 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to each holder of
Company Restricted Stock, the name of the holder of such award,
the number of shares of Company Restricted Stock held by such
holder, the repurchase price of such Company Restricted Stock,
the date on which such Company Restricted Stock was purchased or
granted, the applicable vesting schedule pursuant to which the
Companys right of repurchase or forfeiture lapses, and the
extent to which such Company right of repurchase or forfeiture
has lapsed as of the date hereof. There are no commitments or
agreements of any character to which the Company is bound
obligating Company to waive its right of repurchase or
forfeiture with respect to any Company Restricted Stock as a
result of the Merger (whether alone or upon the occurrence of
any additional or subsequent events).
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to any agreement restricting the transfer of, relating to
the voting of, requiring registration of, or granting any
preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights or rights of first
refusal or similar rights with respect to any securities of the
Company.
3.5 Subsidiaries.
(a) Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of the name and
jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary of the Company
and includes details of their capitalization, shareholders and
registrations with commercial registers. Except for the
Subsidiaries, securities and other interests held in a fiduciary
capacity and beneficially owned by third parties, the Company
does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or
other equity or voting interest in, any Person, other than
capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, any
Person that represents less than one percent (1%) of the issued
and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interests in, such Person.
(b) Each of the Companys Subsidiaries is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its respective organization (to the
extent the good standing concept is applicable in
the case of any jurisdiction outside the United States). Each of
the Companys Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate or
other applicable power and authority to carry on its respective
business as it is presently being conducted and to own, lease or
operate its respective properties and assets. Each of the
Companys Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of
its properties owned or leased or the nature of its activities
make such qualification necessary (to the extent the good
standing concept is applicable in the case of any
jurisdiction outside the United States), except where the
failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company. The Company has delivered or made available to
Parent complete and correct copies of the certificate of
incorporation and bylaws or other equivalent constituent
documents, as amended to date, of each of the Companys
Subsidiaries. None of the Companys Subsidiaries is in
violation of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
applicable constituent governing documents,
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and none of the Companys Subsidiaries has violated its
certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other applicable
constituent governing documents since January 1, 2006, in
each case except such violations that would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.
(c) All of the outstanding capital stock of, or other
equity or voting interest in, each Subsidiary of the Company
(i) have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully
paid and nonassessable and (ii) are owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company, free and clear of all Liens other
than restrictions on transfer imposed by applicable Law.
(d) There are no outstanding (i) securities of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company,
(ii) options, warrants, rights or other commitments or
agreements to acquire from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or that obligate the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interest in, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interest in, any Subsidiary of the Company,
(iii) obligations of the Company to grant, extend or enter
into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or
exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment
relating to any capital stock of, or other equity or voting
interest (including any voting debt) in, any Subsidiary of the
Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), together
with the capital stock of the Subsidiaries of the Company, being
referred to collectively as Subsidiary
Securities) or (iv) other obligations by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payments based on
the price or value of any Subsidiary Securities. There are no
outstanding agreements of any kind which obligate the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any outstanding Subsidiary Securities.
3.6 SEC Reports; Other Reports.
(a) The Company has filed all forms, reports and documents
with the SEC that have been required to be filed by it under
applicable Laws since January 1, 2006 and prior to the date
hereof, and the Company will file prior to the Effective Time
all forms, reports and documents with the SEC that are required
to be filed or furnished by it under applicable Laws prior to
such time (all such forms, reports and documents, together with
any other forms, reports or other documents filed or furnished
by the Company with the SEC on or prior to the Effective Time
that are not required to be so filed, the Company SEC
Reports). Each Company SEC Report complied, or will
comply, as the case may be, as of its filing date, in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Advisers Act, as the
case may be, each as in effect on the date such Company SEC
Report was, or will be, filed. True and correct copies of all
Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, whether or
not required under applicable Laws, have been furnished to
Parent or are publicly available in the Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) and IARD databases of
the SEC. As of its filing date (or, if amended or superseded by
a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, on the date of
such amended or superseding filing), each Company SEC Report did
not and will not contain, as the case may be, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. None of the Companys Subsidiaries is required
to file any forms, reports or other documents with the SEC. No
executive officer of the Company has failed to make the
certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to any Company SEC
Report, except as disclosed in certifications filed with the
Company SEC Reports. Neither the Company nor any of its
executive officers has received notice from any Governmental
Authority challenging or questioning the accuracy, completeness,
form or manner of filing of such certifications. There are no
outstanding written comments from the SEC with respect to any of
the Company SEC Reports.
(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely
filed all material reports, registrations and statements,
together with any amendments required to be made with respect
thereto, that they were required to file since January 1,
2006, with any Governmental Authority (other than the SEC) and
have paid all material fees and assessments due and payable in
connection therewith.
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3.7 Financial Statements and Controls.
(a) The consolidated financial statements of the Company
and its Subsidiaries filed in or furnished with the Company SEC
Reports complied, and in the case of consolidated financial
statements to be filed in or furnished in Company SEC Reports
after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects
with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto and they have been or will be, as the case may be,
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the
periods and at the dates involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto and, in the case of unaudited interim
financial statements, as may be permitted by the SEC for
Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q),
and fairly present in all material respects, or will fairly
present in all material respects, as the case may be, the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended,
subject, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements,
to normal and year-end audit adjustments as permitted by GAAP
and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and any
other adjustments expressly described therein, including the
notes thereto.
(b) The Company has established, and maintains and
enforces, a system of internal accounting controls which are
effective in providing reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements in accordance with GAAP, including policies
and procedures that (i) require the maintenance of records
that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts
and expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries are being
made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of
management and the Company Board and (iii) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of
the Company and its Subsidiaries that could have a material
effect on the Companys financial statements. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor the Companys
independent auditors has identified or been made aware of
(A) any significant deficiency or material weakness (as
defined in
Rule 13a-15-15(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act) in the system of internal
accounting controls utilized by the Company and its
Subsidiaries, (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves the Companys management or other employees who
have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the
internal accounting controls utilized by the Company and its
Subsidiaries or (C) any claim or allegation regarding any
of the foregoing.
(c) The Company has established and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as such terms are defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
or
Rule 15d-15(e)
promulgated under the Exchange Act) to ensure that information
required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it
files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SECs rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated
to the Companys management to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint
venture, partnership agreement or any similar Contract
(including any Contract relating to any transaction, arrangement
or relationship between or among the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate,
including any structured finance, special purpose or limited
purpose entity or Person, on the other hand (such as any
arrangement described in Section 303(a)(4) of
Regulation S-K
of the SEC)) where the purpose or effect of such arrangement is
to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving the
Company or any its Subsidiaries in the Companys
consolidated financial statements.
(e) Since January 1, 2006, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Companys Knowledge, any
director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant, consultant or
representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
received or otherwise had or obtained Knowledge of any
substantive complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether
written or oral, that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices. Since
January 1, 2006, no current or former attorney representing
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has reported evidence of
a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary
duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its officers,
directors, employees
A-23
or agents to the Company Board or any committee thereof or to
any director or executive officer of the Company.
(f) To the Companys Knowledge, no employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has provided or is providing
information to any law enforcement agency regarding the
commission or possible commission of any crime or the violation
or possible violation of any applicable Laws of the type
described in Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any
director, officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor or agent
of the Company or any such Subsidiary has discharged, demoted,
suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner
discriminated against an employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in the terms and conditions of employment because
of any lawful act of such employee described in Section 806
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(g) The Company is in compliance in all material respects
with all effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the
applicable listing and corporate governance rules of Nasdaq.
3.8 No Undisclosed
Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has any material Liabilities other than
(a) Liabilities reflected or otherwise reserved against in
the Balance Sheet (including the notes thereto and the notes to
the financial statements included in the annual report on the
Companys
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the
SEC) as filed with the SEC, (b) Liabilities incurred after
the date of the Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (c) Liabilities under this
Agreement, or (d) Liabilities that are executory
obligations under Contracts to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is or may hereafter become a party or is or may
hereafter become bound (other than Liabilities thereunder due to
breaches by the Company or any of it Subsidiaries of the terms
set forth therein).
3.9 Absence of Certain Changes.
(a) Since the date of the Balance Sheet, there has not been
or occurred any event, development, change, circumstance or
condition that would have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(b) Since the date of the Balance Sheet through the date of
this Agreement, except for actions expressly contemplated by
this Agreement, the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has been conducted, in all material respects, in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice, and there has not been or
occurred:
(i) any split, combination or reclassification of any
shares of capital stock, declaration, setting aside or paying of
any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, shares or
property or any combination thereof) in respect of any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary other than cash
dividends made by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to
the Company or one of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss
(whether or not covered by insurance) with respect to any assets
that, individually or in the aggregate, are material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) any change in any method of accounting or accounting
principles or practice, or Tax election, by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, except for any such change required by
reason of a change in GAAP or regulatory accounting principles;
(iv) any amendment of the Companys or any
Subsidiarys certificate of incorporation or bylaws or
other constituent documents;
(v) any acquisition, redemption or amendment of any Company
Securities or Subsidiary Securities, other than any acquisition
or redemption permitted by the terms of the Company Stock Award;
(vi) any incurrence or assumption of any long-term or
short-term debt for borrowed money or issuance of any debt
securities by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except for
short-term debt incurred to fund operations of the business or
owed to the Company or any of its wholly-owned
A-24
Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (ii) any assumption,
guarantee or endorsement of the obligations of any other Person
(except direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the
Company) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(iii) any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or
other investment in, any other Person by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (other than loans or advances to employees or
direct or indirect loans, advances or capital contributions to
indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries, in each case in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice) or
(iv) any mortgage or pledge of the Companys or any of
its Subsidiaries assets, tangible or intangible, or any
creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) thereupon;
(vii) any plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than among wholly-owned Subsidiaries
of the Company and other than the Merger); or
(viii) any granting by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any increase in compensation or fringe benefits,
except for normal increases of cash compensation in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice to any current
or future employee whose base salary does not exceed $150,000
per annum, or any payment by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any bonus, except for bonuses made in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (other
than to directors or executive officers of the Company), or any
granting by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any
increase in severance or termination pay or any entry by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries into any currently effective
employment, severance, termination or indemnification agreement
or any agreement the benefits of which are contingent or the
terms of which are materially altered upon the occurrence of a
transaction involving the Company of the nature contemplated
hereby (other than offer letters and letter agreements entered
into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice with current or future employees who are not officers
and are terminable at will without the Company or
its Subsidiaries incurring any material liability or financial
obligation).
3.10 Compliance with Laws and
Orders. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all
Laws and Orders applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries, or
any of the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the conduct of the
business or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
3.11 Permits.
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have, and are in
compliance with the terms of, all permits, licenses,
authorizations, consents, approvals and franchises from
Governmental Authorities required to conduct their businesses as
currently conducted (Permits), and no
suspension or cancellation of any such Permits is pending or, to
the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, except for such
noncompliance, suspensions or cancellations that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.
(b) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their
respective directors, officers, employees and other persons who
are required to be registered, licensed or qualified as
(x) a broker-dealer, an investment adviser, or an
introducing broker or (y) a registered principal,
registered representative, investment adviser representative,
associated person, or salesperson with the SEC, the CFTC or
Canadian provincial or territorial securities regulators (or in
equivalent capacities with any other Governmental Authority) are
duly registered, licensed or qualified as such and such
registrations, licenses or qualifications are in full force and
effect, or are in the process of being registered, licensed or
qualified as such within the time periods required by applicable
Law, except for such failures to be so registered, licensed or
qualified as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company and its
Subsidiaries and each of their respective directors, officers,
and employees, and other persons are in compliance with all
applicable federal, state, provincial and foreign laws requiring
any such registration, licensing or qualification, have filed
all periodic reports required to be filed with respect thereto
(and all such reports are accurate and complete in all material
respects), and are not subject to any liability or disability by
reason of the failure to be so registered, licensed or
qualified, except for such failures to be so registered,
licensed or qualified, failures with respect to such reports and
such liabilities or disabilities as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
A-25
(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries have timely filed all
material registrations, declarations, reports, notices, forms
and other filings required to be filed with the SEC, CFTC,
FINRA, NFA, IIROC, OSC, other applicable Canadian
provincial and territorial securities regulators, any clearing
agency or other Governmental Authority, and all amendments or
supplements to any of the foregoing (the Regulatory
Filings). The Regulatory Filings are in full force and
effect and were prepared in accordance with applicable Law, and
all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith
have been paid in a timely manner. There is no material
unresolved criticism, violation or exception by any Governmental
Authority with respect to any of the Regulatory Filings.
(d) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent a
true, correct and complete copy of (i) the currently
effective Forms ADV, BD or 7-R as filed with or deemed
filed with the SEC or the NFA, as applicable, by each Subsidiary
of the Company required to file such forms, (ii) all state,
provincial and other federal registration forms applicable to
such Subsidiary as a registered investment adviser,
broker-dealer or introducing broker, and (iii) all reports
and all material correspondence filed by each Subsidiary with
any Governmental Authority under the Exchange Act, the
Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act and under similar state
or foreign Laws. The information contained in such forms was
complete and accurate as of the time of filing thereof, except
where any failure to be so complete and accurate would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.
(e) Except as (x) would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
(y) disclosed on the Forms ADV, BD or 7-R of the
Company or its applicable Subsidiary as in effect as of the date
of this Agreement: (i) none of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their directors, officers, employees,
associated persons (as defined in the Exchange Act),
persons associated with an investment adviser (as
defined in the Advisers Act), or affiliated persons
(as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the
Investment Company Act)) has been or is the
subject of any disciplinary proceedings or orders of any
Governmental Authority arising under applicable Laws which would
be required to be disclosed on Forms ADV or BD and no
material disciplinary proceeding or order is pending or
threatened, (ii) none of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, associated persons or affiliated persons, has been
permanently enjoined by the order of any Governmental Authority
from engaging or continuing any conduct or practice in
connection with any activity or in connection with the purchase
or sale of any security, and (iii) none of the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors,
officers, employees, associated persons or affiliated persons is
or has been ineligible to serve as an investment adviser under
the Advisers Act (including pursuant to Section 203(e) or
(f) thereof) or as a broker, a dealer or an associated
person of a broker or dealer under Section 15(b) of the
Exchange Act (including being subject to any statutory
disqualification as defined in Section 3(a)(39) of
the Exchange Act), or ineligible to serve in, or subject to any
disqualification which would be the basis for any limitation on
serving in, any of the capacities specified in Section 9(a)
or 9(b) of the Investment Company Act or any substantially
equivalent foreign expulsion, suspension or disqualification.
(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries have at all times
since January 1, 2004, rendered investment advisory
services to investment advisory clients with whom such entity is
or was a party to an investment advisory agreement or similar
arrangement in compliance with all applicable requirements as to
portfolio composition or portfolio management including, but not
limited to, the terms of such investment advisory agreements,
written instructions from such investment advisory clients,
prospectuses or other offering materials, board or directors or
trustee directives and applicable Law. There are no disputes
pending or threatened with any current or former investment
advisory clients under the terms of any investment advisory
agreement or similar arrangement.
(g) Section 3.11(g) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries a complete and accurate list of all
(i) broker-dealer licenses or registrations, (ii) all
licenses and registrations as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act, applicable Canadian provincial and territorial
securities law or any similar state or foreign laws and
(iii) all licenses and registrations as an introducing
broker under the CEA or any similar state or foreign Laws.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
A-26
is, or is required to be, registered as a futures commission
merchant, commodities trading adviser or commodity pool operator
under the CEA or any similar state laws.
3.12 Litigation; Orders; Regulatory
Agreements.
(a) Except for any Legal Proceeding challenging or seeking
to prohibit the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened (or, to the Knowledge of
the Company, any pending or threatened investigation by any
Governmental Authority) (i) against the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that
(A) involves, or would be reasonably expected to involve,
damages or settlement payments in excess of $250,000 or any
non-monetary settlement, (B) seeks material injunctive
relief, or (C) that would, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or
(ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, against any current
or former director or officer of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (in their respective capacities as such), whether
or not naming the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As of the
date hereof, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of the Company, against
any current or former director or officer of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (in their respective capacities as such)
challenging or seeking to prohibit the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement or consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
subject to any outstanding Order, other than any Order that is
generally applicable to Persons engaged in the businesses
engaged in by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
subject to any Company Regulatory Agreement that restricts, or
by its terms will in the future restrict, the conduct of its
business in any material respect or that in any manner relates
to its capital adequacy, its credit or risk management policies,
its dividend policies, its management, its business or its
operations. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries has been advised by any Governmental
Authority that it is considering issuing or requesting (or is
considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any
Company Regulatory Agreement.
3.13 Material Contracts.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, a Material
Contract shall mean all of the following Contracts to
and by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or is bound:
(i) any material contract (as such term is
defined in Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K
of the SEC, other than those agreements and arrangements
described in Item 601(b)(10)(iii)) with respect to the
Company and its Subsidiaries;
(ii) any employment, independent contractor or consulting
Contract (in each case, under which the Company has continuing
obligations as of the date hereof) with any current or former
executive officer, independent contractor or employee of the
Company or its Subsidiaries or member of the Company Board
providing for an annual base compensation in excess of $250,000
other than Contracts with contractors that can be terminated
without penalty upon notice of ninety (90) days or less;
(iii) any Contract or plan, including the Company Stock
Plans or any stock purchase plan, any of the benefits of which
will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will be
accelerated, by the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or the value of any of the benefits of which
will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv) any material Contract for the performance of clearing,
brokerage or execution services, and any other Contract for the
performance of clearing, brokerage or execution services that
differs in any material respect from the Companys standard
form contracts identified in Section 3.13(a)(iv) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule which have been made available
to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement;
A-27
(v) any material Contract for the performance of investment
advisory services, and any other Contract for the performance of
investment advisory services that differs in any material
respect from the Companys standard form contracts
identified in Section 3.13(a)(v) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule which have been made available to Parent
prior to the date of this Agreement;
(vi) any Contract providing for material indemnification or
any guaranty of third party obligations (in each case, under
which the Company has continuing obligations as of the date
hereof), other than any guaranty by the Company of any of its
Subsidiarys obligations;
(vii) any Contract containing any covenant
(A) limiting the right of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or to compete
with any Person in any line of business, (B) granting any
exclusive rights to a third party, (C) prohibiting the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, after the Closing Date,
Parent or the Final Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective Subsidiaries) from engaging in business with any
Person or levying a fine, charge or other payment for doing so
or (D) otherwise prohibiting or limiting the right of the
Company or its Subsidiaries to distribute or offer any products
or services, in each case other than any such Contracts that may
be cancelled without material liability to the Company or its
Subsidiaries upon notice of ninety (90) days or less;
(viii) any Contract (A) relating to the disposition or
acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the
date of this Agreement of a material amount of assets other than
in the ordinary course of business or (B) pursuant to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will acquire any material
ownership interest in any other Person or other business
enterprise other than the Companys Subsidiaries;
(ix) the top five (5) dealer, distributor, joint
marketing or development Contracts (as measured by continuing
annual costs to be incurred by, and annual fees to be paid by,
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) to develop or market any
product, technology or service, and which may not be canceled
without material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries
upon notice of ninety (90) days or less;
(x) any IP License, development agreement or other Contract
involving material Company Intellectual Property;
(xi) any Contract (A) containing any material
financial penalty for the failure by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to comply with any support or maintenance
obligation or (B) containing any obligation to provide
support or maintenance for the Company Products for any period
in excess of twelve (12) months, other than those
obligations that are terminable by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries on no more than ninety (90) days notice
without material liability or financial obligation to the
Company or its Subsidiaries;
(xii) any mortgages, indentures, guarantees, loans or
credit agreements, security agreements or other Contracts
relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit, other
than accounts receivables and payables in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(xiii) any Contract entered into since January 1, 2006
to settle a Legal Proceeding, other than (A) releases
immaterial in nature or amount entered into with former
employees or independent contractors of the Company in the
ordinary course of business or (B) settlement agreements
for cash only (which has been paid or is reserved for on the
Balance Sheet) and does not exceed $250,000 as to such
settlement;
(xiv) any Contract which grants any right of first refusal,
right of first offer or similar right with respect to any
material assets, rights or properties of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries;
(xv) any Contract which limits the payment of dividends by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xvi) any Contract which relates to a joint venture,
partnership, limited liability company agreement, revenue
sharing or other similar agreement or arrangement with third
parties, or to the formation, creation or operation, management
or control of any partnership or joint venture with any third
parties;
A-28
(xvii) any Contract which relates to an acquisition,
divestiture, merger or similar transaction and which contains
any material obligations (including indemnification,
earn-out or other contingent obligations) that are
still in effect; and
(xviii) any other Contract that provides for payment
obligations by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
$500,000 or more in any individual case that is not terminable
by the Company or its Subsidiaries upon notice of ninety
(90) days or less without material liability to the Company
or its Subsidiary and is not disclosed pursuant to
clauses (i) through (xvii) above.
(b) Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list, as of the date
hereof, of all Material Contracts.
(c) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the
Company (and/or each such Subsidiary of the Company party
thereto) and is in full force and effect, and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries party thereto, nor, to the
Knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, is in breach
of, or default under, any such Material Contract, and no event
has occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would
constitute such a breach or default thereunder by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
any other party thereto, except for such failures to be in full
force and effect and such breaches and defaults that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.
3.14 Taxes.
(a) Since January 1, 2004, all material Tax Returns
required by applicable Laws to be filed by or on behalf of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been filed in accordance
with all applicable laws, and all such Tax Returns are true,
correct and complete in all material respects.
(b) Since January 1, 2004, the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has paid (or has had paid on its behalf) or has
withheld and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority
all material Taxes (including income Taxes, withholding Taxes
and estimated Taxes) due and payable without regard to whether
such Taxes have been assessed, or has established in accordance
with GAAP an adequate accrual for all Taxes (including Taxes
that are not yet due or payable) through the end of the last
period for which the Company and its Subsidiaries ordinarily
record items on their respective books, and regardless of
whether the liability for such Taxes is disputed. The Company
has identified all uncertain tax positions contained in all Tax
Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and has
established adequate reserves and made any appropriate
disclosures in the most recent consolidated financial statements
of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the Company SEC
Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement in accordance
with the requirements of Financial Interpretation No. 48 of
FASB Statement No. 109. The Company has made available to
Parent complete and accurate copies of all income, franchise,
non-U.S. and
other material Tax Returns, and any amendments thereto, filed by
or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
member of a group of corporations including the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries for any taxable years commencing after
January 1, 2004.
