Sample Business Contracts


Combination Agreement - Adolph Coors Co., Coors Canada Inc. and Molson Inc.


COMBINATION AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

ADOLPH COORS COMPANY

COORS CANADA INC.

AND

MOLSON INC.

 

Dated as of July 21, 2004



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1
 
1.1

 

Certain Definitions

 

1
 1.2 Terms Defined in Other Sections 8
 1.3 Interpretation 10

ARTICLE II

 

THE ARRANGEMENT

 

10
 
2.1

 

Implementation Steps by Molson

 

10
 2.2 Implementation Steps by Coors and Exchangeco 10
 2.3 Interim Order 11
 2.4 Articles of Arrangement; Closing 11
 2.5 Joint Proxy Statement/Circular; Meetings 11
 2.6 Securities Compliance 12
 2.7 Cooperation in Filings 13
 2.8 Execution of Transaction Documents; Issuance of Stock 14

ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MOLSON

 

15
 
3.1

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

 

15
 3.2 Articles of Amalgamation and Bylaws 16
 3.3 Capitalization 16
 3.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement 16
 3.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents 17
 3.6 Compliance; Permits 18
 3.7 Reports; Financial Statements 18
 3.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities 19
 3.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events 19
 3.10 Absence of Litigation 20
 3.11 Employee Plans 20
 3.12 Labor Matters 20
 3.13 Title to Property 21
 3.14 Insurance 21
 3.15 Taxes 21
 3.16 Environmental Matters 22
 3.17 Intellectual Property 23
 3.18 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments 23
 3.19 Brokers 23
 3.20 Opinions of Financial Advisors 23
 3.21 Vote Required 24
 3.22 No Other Representations and Warranties 24

ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COORS

 

24
 
4.1

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

 

24
 4.2 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws 25
 4.3 Capitalization 25
 4.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement 26
 4.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents 26
 4.6 Compliance; Permits 27
 4.7 SEC Filings; Financial Statements 28
     

i


 4.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities 29
 4.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events 29
 4.10 Absence of Litigation 29
 4.11 Employee Plans 29
 4.12 Labor Matters 29
 4.13 Title to Property 30
 4.14 Insurance 30
 4.15 Taxes 30
 4.16 Environmental Matters 31
 4.17 Intellectual Property 32
 4.18 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments 32
 4.19 Brokers 32
 4.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor 32
 4.21 Vote Required 32
 4.22 Callco and Exchangeco Status 33
 4.23 Exchangeable Shares 33
 4.24 Coors Common Stock 33
 4.25 State Antitakeover Laws 33
 4.26 No Other Representations and Warranties 33

ARTICLE V

 

CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

 

33
 
5.1

 

Conduct of Business by Molson

 

33
 5.2 Conduct of Business by Coors 35

ARTICLE VI

 

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

37
 
6.1

 

Confidentiality; Access to Information and Certain Tax Matters

 

37
 6.2 No Solicitation. 40
 6.3 Public Announcements 42
 6.4 Reasonable Best Efforts; Notification 42
 6.5 Molson Affiliates 43
 6.6 Regulatory Filings 43
 6.7 Indemnification 44
 6.8 Takeover Statutes 44
 6.9 Section 16(b) 44
 6.10 Headquarters 44
 6.11 Amendments to Governing Documents of Coors 44
 6.12 Board Composition; Committees 45
 6.13 Non-Executive Chairman; Chief Executive Officer 45
 6.14 Indemnification of Holders of Exchangeable Shares 45
 6.15 Pre-Arrangement Transactions 46
 6.16 U.S. Tax Treatment 46
 6.17 Coors Common Stock 46
 6.18 Section 3(a)(10) Exemption 46
 6.19 Dividends 46
 6.20 Canadian Voting Trust Agreements 46
 6.21 Class C Preferred Shares 47
 6.22 Solvency of Exchangeco 47

ARTICLE VII

 

CONDITIONS

 

47
 
7.1

 

Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Arrangement

 

47
     

ii


 7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Molson 48
 7.3 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Coors 49

ARTICLE VIII

 

TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

 

50
 
8.1

 

Termination

 

50
 8.2 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination 51
 8.3 Fees and Expenses 51
 8.4 Amendment 53
 8.5 Extension; Waiver 53

ARTICLE IX

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

54
 
9.1

 

Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

54
 9.2 Notices 54
 9.3 Counterparts 55
 9.4 Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries 55
 9.5 Severability 55
 9.6 Other Remedies; Specific Performance 55
 9.7 Governing Law 56
 9.8 No Personal Liability 56
 9.9 Assignment 56
 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 56
 9.11 Currency 56

iii



INDEX OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit A Form of Molson Resolution A-1

Exhibit B

 

Form of Plan of Arrangement

 

B-1

Exhibit C

 

Form of Class A Coors Voting Trust Agreement

 

C-1

Exhibit D

 

Form of Exchangeable Share Support Agreement

 

D-1

Exhibit E

 

Form of Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement

 

E-1

Exhibit F

 

Form of Holding Company Participation Agreement

 

F-1

Exhibit G

 

Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

G-1

Exhibit H

 

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

H-1

Exhibit I

 

Molson Coors Board of Directors

 

I-1

Exhibit J

 

Molson Coors Officers

 

J-1

Exhibit K

 

[Reserved]

 

 

Exhibit L

 

Terms of Registration Rights

 

L-1

iv


COMBINATION AGREEMENT

        This COMBINATION AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of July 21, 2004, between ADOLPH COORS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Coors"), COORS CANADA INC., a Canadian corporation and an indirect Subsidiary of Coors ("Exchangeco") and MOLSON INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Canada ("Molson").

RECITALS

        A.    The board of directors of Molson, based upon the recommendation of an independent committee of Molson's board of directors (the "Independent Committee") formed for the purpose of considering the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has (i) deemed it in the best interests of Molson to effect the business combination and other transactions provided for herein, including the Arrangement pursuant to which Exchangeco will acquire all of the outstanding Molson Common Shares in exchange for consideration that includes Exchangeable Shares and Exchangeco Public Preference Shares pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement described herein and (ii) resolved to recommend that the shareholders of Molson approve and adopt the Arrangement.

        B.    The board of directors of Coors has (i) deemed it advisable and in the best interests of each class of its stockholders to effect the business combination and other transactions provided for herein, including the Coors Share Issuance and the Coors Charter Amendment, and (ii) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Coors vote in favor of the Coors Share Issuance and the Coors Charter Amendment.

        C.    As a condition to Coors entering into this Agreement and incurring the obligations set forth herein, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Coors is entering into a voting agreement with a significant shareholder of Molson (the "Molson Voting Agreement") pursuant to which, among other things, such shareholder of Molson has agreed, subject to the terms thereof, to vote all Molson Class B Common Shares owned by it in accordance with the terms of the Molson Voting Agreement.

        D.    As a condition to Molson entering into this Agreement and incurring the obligations set forth herein, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Molson is entering into a voting agreement with certain significant stockholders of Coors (the "Coors Voting Agreement") pursuant to which, among other things, each of those stockholders of Coors has agreed, subject to the terms thereof, to vote all shares of Coors Class A Common Stock and Coors Class B Common Stock owned by each of them in accordance with the terms of the Coors Voting Agreement.

        E.    The parties hereto intend that the Arrangement will provide shareholders of Molson who are residents of Canada for purposes of the ITA with the opportunity to exchange their Molson Common Shares for Exchangeable Shares on a tax-deferred or "rollover" basis for Canadian income tax purposes.

        F.     In connection with, and as an integral part of, the transaction contemplated hereby, Exchangeco will issue Class C Preferred Shares with a redemption value of $1,000,000 (Cdn.) to a service provider of Exchangeco for services rendered in connection with the transaction.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS


        1.1    Certain Definitions.     The following terms shall have the following meanings:

        "1933 Act" means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder.



        "1934 Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder.

        "Action" means any action, claim, suit, litigation, demand, cause of action, charge, complaint, arbitration or other proceeding.

        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. For purposes of the foregoing, "control" means the possession, direct or indirect, or the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

        "Agreement" means this Combination Agreement, made and entered into as of July 21, 2004, between Coors, Exchangeco and Molson, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

        "AMF" means the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec).

        "ARC" means an advance ruling certificate issued by the Commissioner pursuant to the Competition Act.

