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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

1

Section 1.1

Definitions

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Section 1.2

Interpretation and Rules of Construction

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ARTICLE II THE MERGER

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Section 2.1

Merger

8

Section 2.2

Articles and Bylaws

8

Section 2.3

Effective Time of the Merger

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Section 2.4

Closing

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Section 2.5

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

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ARTICLE III EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

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Section 3.1

Effects of the Merger on Company Securities

10

Section 3.2

Effects of the Merger on MergerCo Securities

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Section 3.3

Payment of Merger Consideration; Stock Transfer Books

11

Section 3.4

Withholding Rights

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Section 3.5

Dissenting Shares

13

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

14

Section 4.1

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority

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Section 4.2

Organizational Documents

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Section 4.3

Capitalization

15

Section 4.4

Authority Relative to this Agreement, Validity and Effect of Agreements

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Section 4.5

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

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Section 4.6

Permits; Compliance with Laws

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Section 4.7

SEC Filings; Financial Statements

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Section 4.8

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

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Section 4.9

Absence of Litigation

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Section 4.10

Employee Benefit Plans

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Section 4.11

Information Supplied

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Section 4.12

Intellectual Property

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Section 4.13

Taxes

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Section 4.14

Environmental Matters

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Section 4.15

Material Contracts

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Section 4.16

Interested Party Transactions

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Section 4.17

Brokers

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Section 4.18

Opinion of Financial Advisor

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Section 4.19

State Takeover Statute

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Section 4.20

Insurance

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Section 4.21

Labor Matters

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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES

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Section 5.1

Organization

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Section 5.2

Ownership of MergerCo; No Prior Activities

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Section 5.3

Power and Authority

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Section 5.4

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

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Section 5.5

Information Supplied

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Section 5.6

Absence of Litigation

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Section 5.7

Availability of Funds

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Section 5.8

No Ownership of Company Capital Stock

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Section 5.9

Other Agreements or Understandings

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Section 5.10

Brokers

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Section 5.11

No Additional Representations

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ARTICLE VI CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

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Section 6.1

Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger

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Section 6.2

Conduct of Business by Buyer Parties Pending the Merger

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Section 6.3

Tax Matters

36

Section 6.4

MergerCo

36

Section 6.5

Financing

36

ARTICLE VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

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Section 7.1

Company Proxy Statement; Other Filings; Shareholders Meeting

36

Section 7.2

Access to Information; Confidentiality

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Section 7.3

No Solicitation of Transactions by the Company

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Section 7.4

Employee Benefits Matters

40

Section 7.5

Directors and Officers Indemnification and Insurance

42

Section 7.6

Further Action; Best Efforts

45

Section 7.7

Public Announcements

46

Section 7.8

Notification

47

Section 7.9

Shareholder Litigation

47

ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

47

Section 8.1

Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party

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Section 8.2

Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and MergerCo

47

Section 8.3

Conditions to the Obligations of the Company

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