(c) There are no Liens on the assets of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries relating or attributable to material Taxes,
other than Permitted Liens.
(d) There are no Legal Proceedings pending, or to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or with respect to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any
material Tax, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
knows of any audit or investigation with respect to any
Liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for material
Taxes, and there are no agreements, arrangements, waivers or
objections in effect to extend the period of limitations for the
assessment or collection of any material Tax for which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be liable.
(e) Since January 1, 2004, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have not executed any closing agreement pursuant to
Section 7121 of the Code or any predecessor provision
thereof, or any similar Laws.
(f) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has disclosed
on its Tax Returns for all taxable years for which the
applicable statute of limitations has not expired all positions
taken therein that could give rise to a
A-29
substantial understatement of federal income Tax within the
meaning of Section 6662 of the Code or any similar Laws.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have
(i) ever been a party to a Contract or inter-company
account system in existence under which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries has, or may at any time in the future have, an
obligation to contribute to the payment of any material portion
of a Tax (or pay any material amount calculated with reference
to any portion of a Tax) of any group of corporations of which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was a part (other
than a group the common parent of which is the Company) (other
than pursuant to customary commercial contracts not primarily
related to Taxes) and (ii) any Liability for material Taxes
of any Person (other than the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of state, local or
non-U.S. law,
including any arrangement for group or consortium relief or
similar arrangement) as a transferee or successor, by operation
of law, by contract or otherwise.
(h) No written claim has been made during the past three
(3) years by any appropriate Governmental Authority in a
jurisdiction where neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries filed Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to
any taxation by that jurisdiction.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
participated or engaged in transactions that constitute
reportable transactions as such term is defined in
Treasury Regulations
Section 1.6011-4(b)(1)
(other than such transactions that have been properly reported
or are not yet required to have been reported), including any
listed transactions as such term is defined in
Treasury Regulations
Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
agreed or is required to make any material adjustments pursuant
to Section 481(a) of the Code or any similar Laws by reason
of a change in accounting method initiated by it or any other
relevant party and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any Knowledge that the appropriate Governmental
Authority has proposed any such adjustment or change in
accounting method, nor is any application pending with any
appropriate Governmental Authority requesting permission for any
changes in accounting methods that relate to the business or
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent
that any such adjustments would be required to be made for any
taxable period (or portion thereof) after the Closing Date.
(k) 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 Closing Date as a
result of (i) any installment sale or open transaction
disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) any
prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date or
(iii) deferred intercompany gain or excess loss account
under Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code
(or any similar Laws) in connection with a transaction
consummated prior to the Closing.
(l) The Company is not a United States Real Property
Holding Corporations within the meaning of Section 897 of
the Code and was not a United States Real Property Holding
Corporation on any determination date (as defined in
§ 1.897-2(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations
promulgated under the Code) that occurred in the five-year
period preceding the Closing.
(m) (i) There is no contract, agreement, plan or
arrangement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, including the provisions of this Agreement, covering any
employee, consultant or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, which, individually or collectively, could give
rise to the payment of any material amount that would not be
deductible pursuant to Sections 404 or 162(m) of the Code;
and (ii) each nonqualified deferred compensation plan
subject to Section 409A of the Code in all material
respects has been operated since January 1, 2005 in good
faith compliance with Section 409A of the Code and all
applicable guidance issued thereunder. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement which would
require the payment to any current or former employee,
consultant or director of an amount necessary to
gross-up
such individual for any penalty tax under Section 409A of
the Code.
(n) The Company and its Subsidiaries have delivered or made
available to Parent complete and accurate copies of all letter
rulings, technical advice memoranda, and similar documents
issued since January 1, 2004, by a Governmental Authority
relating to U.S. federal, state, local or
non-U.S. Taxes
due from or with respect
A-30
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company will
deliver to Parent all materials with respect to the foregoing
for all matters arising after the date hereof through the
Closing Date.
(o) Section 3.14(o) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of each
jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
benefits from (i) any material exemptions from taxation,
Tax holidays, reduction in Tax rate or similar Tax relief and
(ii) other material financial grants, subsidies or similar
incentives granted by a Governmental Authority, whether or not
relating to Taxes (together with the Tax incentives described in
subclause (i), the Incentives) and describes
the details of such Incentives.
(p) Section 3.14(p) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of each
Subsidiary for which an election has been made pursuant to
Section 7701 of the Code and the Treasury regulations
thereunder to be treated other than its default classification
for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Except as disclosed
on such Section, each Subsidiary will be classified for
U.S. Federal income tax purposes according to its default
classification.
(q) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
been a distributing corporation or a controlled corporation in a
transaction intended to be governed by Section 355 of the
Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this
Agreement.
(r) There are no circumstances existing which could result
in the application of section 78, section 79, or
sections 80 to 80.04 of the Tax Act, or any equivalent
provision under applicable provincial law, to thinkorswim
Canada, Inc. thinkorswim Canada, Inc. has not claimed any
reserve under any provision of the Tax Act or any equivalent
provincial provision, if any amount could be included in the
income of thinkorswim Canada, Inc. for any period ending after
the Closing Date.
(s) For all transactions between thinkorswim Canada, Inc.,
on the one hand, and any non-resident Person with whom
thinkorswim Canada, Inc. was not dealing at arms length,
for the purposes of the Tax Act, on the other hand, during a
taxation year commencing after 1998 and ending on or before the
Closing Date, thinkorswim Canada, Inc. has made or obtained
records or documents that satisfy the requirements of
paragraphs 247(4)(a) to (c) of the Tax Act.
(t) thinkorswim Canada, Inc. has not, and has not been
deemed to have for purposes of the Tax Act, acquired or had the
use of property for proceeds greater than the fair market value
thereof from, or disposed of property for proceeds less than the
fair market value thereof to, or received or performed services
for other than the fair market value from or to, or paid or
received interest or any other amount other than at a fair
market value rate to or from, any Person, firm or company with
whom it does not deal at arms length within the meaning of
the Tax Act.
3.15 Employee Benefits.
(a) Sections 3.15(a)(i) and
Section 3.15(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, respectively, set forth a complete and accurate list,
as of the date hereof, of (i) all material employee
benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA),
whether or not subject to ERISA and (ii) all other material
employment, independent contractor and consulting agreements, as
well as all material bonus, stock option, stock purchase or
other equity-based, benefit, incentive compensation, profit
sharing, savings, retirement (including early retirement and
supplemental retirement), disability, insurance, vacation,
incentive, deferred compensation, termination, retention, change
of control and other similar fringe, welfare or other employee
benefit plans, programs, agreements, contracts, policies or
arrangements (whether or not in writing) maintained or
contributed to for the benefit of any current or former
employee, independent contractor, consultant or director of the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other trade or business
(whether or not incorporated) which would be treated as a single
employer with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under
Section 414 of the Code (an ERISA
Affiliate), or with respect to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries has any material Liability (together the
Employee Plans). With respect to each
Employee Plan other than any International Employee Plan, the
Company has made available to Parent complete and accurate
copies of, to the extent applicable, (A) the most recent
annual report on Form 5500 required to have been filed for
each Employee Plan, including any required schedules thereto;
(B) the most recent determination letter, if any, from the
IRS for any Employee
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Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of
the Code; (C) the plan documents and summary plan
descriptions, or a written description of the terms of any
Employee Plan that is not in writing; (D) any related trust
agreements, insurance contracts, insurance policies or other
documents of any funding arrangements; (E) any notices to
or from the IRS or any office or representative of the DOL or
any similar Governmental Authority relating to any compliance
issues in respect of any such Employee Plan since
January 1, 2005; (F) with respect to each Employee
Plan that is maintained in any
non-U.S. jurisdiction
(the International Employee Plans), to the
extent applicable, (x) the most recent annual report or
similar compliance documents required to be filed with any
Governmental Authority with respect to such plan and
(y) any document comparable to the determination letter
referenced under clause (B) above, if any, issued by a
Governmental Authority relating to the satisfaction of Laws
necessary to obtain the most favorable tax treatment and
(G) all material amendments, modifications or supplements
to any such document.
(b) Neither the Company, any of the Companys
Subsidiaries nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has
ever maintained, participated in or contributed to (or been
obligated to contribute to) (i) an Employee Plan which was
ever subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of
ERISA, (ii) a multiemployer plan (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), (iii) a multiple
employer plan as defined in ERISA or the Code, or
(iv) a funded welfare plan within the meaning
of Section 419 of the Code. No Employee Plan is funded by,
associated with or related to a voluntary employees
beneficiary association within the meaning of
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code. No Employee Plan provides
welfare benefits that are not fully insured through an insurance
contract.
(c) Each Employee Plan has been maintained, operated and
administered in compliance in all material respects with its
terms and with all applicable Laws, including the applicable
provisions of ERISA, the Code and the codes of practice issued
by the applicable Governmental Authority. There are no
International Employee Plans.
(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred
and there currently exists no condition or set of circumstances
in connection with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
would reasonably be expected to be subject to any material
liability under the terms of any Employee Plan or any applicable
Law, including without limitation ERISA or the Code. Except as
required by Laws or the terms of any Employee Plans, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has announced any intent
(whether or not binding) to amend in any material respect or
establish any new Employee Plan or to increase materially any
benefits under any Employee Plan.
(e) There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened on behalf of or against any
Employee Plan, the assets of any trust under any Employee Plan,
or the plan sponsor, plan administrator or any fiduciary or any
Employee Plan, other than routine claims for benefits that have
been or are being handled through an administrative claims
procedure.
(f) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or, to
the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors,
officers, employees or agents has, with respect to any Employee
Plan, engaged in or been a party to any non-exempt
prohibited transaction, as such term is defined in
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA,
which could reasonably be expected to result in the imposition
of a penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA
or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of the Code.
(g) No Employee Plan provides post-termination welfare
benefits to former employees of the Company or its ERISA
Affiliates, other than pursuant to Section 4980B of the
Code or any similar Laws.
(h) Each Employee Plan that is intended to be
qualified under Section 401 of the Code has
received a favorable determination letter from the IRS to such
effect and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no fact,
circumstance or event has occurred or exists since the date of
such determination letter that would reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the qualified status of any such
Employee Plan.
(i) Neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will, either alone or in conjunction with any other
event, (i) result in any material payment or benefit
becoming due or payable, or required to be provided, to any
director, employee or independent contractor of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) materially increase the
amount or value
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of any benefit or compensation otherwise payable or required to
be provided to any such director, employee or independent
contractor, or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time
of payment, vesting or funding of any such benefit or
compensation. Section 3.15(i) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule lists each Company disqualified
individual (as defined in Section 280G of the Code),
assuming for this purpose that the date of the change in
ownership or control of the corporation is the date hereof
for purposes of determining the disqualified individual
determination period under Section 280G of the Code.
No payment or benefit which will or may be made by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries will result in any amount failing to
be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code. There
is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is
bound to compensate any current or former employee or other
disqualified individual for excise taxes which may be required
pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.
(j) All Contracts of employment or for services with any
employee of the Company or any of it Subsidiaries who provide
services outside the United States (Foreign
Employees), or with any director, independent
contractor or consultant of or to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, can be terminated by three (3) months
notice or less given at any time without giving rise to any
material claim for damages, severance pay, or compensation
(other than a statutory redundancy payment required by
applicable Laws).
3.16 Labor Matters.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to any collective bargaining agreement or any labor union
Contract or arrangement between or applying to, one or more
employees and a trade union, works council, group of employees
or any other employee representative body, for collective
bargaining or other negotiating or consultation purposes or
reflecting the outcome of such collective bargaining or
negotiation or consultation with respect to their respective
employees with any labor organization, union, group,
association, works council or other employee representative
body, or is bound by any equivalent national or sectoral
agreement (Collective Bargaining Agreements).
To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no activities or
proceedings by any labor organization, union, group or
association or representative thereof to organize any employee
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no
currently existing lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threats thereof by or with
respect to any employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company nor have there been any such lockouts, strikes,
slowdowns or work stoppages since January 1, 2004. The
Company and its Subsidiaries are not, nor have they been since
January 1, 2004, a party to any collective redundancy
agreements (including social plans or job protection plans).
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all
material respects with applicable Laws and Orders relating to
employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment, worker classification, tax withholding, prohibited
discrimination, equal employment, fair employment practices,
meal and rest periods, immigration status, secondment and
expatriation, employee safety and health, wages (including
overtime wages), compensation, hours of work, and in each case,
with respect to employees: (i) has withheld and reported
all amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld and
reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to
employees, (ii) is not liable for any arrears of wages,
severance pay or any taxes or any penalty for failure to comply
with any of the foregoing, and (iii) is not liable for any
payment to any trust or other fund governed by or maintained by
or on behalf of any Governmental Authority, with respect to
unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other
benefits or obligations for employees (other than routine
payments to be made in the normal course of business and
consistent with past practice). All employees of the Company and
its Subsidiaries located in the United States are terminable
at will, which means for purposes of this
Section 3.16(b) that the employment of such
employees are terminable by the Company or its subsidiaries
without (i) cause or (ii) notice, and without regard
to any obligation to make any post-termination payments or
provide any post-termination benefits.
(c) To the Knowledge of the Company, no trade union has
applied to have the Company or its Subsidiaries declared a
common or related employer pursuant to the Labour Relations Act
(Ontario) or any similar legislation in any Canadian
jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
carries on business.
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3.17 Real Property. The Company
and its Subsidiaries do not own any real property.
Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
contains a complete and accurate list, as of the date hereof, of
all of the existing material leases, subleases or other
agreements (collectively, the Leases) under
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses or occupies or
has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any real
property (such property, the Leased Real
Property). The Company has heretofore made available
to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all Leases
(including all material modifications and amendments thereto).
The Company
and/or its
Subsidiaries have and own valid leasehold estates in the Leased
Real Property, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted
Liens. Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list, as of the date
hereof, of all of the existing Leases granting to any Person,
other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any right to
use or occupy, now or in the future, any of the Leased Real
Property. The Leases are each in full force and effect in
accordance with their respective terms (except as such
enforceability may be subject to laws of general application
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other laws relating to creditors rights generally, the
relief of debtors and rules of law governing specific
performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies) and
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material
breach of or default under, or has received written notice of
any material breach of or default under, any material Lease,
and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that
with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material
breach or default thereunder by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any other party thereto.
3.18 Environmental
Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries: (i) has received any written notice or other
communication of any alleged material claim, material violation
of or material liability under any Environmental Law which has
not heretofore been cured or for which there is any remaining
material liability; (ii) has disposed of, emitted,
discharged, handled, stored, transported, used or released any
Hazardous Substances, distributed, sold or otherwise placed on
the market Hazardous Substances or any product containing
Hazardous Substances, arranged for the disposal, discharge,
storage or release of any Hazardous Substances, or exposed any
employee or other individual to any Hazardous Substances so as
to give rise to any material liability or material corrective or
remedial obligation under any Environmental Laws; (iii) has
entered into any agreement that may require it to guarantee,
reimburse, pledge, defend, hold harmless or indemnify any other
party with respect to material liabilities arising out of
Environmental Laws or the Hazardous Substances related
activities of the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (iv) has
any Knowledge of any fact or circumstance that would be
reasonably likely involve the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
in any environmental litigation or impose upon the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries any material environmental liability.
The Company and its Subsidiaries have delivered to Parent or
made available for inspection by Parent and its agents,
representatives and employees all material records in the
Companys and Subsidiaries possession concerning the
Hazardous Substances activities of the Company and all
environmental audits and environmental assessments of any
facility owned, leased or used at any time by the Company or
each of its Subsidiaries. To the Companys Knowledge, there
are no Hazardous Substances in, on, or under any properties
owned, leased or used at any time by the Company or each of its
Subsidiaries such as could give rise to any material liability
or material corrective or remedial obligation of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws.
3.19 Assets; Personal
Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries
are in possession of and have good title to, or valid leasehold
interests in or valid rights under contract to use all
machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and other tangible
personal property and assets owned, leased or used by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, free and clear
of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), except for defects in
title that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.20 Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth as of the date hereof a true, complete and
correct list of all Registered Intellectual Property owned by or
filed in the name of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(collectively the Company Registered Intellectual
Property). To the Companys Knowledge, the
Company Registered Intellectual Property is valid, enforceable
and subsisting (except with respect to applications).
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(b) All Company Intellectual Property is free and clear of
any Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Since January 1,
2005, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
transferred ownership of, in whole or in part, or granted an
exclusive license to, any third party, of any Intellectual
Property Rights that are, or were, material Company Intellectual
Property.
(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken all
commercially reasonable steps to protect both (i) their
Trade Secrets that they wish to, or are required to, protect as
confidential and (ii) any Trade Secrets of any third
parties provided to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under
a condition of confidentiality. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Company and its Subsidiaries have, and make commercially
reasonable efforts to enforce, a policy requiring each employee
and contractor to execute a proprietary
information/confidentiality agreement.
(d) There is no pending or, to the Companys
Knowledge, threatened Legal Proceeding before any Governmental
Authority in any jurisdiction alleging that (i) any activities,
services or the conduct of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries infringes, violates or constitutes the unauthorized
use or misappropriation of the Intellectual Property Rights of
any third party, (ii) challenging the ownership, validity
or enforceability of any Company Intellectual Property, or
(iii) activities, services or the conduct of a third party
infringes, violates or misappropriates the Company Intellectual
Property. The Company is not bound by any Orders naming the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries which (i) restricts the
Companys or any of its Subsidiaries right to use,
license or transfer any Company Intellectual Property,
(ii) restrict any conduct of the business of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries which may infringe any third
partys Intellectual Property Rights, or (iii) compels
or requires the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to license or
transfer any material Company Intellectual Property. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written
notice within the past two (2) years from any third party
that the operation of the business of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any act, product or service of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, infringes or misappropriates the
Intellectual Property Rights of any third party or constitutes
unfair competition or trade practices under the Laws of any
jurisdiction.
(e) None of the services or operations of the Company or
its Subsidiaries, including without limitation development,
manufacture, sale, licensing or distribution of Company
Products, infringe upon, violate or constitute the unauthorized
use of any Intellectual Property Rights owned by any third party
or constitute unfair competition or trade practices under the
Laws of any jurisdiction. To the Knowledge of Company, within
the past two (2) years no third party is or has infringed
upon, violated or misappropriated any material Company
Intellectual Property.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
granted a license to any third party to Source Code that is
material to the business of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries without such party being bound by confidentiality
restrictions or (ii) has distributed or is required to
distribute any Source Code that is material to the business of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries free of charge pursuant
to an Open Source License.
(g) Section 3.20(g) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule lists all material Contracts, as of the date hereof,
pursuant to which a third party has licensed to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries any Intellectual Property Right that is
material to the operation of the business of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, other than licenses for shrink
wrap or other commercially available software or other
technology (In-Licenses).
(h) Section 3.20(h) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule lists all Contracts, as of the date hereof, pursuant to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has granted a third
party any rights or licenses to any material Company
Intellectual Property other than non-exclusive licenses granted
in the ordinary course (Out-Licenses;
together with the In-Licenses, the IP
Licenses).
(i) Section 3.20(i) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule lists all Contracts, as of the date hereof, pursuant to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged, or
entered into any agreement or arrangement with, a third party to
develop or create any software or other technology or
Intellectual Property Rights for the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and that is material to any of the Companys
or its Subsidiaries products, services or operations. The
Company and its Subsidiaries have a current policy to secure
assignments from
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any third party who has developed or created any software or
Intellectual Property Rights for the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of all Intellectual Property Rights therein the
that the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, do not
already own by operation of law.
(j) Neither this Agreement nor the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including any assignment to
Parent by operation of law as a result of the Merger of any
Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, will result in any of the following occurring, which
would not occur absent this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby: (i) Parent, any of its Subsidiaries
granting to any third party any right to or with respect to any
Intellectual Property Rights owned by, or licensed to, any of
them prior to the Closing, (ii) Parent, any of its
Subsidiaries being bound by, or subject to, any non-compete or
other material restriction on the operation or scope of their
respective businesses, (it being understood and agreed that
restrictions on the use of the licensed Intellectual Property
Rights contained in the grant of any applicable In-Licenses are
not deemed a restriction on the operation of the scope of the
business), or (iii) Parent, any of its Subsidiaries being
obligated to pay any royalties or other material amounts, or
offer any discounts, to any third party (x) other than
those royalties or other material amounts payable by the Company
or its Subsidiaries pursuant to any current license agreements
or discounts offered to any third party by the Company or its
Subsidiaries pursuant to any current license agreements or
(y) in excess of those payable by, or required to be
offered by, any of them, respectively, in the absence of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(k) Any collection, acquisition, use, storage, transfer,
distribution, or dissemination by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, of any personally identifiable information of any
third parties has been in compliance with all applicable Laws
and the Companys and each of its Subsidiarys privacy
policies (including those privacy policies, if any, relating to
(i) the privacy of users of their products and services and
all Internet websites owned, maintained or operated by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) the
collection, acquisition, use, storage, transfer, distribution or
dissemination of any personally identifiable information
collected by the Company or its Subsidiaries). To the Knowledge
of the Company, no person had gained unauthorized access, as a
result of the Companys or its Subsidiaries actions
or failure to act, to any personally identifiable information of
a third party, collected or held by, the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
3.21 Insurance. Section 3.21
of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and
accurate list, as of the date hereof, of all policies of
insurance maintained by or on behalf of Company and its
Subsidiaries with respect to their respective employees,
properties and assets. All of the insurance policies of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, no
notice of cancellation has been received with respect thereto,
and there is no existing default or event which, with the giving
of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default,
by any insured thereunder, except for such defaults that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. There is no material claim pending under
any of such policies as to which coverage has been questioned,
denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies other
than denials and disputes in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
3.22 Related Party
Transactions. Except as set forth in any
Company SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof, compensation
or other employment arrangements in the ordinary course, and
Loans set forth in Section 3.22 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there are no transactions, agreements,
arrangements or understandings that would be required to be
disclosed by the Company pursuant to Section 404 of
Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Exchange Act.