        "Arrangement" means an arrangement under section 192 of the CBCA on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Plan of Arrangement, subject to any amendments or variations thereto made in accordance with Section 8.4 hereof or Article 6 of the Plan of Arrangement or made at the direction of the Court in the Final Order.

        "Articles of Arrangement" means the articles of arrangement of Molson in respect of the Arrangement, required by the CBCA to be sent to the Director after the Final Order is made.

        "CBCA" means the Canada Business Corporations Act, as now in effect and as it may be amended from time to time prior to the Effective Time.

        "Callco" means a corporation to be incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province thereof and a Subsidiary of Coors and referenced as "Callco" in the Transaction Documents.

        "Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities" means the OSC and each other securities commission or similar regulatory authority in each of the provinces of Canada.

        "Class A Coors Voting Trust Agreement" means the voting trust agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto (with such modifications as may be reasonably requested by the trustee party thereto), to be entered into as of the Effective Time by each Family Holder of Coors, any Family Holder of Molson who owns Coors Class A Common Stock, in each case with respect to all shares of Coors Class A Common Stock owned by each such Family Holder, and each other party named therein and such other agreement to be entered into pursuant to Section 6.20.

        "Class A-C Nominating Subcommittee" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Coors Charter Amendment.

        "Class A Exchangeable Shares" means the class A exchangeable shares in the capital of Exchangeco, having substantially the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions set out in Appendix I to the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Class A Exchangeable Voting Trust Agreement" means the voting trust agreement to be entered into as of the Effective Time by each Family Holder of Molson and the other parties thereto, which agreement shall be governed by Canadian law, have a Canadian trustee and provide for equivalent voting agreements and transfer restrictions on substantially identical terms as are contained in the Class A Coors Voting Trust Agreement with respect to all Class A Exchangeable Shares owned by each such Family Holder as of the Effective Time and which agreement shall otherwise be in form and

2



substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties (with such modifications as may be reasonably requested by the trustee party thereto).

        "Class A Fraction" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Class A-M Nominating Subcommittee" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Coors Charter Amendment.

        "Class A Preferred Shares" means Class A non-voting preferred shares of Exchangeco.

        "Class B Exchangeable Shares" means the class B exchangeable shares in the capital of Exchangeco, having substantially the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions set out in Appendix I to the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Class B Fraction" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Class B1 Preferred Shares" means Class B1 non-voting preferred shares in the share capital of Exchangeco.

        "Class B2 Preferred Shares" means Class B2 voting preferred shares in the share capital of Exchangeco.

        "Class C Preferred Shares" means Class C non-voting preference shares in the share capital of Exchangeco.

        "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Competition under the Competition Act.

        "Competition Act" means the Competition Act (Canada), as amended.

        "Competition Act Approval" means receipt of an ARC or, in the alternative to an ARC, the expiration or earlier termination of the waiting period under Part IX of the Competition Act and a letter from the Commissioner or a person authorized by the Commissioner that the Commissioner has determined not to make an application for an order under section 92 of the Competition Act in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

        "Control Voting Trust Agreements" means the collective reference to the Class A Exchangeable Voting Trust Agreement and the Class A Coors Voting Trust Agreement.

        "Coors Charter Amendment" means the amendment and restatement of the certificate of incorporation of Coors so that, after giving effect thereto, the certificate of incorporation of Coors shall be substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit G.

        "Coors Class A Common Stock" means Coors' Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

        "Coors Class B Common Stock" means Coors' Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

        "Coors Common Stock" means shares of Coors Class A Common Stock and Coors Class B Common Stock.

        "Coors Employee Plan" means any Employee Plan (including any Coors International Plan) under which (i) any current or former director, officer, consultant or employee of Coors or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which is contributed to, entered into, sponsored by or maintained by Coors, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates or (ii) Coors or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future liability.

        "Coors International Plan" means any International Plan under which (i) any current or former director, officer, consultant or employee of Coors or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future

3



right to benefits and which is contributed to, entered into, sponsored by or maintained by Coors or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) Coors or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future liability.

        "Coors Meeting" means the special meeting of holders of Coors Common Stock, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, to be called to consider the Coors Charter Amendment and the Coors Share Issuance.

        "Coors Share Issuance" means the issuance of Coors Common Stock pursuant to the Arrangement, upon the exchange of Exchangeable Shares or upon the exercise of Replacement Options.

        "Court" means the Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec.

        "Director" means the Director appointed pursuant to section 260 of the CBCA.

        "Dissent Rights" means the rights of dissent in respect of the Arrangement described in Section 3.1 of the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Effective Time" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Employee Plan" means, with respect to any Person, any "employee benefit plan," as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, and any stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation, stock incentive, severance, employment, change-in-control, retention, insurance (including self-insurance), split-dollar, health, medical, disability, workers compensation, supplemental unemployment, post-employment, pension, savings, retirement, profit sharing, fringe, multiemployer, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, loan and any other employee benefit plan, agreement, program, policy or other arrangement (including any funding mechanism therefor now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise), whether or not subject to ERISA, whether formal or informal.

        "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

        "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a controlled group or which is under common control with such Person within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

        "Exchange Ratio" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Exchangeable Share Support Agreement" means an agreement to be made between Coors, Exchangeco and Callco substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, with such changes thereto as the parties hereto may agree.

        "Exchangeable Shares" means, collectively, the Class A Exchangeable Shares and the Class B Exchangeable Shares.

        "Exchangeco Public Preference Shares" means, collectively, the Class A Preferred Shares, the Class B1 Preferred Shares and the Class B2 Preferred Shares.

        "Family Holders" of Molson, means the shareholder of Molson set forth in Section 1.1 of the Molson Disclosure Schedule and all transferees of Molson Class B Common Shares from such shareholder prior to the Effective Time, and of Coors, means the stockholders of Coors set forth in Section 1.1 of the Coors Disclosure Schedule and all transferees of Coors Class A Common Stock from such stockholder prior to the Effective Time.

        "Final Order" means the final order of the Court approving the Arrangement, as such order may be amended or varied at any time prior to the Effective Time or, if appealed, then unless such appeal is withdrawn or denied, as affirmed or as amended on appeal.

        "Governmental Entity" means any (a) multinational, federal, provincial, state, regional, municipal or other government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal, arbitrator,

4



commission, board, bureau or agency, whether U.S., Canadian, foreign or multinational, (b) subdivision, agent, commission, board or authority of any of the foregoing or (c) self-regulatory organization or stock exchange, including the NYSE or TSX.

        "Hazardous Substance" means any pollutant, contaminant, waste, hazardous or toxic material, and any other substance that is regulated by or could reasonably be expected to result in liability or give rise to an Action under any applicable Environmental Law.

        "ICA" means the Investment Canada Act (Canada), as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

        "ICA Approval" means the determination or deemed approval by the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Canadian Heritage that the transactions contemplated hereby are of "net benefit to Canada" for purposes of the ICA.

        "Intellectual Property" means all federal, state, provincial, foreign and multinational intellectual and industrial property rights, including without limitation, all (i) patents; (ii) copyrights; (iii) trademarks and service marks, the goodwill of any business symbolized thereby, and all common-law rights relating thereto; (iv) trade secrets; and (v) all registrations, applications, and recordings related to the foregoing.

        "Interim Order" means the interim order of the Court, as the same may be amended in respect of the Arrangement, as contemplated by Section 2.3.

        "International Plan" means, with respect to any Person, any Employee Plan that is maintained outside the jurisdiction of the United States, or covers any present or former director, officer, consultant or employee of such Person residing or working outside the United States.

        "ITA" means the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended, and the regulations thereunder, as amended, in each case, except as otherwise provided herein, as of the date hereof.

        "Joint Proxy Statement/Circular" means, collectively, (a) the notice of the Coors Meeting to be sent to holders of Coors Common Stock, (b) the notice of the Molson Meeting to be sent to holders of Molson Common Shares and Molson Options and (c) the accompanying joint proxy statement/management information circular in connection with the Coors Meeting and the Molson Meeting, in each case as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified; provided that if a party elects for the parties to prepare a separate proxy statement of Coors and management information circular of Molson, then references to the Joint Proxy Statement/Circular shall refer to the proxy statement of Coors, in the case of Coors, and the management information circular of Molson, in the case of Molson.

        "knowledge" of Molson, means the actual knowledge of the Persons set forth in Section 1.2 of the Molson Disclosure Schedule, and of Coors, means the actual knowledge of the Persons set forth in Section 1.2 of the Coors Disclosure Schedule.

