Applica Incorporated
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9
(RULE 14d-101)
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(4)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. 2)
Applica Incorporated
(Name of Subject Company)
Applica Incorporated
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
Common Stock, Par Value $0.10 Per Share
(Title of Class of Securities)
03815A106
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Harry D. Schulman
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Applica Incorporated
3633 Flamingo Road
Miramar, Florida 33027
(954) 883-1000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive
Notices and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)
Copies To:
Ira N. Rosner, Esq.
Barbara J. Oikle, Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
1221 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
Telephone: (305) 579-0500
Facsimile: (305) 961-5722
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o Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the
commencement of a tender offer. |
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT
This Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 14D-9 amends and supplements the Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 originally filed by Applica with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December 19, 2006, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 14D-9, which was filed by Applica
with the SEC on December 21, 2006. Except as otherwise indicated, the information set forth in the
original Schedule 14D-9 and previous amendments thereto remains unchanged. Capitalized terms that
appear herein but are not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the original
Schedule 14D-9.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION
This document has been made available to shareholders of Applica. Investors are urged to read
the original Schedule 14D-9, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto and this Amendment No. 2, as it
contains important information. The original Schedule 14D-9, as amended, and other public filings
made from time to time by Applica with the SEC are available without charge from the SECs website
at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge by
directing such requests to Applica Incorporated, 3633 Flamingo Road, Miramar, Florida 33027,
Attention: Investor Relations (954) 883-1000.
Item 2. Identity and Background of Filing Person.
The first paragraph of Item 2(b) is hereby amended and restated in its
entirety to read as follows:
(b) This Statement relates to the tender offer by Apex Acquisition Corporation, or NACCO
Sub, which is a newly formed Florida corporation and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of NACCO
Industries, Inc., or NACCO, which is a Delaware corporation, to purchase all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Applicas common stock at a purchase price of $7.00 per share, net to the
seller in cash, without interest. The tender offer is being made on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and the exhibits thereto filed by
NACCO and NACCO Sub with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2006, as amended by
NACCO and NACCO Sub on December 18, 2006 and December 21, 2006. The value of the consideration
offered, together with all of the terms and conditions applicable to the tender offer, is referred
to in this Statement as the NACCO offer. The Schedule TO states that NACCO intends, as soon as
practicable after successful completion of the NACCO offer, to seek to have NACCO Sub merge with
and into Applica in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Florida Business Corporation
Act, or the FBCA.
Item 3. Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.
The first paragraph under the subheading Conditional Financing is hereby amended as
follows:
The amount $17,900,902.50 in the last line of such paragraph is replaced with the amount
$19,277,895.00.
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Item 4. The Solicitation or Recommendation.
The first four paragraphs in Item 4(a) are hereby amended and restated in their
entirety to read as follows:
As described in subsection (c) below, after careful consideration, the Applica board
determined at a meeting on December 22, 2006 to recommend that Applicas shareholders reject the
NACCO offer and not tender their shares in the NACCO offer.
Accordingly, the Applica board recommends that Applicas shareholders reject the NACCO offer
and not tender their shares in the NACCO offer.
In addition, the Applica board reaffirms the Harbinger merger and recommends that Applicas
shareholders vote FOR the adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 19,
2006, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of December 14, 2006, and Amendment No. 2
thereto, dated as of December 22, 2006, among Applica and certain affiliates of Harbinger Capital
Partners Master Fund I, Ltd., which are collectively referred to in this Statement as Harbinger.
A letter communicating the Applica boards recommendation and a press release relating to such
recommendation are filed as Exhibit (a)(5) and Exhibit (a)(6), respectively.
Item 4(b) is hereby amended and supplemented by the addition of the following
paragraphs as the final paragraphs thereto:
On
December 21, 2006, NACCO publicly announced that it had increased the per share offer price of the
NACCO offer to $7.00, net to the seller in cash, without interest, and amended the Schedule TO
accordingly. In accordance with the terms of the Harbinger merger agreement, Applica promptly
notified Harbinger on December 21, 2006 of NACCOs amended offer price.
Subsequently, on December 21, 2006, Harbinger submitted to Applica a definitive binding offer
to enter into an amendment to its merger agreement that provides for
Applicas shareholders (other than Harbinger) to
receive $7.00 in cash per share, without interest, if the Harbinger merger is completed.