3.23 State Anti-Takeover
Statutes. Assuming that the representations
of Parent and the Merger Subs set forth in
Section 4.12 are accurate, the Company Board has
taken all necessary actions so that the restrictions on business
combinations set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL and any
other similar applicable Law are not applicable to this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or the Voting
Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby. To the
Knowledge of the Company, no other state takeover statute or
similar statute or regulation applies to or purports to apply to
the Merger, the Voting Agreements or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
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3.24 Brokers. Except for UBS
Securities LLC and Paragon Capital Partners, LLC
(Paragon) (true and correct copies of whose
engagement letters have been furnished to Parent), there is no
investment banker, broker, finder, agent or other Person that
has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries who is entitled to any
financial advisors, brokerage, finders or similar
fee or commission in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
3.25 Opinion of Financial
Advisor. The Company has received the opinion
of UBS Securities LLC to the effect that, as of the date of such
opinion, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and
limitations set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair,
from a financial point of view, to the holders of Company Common
Stock (other than stockholders of the Company entering into
Voting Agreements and their respective Affiliates), and, as of
the date of this Agreement, such opinion has not been withdrawn,
revoked or modified in any respect.
3.26 Canadian Assets and
Revenues. As of December 31, 2008 and as
of December 31, 2007, each of (i) the book value of
the assets of thinkorswim Canada, Inc. and (ii) the
aggregate book value of the assets in Canada of the Company and
its Subsidiaries was less than CDN$50 million. The gross
revenues from sales in or from Canada generated by the assets in
Canada of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each of the
twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007 were less than CDN$50 million.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF
PARENT AND
THE MERGER SUBS
Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Parent
to the Company dated as of the date hereof (the Parent
Disclosure Schedule), which expressly identifies the
Section (and, if applicable, subsection) to which such exception
relates (it being understood and hereby agreed that any
disclosure set forth in the Parent Disclosure Schedule relating
to one Section or subsection of this Agreement shall also apply
to any other Sections and subsections of this Agreement if and
solely to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face
of such disclosure (without reference to the underlying
documents referenced therein) that such disclosure also relates
to such other Sections or subsections), Parent, Merger Sub One
and Merger Sub Two hereby represent and warrant to the Company
as follows:
4.1 Organization and
Standing. Each of Parent, Merger Sub One and
Merger Sub Two is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the
requisite corporate or other power and authority to conduct its
business as it is presently being conducted and to own, lease or
operate its respective properties and assets. Each of Parent,
Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its
activities make such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on Parent. Parent has delivered or made available to the Company
complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation
and bylaws (or other equivalent constituent documents, as
applicable) of Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two.
4.2 Authorization; Board Approvals.
(a) Each of Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two has
all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, Merger
Sub One and Merger Sub Two, the performance by Parent, Merger
Sub One and Merger Sub Two of their respective obligations
hereunder, and the consummation by Parent, Merger Sub One and
Merger Sub Two of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two and no additional
corporate or other actions or proceedings on the part of Parent,
Merger Sub One or Merger Sub Two are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
each of Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and
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delivery by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of each of Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two,
enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms,
except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and other similar laws affecting or relating to creditors
rights generally, and (ii) is subject to general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) At a meeting duly called and held on January 6,
2009, the Parent Board unanimously (i) determined that this
Agreement is advisable, (ii) determined that this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby are fair to and in the
best interests of the stockholders of Parent, and
(iii) approved this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. Pursuant to action taken by written consent
on January 7, 2009, the board of directors of Merger Sub
One unanimously (A) determined that this Agreement is
advisable, (B) determined that the transactions
contemplated hereby are fair to and in the best interests of the
sole stockholder of Merger Sub One, and (C) approved this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, all upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Pursuant
to action taken by written consent on January 7, 2009, the
board of directors Merger Sub Two unanimously
(x) determined that this Agreement is advisable,
(y) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby
are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholder of
Merger Sub Two, and (z) approved this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, all upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein.
4.3 Non-contravention; Required Consents.
(a) The execution, delivery or performance by Parent,
Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two of this Agreement, the
consummation by Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two of the
transactions contemplated hereby and the compliance by Parent,
Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two with any of the terms hereof
do not and will not (i) violate or conflict with any
provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
equivalent constituent documents (as applicable) of Parent,
Merger Sub One or Merger Sub Two, (ii) violate, conflict
with, or result in the breach of or constitute a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate
the performance required by, or result in a right of termination
or acceleration under, any Contract to which Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets are bound,
(iii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in
Section 4.3(b), violate or conflict with any Law or
Order applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or by
which any of their properties or assets are bound or
(iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries,
except, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii) and
(iv) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches,
defaults, terminations, accelerations or Liens which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on Parent.
(b) No Consent of any Governmental Authority is required on
the part of Parent, Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two or any of
their Affiliates in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance by Parent, Merger Sub One or Merger Sub Two of this
Agreement and the consummation by Parent, Merger Sub One or
Merger Sub Two of the transactions contemplated hereby, except
(i) the filing and recordation of the Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the
filing of the certificate of merger for the Second Step Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
(ii) such filings and approvals as may be required by any
U.S. federal, state or
non-U.S. securities
laws or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, federal
commodity futures laws, or rules of a self-regulatory
organization, including compliance with any applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act, the Advisers Act, the CEA, or
the rules of FINRA or the NFA, (iii) compliance with any
applicable requirements of the HSR Act and any applicable
foreign antitrust, competition or merger control laws,
(iv) the filing of a Notification of Listing of Additional
Shares (or such other form as may be required by Nasdaq) with
Nasdaq with respect to the shares of the Parent Common Stock to
be issued in the Merger, and (v) such other Consents, the
failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
4.4 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of
(i) one billion (1,000,000,000) shares of Parent Common
Stock, and (ii) one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of
Parent Preferred Stock. As of the close
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of business on December 31, 2008:
(i) 590,232,205 shares of Parent Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Parent Preferred
Stock were issued and outstanding, and (iii) 41,149,
655 shares of Parent Common Stock held by Parent as
treasury shares. All outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock
are, and all shares of capital stock of Parent which may be
issued as contemplated or permitted by this Agreement will be,
when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights.
(b) Parent has reserved 78,065,816 shares of Parent
Common Stock for issuance under its equity plans. As of
December 31, 2008, with respect to Parents stock
option plans, there were outstanding equity awards to purchase
or otherwise acquire 19,299,473 shares of Parent Common
Stock.
(c) Except as set forth in this Section 4.4, as
of the close of business on December 31, 2008, there were
(i) no outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other
equity or voting interest in, Parent, (ii) no outstanding
securities of Parent convertible into or exchangeable for shares
of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in,
Parent, (iii) no outstanding options, warrants, rights or
other commitments or agreements to acquire from Parent, or that
obligates Parent to issue, any capital stock of, or other equity
or voting interest in, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interest in, Parent, (iv) no obligations of Parent
to grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right,
convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement
or commitment relating to any capital stock of, or other equity
or voting interest (including any voting debt) in, Parent and
(v) no other obligations by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries to make any payments based on the price or value of
any securities of Parent. There are no outstanding agreements of
any kind which obligate Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of Parent.
(d) As of the date hereof, neither Parent nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement, other than the
Stockholders Agreement among Parent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank
and certain other stockholders of Parent, dated June 22,
2005, restricting the transfer of, relating to the voting of,
requiring registration of, or granting any preemptive rights,
anti-dilutive rights or rights of first refusal or similar
rights with respect to any securities of Parent.
4.5 SEC Reports; Other Reports.
(a) Parent has filed all forms, reports and documents with
the SEC that have been required to be filed by it under
applicable Laws since January 1, 2006 and prior to the date
hereof, and Parent will file prior to the Effective Time all
forms, reports and documents with the SEC that are required to
be filed or furnished by it under applicable Laws prior to such
time (all such forms, reports and documents, together with any
other forms, reports or other documents filed or furnished by
Parent with the SEC on or prior to the Effective Time that are
not required to be so filed, the Parent SEC
Reports). Each Parent SEC Report complied, or will
comply, as the case may be, as of its filing date, in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Advisers Act, as the
case may be, each as in effect on the date such Parent SEC
Report was, or will be, filed. True and correct copies of all
Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, whether or
not required under applicable Laws, have been furnished to the
Company or are publicly available in the Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) and IARD databases of
the SEC. As of its filing date (or, if amended or superseded by
a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, on the date of
such amended or superseding filing), each Parent SEC Report did
not and will not contain, as the case may be, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. None of Parents Subsidiaries is required to
file any forms, reports or other documents with the SEC. No
executive officer of Parent has failed to make the
certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to any Parent SEC
Report, except as disclosed in certifications filed with the
Parent SEC Reports. Neither Parent nor any of its executive
officers has received notice from any Governmental Authority
challenging or questioning the accuracy, completeness, form or
manner of filing of such certifications. There are no
outstanding written comments from the SEC with respect to any of
the Parent SEC Reports.
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(b) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed
all material reports, registrations and statements, together
with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto,
that it was required to file since January 1, 2006 with any
Governmental Authority (other than the SEC) and have paid all
material fees and assessments due and payable in connection
therewith.
4.6 Financial Statements and Controls.
(a) The consolidated financial statements of Parent and its
Subsidiaries filed in or furnished with the Parent SEC Reports
complied, and in the case of consolidated financial statements
to be filed in or furnished in Parent SEC Reports after the date
hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto and they
have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied during the periods and at the
dates involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto
and, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, as
may be permitted by the SEC for Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q),
and fairly present in all material respects, or will fairly
present in all material respects, as the case may be, the
consolidated financial position of Parent and its Subsidiaries
as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject,
in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to normal
and year-end audit adjustments as permitted by GAAP and the
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and any other
adjustments expressly described therein, including the notes
thereto.
(b) Parent has established, and maintains and enforces, a
system of internal accounting controls which are effective in
providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
in accordance with GAAP, including policies and procedures that
(i) require the maintenance of records that in reasonable
detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries,
(ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and
expenditures of Parent and its Subsidiaries are being made only
in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and
the Parent Board and (iii) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of Parent and its
Subsidiaries that could have a material effect on Parents
financial statements. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries
nor Parents independent auditors has identified or been
made aware of (A) any significant deficiency or material
weakness (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act) in the system of internal
accounting controls utilized by Parent and its Subsidiaries,
(B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
Parents management or other employees who have a role in
the preparation of financial statements or the internal
accounting controls utilized by Parent and its Subsidiaries or
(C) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.
(c) Parent has established and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as such terms are defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
or
Rule 15d-15(e)
promulgated under the Exchange Act) to ensure that information
required to be disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files
or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SECs rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated
to Parents management to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
(d) Since January 1, 2006, neither Parent nor any of
its Subsidiaries nor, to Parents Knowledge, any director,
officer, employee, auditor, accountant, consultant or
representative of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has received
or otherwise had or obtained Knowledge of any substantive
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or
oral, that Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in
questionable accounting or auditing practices. Since
January 1, 2006, no current or former attorney representing
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has reported evidence of a
material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty
or similar violation by Parent or any of its officers,
directors, employees or agents to the Parent Board or any
committee thereof or to any director or executive officer of
Parent.
(e) To Parents Knowledge, no employee of Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries has provided or is providing information
to any law enforcement agency regarding the commission or
possible commission of any crime or the violation or possible
violation of any applicable Laws of the type described in
Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries
nor, to the
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Knowledge of Parent, any director, officer, employee,
contractor, subcontractor or agent of Parent or any such
Subsidiary has discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened,
harassed or in any other manner discriminated against an
employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in the terms and
conditions of employment because of any lawful act of such
employee described in Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
4.7 No Undisclosed
Liabilities. Neither Parent nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any material Liabilities other than
(a) Liabilities reflected or otherwise reserved against on
the quarter consolidated balance sheet of Parent included in its
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 (including the
notes thereto) as filed with the SEC, (b) Liabilities
incurred after September 30, 2008 in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (c) Liabilities
under this Agreement, or (d) Liabilities that are executory
obligations under Contracts to which Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries is or may hereafter become a party or is or may
hereafter become bound (other than Liabilities thereunder due to
breaches by Parent or any of the Merger Subs of the terms set
forth therein).
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes.
(a) Since September 30, 2008, there has not been or
occurred any event, development, change, circumstance or
condition that would have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(b) Since September 30, 2008 through the date of this
Agreement, except for actions expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have conducted
their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the
ordinary course consistent with past practice.
4.9 Compliance with Laws and Orders; Permits.
(a) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance
in all material respects with all Laws and Orders applicable to
Parent, its Subsidiaries, or any of the owned or leased real
property of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the conduct
of the business or operations of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(b) Parent and its Subsidiaries have, and are in compliance
with the terms of, all Permits, and no suspension or
cancellation of any such Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge
of Parent, threatened, except for such noncompliance,
suspensions or cancellations that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
4.10 Litigation; Orders. Except
for any Legal Proceeding challenging or seeking to prohibit the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
there are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of
Parent, threatened, against Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or
any of their respective properties that would, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any
outstanding Order, except for Orders that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on Parent and other Orders generally applicable to Persons
engaged in the businesses engaged in by Parent or its
Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, there is no Legal
Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened
against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries challenging or seeking
to prohibit the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
4.11 Taxes. Each of Parent and its
Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (including all applicable
extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it
since January 1, 2004 (all such returns being true, correct
and complete in all material respects), has paid (including
withheld and remitted) all material Taxes due whether or not
shown on any Tax Return or made provision for the payment of all
material Taxes that have been incurred or are due or claimed to
be due from it by appropriate Governmental Authorities other
than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in
good faith, have not been finally determined and have been
adequately reserved against. There are no material disputes
pending, or claims asserted, for Taxes or assessments upon
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries for which Parent does not have
reserves that are adequate under GAAP.
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4.12 Ownership of Company Capital
Stock. Prior to the date hereof (and without
giving effect the execution and delivery of the Voting
Agreements), neither Parent, Merger Sub One nor Merger Sub Two,
alone or together with any other Person, was at any time during
the last three (3) years an interested
shareholder within the meaning of Section 203 of the
DGCL.
4.13 No Contracts with Company Directors and
Executive Officers. As of the date hereof,
other than the Voting Agreements and the Key Employee Employment
Agreements, there are no Contracts between Parent, Merger Sub
One or Merger Sub Two, on the one hand, and any of the
Companys directors or executive officers, on the other
hand, that relate to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.14 Brokers. Except for Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (true and
correct copies of whose engagement letter has been furnished to
the Company), there is no investment banker, broker, finder,
agent or other Person that has been retained by or is authorized
to act on behalf of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries who is
entitled to any financial advisors, brokerage,
finders or other similar fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
INTERIM
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1 Affirmative Obligations of the
Company. Except (a) as expressly
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (b) as set
forth in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, (c) as required by
applicable Law, or (d) as approved in advance by Parent in
writing (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), at all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time,
each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall
(i) carry on its business in the ordinary course in
substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted and in
compliance with all applicable Laws, (ii) take all steps
necessary to cause thinkorswim, Inc. to maintain net capital of
at least the greater of (x) an amount equal to
81/3%
of the aggregate indebtedness (as defined in
subparagraph (c)(i) of the Net Capital Rule) of thinkorswim,
Inc., and (y) $2.5 million, (iii) take, or cause
to be taken, the actions set forth in
Section 5.1(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
and (iv) use commercially reasonable efforts, consistent
with its past practices and policies, to (A) preserve
intact its present business organization, (B) keep
available the services of its present officers and employees and
(C) preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers,
distributors, licensors, licensees and others with which it has
significant business dealings.
5.2 Negative Obligations of the
Company. Except (i) as expressly
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set
forth in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by
applicable Law or the terms of any Employee Plan, or
(iv) as approved in advance by Parent in writing (which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), at all
times during the period commencing with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier to
occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Article VIII and the Effective Time, the Company
shall not do any of the following and shall not permit its
Subsidiaries to do any of the following:
(a) amend, or propose to adopt any amendments to, its
certificate of incorporation or bylaws or comparable
organizational documents;
(b) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver or agree
or commit to issue, sell or deliver (whether through the
issuance or granting of options, warrants, commitments,
subscriptions, rights to purchase or otherwise) any Company
Securities or any Subsidiary Securities, except for (i) the
issuance and sale of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to
Company Stock Awards outstanding prior to the date hereof and
(ii) grants to newly hired employees of Company Stock
Awards issued in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, with a per share exercise price (if applicable)
that is no less than the then-current fair market value of a
share of Company Common Stock and not subject to any accelerated
vesting or other provision that would be triggered solely as a
result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement so long as the aggregate number of shares of
Company
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Common Stock subject to such additional Company Stock Awards
does not exceed the sum of (x) 50,000, plus
(y) the number of shares of Company Common Stock
subject to any Company Stock Awards (or portion thereof)
outstanding as of the date hereof that is subsequently canceled,
terminated or forfeited as the result of the voluntary or
involuntary termination of employment of any employee;
(c) acquire or redeem, directly or indirectly, or amend any
Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities, except to the
extent that such acquisition or redemption is pursuant to the
terms of any Employee Plan (as in effect on the date hereof) or
any agreement subject to any such Employee Plan;
(d) other than dividends or distributions made by any
direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company to the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries, set any record or payment
dates for the payment of any dividends or distributions on
capital stock, split, combine or reclassify any shares of
capital stock, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, shares or property or any
combination thereof) in respect of any shares of capital stock,
or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution in
respect of the shares of capital stock;
(e) propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial
liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries;
(f) (i) incur or assume any long-term or short-term
indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt securities,
except for loans or advances to or from direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (ii) assume, guarantee, endorse
or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly,
contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other
Person except with respect to obligations of direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company, (iii) except for
advances made in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, make any loans or advances to employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) acquire, or make
any capital contributions to or investments in any other Person
(other than direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the
Company), by purchase or other acquisition of stock or other
equity interests (other than in a fiduciary capacity in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice),
whether by merger, consolidation, asset purchase or other
business combination, or by formation of any joint venture or
other business organization or by contributions to capital; or
(v) mortgage or pledge any of its or its Subsidiaries
assets, tangible or intangible, or create or suffer to exist any
Lien (other than Permitted Liens) thereupon;
(g) except as may be required by applicable Law or the
terms of any Employee Plan as in effect on the date hereof,
enter into, adopt, amend (including an amendment to provide for
the acceleration of vesting), modify or terminate any Employee
Plan in any material respect, or increase or decrease the
compensation or fringe benefits of any director, executive
officer or employee (except for normal increases of cash
compensation in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice to any current or future employee whose base
salary does not exceed $150,000 per annum), pay any bonus or
special remuneration (whether in cash, equity or otherwise) to
any director, officer or employee (other than bonuses made in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
with respect to employees who are not executive officers or
directors of the Company), or pay any benefit not required by
any Employee Plan as in effect as of the date hereof;
(h) forgive any Loans to any employees, officers or
directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of
their respective Affiliates;
(i) make any deposits or contributions of cash or other
property to, or take any other action to fund, or in any other
way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under the
Employee Plans or Contracts subject to the Employee Plans, other
than deposits and contributions that are required pursuant to
the terms of the Employee Plans or any Contracts subject to the
Employee Plans in effect as of the date hereof;
(j) enter into, amend, or extend any Collective Bargaining
Agreement;
(k) (1) acquire, lease (as lessee) or license (as
licensee) any property or assets with a fair market value in
excess of $500,000 in the aggregate per fiscal quarter, except
transactions required pursuant to
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existing Contracts as in effect on the date hereof; or
(2) sell, lease (as lessor), license (as licensor) or
dispose of any property or assets with a fair market value in
excess of $500,000 in the aggregate per fiscal quarter, except
(i) transactions required pursuant to existing Contracts as
in effect on the date hereof, (ii) sales of Loans and sales
of investment securities subject to repurchase, in each case in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
or (iii) pledges of assets to secure public deposits
accepted in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(l) except as may be required as a result of a change in
applicable Laws or in GAAP, make any change in any of the
accounting principles or practices used by it;
(m) (i) make or change any material Tax election,
(ii) settle or compromise any material U.S. federal,
state, local or
non-U.S. Tax
liability or (iii) consent to any extension or waiver of
any limitation period with respect to any claim or assessment
for material Taxes;
(n) enter into any IP Licenses or amend any IP Licenses or
grant any release or relinquishment of any rights under any IP
Licenses, except (i) to customers and
(ii) non-exclusive in-bound licenses for commercially
available technology, in each case in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(o) grant any exclusive rights with respect to any Company
Intellectual Property, divest any Company Intellectual Property,
except if such divestiture or divestures, individually or in the
aggregate, are not material to the Company, or materially modify
the Companys standard warranty terms for Company Products
or services or amend or modify any product or service warranty
in any manner that is likely to be materially adverse to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(p) authorize, incur or commit to incur any capital
expenditure(s) which, individually or in the aggregate, is or
are material to the Company, other than pursuant to existing
Contracts as in effect on the date hereof;
(q) at any time permit the net capital of thinkorswim, Inc.
to be less than the greater of (x) an amount equal to
81/3%
of the aggregate indebtedness (as defined in
subparagraph (c)(i) of the Net Capital Rule) of thinkorswim,
Inc., and (y) $2.5 million;
(r) (1) settle or compromise any pending or threatened
Legal Proceeding or pay, discharge or satisfy or agree to pay,
discharge or satisfy any claim, liability or obligation
(absolute or accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), other than the settlement, compromise, payment,
discharge or satisfaction of Legal Proceedings, claims and other
Liabilities that (i) are reflected or reserved against in
full in the Balance Sheet or incurred since the date of the
Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, (ii) are covered by existing insurance
policies, or (iii) otherwise do not involve the payment of
money in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate, in each case where
the settlement, compromise, discharge or satisfaction of which
does not include any obligation (other than the payment of money
not in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate above the amounts
reflected or reserved in the Balance Sheet in respect of such
Legal Proceeding) to be performed by the Company or its
Subsidiaries following the Effective Time; or (2) take any
action described in Section 5.2(r)(2) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule;
(s) except as required by applicable Laws or GAAP, revalue
in any material respect any of its properties or assets
including writing-off notes or accounts receivable;
(t) except as required by applicable Laws, convene any
regular or special meeting (or any adjournment or postponement
thereof) of the stockholders of the Company other than the
Company Stockholder Meeting;
(u) other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (i) enter into, renew,
extend or terminate any Material Contract (or any Contract that
would have been a Material Contract if it had been in effect on
the date hereof); or (ii) make any material amendment or
change in any such Material Contract;
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(v) (i) enter into any lease or sublease of real
property (whether as a lessor, sublessor, lessee or sublessee);
(ii) modify, amend or exercise any right to renew any lease
or sublease of real property; or (iii) make application for
the opening, relocation or closing of any, or open, relocate or
close any, branch office or other real property;
(w) enter into any new line of business or change its
material operating policies in any material respect, except as
required by Law or by policies imposed by any Governmental
Authority;
(x) enter into any securitizations of any Loans or create
any special purpose funding or variable interest entity;
(y) enter into a Contract to do any of the foregoing or
make any formal or informal arrangement or understanding,
whether or not binding, with respect to any of the
foregoing; or
(z) knowingly take any action which (i) results or is
reasonably likely to result in any of the conditions to the
Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied,
(ii) has or is reasonably likely to have in a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, (iii) would materially
impair the Companys ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the terms
hereof and applicable Legal Requirements or (iv) would
materially delay the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
6.1 No Solicitation.
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall use
reasonable best efforts to cause each of their officers,
directors, agents, representatives and advisors to, immediately
cease any and all existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect
to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Transaction.