        "Laws" means laws (including common law), statutes, rules, regulations, orders, ordinances, codes, treaties, and judicial, arbitral, administrative, ministerial or departmental judgments, awards or other requirements of any Governmental Entity.

        "Leased Real Property" means, with respect to any Person, real property leased for use by or otherwise occupied by such person.

        "Lien" means, with respect to any property, right or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, purchase option, right of first offer or refusal, encumbrance or other adverse claim of any kind in respect of such property or asset.

5



        "material" means, when used in this Agreement (except when used in (i) the definition of "Material Adverse Effect" or for the purpose of determining whether a "Material Adverse Effect" has occurred hereunder and (ii) Sections 8.1(h)(ii) and 8.1(i)(ii)) in connection with a state of facts, occurrence, event or effect, or any agreement or transaction, referred to herein, any such state of facts, occurrence, event, effect, agreement or transaction that would result in a cost or expense, or otherwise have a value, of $100,000,000 or more.

        "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to each party, any change, event, occurrence or effect (a) that is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, assets (including intangible assets), financial condition, or results of operations of such party taken as a whole with its Subsidiaries, other than any such change, event, occurrence or effect resulting from (i) the announcement of the execution of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) changes, circumstances or conditions generally affecting the industry in which such party operates and not having a disproportionate effect on such party or (iii) changes in general economic conditions in the United States or Canada or (b) that is, or would reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to the ability of such party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall a change in the trading prices of a party's equity securities, by itself, be deemed to constitute a Material Adverse Effect (it being understood that the foregoing shall not prevent a party from asserting that any change, event, occurrence or effect that may have contributed to such change in trading prices independently constitutes a Material Adverse Effect).

        "Molson Class A Common Shares" means Molson's Class A "non-voting" shares.

        "Molson Class B Common Shares" means Molson's Class B shares.

        "Molson Common Shares" means, collectively, the Molson Class A Common Shares and the Molson Class B Common Shares.

        "Molson Employee Plan" means any Employee Plan (including any Molson International Plan) under which (i) any current or former director, officer, consultant or employee of Molson or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which is contributed to, entered into, sponsored by or maintained by Molson, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates or (ii) Molson or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future liability.

        "Molson International Plan" means any International Plan under which (i) any current or former director, officer, consultant or employee of Molson or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which is contributed to, entered into, sponsored by or maintained by Molson or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) Molson or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future liability.

        "Molson Meeting" means the special meeting of holders of Molson Common Shares and Molson Options, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, to be called and held in accordance with the Interim Order to consider the Arrangement and other matters related to this Agreement and the Arrangement.

        "Molson Resolution" means the special resolution of the holders of the Molson Common Shares and Molson Options, to be substantially in the form and content of Exhibit A hereto.

        "NYSE" means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

        "Order" means any legally enforceable judgment, order, decision, writ, injunction, stipulation, ruling or decree of, or any settlement under jurisdiction of, any Governmental Entity.

        "OSC" means the Ontario Securities Commission.

        "OSC Rule 61-501" means Rule 61-501 of the OSC.

        "Owned Real Property" means, with respect to any Person, real property owned by such person.

6



        "Pentland" means Pentland Securities (1981) Inc.

        "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, unlimited liability company or joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association, organization, entity or Governmental Entity.

        "Plan of Arrangement" means the plan of arrangement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and any amendments or variations thereto made in accordance with Section 8.4 hereof or Article 6 of the Plan of Arrangement or made at the direction of the Court in the Final Order.

        "Policy Q-27" means Policy Q-27 of the AMF.

        "Proprietary Subject Matter" means: (i) all information (whether or not protectable by patent, copyright, mask work or trade secret rights) not generally known to the public, including know-how and show-how, discoveries, processes, formulae, designs, methods, techniques, procedures, concepts, specifications, technical manuals and data, libraries, blueprints, drawings, product information, development work-in-process, inventions and trade secrets; (ii) patentable subject matter, patented inventions and inventions subject to patent applications; (iii) industrial models and industrial designs; (iv) works of authorship, software and copyrightable subject matter; (v) mask works; and (vi) trademarks, trade names, service marks, brand names, corporate names, emblems, logos, trade dress, domain names, insignia and related marks.

        "Qualifying Amendment" means an amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Circular (including by incorporation by reference) to the extent it contains (i) a Change in Molson Recommendation or a Change in Coors Recommendation (as the case may be), (ii) a statement of the reasons of the board of directors of Molson or Coors (as the case may be) for making such Change in Molson Recommendation or Change in Coors Recommendation (as the case may be) and (iii) additional information reasonably related to the foregoing.

        "Redemption Date" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Registration Rights Agreement" means an agreement to be entered into as of the Effective Time on terms reasonably acceptable to Coors and Molson, providing for the registration under the 1933 Act of Coors Class B Common Stock owned by the beneficiaries party to each of the Control Voting Trust Agreements as described on Exhibit L hereto.

        "Regulatory Approvals" means, with respect to a party, those Orders, sanctions, consents, exemptions, waivers, permits, agreements, certificates, authorizations and other Approvals (including the lapse, without objection, of a prescribed time under a statute or regulation that states that a transaction may be implemented if a prescribed time lapses following the giving of notice without an objection being made) of Governmental Entities that are necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, in the case of Molson, those referred to in Section 3.5(b) hereof and, in the case of Coors, those referred to in Section 4.5(b) hereof.

        "Replacement Option" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement.

        "Sarbanes-Oxley Act" means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations promulgated under such Act or the 1934 Act.

        "Securities Act (Quebec)" means the Securities Act (Quebec) and all rules, regulations and policies enacted thereunder, as now in effect and as it may be amended from time to time prior to the Effective Time.

        "Securities Act (Ontario)" means the Securities Act (Ontario) and all rules and regulations enacted thereunder, as now in effect and as it may be amended from time to time prior to the Effective Time.

7



        "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

        "Securities Laws" means the Securities Act (Quebec), the Securities Act (Ontario) and the equivalent legislation in the other provinces of Canada, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, all as now enacted or as the same may from time to time be amended, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

        "Shareholders Agreement" means a shareholders agreement to be entered into by the parties to each of the Control Voting Trust Agreements, which shareholders agreement shall provide for voting agreements that are identical to, subject to and not in any way in conflict with, the provisions of each of the Control Voting Trust Agreements and which is otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Coors.

        "Special Class A Voting Share" means the share of Special Class A Voting Stock of Coors, par value of $0.01.

        "Special Class B Voting Share" means the share of Special Class B Voting Stock of Coors, par value of $0.01.

        "Special Voting Shares" means the collective reference to Special Class A Voting Share and the Special Class B Voting Share.

        "Subsidiary" shall mean, when used with reference to any party, any Person of which such party (either alone or through or together with any other Subsidiary) either owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of directors or members of any other governing body of such Person or, in the case of a Person that is a partnership, is a general partner of such partnership.

        "Transaction Documents" means the collective reference to this Agreement, the Control Voting Trust Agreements, the Exchangeable Share Support Agreement, the Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Coors Voting Agreement and the Molson Voting Agreement.

        "Trustee" means a Canadian trust company to be chosen by Coors and Molson to act as trustee under the Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement and any successor trustee appointed under the Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement.

        "TSX" means The Toronto Stock Exchange.

        "Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement" means an agreement to be made between Coors, Exchangeco and the Trustee, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto (with such modifications as may be reasonably requested by the Trustee), with such changes thereto as the parties hereto, acting reasonably, may agree.