On December 22, 2006, the Applica board held a meeting and discussed the offers from NACCO and
Harbinger and its obligations under the Harbinger merger agreement. The meeting was attended by
Applicas senior management and legal and financial advisors, as well as a representative of the
Applica boards independent legal counsel. The Applica board reviewed and discussed the offers
from NACCO and Harbinger with management and the legal and financial advisors and
determined on December 22, 2006 that the merger agreement, as amended, is at least as favorable to
Applicas shareholders as the offer made by NACCO. After lengthy discussions and a thorough review
with management and the legal and financial advisors, the Applica board also
determined (i) that the merger agreement, as amended, is advisable for, fair to and in the best
interests of Applicas shareholders (other than Harbinger and its affiliates) and voted to approve
and adopt, and authorized senior management to enter into, the amendment proposed by Harbinger and
(ii) to
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recommend that Applicas shareholders (A) vote FOR the adoption of the Harbinger
merger agreement, as amended and (B) reject the NACCO offer and not tender their shares in
the NACCO offer.
On December 22, 2006, Applica executed Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
with Harbinger and thereafter issued a press release announcing the amendment. On December 22,
2006, Applica filed with the SEC a supplement to the Harbinger merger proxy statement that
describes, among other things, the amendment to the Harbinger merger agreement.
Also
on December 22, 2006, as required under Rule 14d-5(b) in accordance
with its prior election, Applica commenced mailing the Schedule TO
to Applicas shareholders on behalf of NACCO.
The first sentence of Item 4(c) (ending with the word information:) is hereby
amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
In evaluating NACCOs new offer, the Applica board noted that other than the increase in the
per share offer price to $7.00, there were no other material changes made to the terms and
conditions of the NACCO offer. The Applica board consulted with Applicas management and legal and
financial advisors and, in reaching its determination to recommend that Applicas shareholders
reject the NACCO offer and not tender their shares in the NACCO offer, the Applica board
considered, among other things, the following material factors and information:
The bullet under Item 4(c) with the subheading No Premium is hereby amended and restated as
follows:
No
Premium. The $7.00 per share offer price of the NACCO offer does not offer any premium
over the per share price, which is also $7.00, set forth in the Harbinger merger agreement, as
amended on December 14, 2006 and on December 22, 2006.
The bullet under Item 4(c) with the subheading Conditional Financing is hereby amended as
follows:
The amount $162,500,644 in the fourth line of such bullet is replaced with the amount
175,000,693.
The amount $97 million in the third to last line of such bullet is replaced with the amount
$106 million.
The first paragraph after the bullet under Item 4(c) with the subheading Conditional
Financing is hereby amended as follows:
The amount $6.50 in the first line of such paragraph is replaced with the amount $7.00.
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Item 9. Exhibits.
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Exhibit |
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No. |
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Document |
(a)(1)
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Letter to Applicas shareholders dated December 19, 2006* |
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(a)(2)
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Press release issued by Applica on December 19, 2006* |
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(a)(3)
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Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to
the Special Meeting of Shareholders to consider the Harbinger
merger, as supplemented on December 15, 2006 and December 22, 2006
(filed on December 4, 2006, as supplemented on December 15, 2006
and December 22, 2006, and incorporated by reference) |
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(a)(4)
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Press release issued by Applica on December 21, 2006 (incorporated
by reference to exhibit 99.1 of Applicas Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 21, 2006) |
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(a)(5)
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Letter to Applicas shareholders dated December 22, 2006+ |
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(a)(6)
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Press release issued by Applica on December 22, 2006 (incorporated
by reference to exhibit 99.1 of Applicas Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 22, 2006) |
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(e)(1)
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Excerpts from Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed March 31, 2006 relating to the Applica 2006 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders* |
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(e)(2)
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Excerpts from Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed relating to the Special Meeting of Shareholders to consider
Applicas proposed merger with Harbinger Capital Partners* |
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(e)(3)
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Employment Agreement dated May 1, 2004 between Applica and Harry
D. Schulman (incorporated by reference to Applicas Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2004) |
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(e)(4)
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First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated August 2, 1999
between Applica and Harry D. Schulman (incorporated by reference
to exhibit 10.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed
October 15, 2004) |
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(e)(5)
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Employment Agreement dated July 1, 2000 between Applica and Terry
Polistina (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Applicas
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2000) |
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(e)(6)
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First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated July 1, 2000 between
Applica and Terry Polistina (incorporated by reference to exhibit
10.2 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 19, 2006) |
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Exhibit |
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No. |
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Document |
(e)(7)
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Employment Agreement dated September 16, 2004 between Applica and
Brian Guptill (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 to
Applicas Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005) |
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(e)(8)
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First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated September 16, 2004
between Applica and Brian Guptill (incorporated by reference to
exhibit 10.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed April
19, 2006) |
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(e)(9)
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Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between HB-PS Holding Company,
Inc. and Applica Incorporated and joined in by NACCO Industries,
Inc. dated July 23, 2006 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1
to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 26, 2006) |
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(e)(10)
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Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 19, 2006 by and
among APN Holding Company, Inc., APN Mergersub, Inc., and Applica
Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 to
Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 20, 2006) |
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(e)(11)
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Amendment No. 1, dated
December 14, 2006, to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
October 19, 2006 by and among APN Holding Company, Inc., APN
Mergersub, Inc., and Applica Incorporated (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 2.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 15, 2006) |
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(e)(12)
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Amendment No. 2, dated
December 22, 2006, to Agreement
and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 19, 2006 by and among
APN Holding Company, Inc., APN Mergersub, Inc., and Applica
Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 to
Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed
December 22, 2006)
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(g)
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Inapplicable |
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* |
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Previously filed as an exhibit to Applicas Schedule 14D-9 filed with the SEC on December 19,
2006. |
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Included in the Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 14D-9 mailed to Applicas shareholders. |
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SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information
set forth in this Amendment No. 2 is true, complete and correct.