(b) At all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time, the
Company shall not, the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries not
to, and the Company shall not authorize or permit any of its or
its Subsidiaries directors, officers or other employees,
controlled Affiliates, or any of its or its Subsidiaries
investment bankers, attorneys or other advisors, representatives
or agents to, directly or indirectly:
(i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, facilitate or
induce any inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or
announcement of, an Acquisition Proposal or an Acquisition
Transaction;
(ii) furnish to any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub
One, Merger Sub Two or any designees of Parent or the Merger
Subs) any non-public information relating to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or afford access to the business,
properties, assets, books or records of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub
One, Merger Sub Two or any designees of Parent or the Merger
Subs), or take any other action, in each case in a manner that
is intended or would be reasonably expected to assist or
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes or could lead to an Acquisition Proposal or an
Acquisition Transaction;
(iii) participate or engage in discussions or negotiations
with any Person with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or an
Acquisition Transaction;
(iv) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of
understanding or other Contract contemplating or otherwise
relating to an Acquisition Proposal or an Acquisition
Transaction (other than a confidentiality and
standstill agreement pursuant to and in accordance
with Section 6.1(c)); or
(v) take any action to exempt any Person, other than Parent
and the Merger Subs, from DGCL Section 203 or any other
applicable anti-takeover Laws; or
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(vi) agree to do any of the foregoing, or propose to do any
of the foregoing other than pursuant to
Section 6.1(c) or Section 6.7(b) in
accordance with the terms thereof;
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of
Section 6.1(b), at any time prior to obtaining the
Requisite Merger Approval, the Company Board may, directly or
indirectly through advisors, agents or other intermediaries,
(x) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations
with any Person that has made (and not withdrawn) a bona
fide, unsolicited Acquisition Proposal in writing after the
date hereof, other than as a result of a breach or violation of
the terms of this Section 6.1,
and/or
(y) furnish to any Person that has made (and not withdrawn)
a bona fide, unsolicited Acquisition Proposal in writing
after the date hereof, other than as a result of a breach or
violation of the terms of this Section 6.1, any
non-public information relating to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; provided, however, the Company may take any
action contemplated by the foregoing clauses (x) or
(y) if and only if all of the following conditions have
been satisfied prior to taking such action (and continue to be
satisfied at all times during which any of the foregoing actions
are being taken):
(i) the Company Board shall have reasonably determined in
good faith (after consultation with Paragon or another financial
advisor of nationally recognized standing and the Companys
outside legal counsel) that such Acquisition Proposal either
constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior
Proposal and that the failure to take such action in response to
such Acquisition Proposal would reasonably be expected to result
in a breach of its fiduciary duties under Delaware Law;
(ii) none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any
directors, officers or other employees, controlled Affiliates,
or any investment bankers, attorneys or other advisors,
representatives or agents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, shall have breached or violated in any material
respect the terms of this Section 6.1 in connection
with such Acquisition Proposal or in connection with any other
Acquisition Proposal made by any Person (or any Affiliate or
agent thereof) making such Acquisition Proposal;
(iii) the Company shall have entered into a confidentiality
and standstill agreement, the terms of which are no
less favorable to the Company than those contained in the
Confidentiality Agreement;
(iv) the Company shall have given Parent prior written
notice of (x) its intent to take the action permitted by
this Section 6.1, (y) the identity of the
Person(s) making the Acquisition Proposal forming the basis for
taking the action permitted by this Section 6.1, and
(z) all of the material terms and conditions of such
Acquisition Proposal (and if such Acquisition Proposal is in
written form, prior to taking such any action, the Company shall
have given Parent a copy of such Acquisition Proposal and all
related agreements, commitment letters and other material
documents constituting such Acquisition Proposal provided or
otherwise furnished by the Person(s) making such Acquisition
Proposal in connection therewith); and
(v) contemporaneously with furnishing any non-public
information to such Person, the Company shall have furnished or
made available such non-public information to Parent (to the
extent such information has not been previously furnished by the
Company to Parent).
(d) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Parent, Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two and the Company
acknowledge and hereby agree that any action taken by any
directors, officers or other employees, controlled Affiliates,
or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or
representative retained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that would be a breach of the restrictions set
forth in this Section 6.1 if taken by the Company
shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6.1
by the Company for all purposes of and under this Agreement.
(e) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth
in Section 6.1(c), the Company shall promptly, and
in all cases within forty-eight (48) hours of its receipt,
advise Parent orally and in writing of the receipt of
(i) any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) any request for
information that would reasonably be expected to lead to an
Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) any inquiry with respect to,
or which would reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such
Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry (and all related
agreements, commitment letters and other material documents
constituting such Acquisition
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Proposal), and the identity of the Person or group making any
such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry. At all times from
and after the Companys receipt thereof, the Company shall
keep Parent reasonably informed of the status and material terms
and conditions (including all amendments or proposed amendments)
of any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry.
(f) The Company shall provide Parent with at least
forty-eight (48) hours prior written notice (or any shorter
period of advance notice provided to members of the Company
Board) of a meeting of the Company Board (or any committee
thereof) at which the Company Board (or any committee thereof)
is reasonably expected to consider an Acquisition Proposal or
Acquisition Transaction.
6.2 Reasonable Best Efforts to
Complete. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of Parent, Merger
Sub One, Merger Sub Two and the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to
do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the
other party or parties hereto in doing, all things reasonably
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective,
in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including by:
(a) using its reasonable best efforts to cause the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII to
be satisfied or fulfilled, including by filing as promptly as
practicable after the date hereof with the SEC all annual,
quarterly and current reports required to be filed by it under
the Exchange Act for any and all periods ending prior to the
Effective Time;
(b) using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all
necessary consents, waivers and approvals, and to provide all
necessary notices, under any material Contracts to which it or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party in connection with this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby so as to maintain and preserve the benefits under such
Contracts following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, provided that in the event that
the other parties to any such Contract, including any lessor or
licensor of any Leased Real Property, conditions its grant of a
consent, waiver or approval (including by threatening to
exercise a recapture or other termination right)
upon the payment of a consent fee, profit sharing
payment or other consideration, including increased rent
payments or other payments under the Contract, the Company shall
not make or commit to make any such payment or provide any such
consideration without Parents prior written consent;
(c) making all necessary registrations, declarations and
filings with Governmental Authorities in connection with this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all
necessary actions or non-actions, waivers, clearances, consents,
approvals, orders and authorizations from Governmental
Authorities (including all Antitrust Approvals) in connection
with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(d) executing and delivering any additional instruments
reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this
Agreement; and
(e) assisting the other parties in (A) making all
necessary registrations, declarations and filings with
Governmental Authorities in connection with this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including by providing such information regarding itself, its
Affiliates and their respective operations as may be requested
in connection with a filing by it or any of its Subsidiaries,
(B) obtaining all necessary actions or non-actions,
waivers, clearances, consents, approvals, orders and
authorizations from Governmental Authorities (including all
Antitrust Approvals) in connection with this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
(C) delivering any additional instruments required to be
made, obtained or delivered to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
6.3 Regulatory Filings.
(a) Without limiting the generality of the provisions of
Section 6.2 and to the extent required by applicable
Laws, as promptly as practicable following the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, each of Parent and the Company shall
make or submit all applications, notices, petitions and filings,
file or submit all
A-47
documentation, and use their respective reasonable best efforts
to obtain as promptly as practicable all clearances, permits,
consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and
Governmental Authorities, in each case which are necessary or
advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement as promptly as practicable and to comply with the
terms and conditions of all such clearances, permits, consents,
approvals and authorizations of all such third parties and
Governmental Authorities. The Company and Parent shall have the
right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each
will consult the other on, in each case subject to applicable
Laws and Orders, all the documentation and information relating
to the other party and any of its respective Subsidiaries, that
appears in any application, notice, petition, filing and
documentation made with, or written materials submitted to, any
third party or any Governmental Authority in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the
foregoing right, each of the parties hereto shall act reasonably
and as promptly as practicable. Parent and the Company shall
promptly advise each other upon receiving any communication from
any Governmental Authority whose clearance, consent or approval
is required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement which causes such party to believe that there is a
reasonable likelihood that any clearance, consent or approval
required in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will not be obtained or that the receipt of any
such clearance, consent or approval will be materially delayed
or conditioned.
(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall promptly
(i) cooperate and coordinate with the other in the making
and submitting the applications, notices, petitions and filings
contemplated by this Section 6.3, (ii) subject
to applicable Laws and Orders, supply the other with any
information that may be required in order to effectuate such
applications, notices, petitions and filings, and
(iii) supply any additional information that may be
required or reasonably requested by any Governmental Authority
in connection with such applications, notices, petitions and
filings. Subject to applicable Laws and Orders, each party
hereto shall (A) promptly inform the other party hereto of
any communication from any Governmental Authority regarding any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(B) permit the other party hereto the opportunity to review
in advance all the information relating to Parent and its
Subsidiaries or the Company and its Subsidiaries, as the case
may be, that appears in any application, notice, petition or
filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third
party and/or
any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, (C) not participate in any substantive
meeting or discussion with any Governmental Authority in respect
of any filing, investigation, or inquiry concerning the
transactions contemplated hereby unless and until such party has
consulted with the other party, and, to the extent permitted by
such Governmental Authority, gives the other party the
opportunity to attend such meeting or discussion, and
(D) furnish the other party with copies of all
correspondences, filings, and written communications between
them and their Subsidiaries and representatives, on the one
hand, and any Governmental Authority or its respective staff, on
the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby. Each party hereto shall promptly inform the other party
or parties hereto, as the case may be, of any communication from
any Governmental Authority regarding any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. If any party hereto or Affiliate
thereof receives a request for additional information or
documentary material from any such Governmental Authority with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then
such party shall use its reasonable best efforts to make, or
cause to be made, as soon as reasonably practicable and after
consultation with the other party, an appropriate response in
compliance with such request.
6.4 Anti-Takeover Laws. In the
event that any state anti-takeover or other similar statute or
regulation is or becomes applicable to this Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company, at
the direction of the Company Board, shall use its reasonable
best efforts to ensure that the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute
or regulation on this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
6.5 Registration Statement; Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall
prepare, and Parent shall file with the SEC, a Registration
Statement on
Form S-4
in connection with the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock
in the Merger (as may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, the Registration Statement). The
Registration Statement shall include (i) a
A-48
prospectus for the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in
the Merger, and (ii) a proxy statement of the Company for
use in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the
Merger Proposal to be considered at the Company Stockholder
Meeting (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time,
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus). Each of
Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC
under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such
filing with the SEC. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, each of the Company and Parent shall, and shall cause
its respective representatives to, fully cooperate with the
other party hereto and its respective representatives in the
preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, and shall furnish the other party hereto
with all information concerning it and its Affiliates as the
other party hereto may deem reasonably necessary or advisable in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement
and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, and each of Parent and the Company shall
provide the other party hereto with a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment thereon. As promptly as practicable after the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, Parent
and the Company shall cause the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be
disseminated to the stockholders of the Company.
(b) Unless the Company Board shall have effected a Company
Board Recommendation Change in compliance with the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus shall include the Company Board
Recommendation.
(c) Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or as
may be required by applicable Law or Order, neither Parent nor
the Company shall effect any amendment or supplement (including
by incorporation by reference) to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
or the Registration Statement without the prior consent of the
other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned); provided, however, that the
Company, in connection with a Company Board Recommendation
Change, may amend or supplement the proxy statement for the
Company pursuant to a Qualifying Amendment to effect such
change, and in such event, the right of approval set forth in
this Section 6.5(c) shall apply only with respect to
such information relating to the other party or its business,
financial condition or results of operations, and shall be
subject to the Companys right to have the deliberations
and conclusions of the Company Board accurately described. A
Qualifying Amendment means an amendment or
supplement to the proxy statement for the Company if and solely
to the extent that it contains (i) a Company Board
Recommendation Change, (ii) a statement of the reasons of
the Company Board for making such Company Board Recommendation
Change, and (iii) additional information reasonably related
to the foregoing.
(d) The Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus shall comply in all material respects as to
form and substance with the requirements of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the information supplied or to be supplied by any
party hereto for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the
Registration Statement shall not, at the time the Registration
Statement is filed with the SEC or declared effective by the SEC
or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The information supplied or to be supplied
by any party hereto for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall not, at the time the
Registration Statement is declared effective, on the date the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto) is first mailed to stockholders, or at the
time of the Company Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The information supplied
or to be supplied by or on behalf of either party hereto for
inclusion in any filing pursuant to Rule 165 and
Rule 425 under the Securities Act or
Rule 14a-12
under the Exchange Act (each, a
Regulation M-A
Filing) shall not, at the time any such
Regulation M-A
Filing is filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the Company
shall notify each other as promptly as practicable upon becoming
aware of any event or
A-49
circumstance which should be described in an amendment of, or
supplement to, the Registration Statement, Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or any
Regulation M-A
Filing so that any such document would not include any
misstatement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and as
promptly as practicable thereafter, an appropriate amendment or
supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed
with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law or
the SEC, disseminated to the stockholders of Parent
and/or the
Company. Parent and the Company shall each notify the other as
promptly as practicable after the receipt by it of any written
or oral comments of the SEC or its staff on, or of any written
or oral request by the SEC or its staff for amendments or
supplements to, the Registration Statement, the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or any
Regulation M-A
Filing, and shall promptly supply the other with copies of all
correspondence between it or any of its representatives and the
SEC or its staff with respect to any of the foregoing filings.
Prior to filing the Registration Statement or mailing the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to stockholders (or filing or mailing any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto), each of Parent and the
Company, as the case may be, (i) shall provide the other
party with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on
such document or response, (ii) shall include in such
document or response all comments reasonably and timely proposed
by such other party and (iii) shall not file or mail such
document or respond to the SEC prior to receiving such other
partys approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed .
(e) Parent and the Company shall make any necessary filings
with respect to the Merger under the Securities Act, the
Advisers Act and the Exchange Act. In addition, Parent shall use
reasonable best efforts to take all actions required under any
applicable federal or state securities or Blue Sky Laws in
connection with the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in
the Merger.
6.6 Company Stockholder Meeting.
(a) The Company shall establish a record date for, call,
give notice of, convene, hold, and take a vote of stockholders
on (i) the adoption of this Agreement in accordance with
the DGCL (the Merger Proposal) and
(ii) the approval of the Option Exchange Proposal, at a
meeting of the Company stockholders (the Company
Stockholder Meeting) as promptly as practicable
following the date hereof (which, if reasonably practicable,
shall be within forty five (45) days following the date on
which the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is first disseminated to
Company stockholders).
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
solicit proxies from the Company stockholders in connection with
the Merger Proposal and the Option Exchange Proposal, and unless
the Company Board has effected a Company Board Recommendation
Change pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of
Section 6.7, the Company Board shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the Requisite Merger Approval
and Requisite Option Exchange Approval at the Company
Stockholder Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof,
including by soliciting proxies from Company stockholders in
favor of the Merger Proposal and the Option Exchange Proposal.
At the Company Stockholder Meeting, the Company shall submit to
a vote of its stockholders the Merger Proposal and the Option
Exchange Proposal. Except as required by applicable Law, the
Company shall not propose for consideration or submit for a vote
any matters at the Company Stockholder Meeting other than the
Merger Proposal and the Option Exchange Proposal (or an
adjournment of the Company Stockholder Meeting, if permitted
hereunder) without the prior written consent of Parent. Except
as required by applicable Law, the Company shall not establish a
record date for, call, give notice of, convene or hold any
meeting of the Company stockholders unless and until the Company
Stockholder Meeting has been held, a vote of the Company
stockholders has been taken on the Merger Proposal and the
Option Exchange Proposal and the Company Stockholder Meeting has
been adjourned. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth in this Agreement, the Companys obligations under
this Section 6.6 shall not be terminated,
superceded, limited, modified or otherwise affected by the
commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission to the
Company of any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Transaction,
or by any Company Board Recommendation Change (whether or not in
compliance with the terms hereof). For the avoidance of doubt,
the Company shall not be required (i) to hold the Company
Stockholder Meeting if this Agreement is validly terminated in
accordance with Section 8.1 or (ii) to make a
formal recommendation to its stockholders on the Option Exchange
Proposal.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, the Company may adjourn or postpone the Company
Stockholder Meeting (i) to the extent necessary to ensure
that any required supplement or amendment to the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus is filed
and/or
provided to the Companys stockholders, (ii) if as of
the time for which the Company Stockholder Meeting is originally
scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus) there
are insufficient shares of Company Common Stock represented
(either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary
to conduct the business of the Company Stockholder Meeting,
(iii) on a single occasion, for a period not to exceed
thirty (30) days, for the purpose of soliciting additional
proxies in favor of the approval of the Merger Proposal, or
(iv) with the prior written consent of Parent, which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
6.7 Company Board Recommendation.
(a) Subject to the terms of this Section 6.7,
the Company Board shall recommend that the Company stockholders
adopt this Agreement in accordance with the applicable
provisions of Delaware Law (the Company Board
Recommendation) at the Company Stockholder Meeting.
Neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall
(x) withhold, withdraw, amend or modify, or publicly
propose to withhold, withdraw, amend or modify, in a manner
adverse to Parent
and/or
approval of the Merger Proposal, the Company Board
Recommendation or (y) approve, endorse or recommend, or
publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend any
Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Agreement (any of the
actions referred to in the preceding clauses (x) and
(y) being a Company Board Recommendation
Change).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of this
Section 6.7, at any time prior to receipt of the
Requisite Merger Approval, the Company Board may effect a
Company Board Recommendation Change and, in the case of
Section 6.7(b)(ii), the Company may terminate this
Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1(f), if and
only if either:
(i) a material fact, event, change, development or set of
circumstances (other than an Acquisition Proposal occurring or
arising after the date of this Agreement, it being understood
and hereby agreed that the Company Board may only effect a
Company Board Recommendation Change in response to or in
connection with an Acquisition Proposal pursuant to and in
accordance with Section 6.7(b)(ii) below) that was
not known by the Company Board as of or at any time prior to the
date of this Agreement (and not relating in any way to any
Acquisition Proposal) (such material fact, event, change,
development or set of circumstances, an Intervening
Event) shall have occurred and be continuing and prior
to effecting such Company Board Recommendation Change:
(A) the Company Board shall have reasonably determined in
good faith (after consultation with the Companys outside
legal counsel) that, in light of such Intervening Event, the
failure of the Company Board to effect such Company Board
Recommendation Change would reasonably be expected to result in
a breach of its fiduciary duties under Delaware Law;
(B) the Company Board shall have given Parent at least five
(5) Business Days prior written notice that the Company
Board intends to take such action and the opportunity to meet
with the Company Board and the Companys financial advisors
and outside legal counsel at such times as Parent may reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling Parent and the Company to
discuss in good faith (x) the Company Boards basis
and rationale for proposing to effect such Company Board
Recommendation Change,
and/or
(y) possible modifications of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement in such a manner that would obviate the need for
the Company Board to effect such Company Board Recommendation
Change in response to the Intervening Event; and
(C) after the foregoing five (5) Business Day period
and, if requested by Parent, meetings with Parent and its
financial advisors and legal counsel during such five
(5) Business Day period, the Company Board reasonably
determines in good faith (after consultation with the
Companys outside legal counsel), that, in light of such
Intervening Event and any modifications to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement that Parent may propose, the
failure to effect such a Company Board Recommendation Change
would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of its
fiduciary duties under Delaware Law; or
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(ii) the Company Board shall have received a bona
fide, unsolicited Acquisition Proposal in writing after the
date hereof, other than as a result of a breach or violation of
the terms of Section 6.1, which has not been
withdrawn, and prior to (and in connection with) effecting such
Company Board Recommendation Change or terminating this
Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1(f), as
applicable:
(A) none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any
directors, officers or other employees, controlled Affiliates,
or any investment bankers, attorneys or other advisors,
representatives or agents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, shall have breached or violated in any material
respect the terms of Section 6.1 in connection with
such Acquisition Proposal or in connection with any other
Acquisition Proposal made or submitted by any Person (or any
Affiliate or agent thereof) making such Acquisition Proposal;
(B) the Company Board shall have reasonably determined in
good faith (after consultation with Paragon or another financial
advisor of nationally recognized standing and the Companys
outside legal counsel) that such Acquisition Proposal
constitutes a Superior Proposal and shall have further
reasonably determined in good faith (after consultation with the
Companys outside legal counsel) that, in light of such
Superior Proposal, the failure to effect a Company Board
Recommendation Change or to terminate this Agreement in
accordance with Section 8.1(f) in response to such
Superior Proposal, as applicable, would reasonably be expected
to result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under Delaware Law;
(C) the Company Board shall have given Parent at least five
(5) Business Days prior written notice (1) of the
identity of the Person(s) making such Superior Proposal and all
of the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal
(and if such Superior Proposal is in written form, a copy of
such Superior Proposal and all related agreements, commitment
letters and other material documents provided or otherwise
furnished by the Person(s) making such Superior Proposal in
connection therewith), and (2) that the Company Board
intends to effect a Company Board Recommendation Change or
terminate this Agreement in accordance with
Section 8.1(f) in response to such Superior Proposal
and the opportunity to meet with the Company Board and the
Companys financial advisors and outside legal counsel at
such times as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling Parent and the Company to discuss in good faith such
Superior Proposal, this Agreement and the terms and conditions
hereof, and any modifications of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement that Parent may propose in response
thereto; and
(D) after the foregoing five (5) Business Day period
and, if requested by Parent, meetings with Parent and its
financial advisors and legal counsel during such five
(5) Business Day period, the Company Board shall have
reasonably determined in good faith (after consultation with
Paragon or another financial advisor of nationally recognized
standing and the Companys outside legal counsel) that such
Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior
Proposal, and shall have further reasonably determined in good
faith (after consultation with the Companys outside legal
counsel) that, in light of such Superior Proposal and after good
faith consideration of all proposals (whether or not binding) by
Parent, the failure to effect a Company Board Recommendation
Change or to terminate this Agreement in accordance with
Section 8.1(f), as applicable, would reasonably be
expected to result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under
Delaware Law.