        1.2    Terms Defined in Other Sections.     The following terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement in the following Sections:

Acquisition Proposal Section 6.2(a)
Approvals Section 3.1(a)
Canadian GAAP Section 3.7(b)
Change in Coors Recommendation Section 2.5(c)
Change in Molson Recommendation Section 2.5(b)
Change in Recommendation Section 2.5(c)
Closing Date Section 2.4
Confidentiality Agreement Section 6.1(a)
Contract Section 3.1(d)
Coors Preamble
Coors Charter Documents Section 4.2
   

8


Coors Disclosure Schedule Article IV
Coors Equity Plans Section 4.3(a)
Coors Environmental Permits Section 4.16(c)
Coors Financial Statements Section 4.7(b)
Coors Insurance Policies Section 4.14
Coors Intellectual Property Section 4.17
Coors Options Section 4.3(a)
Coors Preferred Stock Section 4.3(a)
Coors Property Section 4.16(a)
Coors Returns Section 4.15(a)(i)
Coors SEC Reports Section 4.7(a)
Coors Stockholder Approval Section 4.21
Coors—Used Proprietary Subject Matter Section 4.17
Coors Voting Agreement Recitals
DOJ Section 6.6
Environmental Laws Section 3.16(a)
Environmental Lien Section 3.16(f)
Exchangeco Preamble
Form S-3 Section 2.6(d)
Form S-8 Section 2.6(e)
FTC Section 6.6
HSR Act Section 3.5(b)
Indemnified Parties Section 6.7
Independent Committee Recitals
Infringe Section 3.17
IRD Section 6.6
Material Coors Contract Section 4.18
Material Molson Contract Section 3.18
Molson Preamble
Molson Affiliate Section 6.5
Molson Charter Documents Section 3.2
Molson Disclosure Schedule Article III
Molson Documents Section 3.7(a)
Molson Equity Plan Section 3.3(a)
Molson Environmental Permits Section 3.16(c)
Molson Financial Statements Section 3.7(b)
Molson Insurance Policies Section 3.14
Molson Intellectual Property Section 3.17
Molson Options Section 3.3(a)
Molson Preference Shares Section 3.3(a)
Molson Property Section 3.16(a)
Molson Returns Section 3.15(b)(i)
Molson Shareholder Approval Section 2.3(b)
Molson-Used Proprietary Subject Matter Section 3.17
Molson Voting Agreement Recitals
non-Canadian withholding taxes Section 6.1(h)
Permit Section 3.5(a)
Safe-Income Transaction Section 6.1(f)
Superior Proposal Section 6.2(b)(iii)
Takeover Statute Section 6.8
Tax Section 3.15(a)
Termination Date Section 8.1(b)
Termination Fee Section 8.3(b)(i)
US GAAP Section 4.7(b)

9



        1.3    Interpretation.     When a reference is made in this Agreement to Exhibits, such reference shall be to an Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. 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." The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. When reference is made herein to "the business of" a Person, such reference shall be deemed to include the business of such Person and all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of such Person. Reference to the Subsidiaries of a Person shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of such Person.


ARTICLE II

THE ARRANGEMENT

        2.1    Implementation Steps by Molson.     Molson covenants in favor of Coors that Molson shall:


        2.2    Implementation Steps by Coors and Exchangeco.     Each of Coors and Exchangeco covenant, as applicable, in favor of Molson that:

10



        2.3    Interim Order.     The notice of motion for the application referred to in Section 2.1(a) shall request that the Interim Order provide:


        2.4    Articles of Arrangement; Closing.     The Articles of Arrangement shall implement the Plan of Arrangement. On the second business day after the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable Laws) of the conditions (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date, but subject to the satisfaction or, where permitted, waiver of those conditions as of the Closing Date) set forth in Article VII, and unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto (the "Closing Date"), the Articles of Arrangement shall be filed with the Director. At the Effective Time, each Molson Common Share outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be exchanged as provided in the Plan of Arrangement, and the Arrangement will, from and after the Effective Time, have all of the effects provided by applicable Laws, including the CBCA. The closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Arrangement will take place at the offices of McCarthy Tétrault LeWindsor, 1170, rue Peel Montréal, Quebec H3B 458, on the Closing Date.


        2.5    Joint Proxy Statement/Circular; Meetings.     

11



        2.6    Securities Compliance.     

12



        2.7    Cooperation in Filings.     

13



        2.8    Execution of Transaction Documents; Issuance of Stock.     At the Effective Time (i) each of Molson, Coors and Exchangeco shall execute and deliver each of the Transaction Documents to which they are a party, (ii) Coors shall issue Coors Common Stock to (or at the direction of) Callco in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and such Coors Common Stock shall be duly and validly issued by Coors, fully paid and non-assessable and (iii) Exchangeco shall issue Exchangeable Shares and Exchangeco Public Preference Shares to the shareholders of Molson in accordance with this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, and such Exchangeable Shares and Exchangeco Public Preference Shares shall be duly and validly issued by Exchangeco, fully paid and non-assessable. Except as provided in the Plan of Arrangement, all Coors Common Stock issued by Coors pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement and all Exchangeable Shares and Exchangeco Public Preference Shares issued by Exchangeco pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement shall be free of preemptive rights, encumbrances, charges and liens of any nature.

14



ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MOLSON

        Molson represents and warrants to Coors, subject to such exceptions as are specifically disclosed in writing in the disclosure schedule (arranged in sections and subsections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in this Article III with the disclosures in any section or subsection of such schedule qualifying the corresponding section or subsection in this Article III, as well as any other section or subsection of this Article III if the relevance of the disclosed item to such other section or subsection is readily apparent on its face) supplied by Molson to Coors dated as of the date hereof (the "Molson Disclosure Schedule"), as follows:


        3.1    Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.     

15



        3.2    Articles of Amalgamation and Bylaws.     Molson has previously furnished to Coors complete and correct copies of its Articles of Amalgamation and Bylaws or other organizational documents (together, the "Molson Charter Documents"), as amended to date. Such Molson Charter Documents, as so amended, and the equivalent organizational documents of each of its Subsidiaries, are in full force and effect. Molson is not in violation of any of the provisions of the Molson Charter Documents, and no material Subsidiary of Molson is in violation of any of its organizational documents.


        3.3    Capitalization.     


        3.4    Authority Relative to this Agreement.     

16



        3.5    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.     

17



        3.6    Compliance; Permits.     


        3.7    Reports; Financial Statements.     

18



        3.8    No Undisclosed Liabilities.     Neither Molson nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent, determined, determinable or otherwise) or obligations, in each case, of the type that would be required to be disclosed on a consolidated balance sheet of Molson (or the notes thereto) and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that could be reasonably expected to result in such a liability or obligation, except (i) liabilities or obligations fully reflected or reserved against in Molson's balance sheet as of March 31, 2004 (or the notes thereto), included in the Molson Financial Statements, (ii) liabilities or obligations disclosed in any Molson Document filed after March 31, 2004 and prior to the date of this Agreement, (iii) liabilities incurred since March 31, 2004 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) obligations arising pursuant to the terms of the Contracts disclosed in Section 3.18 (or not required to be so disclosed) or (v) liabilities or obligations that have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Molson.


        3.9    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.     Since March 31, 2004, the business of Molson and its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past practices and there has not

19


been (i) any event, occurrence or development of a state of circumstances or facts which has had or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have any Material Adverse Effect on Molson, (ii) except with respect to Molson's operations or assets in Brazil, any material revaluation by Molson of any of its assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable or any material sale of assets of Molson other than in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) with respect to any material assets of Molson or its Subsidiaries, (iv) any material Contract cancelled, terminated, or materially adversely modified or (v) any event or action that if taken after the date hereof would be prohibited by Section 5.1 hereof.


        3.10    Absence of Litigation.     (a) There is no Action that has been commenced or, to the knowledge of Molson, threatened against or affecting, Molson or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, rights or assets before any Governmental Entity which, if determined adversely to Molson, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Molson; and (b) neither Molson nor any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective properties, rights or assets, is subject to any outstanding Order that has had or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Molson.


        3.11    Employee Plans.     


        3.12    Labor Matters.     

20



        3.13    Title to Property.     Molson and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of its respective Owned Real Property necessary to operate its business as currently operated. All Leased Real Property occupied by Molson and its Subsidiaries affords Molson and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, peaceful and undisturbed possession of the Leased Real Property, except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Molson.


        3.14    Insurance.     Molson maintains insurance policies covering the assets, business, equipment, properties, operations, employees, officers and directors of Molson and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Molson Insurance Policies") which are of the type and in amounts which it believes are reasonably appropriate to conduct its business. To Molson's knowledge, there is no material claim by Molson or any of its Subsidiaries pending under any of the material Molson Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds.


        3.15    Taxes.     


        (a)    Definition of Taxes.     For the purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" and "Taxes" means any and all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments imposed by Laws, including all income taxes (including any tax on or based upon net income, gross income, income as specially defined, earnings, profits or selected items of income, earnings or profits) and all capital taxes, gross receipts taxes, environmental taxes, profits taxes, disability taxes, registration taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, ad valorem taxes, value added taxes, transfer taxes, franchise taxes, license taxes, development taxes, education taxes, business taxes, social services taxes, surtaxes, land transfer taxes, harmonized sales taxes, withholding taxes or other withholding obligations, net worth taxes, recording taxes, capital stock taxes, payroll taxes, employment taxes, excise taxes, stamp taxes, occupation taxes, premium taxes, property taxes, windfall profits taxes, alternative or add-on minimum taxes, goods and services taxes, service use taxes, customs duties or other governmental charges, estimated or other taxes, assessments, charges, duties or imposts of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, penalties, additional taxes, additions to tax or other amounts imposed by any taxing authority with respect to the foregoing and any liability for any such amounts imposed with respect to any other person, including under any agreements or arrangements or any liability for taxes of a predecessor or transferor entity.