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December 22, 2006 |
APPLICA INCORPORATED
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By: |
/s/ Harry D. Schulman
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Name: |
Harry D. Schulman |
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Title: |
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit |
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No. |
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Document |
(a)(1)
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Letter to Applicas shareholders dated December 19, 2006* |
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(a)(2)
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Press release issued by Applica on December 19, 2006* |
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(a)(3)
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Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to
the Special Meeting of Shareholders to consider the Harbinger
merger, as supplemented on December 15, 2006 and December 22, 2006
(filed on December 4, 2006, as supplemented on December 15, 2006
and December 22, 2006, and incorporated by reference) |
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(a)(3)
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Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to
the Special Meeting of Shareholders to consider the Harbinger
merger, as supplemented on December 15, 2006 (filed on December 4,
2006, as supplemented on December 15, 2006, and incorporated by
reference) |
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(a)(4)
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Press release issued by Applica on December 21, 2006 (incorporated
by reference to exhibit 99.1 of Applicas Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 21, 2006) |
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(a)(5)
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Letter to Applicas shareholders dated December 22, 2006+ |
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(a)(6)
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Press release issued by Applica on December 22, 2006 (incorporated
by reference to exhibit 99.1 of Applicas Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 22, 2006) |
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(e)(1)
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Excerpts from Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed March 31, 2006 relating to the Applica 2006 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders* |
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(e)(2)
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Excerpts from Applicas Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed relating to the Special Meeting of Shareholders to consider
Applicas proposed merger with Harbinger Capital Partners* |
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(e)(3)
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Employment Agreement dated May 1, 2004 between Applica and Harry
D. Schulman (incorporated by reference to Applicas Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2004) |
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(e)(4)
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First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated August 2, 1999
between Applica and Harry D. Schulman (incorporated by reference
to exhibit 10.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed
October 15, 2004) |
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Exhibit |
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No. |
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Document |
(e)(5)
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Employment Agreement dated July 1, 2000 between Applica and Terry
Polistina (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Applicas
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2000) |
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(e)(6)
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First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated July 1, 2000 between
Applica and Terry Polistina (incorporated by reference to exhibit
10.2 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 19, 2006) |
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(e)(7)
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Employment Agreement dated September 16, 2004 between Applica and
Brian Guptill (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 to
Applicas Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005) |
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(e)(8)
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First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated September 16, 2004
between Applica and Brian Guptill (incorporated by reference to
exhibit 10.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed April
19, 2006) |
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(e)(9)
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Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between HB-PS Holding Company,
Inc. and Applica Incorporated and joined in by NACCO Industries,
Inc. dated July 23, 2006 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1
to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 26, 2006) |
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(e)(10)
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Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 19, 2006 by and
among APN Holding Company, Inc., APN Mergersub, Inc., and Applica
Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 to
Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 20, 2006) |
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(e)(11)
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Amendment No. 1, dated
December 14, 2006, to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
October 19, 2006 by and among APN Holding Company, Inc., APN
Mergersub, Inc., and Applica Incorporated (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 2.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 15, 2006) |
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(e)(12)
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Amendment No. 2, dated
December 22, 2006, to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
October 19, 2006 by and among APN Holding Company, Inc., APN
Mergersub, Inc., and Applica Incorporated (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 2.1 to Applicas Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 22, 2006) |
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(g)
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Inapplicable |
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* |
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Previously filed as an exhibit to Applicas Schedule 14D-9 filed with the SEC on December 19,
2006. |
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+ |
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Included in the Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 14D-9 mailed to Applicas shareholders. |
9