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company
Board from taking and disclosing to the Company stockholders a
position contemplated by
Rule 14e-2(a)
under the Exchange Act or complying with the provisions of
Rule 14d-9
promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided, however,
that any statement or other disclosure made by the Company Board
pursuant to
Rule 14e-2(a)
under the Exchange Act or
Rule 14d-9
under the Exchange Act shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of
Article VIII; and provided further, that any
such statement or disclosure (other than a stop, look and
listen communication of the type contemplated by
Rule 14d-9(f)
under the Exchange Act, and within the time period contemplated
by
Rule 14d-9(f)(3))
shall be deemed to be a Company Board Recommendation Change if
the Company Board does not expressly publicly reaffirm the
Company Board Recommendation in connection with such statement
or disclosure.
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(d) Nothing set forth in this Section 6.7 shall
(i) limit the obligation of the Company to establish a
record date for, call, give notice of, convene and hold the
Company Stockholder Meeting, (ii) relieve the Company of
its obligation to solicit proxies for the Company Stockholder
Meeting and submit to a vote of its stockholders the Merger
Proposal at the Company Stockholder Meeting, or
(iii) except as required by applicable Law, permit the
Company to submit for a vote of its stockholders at or prior to
the Company Stockholder Meeting any matter other than the Merger
Proposal and the Option Exchange Proposal.
6.8 Access; Notice and Consultation.
(a) Subject to any restrictions imposed under applicable
Laws, at all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time, the
Company shall afford Parent and its accountants, legal counsel
and other representatives reasonable access during normal
business hours, upon reasonable notice, to any assets,
properties, contracts, books, records and personnel of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as Parent may reasonably request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall not be required to provide access to or disclose
information where such access or disclosure would reasonably be
likely to jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however,
that in such circumstances the parties shall use reasonable best
efforts to make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements
that would not so jeopardize such privilege. Subject to any
restrictions imposed under applicable Laws, at all times during
the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and continuing until the earlier to occur of the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Article VIII and the Effective Time, Parent shall
afford the Company and its and its accountants, legal counsel
and other representatives reasonable access to Parents
senior management to discuss Parents financial performance
and other material events and circumstances involving Parent as
the Company may reasonably request.
(b) At all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time,
each of Parent and the Company shall promptly notify the other
upon obtaining Knowledge that any representation or warranty
made by such party in this Agreement has become untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect or that such party has
breached or failed to comply with or satisfy in any material
respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with
or satisfied by such party under this Agreement.
(c) At all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time,
(i) the Company shall promptly notify Parent upon obtaining
Knowledge of any written notice or other written communication
(including
e-mail)
received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from any
third party, subsequent to the date of this Agreement and prior
to the Effective Time, alleging any material breach of or
material default under any Material Contract to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, and
(ii) each of the Company and Parent shall promptly notify
the other upon obtaining Knowledge of any written notice or
other written communication (including
e-mail)
received by it or any of its Subsidiaries from any third party,
subsequent to the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Effective Time, alleging that any material consent is or may be
required in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(d) At all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time,
(i) each of Parent and the Company shall promptly advise
the other orally and in writing of any litigation commenced
after the date hereof against it or any of its directors or
executive officers by any of its stockholders (on their own
behalf or on behalf of Parent or the Company, as the case may
be) relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby and shall keep the other party reasonably informed
regarding any such litigation, and (ii) the Company shall
keep Parent reasonably informed as to the matters set forth in
Section 6.8(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
and (iii) the Company shall promptly advise Parent of, and
shall keep Parent reasonably informed regarding, any other
litigation commenced or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened after the date hereof against the Company or any of
its directors or
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executive officers where the amount claimed is or would
reasonably be expected to be in excess of $500,000 (the matters
referenced in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) being referred to herein as the Legal
Proceeding Matters). The Company shall give Parent the
opportunity to consult with the Company regarding the defense or
settlement of any such Legal Proceeding Matter involving the
Company and shall consider in good faith Parents views
with respect to such Legal Proceeding Matter involving the
Company, and the Company shall not settle any such Legal
Proceeding Matter without the prior written consent of Parent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(e) At all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII and the Effective Time, the
Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, make
available to Parent a copy of each annual and quarterly report
on 10-K or
10-Q (as
applicable), and each registration statement, proposed to be
filed by the Company with the SEC during such period a
reasonable period of time prior to the filing of such reports or
registration statements (and in any event, if reasonably
practicable, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the
filing thereof with the SEC).
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, no information obtained pursuant to the access
granted or notification provided pursuant to this
Section 6.8 shall be deemed to (i) amend or
otherwise modify in any respect any representation or warranty
of the party hereto providing such access or notice,
(ii) impair or otherwise prejudice in any manner rights of
the party receiving such access or notice to rely upon the
conditions to the obligations of such party to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or
(iii) impair or otherwise limit the remedies available to
the party receiving such access or notice. The terms and
conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall apply to any
information acquired or provided pursuant to this
Section 6.8.
6.9 Confidentiality. Parent,
Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two and the Company hereby
acknowledge that Parent and the Company have previously executed
a Reciprocal Non-Use and Nondisclosure Agreement, dated
September 17, 2007 (as amended, the
Confidentiality Agreement), which will
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms,
as it may be amended from time to time.
6.10 Public Disclosure. Except
with regard to a Company Board Recommendation Change permitted
and effected pursuant to Section 6.7, each of Parent
and the Company shall consult with the other before issuing any
press release or making any public announcement or statement
with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby, and shall not issue any such press release or make any
such public announcement or statement without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that
either Parent or the Company may, without the prior consent of
the other party hereto, issue any such press release or make any
such public announcement or statement as may be required by Law
or the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq if such party first
notifies and (if practicable) consults with the other regarding
the timing and substance of such public announcement or
statement.
6.11 Employee Matters.
(a) Prior to the Effective Date, the Company shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries to (and from and after the
Effective Date, Parent shall cause the Final Surviving
Corporation to) honor in accordance with their terms all
existing employment, change of control and severance agreements
between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand,
and any director, officer or other employee of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Parent and the Final Surviving Corporation shall be
permitted to amend such agreements to the extent required by
applicable Laws.
(b) Effective as of the day immediately preceding the
Closing Date, each of the Company and any ERISA Affiliate shall
terminate any and all Employee Plans intended to include a Code
Section 401(k) arrangement (each, a 401(k)
Plan) (unless Parent provides written notice to the
Company that such 401(k) Plans shall not be terminated). Unless
Parent provides such written notice to the Company, no later
than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the
Company shall provide Parent with evidence that such Employee
Plan(s) have been terminated (effective as of the day
immediately preceding the Closing Date)
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pursuant to resolutions of the Company Board or such Affiliate,
as the case may be. The form and substance of such resolutions
shall be subject to the reasonable review and approval of
Parent. The Company also shall take such other actions in
furtherance of terminating such Employee Plan(s) as Parent may
reasonably require. In the event that termination of a 401(k)
Plan would reasonably be anticipated to trigger liquidation
charges, surrender charges or other fees then the Company shall
take such actions as are necessary to reasonably estimate the
amount of such charges
and/or fees
and provide such estimate in writing to Parent no later than
fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Closing Date. If,
in accordance with this Section 6.11(b), Parent
requests in writing that the Company not terminate any 401(k)
Plan, the Company shall take such actions as Parent may
reasonably require in furtherance of the assumption of any such
401(k) Plan by Parent, including, but not limited to, adopting
such amendments as Parent may deem necessary or advisable in
connection with such assumption with or without cause or notice.
(c) The Company shall consult with Parent (and consider in
good faith the advice of Parent) prior to sending any notices or
other communication materials to Company employees and the
Company shall not send any material written notices or other
material written communication materials (including via
electronic mail) to Company employees without the prior written
consent of Parent (which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed).
(d) Parent shall, or shall cause the Final Surviving
Corporation, for the period commencing at the Effective Time and
ending on the second anniversary thereof, to maintain or provide
for the individuals employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries
at the Effective Time (the Continuing
Employees) compensation and benefits (including
without limitation severance benefits) under Employee Plans that
are (i) in the aggregate no less favorable than the
compensation and benefits maintained for and provided to
Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time,
(ii) in the aggregate at least as favorable as the
compensation and benefits provided to similarly situated
employees of Parent, or (iii) any combination of
clauses (i) and (ii) above; provided, however,
subject to the foregoing, that nothing herein shall prevent the
amendment or termination of any Employee Plan or interfere with
the Final Surviving Corporations right or obligation to
make such changes as are necessary to conform with applicable
Law. Nothing in this Section 6.11(d) shall limit the
right of Parent, the Final Surviving Corporation or any of their
subsidiaries to terminate the employment of any Continuing
Employee at any time. The provisions of this
Section 6.11(d) are not intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder, and nothing herein shall be deemed to amend any
Employee Plan to reflect the terms of this
Section 6.11(d).
(e) From and after the Effective Time, and to the extent
permitted by applicable Law, Parent shall, or shall cause the
Final Surviving Corporation to, recognize the prior service with
the Company or its Subsidiaries of each Continuing Employee in
connection with all employee benefit plans, programs or policies
of Parent or its Affiliates in which Continuing Employees are
eligible to participate following the Effective Time for
purposes of eligibility and vesting and determination of level
of benefits (but not for purposes of benefit accruals under any
defined benefit pension plan or to the extent that such
recognition would result in duplication of benefits). From and
after the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause the Final
Surviving Corporation to, (i) cause any pre-existing
conditions or limitations and eligibility waiting periods under
any group health plans of Parent or its Affiliates to be waived
with respect to Continuing Employees and their eligible
dependents to the extent such Continuing Employees and their
eligible dependents were not subject to such preexisting
conditions and limitations and eligibility waiting periods under
the comparable Employee Plans as of the time immediately
preceding the Closing, and (ii) provide each Continuing
Employee with credit for any deductibles paid under any Employee
Plan that provides medical, dental or vision benefits in the
plan year in effect as of the Closing Date in satisfying any
applicable deductible or out of pocket requirements under any
medical, dental or vision plans of Parent, the Final Surviving
Corporation or its Subsidiaries that such employees are eligible
to participate in after the Effective Time to the same extent
that such expenses were recognized under the comparable Employee
Plan. The provisions of this Section 6.11(e) are not
intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto
any rights or remedies hereunder, and nothing herein shall be
deemed to amend any Employee Plan to reflect the terms of this
Section 6.11(e).
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6.12 Directors and Officers
Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) The Final Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries
shall (and Parent shall cause the Final Surviving Corporation
and its Subsidiaries to) honor and fulfill in all respects the
obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or other similar
organizational documents) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
in effect on the date hereof and any and all agreements for
indemnification, exculpation of liability
and/or
advance of expenses in effect as of the date hereof between the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any of their respective
current or former directors and officers and any person who
becomes a director or officer of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time (the
Indemnified Parties). In addition, for a
period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, the
Final Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall (and
Parent shall cause the Final Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries to) cause the certificate of formation (and other
similar organizational documents) of the Final Surviving
Corporation and its Subsidiaries to contain provisions with
respect to indemnification, exculpation from liability and the
advancement of expenses that are at least as favorable as the
indemnification, exculpation from liability and advancement of
expense provisions set forth in the certificate of incorporation
and bylaws (or other similar organizational documents) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof, and during
such six (6) year period, such provisions shall not be
amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would
adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who were
covered by such provisions, except as required by applicable Law
or Order.
(b) Prior to or as of the Effective Time, Parent shall
purchase a six-year tail prepaid policy on the
Companys current directors and officers
liability insurance (D&O Insurance) in
respect of acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the
Effective Time, covering each person covered by the D&O
Insurance as of the date hereof, on terms and conditions no less
favorable to the beneficiaries thereof, in the aggregate, than
the D&O Insurance. Parent and the Final Surviving
Corporation shall maintain such tail policy in full
force and effect and continue to honor their respective
obligations thereunder; provided, however, that in
satisfying its obligations under this
Section 6.12(b), Parent shall not be obligated to
pay in excess of the amount set forth in
Section 6.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
(such aggregate amount, the Maximum Premium),
provided that if the cost of such tail insurance
coverage exceeds the Maximum Premium, Parent and the Final
Surviving Corporation shall be obligated to obtain a policy with
the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding the
Maximum Premium.
(c) If any Indemnified Person makes a claim to enforce the
obligations set forth in this Section 6.12 that is
denied by the Final Surviving Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries (or by Parent after a request that Parent fulfill
its obligations hereunder), and a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that such Indemnified Person is entitled
to the benefit of such obligations hereunder, then the Final
Surviving Corporation shall (and Parent shall cause the Final
Surviving Corporation to) pay all expenses, including reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel, that such Indemnified Person
incurred to enforce the obligations set forth in this
Section 6.12; provided, however, that nothing
in this Section 6.12(c) shall prejudice the right of
any Indemnified Person to any advancement of expenses provided
under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company
or its Subsidiaries as in effect on the date hereof or any
agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) If Parent, the Final Surviving Corporation, any
Subsidiaries of the Final Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective successors or assigns shall (i) consolidate with
or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing
or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger or (ii) transfer all or substantially all of its
properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such
case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of Parent, the Final Surviving Corporation
and/or any
such Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall assume all of the
obligations of Parent, the Final Surviving Corporation or its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, under this Section 6.12.
(e) The obligations under this Section 6.12
shall not be terminated, amended or otherwise modified in such a
manner as to adversely affect any Indemnified Party (or any
other person who is a beneficiary under tail policy
referred to in Section 6.12(b) (and their heirs and
representatives)) without the prior written consent of such
affected Indemnified Party or other person who is a beneficiary
under the tail policy referred to in
Section 6.12(b) (and their heirs and
representatives). Each of the Indemnified Parties or other
persons
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who are beneficiaries under the tail policy referred
to in Section 6.12(b) (and their heirs and
representatives) are intended to be third party beneficiaries of
this Section 6.12, with full rights of enforcement
as if a party thereto. The rights of the Indemnified Parties
(and other persons who are beneficiaries under the
tail policy referred to in
Section 6.12(b) (and their heirs and
representatives)) under this Section 6.12 shall be
in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights
that such persons may have under the certificate or articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other equivalent organizational
documents, any and all indemnification agreements of or entered
into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or applicable
Laws (whether at law or in equity).
6.13 Resignation of Officers and Directors of Company
Subsidiaries. At or prior to the Closing,
upon the request of Parent, the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain the resignations of all directors and
officers of its Subsidiaries, in each case to be effective as of
the Effective Time.
6.14 Section 16
Resolutions. The Parent Board, or a committee
thereof consisting of non-employee directors (as such term is
defined for purposes of Rule 16b 3(d) under the Exchange
Act), shall adopt a resolution prior to the Effective Time
providing that the receipt by Company Insiders of Parent Common
Stock in exchange for shares of Company Common Stock, and of
options to purchase Parent Common Stock upon assumption and
conversion of the Company Stock Awards, pursuant to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement is intended to be
exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to
Rule 16b-3
promulgated thereunder. In addition, the Company Board, or a
committee thereof consisting of non-employee directors (as such
term is defined for purposes of
Rule 16b-3(d)
promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall adopt a resolution
prior to the Effective Time providing that the disposition by
Company Insiders of Company Common Stock in exchange for cash
and shares of Parent Common Stock, and the disposition of their
Company Stock Awards which will be deemed to occur upon the
assumption of those options and their resulting conversion into
options to purchase Parent Common Stock pursuant to the
transactions contemplated hereby are also intended to be exempt
from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to
Rule 16b-3
promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, and the
term Company Insiders shall mean those
directors and officers of the Company who are subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
6.15 Nasdaq Listing. Prior to the
Closing, Parent shall file a Notification of Listing of
Additional Shares (or such other form as may be required by
Nasdaq) with Nasdaq with respect to the shares of the Parent
Common Stock to be issued in the Merger and shall use reasonable
best efforts to cause such shares to be approved for listing as
promptly as practicable and, in any event, before the Closing
Date.
6.16 Registration Statements for Assumed Options and
Other Awards. As soon a practicable following
the Effective Time, but in no event later than ten
(10) Business Days following the Effective Time, Parent
shall file a registration statement under the Securities Act on
Form S-8
(and use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the
effectiveness thereof) relating to shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable with respect to the Assumed Options, in each case to
the extent eligible for registration on
Form S-8,
and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain in effect for so long as such
Assumed Options shall remain outstanding.
6.17 Obligations of the Merger
Subs. Parent shall cause Merger Sub One,
Merger Sub Two, the Interim Surviving Corporation and the Final
Surviving Corporation to perform their respective obligations
under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement.
6.18 Tax Matters. None of Parent,
Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two or the Company shall, and they
shall not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, take
any action prior to or following the Effective Time that would
reasonably be expected to cause the Integrated Merger to fail to
qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. Each of Parent, Merger Sub One,
Merger Sub Two and the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain the Tax opinions described in
Section 7.1(g) (collectively, the Tax
Opinions). Officers of Parent, Merger Sub One, Merger
Sub Two and the Company shall execute and deliver to Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation,
counsel to Parent, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP, counsel to the Company, certificates containing
customary representations at such time or times as may be
reasonably requested by such law firms, including the effective
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date of the Registration Statement and the Effective Time, in
connection with their respective deliveries of opinions with
respect to the Tax treatment of the Integrated Merger.
6.19 Funded Debt. Prior to the
Closing Date, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to sell, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to sell, all
marketable securities, and to dividend the proceeds thereof to
the Company, which shall invest such proceeds in cash or cash
equivalents (such cash equivalents to be AAA-rated government
securities with maturities no greater than 90 days). At
Parents request, the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to (i) obtain a customary pay-off letter with
respect to the Credit Agreement in advance of the Closing Date
and (ii) apply the available cash of the Company (to the
extent permitted without causing non-compliance with
Section 5.2(q) of this Agreement) toward the
repayment effective on the Closing Date immediately after the
Effective Time of outstanding indebtedness under the Credit
Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this covenant is not
intended to assure a minimum amount of cash or cash equivalents
on the balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of
the Closing Date.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
TO THE MERGER
7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligations to
Effect the Merger. The respective obligations
of Parent, Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two and the Company to
consummate the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction or
waiver (where permissible under applicable Laws) prior to the
Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of the Registration
Statement. The Registration Statement shall
have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities
Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued by the SEC and no
proceedings for that purpose and no similar proceeding in
respect of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall have been
initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC.
(b) Requisite Merger Approval. The
Requisite Merger Approval shall have been obtained.
(c) Antitrust
Approvals. (i) The waiting period (and
extensions thereof) applicable to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated and (ii) any and all other waiting periods
applicable to, and any and all clearances, approvals and
consents required to be obtained in connection with, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement under all Laws
governing antitrust, unfair competition or restraints on trade
shall have expired, been terminated or obtained, other than
those waiting periods, clearances, approvals and consents the
failure of which to be terminated or obtained (x) would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (y) would not be material
to the business or operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries,
and (z) would not materially impair the benefits expected
to be derived by Parent from the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (all of the waiting periods, clearances,
approvals and other consents referenced in the preceding clauses
(i) and (ii) being collectively referred to herein as the
Antitrust Approvals and each individually as
an Antitrust Approval).
(d) FINRA Approval. FINRAs
approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including approval pursuant to FINRA Membership
Rule 1017) shall have been obtained and shall remain
in full force and effect.
(e) IIROC Approval. IIROCs
approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and
effect.
(f) Nasdaq Listing. The shares of
the Parent Common Stock issuable in the Merger shall have been
approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of
issuance.
(g) Tax Opinions. Parent shall
have received an opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati, Professional Corporation, and the Company shall have
received an opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP, each dated as of the Effective Time and each to
the effect that the Integrated Merger will
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qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. The issuance of such opinions
shall be conditioned upon the receipt by such counsel of
customary representation letters from each of Parent, Merger Sub
One, Merger Sub Two and the Company, in each case, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such counsel. Each such
representation letter shall be dated on or before the date of
such opinion and shall not have been withdrawn or modified in
any material respect.
(h) No Legal Prohibition. No
Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, granted,
promulgated, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than the
Option Exchange Program) any Law or Order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and has the effect
of (i) making any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement illegal in any jurisdiction, or (ii) prohibiting
or otherwise preventing the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than the
Option Exchange Program) in any jurisdiction.