        (b)    Taxes.    Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

21



        (c)    Tax Status.     Immediately prior to the Effective Time, Molson will not be a "specified financial institution" within the meaning of the ITA, assuming that Coors itself is not a "specified financial institution" at that time.


        3.16    Environmental Matters.     Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect on Molson:

22



        3.17    Intellectual Property.     Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Molson, (i) Molson or one of its Subsidiaries is the owner or has the right to use all Intellectual Property and Proprietary Subject Matter used in the conduct of its business as it is currently conducted (such Intellectual Property which is owned or used by Molson or one of its Subsidiaries, the "Molson Intellectual Property" and such Proprietary Subject Matter, the "Molson-Used Proprietary Subject Matter"), free and clear of all Liens; (ii) there are no Orders, or pending, or to Molson's knowledge, threatened Actions, respecting the ownership, validity, enforceability or use of any Molson Intellectual Property or Molson-Used Proprietary Subject Matter, and to the knowledge of Molson, no facts or circumstances exist as a valid basis for same; (iii) the Molson Intellectual Property has not been, and Molson has no reason to expect it to become, abandoned, cancelled or invalidated; (iv) Molson and its Subsidiaries have taken all reasonable actions to protect the Molson Intellectual Property, including Intellectual Property that is confidential in nature; and (v) the conduct of the business of Molson and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted do not infringe, misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate or make unauthorized use of ("Infringe") any Intellectual Property of any Person, and to the knowledge of Molson no Person is currently Infringing Molson Intellectual Property.


        3.18    Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.     Except as limited by confidentiality obligations, Molson has provided to Coors prior to the date hereof an accurate and complete summary of the material terms of each material Contract to which Molson and each of its Subsidiaries is a party (each, a "Material Molson Contract"). Except for breaches, violations or defaults which have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Molson, (i) each of the Material Molson Contracts is valid and in full force and effect and shall be in full force and effect after Closing, unamended (except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 5.1), and (ii) neither Molson nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to Molson's knowledge any other party to a Material Molson Contract, has violated any provision of, or committed or failed to perform any act which, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any such Material Molson Contract, and neither Molson nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice that it has breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the material terms or conditions of any of the Material Molson Contracts. Neither Molson nor any Subsidiary of Molson is a party to, or otherwise a guarantor of or liable with respect to, any interest rate, currency or other swap or derivative transaction, other than any such transactions in the ordinary course of business.


        3.19    Brokers.     Molson and its Subsidiaries have not incurred, nor will they incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders fees or agent's commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or the Transaction Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, other than fees and expenses payable to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.


        3.20    Opinions of Financial Advisors.     The Independent Committee has received from its financial advisor, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, an opinion, dated the date of this

23


Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the Molson Common Shares (other than Pentland and Eric H. Molson). The board of directors of Molson has received from its financial advisors, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns, separate opinions, each dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the Molson Common Shares.


        3.21    Vote Required.     The only votes of the holders of any class or series of the Molson Common Shares, Molson Options or other securities of Molson necessary to approve this Agreement and the Arrangement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are, subject to any requirement of the Interim Order and subject to obtaining exemptions from applicable Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities, the Molson Shareholder Approval.


        3.22    No Other Representations and Warranties.     Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, neither Molson nor its Subsidiaries nor any other Person or its Subsidiaries makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, on behalf of Molson and its Subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.


ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COORS

        Coors represents and warrants to Molson, subject to such exceptions as are specifically disclosed in writing in the disclosure schedule (arranged in sections and subsections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in this Article IV with the disclosures in any section or subsection of such schedule qualifying the corresponding section or subsection in this Article IV, as well as any other section or subsection of this Article IV if the relevance of the disclosed item to such other section or subsection is readily apparent on its face) supplied by Coors to Molson dated as of the date hereof (the "Coors Disclosure Schedule") as follows:


        4.1    Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.     

        (a)   Each of Coors and its Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the requisite corporate, partnership or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, except, as related to the Subsidiaries of Coors, where the failure to do so has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors. Each of Coors and its Subsidiaries is in possession of all Approvals from all Governmental Entities necessary to own, lease and operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to lawfully carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to have such Approvals has not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.

        (b)   Coors has no material Subsidiaries except those identified to Molson prior to the date hereof.

        (c)   All of the outstanding capital stock of, or other equity securities or ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of Coors, is owned by Coors, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests). There are no outstanding (i) securities of Coors or its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests in any Subsidiary of Coors or (ii) except for employee or director stock options issued pursuant to the Coors Equity Plans, options or other rights to acquire from Coors or any of its Subsidiaries, or other obligation of Coors or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests in, or any securities convertible into

24



or exchangeable for any capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of Coors. There are no outstanding obligations of Coors or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of the items referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

        (d)   Neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed nor is it obligated to make nor is it bound by any Contract under which it may become obligated to acquire any material equity interest or investment in, or make any material capital contribution to, any Person (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Coors). Neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns any material interest or investment (whether equity or debt) nor has any rights to acquire any material interest or investment in any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Coors).

        (e)   Coors and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other foreign legal entity, and is in good standing, under the Laws of all jurisdictions where the nature of its business requires such qualification, except for those jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.2    Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.     Coors has previously furnished to Molson complete and correct copies of its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws (together, the "Coors Charter Documents"), as amended to date. Such Coors Charter Documents, as so amended, and the equivalent organizational documents of each of its Subsidiaries, are in full force and effect. Coors is not in violation of any of the provisions of the Coors Charter Documents, and no material Subsidiary of Coors is in violation of any of its organizational documents.


        4.3    Capitalization.     

        (a)   The authorized capital stock of Coors consists of (i) 1,260,000 shares of Coors Class A Common Stock, (ii) 200,000,000 shares of Coors Class B Common Stock and (iii) 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value of $0.01 ("Coors Preferred Stock"). As of the close of business on July 19, 2004, there were outstanding (1) 1,260,000 shares of Coors Class A Common Stock, (2) 36,043,934 shares of Coors Class B Common Stock, (3) no shares of Coors Preferred Stock, (4) options to purchase 7,352,752 shares of Coors Class B Common Stock ("Coors Options") issued pursuant to the Adolph Coors Company 1990 Equity Incentive Plan and the Adolph Coors Company Equity Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Coors Equity Plans"), and (5) phantom shares, stock units, stock appreciation rights or other equity-based awards issued under the Coors Equity Plans with respect to an aggregate of 3,035 shares of Coors Class B Common Stock. As of July 20, 2004, no shares of Coors Class A Common Stock or shares of Coors Class B Common Stock were held in treasury. As of the date hereof, no shares of capital stock of Coors are held by any Subsidiary of Coors. All outstanding shares of capital stock of Coors have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

        (b)   Except as set forth in Section 4.3(a), there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, phantom shares, stock units, stock appreciation rights, other equity-based awards, equity securities, partnership interests, conversion privileges or similar ownership interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights) or Contracts of any character to which Coors or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound obligating Coors or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any equity securities, partnership interests or similar ownership interests of Coors or any of its Subsidiaries, or obligating Coors or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, phantom share, stock unit, stock appreciation right, other equity-based awards, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness of Coors or any Subsidiary thereof having the right to vote (or that are convertible for or exercisable into securities having the right to vote) with the holders of Coors Common Stock on any matter. Except as

25



contemplated by this Agreement, there is no voting trust, proxy, registration rights agreement, rights plan, anti-takeover plan or other Contract or understanding to which Coors or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which they are bound with respect to any equity security of any class of Coors or with respect to any equity security, partnership interest or similar ownership interest of any class of any of its Subsidiaries.

        (c)   The shares of Coors Common Stock to be issued at the Effective Time as part of the Arrangement (or from time to time following the Effective Time upon conversion of Exchangeable Shares or upon exercise of Replacement Options, as the case may be) have, subject to the receipt of the Coors Stockholder Approval, been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents (or the Exchangeable Shares or Replacement Options, as the case may be) will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable and the issuance thereof will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar right. Prior to the Effective Time, Coors will reserve for issuance the Coors Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Exchangeable Shares and the Replacement Options.