7.2 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of
Parent and the Merger Subs. The obligations
of Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two to consummate the
Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver prior to
the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of
which may be waived exclusively by Parent:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in Section 3.1, Section 3.2,
Section 3.3(b), Section 3.4,
Section 3.23 and Section 3.24
(collectively, the Specified Company
Representations), (A) shall have been true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement, and (B) shall be true and correct in all
material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same
force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (other
than those representations and warranties which address matters
only as of a particular date, which shall have been true and
correct in all material respects only as of such particular
date), it being understood and hereby agreed that any breach of
or inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the
Company set forth in Section 3.4(a) that would
result in the issuance or payment of an aggregate value of
Merger Consideration in the Merger that equals or exceeds 101%
of the aggregate value of Merger Consideration otherwise
issuable and payable in the Merger in the absence of such breach
or inaccuracy shall be deemed to be material for purposes of
this Section 7.2(a)(i); provided, however,
that for purposes of determining the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this
Agreement for purposes of this Section 7.2(a)(i),
(1) all Material Adverse Effect qualifications
and other qualifications based on the word material
or similar phrases contained in such representations and
warranties shall be disregarded, and (2) any update of or
modification to the Company Disclosure Schedule made or
purported to have been made after the date hereof shall be
disregarded.
(ii) All representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in this Agreement other than the Specified Company
Representations (A) shall have been true and correct as of
the date of this Agreement, and (B) shall be true and
correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date, except for any
failure to be so true and correct which has not had and would
not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company (other than those representations and
warranties which address matters only as of a particular date,
which shall have been true and correct only as of such
particular date, except for any failure to be so true and
correct which has not had and would not have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company);
provided, however, that for purposes of determining the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company
set forth in this Agreement for purposes of this
Section 7.2(a)(ii), (1) all Material
Adverse Effect qualifications and other qualifications
based on the word material or similar phrases
contained in such representations and warranties shall be
disregarded (it being understood and agreed that the
representation and warranty set forth in
Section 3.9(a) shall not be disregarded), and
(2) any update of or modification to the Company Disclosure
Schedule made or purported to have been made after the date
hereof shall be disregarded.
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(b) Performance of Obligations of the
Company. The Company shall have performed in
all material respects any obligations and complied in all
material respects with any covenants or other agreements of the
Company to be performed or complied with by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.
(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No
event, development, change, circumstance or condition shall have
occurred or exist that has had or would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company (whether or not any events, developments,
changes, circumstances or conditions occurring prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement caused or contributed
to the occurrence of such Material Adverse Effect on the
Company).
(d) Officers
Certificate. Parent shall have received a
certificate, validly executed for and on behalf of the Company
and in its name by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, certifying the satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a),
Section 7.2(b), and Section 7.2(c).
(e) Governmental Actions. There
shall not be pending any suit, action or other Legal Proceeding
by any U.S. federal or Canadian Governmental Authority
(including FINRA and IIROC), against Parent, Merger Sub One,
Merger Sub Two, the Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any
jurisdiction or the performance of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreements (other
than the Option Exchange Program).
(f) Provincial Securities Commission
Approvals. The approval of the following
Canadian securities regulators of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement have been obtained, or shall have been
indicated by such regulators not to be required, and such
approvals or indications, as the case may be, shall remain in
full force and effect: British Columbia Securities Commission,
Alberta Securities Commission, Ontario Securities Commission and
Autorité des Marchés Financiers du Québec.
7.3 Additional Conditions to the Companys
Obligations to Effect the Merger. The
obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger shall be
subject to the satisfaction or waiver prior to the Effective
Time of each of the following conditions, any of which may be
waived exclusively by the Company:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The representations and warranties of Parent set forth
in Section 4.1, Section 4.2,
Section 4.3(b), Section 4.4 and
Section 4.14 (the Specified Parent
Representations) (A) shall have been true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement and (B) shall be true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (other than
those representations and warranties which address matters only
as of a particular date, which shall have been true and correct
in all material respects only as of such particular date);
provided, however, that for purposes of determining the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of Parent set
forth in this Agreement for purposes of this
Section 7.3(a)(i), (1) all Material
Adverse Effect qualifications and other qualifications
based on the word material or similar phrases
contained in such representations and warranties shall be
disregarded (it being understood and agreed that the
representation and warranty set forth in
Section 4.8(a) shall not be disregarded), and
(2) any update of or modification to the Parent Disclosure
Schedule made or purported to have been made after the date
hereof shall be disregarded.
(ii) All representations and warranties of Parent set forth
in this Agreement other than the Specified Parent
Representations (A) shall have been true and correct as of
the date of this Agreement and (B) shall be true and
correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date, except for any
failure to be so true and correct which has not had and would
not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent (other than those representations and
warranties which address matters only as of a particular date,
which shall have been true and correct only as of such
particular date, except for any failure to be so true and
correct which has not had and would not have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent);
provided, however, that
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for purposes of determining the accuracy of the representations
and warranties of Parent set forth in this Agreement for
purposes of this Section 7.3(a)(ii), (1) all
Material Adverse Effect qualifications and other
qualifications based on the word material or similar
phrases contained in such representations and warranties shall
be disregarded (it being understood and agreed that the
representation and warranty set forth in
Section 4.8(a) shall not be disregarded), and
(2) any update of or modification to the Parent Disclosure
Schedule made or purported to have been made after the date
hereof shall be disregarded.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and the
Merger Subs. Parent, Merger Sub One and
Merger Sub Two shall have performed in all material respects any
obligations and complied in all material respects with any
covenants or other agreements of Parent and the Merger Subs to
be performed or complied with by them under this Agreement at or
prior to the Effective Time.
(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No
event, development, change, circumstance or condition shall have
occurred or exist that has had or would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent (whether or not any events, developments,
changes, circumstances or conditions occurring prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement caused or contributed
to the occurrence of such Material Adverse Effect on Parent).
(d) Officers
Certificate. The Company shall have received
a certificate, validly executed for and on behalf of Parent and
in its name by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of Parent, certifying the satisfaction of the conditions
set forth in Section 7.3(a),
Section 7.3(b) and Section 7.3(c).
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
8.1 Termination. Notwithstanding
the prior receipt of the Requisite Merger Approval, this
Agreement may be validly terminated and the transactions
contemplated hereby may be abandoned only as follows (it being
agreed that the party hereto terminating this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 8.1 shall give prompt written notice
of such termination to the other party or parties hereto):
(a) by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company
at any time prior to the Effective Time (whether or not the
Requisite Merger Approval has been obtained); or
(b) by either Parent or the Company, at any time prior to
the Effective Time (whether or not the Requisite Merger Approval
has been obtained), if the Effective Time has not occurred prior
to 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on October 7, 2009
(the Termination Date); provided,
however, that in the event Parent or any of Parents
Subsidiaries announces, following the date hereof and prior to
the Termination Date, entry into a definitive agreement for a
transaction that is reportable under the HSR Act or subject to
review by FINRA (a Reviewable Transaction),
the right of Parent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(b) shall not be available until the
later of (1) 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the
Termination Date and (2) 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on the thirtieth (30th) day immediately following the
earlier to occur of the consummation or termination of such
Reviewable Transaction; and provided further, that the
right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any party
hereto whose action or failure to take any action has been the
cause of, or resulted in, any of the conditions to the Merger
set forth in Article VII having failed to be
satisfied on or before the Termination Date, as applicable, or
in the Effective Time not occurring prior to the Termination
Date, as applicable, in either case if such action or failure to
take action constituted a material breach of this
Agreement; or
(c) by either Parent or the Company, at any time prior to
the Effective Time (whether or not the Requisite Merger Approval
has been obtained), if any Governmental Authority (i) shall
have enacted, issued, granted, promulgated, entered, enforced or
deemed applicable to any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (other than the Option Exchange Program) any Law
or any final, non-appealable Order that is in effect and has the
effect of making the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (other than the Option Exchange
Program) illegal in any
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jurisdiction or which has the effect of prohibiting or otherwise
preventing the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (other than the Option Exchange
Program) in any jurisdiction, or (ii) from which an
Antitrust Approval is required has denied such approval and such
denial has become final and non-appealable; or
(d) by either Parent or the Company, at any time prior to
the Effective Time, if the Company shall have failed to obtain
the Requisite Merger Approval at the Company Stockholder Meeting
(or any postponement or adjournment thereof) at which a vote was
taken on the Merger Proposal; or
(e) by the Company, at any time prior to the Effective Time
(whether or not the Requisite Merger Approval has been
obtained), provided that the Company is not then in material
breach of any covenant or agreement of the Company set forth in
this Agreement, in the event (i) of a breach of any
covenant or agreement on the part of Parent or the Merger Subs
set forth in this Agreement or (ii) that any of the
representations and warranties of Parent and the Merger Subs set
forth in this Agreement shall have been inaccurate when made or
shall have become inaccurate, in either case such that the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Section 7.3(a)
or Section 7.3(b) would not be satisfied as of the
time of such breach or as of the time such representation and
warranty became inaccurate; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that such breach by
Parent, Merger Sub One or Merger Sub Two or such inaccuracies in
the representations and warranties of Parent, Merger Sub One or
Merger Sub Two are curable by Parent, Merger Sub One or Merger
Sub Two through the exercise of commercially reasonable efforts,
then the Company shall not be permitted to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e) until the
earlier to occur of (A) the expiration of a thirty
(30) calendar day period after delivery of written notice
from the Company to Parent of such breach or inaccuracy, as
applicable, or (B) Parent, Merger Sub One
and/or
Merger Sub Two (as applicable) ceasing to exercise commercially
reasonable efforts to cure such breach or inaccuracy, provided
that Parent, Merger Sub One
and/or
Merger Sub Two (as applicable) continues to exercise
commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach or
inaccuracy (it being understood that the Company may not
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(e) if such breach or inaccuracy by
Parent, Merger Sub One or Merger Sub Two is cured within such
thirty (30) calendar day period); or
(f) by the Company, at any time prior to obtaining the
Company Stockholder Approval, pursuant to and in accordance with
Section 6.7(b)(ii), provided that concurrently with
such termination (and as a condition to the effectiveness of
such termination), (i) the Company shall have entered into
a definitive agreement for the Superior Proposal referenced in
Section 6.7(b)(ii) and (ii) the Company shall
have paid to Parent a fee equal to the Termination Fee Amount
pursuant to Section 8.3(b)(iii); or
(g) by Parent, at any time prior to the Effective Time
(whether or not the Requisite Merger Approval has been
obtained), provided that Parent is not then in material breach
of any covenant or agreement of Parent set forth in this
Agreement, in the event (i) of a breach of any covenant or
agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement
or (ii) that any representation or warranty of the Company
set forth in this Agreement shall have been inaccurate when made
or shall have become inaccurate, in either case such that the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Section 7.2(a)
or Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied as of the
time of such breach or as of the time such representation and
warranty became inaccurate; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that such breach by
the Company or such inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties of the Company are curable by the Company through the
exercise of commercially reasonable efforts, then Parent shall
not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(g) until the earlier to occur of
(A) the expiration of a thirty (30) calendar day
period after delivery of written notice from Parent to the
Company of such breach or inaccuracy, as applicable, or
(B) the ceasing by the Company to exercise commercially
reasonable efforts to cure such breach or inaccuracy, provided
that the Company continues to exercise commercially reasonable
efforts to cure such breach or inaccuracy (it being understood
that Parent may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(g) if such breach or inaccuracy by the
Company is cured within such thirty (30) calendar day
period); or
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(h) by Parent, at any time prior to the Effective Time
(whether or not the Requisite Merger Approval has been
obtained), in the event that:
(i) either (A) any member of the Company Board or any
executive officer of the Company shall have breached or violated
the terms of Section 6.1, Section 6.6
(with respect to the Merger Proposal) or Section 6.7
in any material respect, or (B) any other employee,
controlled Affiliate, investment banker, attorney or other
advisor or representative of the Company acting at the express
direction of (or with the express authorization of) any member
of the Company Board or any executive officer of the Company
shall have breached or violated the terms of
Section 6.1, Section 6.6 (with respect
to the Merger Proposal) or Section 6.7 in any
material respect;
(ii) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have
for any reason effected a Company Board Recommendation Change
(whether or not in compliance with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement);
(iii) the Company shall have failed to include the Company
Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus;
(iv) a tender offer or exchange offer for Company Common
Stock is commenced and (A) within the ten
(10) business-day
period specified in
Rule 14e-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Company shall have
failed to issue a public statement (and filed a
Schedule 14D-9
pursuant to
Rule 14e-2
and
Rule 14d-9
promulgated under the Exchange Act) reaffirming the Company
Board Recommendation and recommending that the Company
stockholders reject such tender or exchange offer and not tender
any shares of Company Common Stock into such tender or exchange
offer, or (B) at any time after the foregoing 10
business-day
period, the Company shall issue a press release or file a
Schedule 14D-9,
in any such case relating to such tender or exchange offer that
fails to reaffirm the Company Board Recommendation and recommend
that the Company stockholders reject such tender or exchange
offer and not tender any shares of Company Common Stock into
such tender or exchange offer; or
(v) the Company Board shall fail to reaffirm (publicly, if
requested by Parent) its recommendation in favor of the adoption
of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger (A) within
ten (10) Business Days following Parents request in
writing that such recommendation be reaffirmed after an
Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly announced or shall
have become publicly known, or (B) within ten
(10) Business Days following Parents request in
writing that such recommendation be reaffirmed if, in
Parents reasonable good faith judgment, there are
circumstances that create uncertainty in the public markets
regarding the position of the Company Board regarding this
Agreement and the Merger.
8.2 Notice of Termination; Effect of
Termination. Any proper termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 shall be effective
immediately upon the delivery of written notice of the
terminating party to the other party or parties hereto, as
applicable. In the event of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1, this Agreement shall be of
no further force or effect without liability of any party or
parties hereto, as applicable (or any stockholder, director,
officer, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such
party or parties) to the other party or parties hereto, as
applicable, except (a) for the terms of
Section 6.9, this Section 8.2,
Section 8.3 and Article IX, each of
which shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and
(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any party or parties
hereto, as applicable, from liability for any willful breach of,
or fraud in connection with, this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. In addition to the foregoing, no
termination of this Agreement shall affect the obligations of
the parties hereto set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement,
all of which obligations shall survive termination of this
Agreement in accordance with their respective terms.
8.3 Fees and Expenses.
(a) General. All fees and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party or parties, as
applicable, incurring such expenses whether or not the Merger is
consummated.
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(b) Company Payments.
(i) The Company shall pay to Parent a fee equal to
$20,000,000 (the Termination Fee Amount), by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or
accounts designated in writing by Parent, in the event that
(A) following the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting, an Acquisition
Proposal shall have been publicly announced or shall have become
publicly known, and (B) this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 8.1(d) (or, after a vote on the
Merger Proposal has been taken at the Company Stockholder
Meeting and the Requisite Merger Approval has not been obtained,
the Company terminates this Agreement for any other reason), and
(C) within twelve (12) months following the
termination of this Agreement, either (1) any Acquisition
Transaction is consummated or (2) the Company enters into a
letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other Contract
providing for any Acquisition Transaction and such Acquisition
Transaction or any other Acquisition Transaction is subsequently
consummated within twenty four (24) months after the date
on which such letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or
other Contract is executed by the parties thereto. The fee
amount payable pursuant to this Section 8.3(b)(i)
shall be paid on the date of, and as a condition to, the
consummation of the applicable Acquisition Transaction
contemplated by the foregoing clause (C).
(ii) The Company shall pay to Parent a fee equal to the
Termination Fee Amount by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account or accounts designated in writing by Parent,
in the event that (A) following the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and prior to the termination of this
Agreement, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly
announced or shall have become publicly known, or shall have
been communicated or otherwise made known to the Company, and
(B) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1(b) or Section 8.1(g), and
(C) within twelve (12) months following the
termination of this Agreement, either (1) any Acquisition
Transaction is consummated or (2) the Company enters into a
letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other Contract
providing for any Acquisition Transaction and such Acquisition
Transaction or any other Acquisition Transaction is subsequently
consummated within twenty four (24) months after the date
on which such letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or
other Contract is executed by the parties thereto. The fee
amount payable pursuant to this Section 8.3(b)(ii)
shall be paid on the date of, and as a condition to, the
consummation of the applicable Acquisition Transaction
contemplated by the foregoing clause (C).
(iii) The Company shall pay to Parent a fee equal to the
Termination Fee Amount, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account or accounts designated in writing
by Parent, in the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1(f), concurrently with and as a condition
to the effectiveness of such termination.
(iv) The Company shall pay to Parent a fee equal to the
Termination Fee Amount, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account or accounts designated in writing
by Parent, within one Business Day after demand by Parent, in
the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1(h).
(c) Enforcement. Each of Parent
and the Company acknowledges and hereby agrees that the
provisions of Section 8.3 are an integral part of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that,
without such provisions, neither Parent nor the Company would
have entered into this Agreement. Accordingly, if the Company
shall fail to pay in a timely manner any amounts due and payable
pursuant to Section 8.3, and, in order to obtain
such payment, Parent shall make a claim against the Company and
such claim results in a judgment against the Company, the
Company shall pay to Parent an amount in cash equal to
Parents costs and expenses (including its attorneys
fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such claim,
together with interest at the prime rate of Citibank N.A. in
effect on the date such payment was required to be made. Payment
of the fees amounts contemplated by this Section 8.3
shall not be in lieu of, or replacement or substitution for, any
damages that may arise out of any breach of this Agreement, and
are not intended to (and shall not) be liquidated damages
hereunder; provided, however, that any liability of the
Company hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of any
Termination Fee Amount paid by the Company except to the extent
that the amount of the Termination Fee Amount shall have already
been explicitly taken into account by the court to reduce the
amount otherwise payable as damages. The parties acknowledge and
agree that in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay the
Termination Fee Amount on more than one occasion.
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8.4 Amendment. Subject to
applicable Laws and subject to the other provisions of this
Agreement, this Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto
at any time by execution of an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of each of Parent, Merger Sub One, Merger Sub Two and the
Company; provided, however, that in the event that this
Agreement has been adopted by the Company stockholders in
accordance with Delaware Law, no amendment shall be made to this
Agreement that requires the approval of such Company
stockholders without such approval.
8.5 Extension; Waiver. At any time
and from time to time prior to the Effective Time, any party or
parties hereto may, to the extent legally allowed and except as
otherwise set forth herein, (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other
party or parties hereto, as applicable, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such
party or parties hereto contained herein or in any document
delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any
of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party or
parties hereto contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a
party or parties 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 or parties, as applicable. Any delay in
exercising any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a
waiver of such right.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
9.1 Survival of Representations, Warranties and
Covenants. The representations, warranties
and covenants of the Company, Parent and the Merger Subs set
forth in this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time,
and only the covenants that by their terms survive the Effective
Time shall so survive the Effective Time in accordance with
their respective terms.
9.2 Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally or by commercial delivery service,
or sent via telecopy (receipt confirmed) to the parties at the
following addresses or telecopy numbers (or at such other
address or telecopy numbers for a party as shall be specified by
like notice):
(a) if to Parent, Merger Sub One or Merger Sub Two, to:
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
4211 South
102nd Street
Omaha, NE 68127
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy No.:
(443) 539-2009
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Professional Corporation
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California
94304-1050
Attention: Larry W. Sonsini, Martin W. Korman and Michael S.
Ringler
Telecopy No.:
(650) 493-6811
(b) if to the Company (prior to the Effective Time), to:
thinkorswim, Inc.
600 W. Chicago Ave., Suite 100
Chicago, IL
60654-2597
Attention: Pete Santori
Telecopy No.:
(773) 435-3232
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and
thinkorswim Group Inc.
13947 S. Minuteman Dr.
Draper, UT 84020
Attention: Ida Kane
Telecopy No.:
(801) 816-6010
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
Attention: Ethan A. Klingsberg and Benet J. OReilly
Telecopy No.:
(212) 225-3999
9.3 Assignment. No party may
assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or
obligations hereunder without the prior written approval 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 permitted
assigns.
9.4 Entire Agreement. This
Agreement and the agreements, documents, instruments and
certificates among the parties hereto as contemplated by or
referred to herein, including the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Parent Disclosure Schedule and the Exhibits and Schedules
hereto, 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; provided,
however, the Confidentiality Agreement shall not be
superseded, shall survive any termination of this Agreement and
shall continue in full force and effect. No representation,
warranty, inducement, promise, understanding or condition not
set forth in this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement or
the agreements, documents, instruments or certificates referred
to in the immediately preceding sentence has been made or relied
upon by any of the parties to this Agreement.
9.5 Third Party
Beneficiaries. Except as set forth in or
contemplated by the provisions of Section 6.12, this
Agreement is not intended to, and shall not, confer upon any
other Person any rights or remedies hereunder, provided that
from and after the Effective Time the holders of Company Common
Stock shall be beneficiaries of Section 2.7 and
Section 2.9 and the holders of Company Restricted
Stock, Company Options and Company Restricted Stock Units shall
be beneficiaries of Section 2.8.
9.6 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.
9.7 Other Remedies. Except as
otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly
conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not
exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or
equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one
remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.
9.8 Governing Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might
otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law
thereof.
9.9 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, in addition
to any other remedy to which they are
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entitled at law or in equity, the parties hereto shall be
entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state
having jurisdiction.
9.10 Consent to Jurisdiction. Each
of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue in the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware or, if under applicable Law exclusive jurisdiction over
such matter is vested in the federal courts, any court of the
United States located in the State of Delaware in connection
with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby, agrees that process may be
served upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the
State of Delaware for such persons and waives and covenants not
to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have
to such jurisdiction, venue and process. Each party hereto
hereby agrees not to commence any legal proceedings relating to
or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby in any jurisdiction or courts other than as
provided herein.
9.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF
PARENT, COMPANY, MERGER SUB ONE AND MERGER SUB TWO 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, COMPANY, MERGER SUB ONE OR MERGER SUB TWO IN
THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
HEREOF.
9.12 Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall
be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each
of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being
understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement
to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers to
be effective as of the date first above written.
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Fredric J. Tomczyk
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Title:
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President & Chief Executive Officer
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TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION ONE
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By:
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/s/ William J. Gerber
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TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION TWO
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By:
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/s/ William J. Gerber
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THINKORSWIM GROUP INC.
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
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Appendix B
VOTING
AGREEMENT
THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is
made and entered into as of January 8, 2009 by and between
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(Parent), and the undersigned Stockholder
(the Stockholder) of thinkorswim Group Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the Company).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Parent, Tango Acquisition Corporation One, a Delaware
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(Merger Sub One), Tango Acquisition
Corporation Two, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub Two), and
the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of
even date herewith (the Merger Agreement),
which provides for, among other things, and as a single
integrated transaction, the merger of Merger Sub One with and
into the Company (the First Step Merger)
pursuant to which all outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company will be converted into the right to receive the
consideration set forth in the Merger Agreement. As soon as
practicable following the First Step Merger, Parent will cause
the Company to merge with and into Merger Sub Two (the
Second Step Merger and, taken together with
the First Step Merger, the Merger).
WHEREAS, the Stockholder is the beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act)) of that number of shares of
the outstanding capital stock of the Company, and the holder of
options to purchase such number of shares of capital stock of
the Company, in each case, as set forth on the signature page of
this Agreement.
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the willingness of
Parent, Merger Sub One and Merger Sub Two to enter into the
Merger Agreement, the Stockholder (in the Stockholders
capacity as such) has agreed to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. All
capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein shall
have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger
Agreement. For all purposes of and under this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) Expiration Date shall mean
the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as the
Merger Agreement shall have been validly terminated pursuant to
Article VIII thereof, or (ii) such date and time as
the Merger shall become effective in accordance with the terms
and provisions of the Merger Agreement.
(b) Person shall mean any
individual, corporation, limited liability company, general or
limited partnership, trust, unincorporated association or other
entity of any kind or nature, or any governmental authority.
(c) Shares shall mean
(i) all equity securities of the Company (including all
shares of Company Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock and all
Company Options and other rights to acquire shares of Company
Common Stock) owned by the Stockholder as of the date hereof,
and (ii) all additional equity securities of the Company
(including all additional shares of Company Common Stock,
Company Preferred Stock and all additional Company Options,
warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Company Common
Stock) of which the Stockholder acquires ownership during the
period from the date of this Agreement through the Expiration
Date (including by way of stock dividend or distribution,
split-up,
recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares and the like).
(d) Transfer A Person shall be
deemed to have effected a Transfer of a Share
if such Person directly or indirectly (i) sells, pledges,
encumbers, assigns, grants an option with respect to (or
otherwise enters into a hedging arrangement with respect to),
transfers, tenders or disposes of such Share or any interest in
such Share, or (ii) enters into an agreement or commitment
providing
for the sale of, pledge of, encumbrance of, assignment of, grant
of an option with respect to (or entry into a hedging
arrangement with respect to), transfer, tender of or disposition
of such Share or any interest therein, provided, for the
avoidance of doubt Transfer does not include
granting a proxy or voting or consent instructions with respect
to any matter other than those specified in
Section 3(a)(i), (ii) or (iii).
2. Transfer of Shares.
(a) Transfer Restrictions. The
Stockholder shall not Transfer (or cause or permit the Transfer
of) any of the Shares, or enter into any agreement relating
thereto, except (i) by selling already-owned Shares either
to pay the exercise price upon the exercise of a Company Option
or to satisfy the Stockholders tax withholding obligation
upon the exercise of a Company Option, in each case as permitted
by any Company Option Plan, (ii) transferring Shares to
Affiliates, immediate family members, a trust established for
the benefit of Stockholder
and/or for
the benefit of one or more members of Stockholders
immediate family or charitable organizations or upon the death
of the Stockholder, provided that, as a condition to such
Transfer, the recipient agrees to be bound by this Agreement and
delivers a Proxy (as defined below) in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A, or (iii) with Parents prior
written consent and in Parents sole discretion. Any
Transfer, or purported Transfer, of Shares in breach or
violation of this Agreement shall be void and of no force or
effect.
(b) Transfer of Voting Rights. The
Stockholder shall not deposit (or cause or permit the deposit
of) any Shares in a voting trust or grant any proxy or enter
into any voting agreement or similar agreement in contravention
of the obligations of the Stockholder under this Agreement with
respect to any of the Shares.
3. Agreement to Vote Shares.
(a) At every meeting of the Stockholders of the Company,
and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every
action or approval by written consent of the Stockholders of
Company, the Stockholder (in the Stockholders capacity as
such), to the extent not voted by the Person(s) appointed under
the Proxy, shall, or shall cause the holder of record on any
applicable record date to, vote all Shares that are then-owned
by such Stockholder and entitled to vote or act by written
consent:
(i) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, and
in favor of each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement and any action required in furtherance thereof;
(ii) against approval of any proposal made in opposition
to, in competition with, or would result in a breach of, the
Merger Agreement or the Merger or any other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and
(iii) against any of the following actions (other than
those actions that relate to the Merger and any other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement): (A) any
merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of assets,
reorganization or recapitalization of or involving the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any sale, lease or transfer
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, (C) any reorganization,
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (D) any material change
in the capitalization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
or the corporate structure of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (E) any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition
Transaction or (F) any other action that is intended to, or
would reasonably be expected to materially, impede, interfere
with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Merger
or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
The Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote its
Shares in its sole discretion and without any other limitation
on those matters other than those set forth in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) that are at any time or from time to
time presented for consideration to the Companys
stockholders generally. For the avoidance of doubt, clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) shall not apply to votes, if any,
solely on the election or
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removal of directors as recommended by the Companys Board
of Directors (provided such recommendation is not in violation
of the terms of the Merger Agreement).
(b) In the event that a meeting of the Stockholders of the
Company is held, the Stockholder shall, or shall cause the
holder of record on any applicable record date to, appear at
such meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as
present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum.
(c) The Stockholder shall not enter into any agreement or
understanding with any Person to vote or give instructions in
any manner inconsistent with the terms of this
Section 3.
4. No Solicitation.
(a) The Stockholder shall immediately cease any and all
existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any
Persons conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal or Acquisition Transaction.
(b) At all times during the period commencing with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until
the Expiration Date the Stockholder shall not, directly or
indirectly:
(i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, facilitate or
induce any inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or
announcement of, an Acquisition Proposal or an Acquisition
Transaction;
(ii) furnish to any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub
One, Merger Sub Two or any designees of Parent or the Merger
Subs) any non-public information relating to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or afford access to the business,
properties, assets, books or records of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub
One, Merger Sub Two or any designees of Parent or the Merger
Subs), or take any other action, in each case in a manner that
is intended or would be reasonably expected to assist or
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes or could lead to an Acquisition Proposal or an
Acquisition Transaction;
(iii) participate or engage in discussions or negotiations
with any Person with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or an
Acquisition Transaction; or
(iv) propose or agree to do any of the foregoing.
5. Agreement Not to Exercise Appraisal
Rights. The Stockholder shall not exercise,
and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, any statutory
rights (including, without limitation, under Section 262 of
the DGCL) to demand appraisal of any Shares that may arise in
connection with the Merger.
6. Directors and
Officers. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall
limit or restrict a Stockholder who is a director or officer of
the Company from acting in such capacity or fulfilling the
obligations of such office, including by voting, in his capacity
as a director of the Company, in the Stockholders sole
discretion on any matter (it being understood that this
Agreement shall apply to the Stockholder solely in the
Stockholders capacity as a Stockholder of the Company). In
this regard, the Stockholder shall not be deemed to make any
agreement or understanding in this Agreement in
Stockholders capacity as a director or officer of the
Company. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in
Section 4 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall limit
in any way the Company and its officers and directors from
taking actions permitted by the Merger Agreement.
7. Irrevocable Proxy. Concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, the Stockholder shall
deliver to Parent a proxy in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the Proxy), which
shall be irrevocable to the fullest extent permissible by law,
with respect to the Shares.
8. Update of Beneficial Ownership
Information. Promptly following the written
request of Parent, the Stockholder shall send to Parent a notice
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, setting forth the
number of Shares beneficially owned by such Stockholder as of
the record date of the Company Stockholder Meeting.
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9. Representations and Warranties of the
Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby
represents and warrants to Parent as follows:
(a) Power; Binding Agreement. The
Stockholder has full power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and the Proxy, to perform the Stockholders
obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Stockholder, and, assuming this Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent, Merger Sub
One and Merger Sub Two, constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the
Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting or relating to creditors rights generally and is
subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
at law).
(b) No Conflicts. None of the
execution and delivery by the Stockholder of this Agreement, the
performance by the Stockholder of its obligations hereunder or
the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby will (i) result in a violation or
breach of any agreement to which the Stockholder is a party or
by which the Stockholder may be bound, including any voting
agreement or voting trust, except for violations, breaches or
defaults that would not in any material respect impair or
adversely effect the ability of Stockholder to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule,
or regulation applicable to the Stockholder.
(c) Ownership of Shares. The
Stockholder (i) is the sole beneficial owner of the shares
of Company Common Stock set forth on the signature page of this
Agreement, all of which are free and clear of any liens, adverse
claims, charges, security interests, pledges or options,
proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or
agreements, or any other rights or encumbrances whatsoever
(Encumbrances) (except any Encumbrances
arising under securities laws or arising hereunder or arising
under Section 2.1 of the Stockholders Agreement,
dated as of February 15, 2007, by and among the Company,
the Stockholder and the other stockholders named therein),
(ii) is the sole holder of the Company Options that are
exercisable for the number of shares of Company Common Stock set
forth on the signature page of this Agreement, all of which
Company Options and shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of such Company Options are, or in the case of
Company Common Stock received upon exercise of an option after
the date hereof will be, free and clear of any Encumbrances
(except any Encumbrances arising under securities laws, arising
under the plans pursuant to which such Company Options were
granted or arising hereunder, or arising under Section 2.1
of the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of
February 15, 2007, by and among the Company, the
Stockholder and the other stockholders named therein), and
(iii) except as set forth on the signature page to this
Agreement, does not own, beneficially or otherwise, any
securities of the Company other than the shares of Company
Common Stock or options to purchase shares of Company Common
Stock, and shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of such Company Options, set forth on the signature
page of this Agreement.
(d) Voting Power. The Stockholder
has or will have sole voting power, sole power of disposition,
sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters
specified in Section 2 and Section 3(a)(i),
(ii) and (iii), and sole power to agree to all of the
matters specified in Section 2 and Section 3(a)(i),
(ii) or (iii), in each case with respect to all of the
Shares, with no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on
such rights, subject to applicable federal securities laws and
the terms of this Agreement and the terms of Section 2.1 of
the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of February 15,
2007, by and among the Company, the Stockholder and the other
stockholders named therein.
(e) No Finders Fees. No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor, finder, agent or
other Person is entitled to any brokers, finders,
financial advisers or other similar fee or commission in
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connection with this Agreement based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of the Stockholder in his or her capacity as such.
(f) Reliance by Parent. The
Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering
into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the
Stockholders execution and delivery of this Agreement.
(g) No Legal Actions. Stockholder
agrees that Stockholder will not in Stockholders capacity
as a Stockholder of the Company bring, commence, institute,
maintain, prosecute or voluntarily aid any action, claim, suit
or cause of action, in law or in equity, in any court or before
any governmental entity, which (i) challenges the validity
of or seeks to enjoin the operation of any provision of this
Agreement or (ii) alleges that the execution and delivery
of this Agreement by Stockholder, either alone or together with
the other Company voting agreements and proxies to be delivered
in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, or the
approval of the Merger Agreement by the Company Board, breaches
any fiduciary duty of the Company Board or any member thereof.
10. Certain Restrictions. The
Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, take any
voluntary action that would make any representation or warranty
of the Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect in any
material respect.
11. Disclosure. The Stockholder
shall permit Parent to publish and disclose in all documents and
schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other
disclosure document that Parent reasonably determines to be
necessary or desirable in connection with the Merger and any
transactions related to the Merger, the Stockholders
identity and ownership of Shares and the nature of the
Stockholders commitments, arrangements and understandings
under this Agreement.
12. No Ownership Interest. Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent
any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or
with respect to any Shares. Except as provided in this
Agreement, all rights, ownership and economic benefits relating
to the Shares shall remain vested in and belong to Stockholder.
13. Further Assurances. Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, upon request of
Parent, the Stockholder shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do,
or cause to be done, all things necessary to fulfill such
Stockholders obligations under this Agreement.
14. Stop Transfer Instructions. At
all times commencing with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and continuing until the Expiration Date, in
furtherance of this Agreement, the Stockholder hereby authorizes
the Company or its counsel to notify the Companys transfer
agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of
the Shares of the Stockholder (and that this Agreement places
limits on the voting and transfer of such Shares).
15. Termination. This Agreement
and the Proxy, and all rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder and thereunder, shall terminate and shall have no
further force or effect as of the Expiration Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing set forth in this
Section 15 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall
relieve either party hereto from liability, or otherwise limit
the liability of either party hereto, for any intentional breach
of this Agreement prior to such termination.
Section 5 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement.
16. Miscellaneous.
(a) Validity. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of
this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. In
the event any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
holds any provision of this Agreement to be null, void or
unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith
and execute and deliver an amendment to this Agreement in order,
as nearly as possible, to effectuate, to the extent permitted by
law, the original intent of the parties hereto with respect to
such provision.
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(b) Binding Effect and
Assignment. This Agreement and all of the
provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations of the parties hereto may be
assigned by either of the parties (whether by operation of law
or otherwise) without prior written consent of the other.
(c) Amendments; Waiver. This
Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto, and the terms
and conditions hereof may be waived, only by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto, or, in
the case of a waiver, by an instrument signed on behalf of the
party waiving compliance.
(d) Specific Performance; Injunctive
Relief. The parties hereto acknowledge that
Parent shall be irreparably harmed and that there shall be no
adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants
or agreements of the Stockholder set forth herein. Therefore, it
is agreed that, in addition to any other remedies that may be
available to Parent upon any such violation, Parent shall have
the right to enforce such covenants and agreements by specific
performance, injunctive relief or by any other means available
to Parent at law or in equity.
(e) Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally or by commercial delivery service,
or sent via telecopy (receipt confirmed) to the parties at the
following addresses or telecopy numbers (or at such other
address or telecopy numbers for a party as shall be specified by
like notice), or pursuant to such other instructions as may be
designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to Parent:
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
4211 South
102nd Street
Omaha, NE 68127
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone No.:
(402) 331-7856
Telecopy No.:
(443) 539-2009
with a copy to:
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Professional Corporation
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California
94304-1050
Attention: Larry W. Sonsini, Martin W. Korman and Michael S.
Ringler
Telephone No.:
(650) 493-9300
Telecopy No.:
(650) 493-6811
If to the Stockholder:
[ ]
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with a copy to:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
Attention: Ethan A. Klingsberg and Benet J. OReilly
Telecopy No.:
(212) 225-3999
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(f) No Waiver. The failure of
either party hereto to exercise any right, power or remedy
provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect
of this Agreement at law or in equity, or to insist upon
compliance by any other party with its obligation under this
Agreement, and any custom or practice of the parties at variance
with the terms of this Agreement, shall not constitute a waiver
by such party of such partys right to exercise any such or
other right, power or remedy or to demand such compliance.
(g) No Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended
to confer and does not confer upon any person other than the
parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might
otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law
thereof.
(i) Submission to
Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue in
the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if under
applicable Law exclusive jurisdiction over such matter is vested
in the federal courts, any court of the United States located in
the State of Delaware in connection with any matter based upon
or arising out of this Agreement or the matters contemplated
herein, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives and
covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might
otherwise have to such jurisdiction and venue.
(j) Rules of Construction. The
parties hereto hereby 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.
(k) Entire Agreement. This
Agreement and the Proxy contain the entire understanding of the
parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof, and
supersede all prior negotiations, agreements and understandings,
both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof.
(l) Interpretation.
(i) Whenever the words include,
includes or including are used in this
Agreement they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
without limitation.
(ii) The article and section headings contained in this
Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part
of the agreement of the parties hereto and shall not in any way
affect or be deemed to affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
(m) Expenses. All fees, costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such fees, costs and expenses.
(n) Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be
an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same agreement.
(o) No Obligation to Exercise Options or
Warrants. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall
obligate the Stockholder to exercise any Company Option, warrant
or other right to acquire any shares of Company Common Stock.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and caused to
be effective this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
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STOCKHOLDER
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Shares beneficially owned as of the date hereof:
shares
of Company Common Stock
shares
of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options
****
VOTING AGREEMENT ****
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EXHIBIT A
IRREVOCABLE
PROXY
The undersigned Stockholder (the Stockholder)
of thinkorswim Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), hereby irrevocably (to the fullest
extent permitted by law) appoints TD AMERITRADE Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Parent),
acting through any of its Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer or General Counsel, as the sole and exclusive
attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to vote and exercise all voting
and related rights (to the full extent that the undersigned is
entitled to do so) with respect to all of the shares of capital
stock of the Company that now are or hereafter may be
beneficially owned by the undersigned, and any and all other
shares or equity securities of the Company issued or issuable in
respect thereof on or after the date hereof (collectively, the
Shares) in accordance with the terms of this
Irrevocable Proxy until the Expiration Date (as defined below);
provided, however, that such proxy and voting and
related rights are expressly limited to the matters discussed in
clauses (i) through (iii) in the fourth paragraph of
this Irrevocable Proxy. Upon the undersigneds execution of
this Irrevocable Proxy, any and all prior proxies given by the
undersigned with respect to any Shares are hereby revoked and
the undersigned agrees not to grant any subsequent proxies with
respect to the Shares until after the Expiration Date,
provided, further, that the undersigned may grant
subsequent proxies with respect to any matter other than those
specified in clauses (i) through (iii) in the fourth
paragraph of this Irrevocable Proxy.
This Irrevocable Proxy is irrevocable to the fullest extent
permitted by law, is coupled with an interest and is granted
pursuant to that certain Voting Agreement of even date herewith
by and between Parent and the undersigned Stockholder (the
Voting Agreement), and is granted as a
condition and inducement to the willingness of Parent, Tango
Acquisition Corporation One, a Delaware corporation and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub
One), Tango Acquisition Corporation Two, a Delaware
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(Merger Sub Two), to enter into that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the
Merger Agreement), among Parent, Merger Sub
One, Merger Sub Two and the Company. The Merger Agreement
provides for, among other things, and as a single integrated
transaction, the merger of Merger Sub One with and into the
Company (the First Step Merger) pursuant to
which all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
will be converted into the right to receive the consideration
set forth in the Merger Agreement. As soon as practicable
following the First Step Merger, Parent will cause the Company
to merge with and into Merger Sub Two (the Second Step
Merger and, taken together with the First Step Merger,
the Merger).
As used herein, the term Expiration Date
shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time
as the Merger Agreement shall have been validly terminated
pursuant to Article VIII thereof, or (ii) such date
and time as the Merger shall become effective in accordance with
the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement.
The attorneys and proxies named above, and each of them, are
hereby authorized and empowered by the undersigned, at any time
prior to the Expiration Date, to act as the undersigneds
attorney and proxy to vote the Shares, and to exercise all
voting, consent and similar rights of the undersigned with
respect to the Shares (including, without limitation, the power
to execute and deliver written consents) at every annual,
special, adjourned or postponed meeting of stockholders of the
Company and in every written consent in lieu of such meeting:
(i) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, and
in favor of each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement and any action required in furtherance thereof;
(ii) against approval of any proposal made in opposition
to, or in competition with, the Merger Agreement or the Merger
or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement; and
(iii) against any of the following actions (other than
those actions that relate to the Merger and any other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement): (A) any
merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of assets,
reorganization or recapitalization of or involving the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any sale, lease or transfer
of all or substantially all of assets of the Company or any of
B-9
its Subsidiaries, (C) any reorganization, recapitalization,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, (D) any material change in the
capitalization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the
corporate structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(E) any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Transaction or
(F) any other action that is intended to, or would
reasonably be expected to materially, impede, interfere with,
delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Merger or
any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
The attorneys and proxies named above may not exercise this
Irrevocable Proxy on any other matter. The undersigned
Stockholder may vote the Shares in its sole discretion on all
other matters. For the avoidance of doubt, clauses (i)
through (iii) in the fourth paragraph of this Irrevocable
Proxy shall not apply to votes, if any, on the election or
removal of directors as recommended by the Companys Board
of Directors (provided such recommendation is not in violation
of the terms of the Merger Agreement).
Any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding
upon the successors and permitted assigns of the undersigned.
This Irrevocable Proxy shall terminate, and be of no further
force and effect, automatically upon the Expiration Date.
STOCKHOLDER
[ ]
Dated: January , 2009
*****
IRREVOCABLE PROXY ****
B-10
EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
[DATE]1
The undersigned Stockholder (the Stockholder)
of thinkorswim Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), hereby notifies TD AMERITRADE
Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(Parent) that, as of the date hereof, such
Stockholder beneficially owns the number of Shares set forth
below.
STOCKHOLDER
[ ]
Shares beneficially owned as of the date hereof:
shares
of Company Common Stock
shares
of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options
1 Record
Date of Company Stockholder Vote.
B-11
Appendix C
[LETTERHEAD
OF UBS SECURITIES LLC]
January 7,
2009
The Board of Directors
thinkorswim Group Inc.
45 Rockefeller Plaza
Suite 2012
New York, New York 10111
Dear Members of the Board:
We understand that thinkorswim Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation (thinkorswim), is considering a
transaction whereby (i) Tango Acquisition Corporation One,
a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of TD
AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (TD AMERITRADE), a
Delaware corporation, will merge with and into thinkorswim (such
merger, the First Step Merger) and
(ii) immediately following the First Step Merger, TD
AMERITRADE will cause thinkorswim to merge with and into Tango
Acquisition Corporation Two, a Delaware corporation and wholly
owned subsidiary of TD AMERITRADE (together with Tango
Acquisition Corporation One, the Merger Subs and,
such merger, together with the First Step Merger, the
Transaction). Pursuant to the terms of an Agreement
and Plan of Merger, draft as of January 7, 2009 (the
Merger Agreement), among TD AMERITRADE, the Merger
Subs and thinkorswim, each outstanding share of the common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of thinkorswim
(thinkorswim Common Stock) will be converted into
the right to receive (i) 0.3980 of a share of the common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of TD AMERITRADE
(TD AMERITRADE Common Stock and, such fraction of a
share of TD AMERITRADE Common Stock, the Stock
Consideration) and (ii) $3.34 in cash (the Cash
Consideration and, together with the Stock Consideration,
the Consideration). Concurrently with the execution
of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of thinkorswim
will enter into voting agreements with TD AMERITRADE (such
stockholders of thinkorswim and their respective affiliates, the
Excluded Holders). The terms and conditions of the
Transaction are more fully set forth in the Merger Agreement.