        4.4    Authority Relative to this Agreement.     

        (a)   Coors has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and, subject to the receipt of the Coors Stockholder Approval, the Interim Order and the Final Order, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Coors of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is party and the consummation by Coors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Coors, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Coors are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, or to consummate the transactions so contemplated, other than the Coors Stockholder Approval, the Interim Order and the Final Order. This Agreement has been, and each other Transaction Document to which Coors is or will be party has been, or will be at or prior to the Closing, duly and validly executed and delivered by Coors and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, constitutes or will constitute at or prior to the Closing, a valid, legal and binding obligation of Coors, enforceable against Coors in accordance with its respective terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought and (iii) the Currency Act (Canada) precludes a court in Canada from rendering judgment in any currency other than Canadian currency.

        (b)   At a meeting duly called and held, Coors' board of directors has unanimously: (i) determined that this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Coors Share Issuance, the Coors Charter Amendment and the Arrangement) are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the Coors and the holders of each class of the Coors Common Stock; (ii) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Coors Share Issuance, the Coors Charter Amendment and the Arrangement); and (iii) resolved to recommend approval and adoption of the Coors Charter Amendment and approval of the Coors Share Issuance by its stockholders at the Coors Meeting.


        4.5    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.     

        (a)   The execution, delivery and performance by Coors of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is party, and the consummation by Coors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not, subject to obtaining the Coors Stockholder Approval and receipt of the Approvals referred to in Section 4.5(b) below, (i) contravene, conflict with

26


or result in a violation or breach of any provision of the Coors Charter Documents or the equivalent organizational documents of any of Coors' material Subsidiaries, (ii) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provisions of any Law applicable to Coors or any of its Subsidiaries or by which its or any of their respective properties is bound or affected, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or cause or permit the termination, amendment, acceleration, triggering or cancellation or other change of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit to which Coors or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled under (A) any provision of any Contract or other instrument binding upon Coors or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) any Permit held by, or affecting, or relating in any way to, the assets or business of, Coors or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Coors or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such exceptions in the case of clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) as have been disclosed to Molson prior to the date of this Agreement or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.

        (b)   The execution, delivery and performance by Coors of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is party and the consummation by Coors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not, and shall not, require any Approval, action by or in respect of, filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, to be made or obtained by Coors or its Subsidiaries, except for (A) the Competition Act Approval, (B) the ICA Approval, (C) the compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act, including pre-merger notification requirements, (D) any other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust or similar Law of foreign Governmental Entities, (E) the filing with the SEC and the mailing to the Coors stockholders of the Joint Proxy Statement/Circular, and the filing with the SEC of the Form 8-A, the Form S-3 and any reports that might be required pursuant to the 1934 Act in connection with this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (F) the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the restated certificate of incorporation of Coors, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, (G) any Orders of applicable Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities required by Section 2.6(a), (H) such other filings, authorizations, decisions or orders as may be required by the rules and regulations of the NYSE or any state securities or blue sky laws, (I) any approvals required by the Interim Order, the Final Order or filings with the Director under the CBCA and (J) any other Approvals or Permits, which, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.6    Compliance; Permits.     

        (a)   Coors and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at all times since January 1, 2001 has been, in compliance with all Laws and Orders applicable to it or by which its properties are bound or affected, other than non-compliance matters that have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.

        (b)   Neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any Law or Order applicable to Coors or any of its Subsidiaries or by which its or any of their respective properties is bound or affected, or (ii) any material Contract, Permit or other instrument or obligation to which Coors or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Coors or any of its Subsidiaries or its or any of their respective properties is bound or affected; except, in each case, for any conflicts, defaults or violations that have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors. To the knowledge of Coors, no investigation or review by any Governmental Entity is pending or threatened against Coors or its Subsidiaries, other than, in each such case, those the outcome of which have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.

        (c)   Coors and each of its officers and directors have complied in all material respects with (i) the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii) the applicable listing and corporate governance

27



rules and regulations of the NYSE. Since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries has made loans to any executive officer or director of Coors.

        (d)   Coors and each of its Subsidiaries owns, possesses or has obtained, and is in compliance with, all Permits of or from any Governmental Entity necessary to conduct its business as now conducted, except for such failures which have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.7    SEC Filings; Financial Statements.     

        (a)   Since January 1, 2002, Coors has filed with the SEC and NYSE all forms, reports, schedules, prospectuses, registration statements, proxy or information statements and other documents required to be filed by Coors under applicable Securities Laws (collectively, the "Coors SEC Reports"). The Coors SEC Reports, at the time filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing), (i) complied in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable Securities Laws and (ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of Coors' Subsidiaries is required to file any reports or other documents with the SEC.

        (b)   The annual audited consolidated financial statements and the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) contained in the Coors SEC Reports (the "Coors Financial Statements") complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC, including but not limited to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with respect thereto as of their respective dates, and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP") applied on a basis consistent throughout the periods indicated and consistent with each other (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, do not contain footnotes as permitted by Form 10-Q under the 1934 Act) present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Coors and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, recurring year-end adjustments that are not expected to be material in amount and the absence of notes thereto) on a consolidated basis.

        (c)   The books and records of Coors and its Subsidiaries, in all material respects, (i) have been maintained in accordance with good business practices on a basis consistent with prior years, (ii) state in reasonable detail the material transactions and dispositions of the assets of Coors and its Subsidiaries and (iii) accurately and fairly reflect the basis for Coors Financial Statements. Coors has (i) designed and maintains disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to Coors and its Subsidiaries is made known to management of Coors by others within those entities, and (ii) designed and maintains a system of internal controls over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements, including that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (B) transactions are recorded as necessary (x) to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP and (y) to maintain accountability of the assets of Coors and its Subsidiaries. The management of Coors has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to Coors' auditors and the audit committee of Coors' board of directors (i) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect Coors' ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for Coors' auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Coors' internal controls. A summary of any such disclosure made by management to Coors' auditors and audit committee is set forth on Section 4.7(c) of the Coors Disclosure Schedule.

28




        4.8    No Undisclosed Liabilities.     Neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent, determined, determinable or otherwise) or obligations, in each case, of the type that would be required to be disclosed on a consolidated balance sheet of Coors (or the notes thereto) and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that could be reasonably expected to result in such a liability or obligation, except (i) liabilities or obligations fully reflected or reserved against in Coors' balance sheet as of December 28, 2003 (or the notes thereto), included in the Coors Financial Statements, (ii) liabilities or obligations disclosed in any Coors SEC Report filed after December 28, 2003, and prior to the date of this Agreement, (iii) liabilities incurred since December 28, 2003 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) obligations arising pursuant to the terms of the Contracts disclosed in Section 4.18 (or not required to be so disclosed) or (v) liabilities or obligations that have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.9    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.     Since December 28, 2003, the business of Coors and its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past practices and there has not been (i) any event, occurrence or development of a state of circumstances or facts which has had or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have any Material Adverse Effect on Coors, (ii) any material revaluation by Coors of any of its assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable or any material sale of assets of Coors other than in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) with respect to any material assets of Coors or its Subsidiaries, (iv) any material Contract cancelled, terminated, or materially adversely modified or (v) any event or action that if taken after the date hereof would be prohibited by Section 5.2 hereof.


        4.10    Absence of Litigation.     (a) There is no Action that has been commenced or, to the knowledge of Coors, threatened against or affecting, Coors or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, rights or assets before any Governmental Entity which, if determined adversely to Coors, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors; and (b) neither Coors nor any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective properties, rights or assets is subject to any outstanding Order that has had or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.11    Employee Plans.     

        (a)   With respect to the Coors Employee Plans, no event has occurred and, to the knowledge of Coors, there exists no condition or set of circumstances, in connection with which Coors or any of its Subsidiaries could be subject to any liability that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors under any applicable Law.

        (b)   Coors has made available to Molson prior to the date hereof current and complete summaries of the material terms of, or copies of, the Coors Employee Plans (and, if applicable, related trust agreements) and all amendments thereto. Coors has made available to Molson prior to the date hereof current and complete summaries of the material terms of, or copies of, all employment contracts, severance agreements, gross-ups and option agreements, if any, for the 10 most highly compensated officers of Coors.