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of thinkorswim Common
Stock (other than the Excluded Holders) of the Consideration to
be received by such holders in the Transaction.
UBS Securities LLC (UBS) has been retained by
thinkorswim in connection with the Transaction for purposes of
rendering this opinion and will receive a fee in connection with
this opinion. UBS or an affiliate is a participant in credit
facilities of TD AMERITRADE for which it received and continues
to receive fees and interest payments. In the ordinary course of
business, UBS and its affiliates may hold or trade, for their
own accounts and the accounts of their customers, securities of
thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities. The issuance
of this opinion was approved by an authorized committee of UBS.
Our opinion does not address the relative merits of the
Transaction as compared to other business strategies or
transactions that might be available with respect to thinkorswim
or thinkorswims underlying business decision to effect the
Transaction. Our opinion does not constitute a recommendation to
any stockholder of thinkorswim as to how such stockholder should
vote or act with respect to the Transaction. At your direction,
we have not been asked to, nor do we, offer any opinion as to
the terms, other than the Consideration to the extent expressly
specified herein, of the Merger Agreement or the form of the
Transaction. In addition, we express no opinion as to the
fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be
received by any officers, directors or employees of any parties
to the Transaction, or any class of such persons, relative to
the Consideration. We express no opinion as to what the value of
TD AMERITRADE Common Stock will be when issued pursuant to the
Transaction or the prices at which TD AMERITRADE Common Stock or
thinkorswim Common Stock will trade at any time. In rendering
this opinion, we have assumed, with your consent, that
(i) the final executed form of the Merger Agreement will
not differ in any material respect from the draft that we have
reviewed, (ii) the parties to the Merger Agreement will
comply with all material terms of the Merger Agreement and
(iii) the
The Board of Directors
thinkorswim Group Inc.
January 7, 2009
Page 2
Transaction will be consummated in accordance with the terms of
the Merger Agreement without any adverse waiver or amendment of
any material term or condition thereof. We have also assumed
that all governmental, regulatory or other consents and
approvals necessary for the consummation of the Transaction will
be obtained without any material adverse effect on thinkorswim,
TD AMERITRADE or the Transaction. In connection with our
engagement, we were not requested to, and we did not,
participate in the negotiation or structuring of the
Transaction. While we have not been authorized to solicit and
have not solicited indications of interest in a transaction with
thinkorswim from any party, representatives of thinkorswim have
advised us that indications of interests in a transaction with
thinkorswim were solicited from third parties on behalf of
thinkorswim and that discussions with certain of these parties
were held prior to the date hereof.
In arriving at our opinion, we have, among other things:
(i) reviewed certain publicly available business and
financial information relating to thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE;
(ii) reviewed certain internal financial information and
other data relating to the business and financial prospects of
thinkorswim that were not publicly available, including
financial forecasts and estimates prepared by the management of
thinkorswim that you have directed us to utilize for purposes of
our analysis; (iii) reviewed certain internal financial
information and other data relating to the business and
financial prospects of TD AMERITRADE that were not publicly
available, including financial forecasts and estimates prepared
by the management of TD AMERITRADE that you have directed
us to utilize for purposes of our analysis; (iv) conducted
discussions with members of the senior managements of
thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE concerning the businesses and
financial prospects of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE;
(v) reviewed publicly available financial and stock market
data with respect to certain other companies we believe to be
generally relevant; (vi) compared the financial terms of
the Transaction with the publicly available financial terms of
certain other transactions we believe to be generally relevant;
(vii) reviewed current and historical market prices of
thinkorswim Common Stock and TD AMERITRADE Common Stock;
(viii) reviewed the Merger Agreement; and
(ix) conducted such other financial studies, analyses and
investigations, and considered such other information, as we
deemed necessary or appropriate.
In connection with our review, with your consent, we have
assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, the
accuracy and completeness in all material respects of the
information provided to or reviewed by us for the purpose of
this opinion. In addition, with your consent, we have not made
any independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the assets or
liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of thinkorswim or
TD AMERITRADE, nor have we been furnished with any such
evaluation or appraisal. With respect to the financial forecasts
and estimates referred to above, we have assumed, at your
direction, that they have been reasonably prepared on a basis
reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments
of the managements of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE as to the
future financial performance of thinkorswim and TD AMERITRADE.
We have assumed, with your consent, that the Transaction will
qualify for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Our opinion is
necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and other
conditions as in effect on, and the information available to us
as of, the date hereof.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that,
as of the date hereof, the Consideration to be received by
holders of thinkorswim Common Stock (other than the Excluded
Holders) in the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of
view, to such holders.
This opinion is provided for the benefit of the Board of
Directors in connection with, and for the purpose of, its
evaluation of the Consideration in the Transaction.
Very truly yours,
UBS SECURITIES LLC
C-2
Appendix D
SECTION 262
OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE
§ 262. Appraisal rights.
(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who
holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with respect to
such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise
complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has
neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor
consented thereto in writing pursuant to § 228 of this
title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery
of the fair value of the stockholders shares of stock
under the circumstances described in subsections (b) and
(c) of this section. As used in this section, the word
stockholder means a holder of record of stock in a
stock corporation and also a member of record of a nonstock
corporation; the words stock and share
mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and
also membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock
corporation; and the words depository receipt mean a
receipt or other instrument issued by a depository representing
an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely
of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the
depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of
any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a
merger or consolidation to be effected pursuant to
§ 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to
§ 251(g) of this title), § 252,
§ 254, § 257, § 258,
§ 263 or § 264 of this title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this
section shall be available for the shares of any class or series
of stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect
thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of
stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or
consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national
securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than
2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights
shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent
corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for
its approval the vote of the stockholders of the surviving
corporation as provided in subsection (f) of
§ 251 of this title.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection,
appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the
shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent
corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of
an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to
§§ 251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this
title to accept for such stock anything except:
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or
resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository
receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository
receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or
depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository receipts
at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be
either listed on a national securities exchange or held of
record by more than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional
depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a.
and b. of this paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository
receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional
depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a.,
b. and c. of this paragraph.
(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware
corporation party to a merger effected under § 253 of
this title is not owned by the parent corporation immediately
prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the
shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of
incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be
available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as
a result of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation,
any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a
constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the corporation. If the certificate of
incorporation contains such a provision, the procedures of this
section, including those set forth in subsections (d) and
(e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is
practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which
appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be
submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the
corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting,
shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record
date for such meeting with respect to shares for which appraisal
rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or
(c) hereof that appraisal rights are available for any or
all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall
include in such notice a copy of this section. Each stockholder
electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholders
shares shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of
the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for
appraisal of such stockholders shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the
identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends
thereby to demand the appraisal of such stockholders
shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation
shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to
take such action must do so by a separate written demand as
herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of
such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting
corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent
corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not
voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of
the date that the merger or consolidation has become
effective; or
(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to
§ 228 or § 253 of this title, then either a
constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger
or consolidation or the surviving or resulting corporation
within 10 days thereafter shall notify each of the holders
of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation
who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the
merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available
for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such
constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy
of this section. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also
notify such stockholders of the effective date of the merger or
consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to appraisal rights may,
within 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice,
demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation
the appraisal of such holders shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the
identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends
thereby to demand the appraisal of such holders shares. If
such notice did not notify stockholders of the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, either (i) each such
constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the
effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of
the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent
corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the
effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the
surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second
notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such
effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is
sent more than 20 days following the sending of the first
notice, such second notice need only be sent to each stockholder
who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded
appraisal of such holders shares in accordance with this
subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary
or of the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to
give either notice that such notice has been given shall, in the
absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated
therein. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled
to receive either notice, each constituent corporation may fix,
in advance, a record date that shall be not more than
10 days prior to the date the notice is given, provided,
that if the notice is given on or after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such
effective date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is
given prior to the effective date, the record date shall be the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the
notice is given.
D-2
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the
merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation
or any stockholder who has complied with subsections (a)
and (d) of this section hereof and who is otherwise
entitled to appraisal rights, may commence an appraisal
proceeding by filing a petition in the Court of Chancery
demanding a determination of the value of the stock of all such
stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within
60 days after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, any stockholder who has not commenced an
appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party
shall have the right to withdraw such stockholders demand
for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or
consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied
with the requirements of subsections (a) and (d) of
this section hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to
receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting
from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate
number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or
consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal
have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such
shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the
stockholder within 10 days after such stockholders
written request for such a statement is received by the
surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after
expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal
under subsection (d) of this section hereof, whichever is
later. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a
person who is the beneficial owner of shares of such stock held
either in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such
person may, in such persons own name, file a petition or
request from the corporation the statement described in this
subsection.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder,
service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or
resulting corporation, which shall within 20 days after
such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery in
which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the
names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded
payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the
value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or
resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the
surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be
accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in
Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the
time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by
registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting
corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the
addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1
or more publications at least 1 week before the day of the
hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the
City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court
deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by
publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs
thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall
determine the stockholders who have complied with this section
and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may
require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for
their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to
submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery
for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal
proceedings; and if any stockholder fails to comply with such
direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to such
stockholder.
(h) After the Court determines the stockholders entitled to
an appraisal, the appraisal proceeding shall be conducted in
accordance with the rules of the Court of Chancery, including
any rules specifically governing appraisal proceedings. Through
such proceeding the Court shall determine the fair value of the
shares exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation,
together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount
determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value,
the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. Unless
the Court in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause
shown, interest from the effective date of the merger through
the date of payment of the judgment shall be compounded
quarterly and shall accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve
discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time
to time during the period between the effective date of the
merger and the date of payment of the judgment. Upon application
by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder
entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court
may, in its discretion, proceed to trial upon the appraisal
prior to the final determination of the stockholders entitled to
an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list
filed by the surviving or resulting
D-3
corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and
who has submitted such stockholders certificates of stock
to the Register in Chancery, if such is required, may
participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally
determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal
rights under this section.
(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of
the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or
resulting corporation to the stockholders entitled thereto.
Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case
of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of
holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender
to the corporation of the certificates representing such stock.
The Courts decree may be enforced as other decrees in the
Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving or
resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any
state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the
Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in
the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court
may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any
stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees
and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata
against the value of all the shares entitled to an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights
as provided in subsection (d) of this section shall be
entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive
payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except
dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of
record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the
merger or consolidation); provided, however, that if no petition
for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in
subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder
shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a
written withdrawal of such stockholders demand for an
appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation,
either within 60 days after the effective date of the
merger or consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of
this section or thereafter with the written approval of the
corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal
shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal
proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any
stockholder without the approval of the Court, and such approval
may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just;
provided, however that this provision shall not affect the right
of any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding
or joined that proceeding as a named party to withdraw such
stockholders demand for appraisal and to accept the terms
offered upon the merger or consolidation within 60 days
after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, as set
forth in subsection (e) of this section.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to
which the shares of such objecting stockholders would have been
converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall
have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the
surviving or resulting corporation.
D-4
PART II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
|
|
Item 20.
|
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.
|
Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware (Delaware Corporation Law) provides, in
general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the
corporation), because the person is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of any other enterprise. Such indemnity may be against
expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by
the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding,
if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation and if, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, the person did not have
reasonable cause to believe the persons conduct was
unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the Delaware Corporation Law provides, in
general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by
or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its
favor because the person is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request
of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
any other enterprise, against any expenses (including
attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the
person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner
the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the
Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such
other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(g) of the Delaware Corporation Law provides, in
general, that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of any other enterprise, against any
liability asserted against the person in any such capacity, or
arising out of the persons status as such, regardless of
whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify the
person against such liability under the provisions of the law.
The Registrants Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws require the
Registrant to indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law,
any person who is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (including, without limitation, any action by or
in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that he or
she is or was a director or officer of the Registrant against
any liability or expense actually or reasonably incurred in
respect thereof. The Registrants Amended and Restated
Bylaws also require it to advance litigation expenses (including
in the case of stockholder derivative actions or other actions)
against an undertaking by the officer or director to repay such
advances if it is ultimately determined that the officer or
director is not entitled to indemnification. The Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated
Bylaws further provide that rights conferred under such Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated Bylaws shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other
right such persons may have or acquire under law or otherwise.
In addition, the Registrants Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest
extent permitted by the Delaware Corporation Law, the
Registrants directors shall have no personal liability to
the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of the directors fiduciary duty. Each director will
continue to be subject to liability for breach of the
directors duty of loyalty to the
II-1
Registrant, or acts or omissions not in good faith or involving
intentional misconduct, for knowing violations of law, for
actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director,
and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or
redemptions that are unlawful under the Delaware law. The
provision also does not affect a directors
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of
Delaware law and the Registrants Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
dealing with indemnification of directors and officers, and does
not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the detailed provisions of Section 145 of the
Delaware Corporation Law, Article VII of the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article VI of the
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant.
Pursuant to the Registrants Amended and Restated Bylaws,
the Registrant may maintain a directors and officers
insurance policy which insures the directors, officers,
employees or agents of the Registrant or was serving at the
request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another enterprise, against liability asserted against
such persons in such capacity whether or not such directors or
officers have the right to indemnification pursuant to Delaware
law. The Registrant currently has a policy providing directors
and officers liability insurance with insured directors and
officers of the Registrant in certain circumstances.
In addition, the Registrant has entered into separate
indemnification agreements with its current directors and
certain former directors. The indemnification agreements provide
generally that the Registrant will indemnify and advance
expenses to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Each
director is entitled to be indemnified against all expenses,
judgments, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred if the director acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Registrant in the event he is, or is
threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, investigation or inquiry, other than
proceedings brought by or in the right of the Registrant. In the
case of proceedings by or in the right of the Registrant, the
director is entitled to be indemnified against all expenses if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant,
except that no indemnification against expenses will be made in
respect of any matter as to which the director has been found
liable to the Registrant unless the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware has determined that such indemnification may
be made. The Registrant has agreed to advance all reasonable
expenses incurred by a director in connection with any
proceeding within twenty days after receipt of a statement
requesting such advance, which statement includes an undertaking
to repay any advanced expenses in the event it is determined
that the director is not entitled to indemnification.
|
|
Item 21.
|
Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules.
|
(a) Exhibits. The following is a list of
Exhibits to this Registration Statement:
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
2
|
.1
|
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 8, 2009,
by and among TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, Tango
Acquisition Corporation One, Tango Acquisition Corporation Two,
and thinkorswim Group Inc. (included as Appendix A to the
proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of this Registration
Statement and incorporated herein by reference)
|
|
3
|
.1
|
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the
Registrants
Form 8-K
filed on January 27, 2006)
|
|
3
|
.2
|
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrants
Form 8-K
filed on March 15, 2006)
|
|
4
|
.1
|
|
Form of Certificate of Registrants common stock
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Companys
Form 8-A
filed on September 5, 2002)
|
|
5
|
.1
|
|
Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation, as to the validity of the shares of
the Registrants common stock
|
|
8
|
.1
|
|
Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation, as to tax matters
|
II-2
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
8
|
.2
|
|
Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, as to
tax matters
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Form of Voting Agreement by and between TD AMERITRADE and
certain executive officers of thinkorswim Group Inc. (included
as Appendix B to this proxy statement/prospectus forming a
part of this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by
reference)*
|
|
23
|
.1
|
|
Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this
Registration Statement)
|
|
23
|
.2
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP
|
|
23
|
.3
|
|
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
|
|
23
|
.4
|
|
Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 8.1 to this
Registration Statement)
|
|
23
|
.5
|
|
Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
(included in Exhibit 8.2 to this Registration Statement)
|
|
24
|
.1
|
|
Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
Statement)*
|
|
99
|
.1
|
|
Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders of thinkorswim Group
Inc. (included in the proxy statement/prospectus forming a part
of this Registration Statement)*
|
|
99
|
.2
|
|
Form of Proxy Card for Special Meeting of Stockholders of
thinkorswim Group Inc.
|
|
99
|
.3
|
|
Consent of UBS Securities LLC*
|
|
99
|
.4
|
|
Class action complaint filed in Jonathan Simons v. Tom
Sosnoff et al., Case No. 09CH02970 (Circuit Court of
Cook County, Illinois County Department, Chancery Division)*
|
|
99
|
.5
|
|
Class action complaint filed in Jim Burns v. thinkorswim
Group Inc. et al., Case No. 09CH03435 (Circuit Court of
Cook County, Illinois County Department, Chancery Division)*
|
|
99
|
.6
|
|
Consolidated class action complaint filed in Jonathan
Simons and Jim Burns vs. Tom Sosnoff
et al., Case No. 09CH02970 consolidated with Case
No. 09CH03435 (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois County
Department, Chancery Division)*
|
|
99
|
.7
|
|
Class action complaint filed in James A. Bordeleau v.
thinkorswim Group, Inc., et al., (Supreme Court of the
State of New York; County of New York)*
|
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement
(notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of
Registration Fee table in the effective registration
statement); and (iii) to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
to such information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities
II-3
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under
the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as
part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other
than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other
than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be
deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement
as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement or
prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in
a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into
the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the
registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of
contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify
any statement that was made in the registration statement or
prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made
in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the
registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in
the initial distribution of the securities:
(i) The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary
offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to
this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting
method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the
securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any
of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will
be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or
sell such securities to such purchaser:
(a) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the
undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(b) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering
prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used
or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(c) The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about
the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on
behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(d) Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrants
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that is incorporated by
reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) That prior to any public reoffering of the securities
registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part
of this registration statement, by any person or party who is
deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of
Rule 145(c), the Registrant undertakes that such reoffering
prospectus will contain the information called for by the
applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by
persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the
information called for by the other items of the applicable form.
(8) That every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant
to paragraph (5) above, or (ii) that purports to meet
the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject
to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to
this registration statement
II-4
and will not be used until such amendment has become effective,
and that for the purpose of determining liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
(9) To respond to requests for information that is
incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this form, within one business
day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated
documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means.
This includes information contained in documents filed
subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement
through the date of responding to the request.
(10) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all
information concerning a transaction, and the company being
acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in this registration statement when it became effective.
(11) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment
No. 1 to the
Form S-4
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Jersey
City, State of New Jersey, on May 6, 2009.
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Fredric
J. Tomczyk
|
Name: Fredric J. Tomczyk
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chief Executive Officer, Director
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Amendment No. 1 to the
Form S-4
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities indicated on May 6, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Fredric
J. Tomczyk
Fredric
J. Tomczyk
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
William
J. Gerber
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial Officer and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Joseph
H. Moglia
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
W.
Edmund Clark
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marshall
A. Cohen
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Dan
W. Cook III
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
William
H. Hatanaka
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Mark
L. Mitchell
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Wilbur
J. Prezzano
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
J.
Joe Ricketts
|
|
Director
|
|
|
II-6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
J.
Peter Ricketts
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Allan
R. Tessler
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By
|
/s/ Fredric
J. Tomczyk as Attorney-in-fact
|
|
Name: Fredric J. Tomczyk
II-7
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
.1
|
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 8, 2009,
by and among TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, Tango
Acquisition Corporation One, Tango Acquisition Corporation Two,
and thinkorswim Group Inc. (included as Appendix A to the
proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of this Registration
Statement and incorporated herein by reference)
|
|
3
|
.1
|
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the
Registrants
Form 8-K
filed on January 27, 2006)
|
|
3
|
.2
|
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrants
Form 8-K
filed on March 15, 2006)
|
|
4
|
.1
|
|
Form of Certificate of Registrants common stock
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
Companys
Form 8-A
filed on September 5, 2002)
|
|
5
|
.1
|
|
Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation, as to the validity of the shares of
the Registrants common stock
|
|
8
|
.1
|
|
Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation, as to tax matters
|
|
8
|
.2
|
|
Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, as to
tax matters
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Form of Voting Agreement by and between TD AMERITRADE and
certain executive officers of thinkorswim Group Inc. (included
as Appendix B to this proxy statement/prospectus forming a
part of this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by
reference)*
|
|
23
|
.1
|
|
Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this
Registration Statement)
|
|
23
|
.2
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP
|
|
23
|
.3
|
|
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
|
|
23
|
.4
|
|
Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 8.1 to this
Registration Statement)
|
|
23
|
.5
|
|
Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
(included in Exhibit 8.2 to this Registration Statement)
|
|
24
|
.1
|
|
Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
Statement)*
|
|
99
|
.1
|
|
Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders of thinkorswim Group
Inc. (included in the proxy statement/prospectus forming a part
of this Registration Statement)*
|
|
99
|
.2
|
|
Form of Proxy Card for Special Meeting of Stockholders of
thinkorswim Group Inc.
|
|
99
|
.3
|
|
Consent of UBS Securities LLC*
|
|
99
|
.4
|
|
Class action complaint filed in Jonathan Simons v. Tom
Sosnoff et al., Case No. 09CH02970 (Circuit Court of
Cook County, Illinois County Department, Chancery Division)*
|
|
99
|
.5
|
|
Class action complaint filed in Jim Burns v. thinkorswim
Group Inc. et al., Case No. 09CH03435 (Circuit Court of
Cook County, Illinois County Department, Chancery Division)*
|
|
99
|
.6
|
|
Consolidated class action complaint filed in Jonathan
Simons and Jim Burns vs. Tom Sosnoff et al.,
Case No. 09CH02970 consolidated with Case No. 09CH03435 (Circuit
Court of Cook County, Illinois County Department, Chancery
Division)*
|
|
99
|
.7
|
|
Class action complaint filed in James A. Bordeleau v.
thinkorswim Group Inc., et al., (Supreme Court of the
State of New York County of New York.*
|