        4.12    Labor Matters.     

        (a)   There are no Actions, labor disputes or grievances pending, or, to the knowledge of Coors, threatened or reasonably anticipated, relating to any Laws relating to employees (which, for the purposes of Section 4.12, includes employees, dependent and independent contractors of Coors and any of its Subsidiaries), including labor relations, health and safety, workers' compensation, discrimination, workplace safety and insurance, pay equity, employment standards and employment equity, including without limitation, charges of unfair labor practices, discrimination or human rights complaints or any

29


Actions relating to employees, which has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors. Neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practices within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act or any foreign equivalent and there are no outstanding Orders or pending settlements which place any obligation upon Coors or any of its Subsidiaries to do or refrain from doing any act, in each case which has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.

        (b)   Each of Coors and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable foreign, federal, provincial, state and local Laws, rules and regulations respecting employment, including employment standards, labor relations, health and safety, workers' compensation, human rights, pay equity, employment equity, workplace safety and insurance, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, in each case, with respect to employees, and has withheld, reported and remitted all amounts required by Law or by agreement to be withheld, reported and remitted with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to employees, except as has not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.13    Title to Property.     Coors and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of its respective Owned Real Property necessary to operate its business as currently operated. All Leased Real Property occupied by Coors and its Subsidiaries affords Coors and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, peaceful and undisturbed possession of the Leased Real Property, except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Coors.


        4.14    Insurance.     Coors maintains insurance policies covering the assets, business, equipment, properties, operations, employees, officers and directors of Coors and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Coors Insurance Policies") which are of the type and in amounts which it believes are reasonably appropriate to conduct its business. To Coors' knowledge, there is no material claim by Coors or any of its Subsidiaries pending under any of the material Coors Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds.


        4.15    Taxes.     

        (a)   Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

30



        (b)    Tax Status.     


        4.16    Environmental Matters.     Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect on Coors:

31



        4.17    Intellectual Property.     Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors, (i) Coors or one of its Subsidiaries is the owner or has the right to use all Intellectual Property and Proprietary Subject Matter used in the conduct of its business as it is currently conducted (such Intellectual Property which is owned or used by Coors or one of its Subsidiaries, the "Coors Intellectual Property" and such Proprietary Subject Matter, the "Coors-Used Proprietary Subject Matter"), free and clear of all Liens; (ii) there are no Orders, or pending, or to Coors' knowledge, threatened Actions, respecting the ownership, validity, enforceability or use of any Coors Intellectual Property or Coors-Used Proprietary Subject Matter, and to the knowledge of Coors, no facts or circumstances exist as a valid basis for same; (iii) the Coors Intellectual Property has not been, and Coors has no reason to expect it to become, abandoned, cancelled or invalidated; (iv) Coors and its Subsidiaries have taken all reasonable actions to protect the Coors Intellectual Property, including Intellectual Property that is confidential in nature; and (v) the conduct of the business of Coors and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted do not Infringe any Intellectual Property of any Person and, to the knowledge of Coors, no Person is currently Infringing Coors Intellectual Property.


        4.18    Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.     Except as limited by confidentiality obligations, Coors has provided to Molson prior to the date hereof an accurate and complete summary of the material terms of each material Contract to which Coors and each of its Subsidiaries is a party (each, a "Material Coors Contract"). Except for breaches, violations or defaults which have not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Coors, (i) each of the Material Coors Contracts is valid and in full force and effect and shall be in full force and effect after Closing, unamended (except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 5.2), and (ii) neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to Coors' knowledge any other party to a Material Coors Contracts, has violated any provision of, or committed or failed to perform any act which, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any such Material Coors Contracts, and neither Coors nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice that it has breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the material terms or conditions of any of the Material Coors Contracts. Neither Coors nor any Subsidiary of Coors is a party to, or otherwise a guarantor of or liable with respect to, any interest rate, currency or other swap or derivative transaction, other than any such transactions in the ordinary course of business.


        4.19    Brokers.     Coors and its Subsidiaries have not incurred, nor will they incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders fees or agent's commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or the Transaction Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, except Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.


        4.20    Opinion of Financial Advisor.     The board of directors of Coors has received from its financial advisor, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., an opinion, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to (i) the holders of the Coors Class A Common Stock and (ii) the holders of the Coors Common Stock.


        4.21    Vote Required.     The only votes of the holders of any class or series of Coors' capital stock or other securities of Coors necessary to approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are: (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Coors Class A Common Stock, voting as a separate class, in favor of the Coors Charter Amendment, (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Coors Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, in favor of the Coors Charter Amendment and (iii) the affirmative vote in favor of the Coors Share Issuance of a majority of the votes cast thereon by the holders of the outstanding shares of Coors Class A Common Stock (provided that the total votes cast on the Coors Share Issuance represent at least a majority of the Coors Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Coors Meeting) (such approvals, collectively, the "Coors Stockholder Approval").

32



        4.22    Callco and Exchangeco Status.     

        (a)   Other than in connection with the Arrangement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Coors, directly or indirectly, has no plan or intention to: (i) cause the liquidation of Exchangeco or Callco (for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise), (ii) cause the reorganization, merger or amalgamation of Exchangeco or Callco with any Person (provided that the foregoing shall not prevent transfers of assets to and from Exchangeco), (iii) cause the sale, distribution or other disposition of the stock of Exchangeco or Callco by the owner thereof (other than a transfer to one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Coors), or (iv) cause Exchangeco to issue any shares of voting stock of Exchangeco.

        (b)   At the Effective Time, except as contemplated by the Arrangement, Coors or one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Coors will own all of the outstanding capital stock of Exchangeco other than the Exchangeable Shares and Class C Preferred Shares to be issued in the Arrangement or in connection with the Arrangement, and Exchangeco will be a "taxable Canadian corporation" within the meaning of the ITA.

        (c)   Except for obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with its incorporation or organization and the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Plan of Arrangement, Callco has not and will not have incurred, directly or indirectly, any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business or activities or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any Person. At no time prior to the Effective Time will Callco own any material assets other than an amount of cash necessary to incorporate Callco and to pay the expenses of the transactions contemplated hereby attributable to Callco if the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.


        4.23    Exchangeable Shares.     The Exchangeable Shares and the Exchangeco Public Preference Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement will be duly and validly issued by Exchangeco and fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Class A Exchangeable Shares shall be substantially as set out in Appendix I of the Plan of Arrangement. The rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Class B Exchangeable Shares shall be substantially as set out in Appendix I of the Plan of Arrangement. A term sheet describing certain terms of the Exchangeco Public Preference Shares shall be set out in Appendix II of the Plan of Arrangement.


        4.24    Coors Common Stock.     The Coors Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement or upon the exchange from time to time of the Exchangeable Shares or upon the exercise from time to time of the Replacement Options will, in all cases, be duly and validly issued by Coors, fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, encumbrances, charges and liens on their respective dates of issue.


        4.25    State Antitakeover Laws.     Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is not applicable to Coors.


        4.26    No Other Representations and Warranties.     Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, neither Coors nor its Subsidiaries nor any other Person or its Subsidiaries makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, on behalf of Coors and its Subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.


ARTICLE V

CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

        5.1    Conduct of Business by Molson.     During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as otherwise expressly contemplated or permitted in this Agreement and except to the extent Coors shall otherwise give its prior written consent, each of Molson and its Subsidiaries shall: (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice and in compliance

33


in all material respects with applicable Laws; (ii) pay or perform its material obligations when due; and (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practices to: (A) preserve intact its present business organization, (B) keep available the services of its present officers and employees, (C) preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and others with which it has significant business dealings, and (D) preserve in all material respects the Molson Intellectual Property. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as provided in Section 5.1 of the Molson Disclosure Schedule or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement, without the prior written consent of Coors, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Molson shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, do any of the following:

34



        5.2    Conduct of Business by Coors.     During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as otherwise expressly contemplated or permitted in this Agreement and except to the extent Molson shall otherwise give its prior written consent, each of Coors and its Subsidiaries shall: (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice and in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws; (ii) pay or perform its material obligations when due; and (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practices to: (A) preserve intact its present business organization, (B) keep available the services of its present officers and employees, (C) preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and others with which it has significant business dealings, and (D) preserve in all material respects the Coors Intellectual Property. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as provided in Section 5.2 of the Coors Disclosure Schedule or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement, without the prior written consent of Molson, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Coors shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, do any of the following:

35


36



ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

        6.1    Confidentiality; Access to Information and Certain Tax Matters.     


        (a)    Confidentiality.     The parties acknowledge that Molson and Coors have previously executed a Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2004 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), which Confidentiality Agreement will continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.


        (b)    Access to Information.     Each of Coors and Molson will (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to) afford the other party and its accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, to its properties, books, records, Contracts and personnel during the period prior to the Effective Time to obtain all information concerning its business, properties, results of operations and personnel, as may be reasonably requested. No information or knowledge obtained by any party in any investigation pursuant to this Section 6.1(b) will affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained herein or the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Arrangement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may restrict the foregoing access to the extent that any Law (including Laws relating to the exchange of information and all applicable antitrust, competition and similar Laws, and attorney-client and other privileges) applicable to such party requires such party or its Subsidiaries to restrict or prohibit such access. The parties will hold any information obtained pursuant to this Section 6.1(b) in confidence in accordance with, and otherwise subject to, the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.


        (c)    Post-Effective Time Covenants.     Following the Effective Time and while any Exchangeable Shares (other than any Exchangeable Shares owned by Coors or any of its Affiliates) are outstanding, (a) Coors will use its best efforts to ensure that Exchangeco (or any successor thereto as the issuer of the Exchangeable Shares) will continue to be a "taxable Canadian corporation" and a "public corporation" within the meaning of the ITA (as of the Effective Time and any modifications of such definitions which are consistent with the general principle thereof), and (b) Coors will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Exchangeable Shares are listed on a "prescribed stock exchange in Canada" within the meaning of the ITA (as of the Effective Time and any modifications of such definition which are consistent with the general principle thereof). This covenant shall survive the Effective Time.


        (d)    Tax-Deferred Transaction.     None of Coors, Callco or Exchangeco shall take any action which could reasonably be expected to prevent the exchange of Molson Common Shares for consideration that includes Exchangeable Shares under the Arrangement by the validly-electing Canadian resident holders of Molson Common Shares who make and file a valid tax election under subsection 85(1) or (2) of the ITA as described and on the terms set forth in the Plan of Arrangement from being treated as a tax deferred transaction for purposes of the ITA if such holders are otherwise eligible for such treatment.


        (e)    Substantial Presence.     As long as there are any Exchangeable Shares outstanding (other than Exchangeable Shares held by Coors or any of its Affiliates), and if required to cause Exchangeable Shares not to be "foreign property" within the meaning of subsection 206(1) of the ITA (as of the Effective Time and any modifications of such definition which are consistent with the general principle thereof), Coors shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Exchangeco to maintain a substantial presence in Canada for purposes of subsection 206(1.1) of the ITA (as of the Effective Time and any modifications of such concept which are consistent with the general principle thereof). This covenant shall survive the Effective Time.


        (f)    Safe Income.     (i) Molson Shareholders will be permitted to effect a "safe income tuck-in" transaction (a "Safe-Income Transaction") in accordance with applicable Laws to be effective shortly

37


prior to the date on which the Effective Time occurs, on the terms and subject to the conditions described in the holding company participation agreement attached as Exhibit F hereto.


        (g)    Tax Status.     

38



        (h)    Withholding Taxes.     Exchangeco covenants that it will pay additional amounts with respect to any dividends paid to a Canadian resident holder of Exchangeable Shares in the event that any withholding taxes other than Canadian Federal or Provincial taxes withheld at source ("non-Canadian withholding taxes") are imposed, directly or indirectly, in respect of such dividends. Such additional amounts shall be determined such that, on an after-tax basis, the Canadian resident holder has received the same amount that it would have received if no non-Canadian withholding taxes had been imposed, taking into account any increased (x) gross income tax imposed directly on such holder by the jurisdiction imposing such non-Canadian withholding taxes, (y) non-Canadian withholding tax and (z) Canadian income tax, in each case, in respect of such additional amounts after any reductions of income, credits or deductions available to such holder arising as a result of such non-Canadian withholding taxes or any payments made under this Section 6.1(h) (and only to the extent a net increase in tax is reasonably demonstrated by such holder). If gross income tax in the jurisdiction imposing such non-Canadian withholding taxes is paid directly by a Canadian resident holder of Exchangeable Shares with respect to dividends on such Exchangeable Shares or any payments made under this Section 6.1(h), Exchangeco shall make a tax reimbursement payment to the Canadian resident holder of the Exchangeable Shares for any such taxes (whether such taxes are actually withheld, paid by reason of notice received from a taxing authority or otherwise) not covered by additional amounts described above (and computed by treating the tax reimbursement payment for purposes of this section as an additional amount to which this section applies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, such additional amounts and tax reimbursement payments will not apply to the extent non-Canadian withholding taxes are imposed at a rate in excess of the withholding tax rate applicable to payments of dividends to individuals under the income tax treaty between the United States and Canada, or any successor treaty. Without limiting a Canadian resident holder's obligation to reasonably demonstrate a net increase in taxes imposed as described above, nothing contained herein shall require any Canadian resident holder of the Exchangeable Shares to disclose any confidential or propriety information (including, without limitation, its tax return). In no event shall anything in this Section 6.1(h) require any Canadian resident holder of the Exchangeable Shares to arrange its tax affairs in any particular manner. This covenant shall survive the Effective Time.


        (i)    Issuer Tax.     Exchangeco shall elect under section 191.2 of the ITA in respect of the Exchangeable Shares. This covenant shall survive the Effective Time.


        (j)    Actions Affecting Exchangeable Shares.     So long as any outstanding Exchangeable Shares are owned by any Person other than Coors or any of its Affiliates, Coors shall not, and agrees to cause its Affiliates to not, take any action relating to a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, merger, consolidation, continuation, change of residence, amalgamation, restructuring, recapitalization or other material reorganization of Exchangeco or its successors or Callco or its successors, as the case may be, that results, prior to a Redemption Date, in (i) the recognition under the ITA (or the provincial equivalent) of any accrued gain on a holder's Exchangeable Shares, recognition of which was deferred on the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Combination Agreement, (ii) dividends on the Exchangeable Shares being ineligible for the dividend gross-up and tax credit under the ITA (or the provincial equivalent) for individuals resident in Canada

39


for purposes of the ITA and the inter-corporate dividend deduction under the ITA (or the provincial equivalent) for corporations resident in Canada for purposes of the ITA, or (iii) dividends on the Exchangeable Shares being subject to withholding tax (other than withholding tax imposed under the laws of Canada or the United States or a state, province, territory or other political subdivision thereof). This covenant shall survive the Effective Time. References in this clause to the ITA shall be to the ITA as of the Effective Time and any modifications thereof which are consistent with the general principle thereof.


        6.2    No Solicitation.     

        (a)   Each of Molson and Coors agrees that it shall not, and it shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of the officers or directors of it or its Subsidiaries to, and that it shall direct and cause its and its Subsidiaries' employees, agents and representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, encourage or otherwise knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making by any third party (other than the other party hereto and/or its Subsidiaries) of any proposal or offer with respect to a purchase, merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, business combination, liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or similar transaction involving any material portion of the consolidated assets of Molson or Coors or any shares of any class of equity securities of Molson or Coors (any such proposal or offer being hereinafter referred to as an "Acquisition Proposal"). Each of Molson and Coors further agrees that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of the officers and directors of it or its Subsidiaries shall, and that it shall direct and cause its and its Subsidiaries' employees, agents and representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, (i) engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have any discussions with, any Person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise knowingly facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) execute or enter into, or publicly propose to accept or enter into an agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, including a letter of intent, agreement in principle, option agreement, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other agreement in furtherance of an Acquisition Proposal.

        (b)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.2(a), nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent Molson or Coors, or their respective boards of directors, from (A) complying with Rule 14a-9 or Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal and, in the case of Molson and its board of directors, from complying with Section 99 of the Securities Act (Ontario) and similar provisions of the Securities Laws of each of the other provinces and territories of Canada (it being understood that any such communication constituting a Change in Recommendation shall be made in compliance with Section 2.5) or from calling and holding a meeting of the holders of Molson Common Shares and Molson Options requisitioned by such shareholders pursuant to Section 143 of the CBCA; (B) providing information in response to a request therefor by a Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal if the board of directors of Molson or Coors, as the case may be, receives from the Person so requesting such information an executed confidentiality agreement on terms no less favorable in the aggregate to the disclosing party than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (or to the extent any such terms are less favorable to the disclosing party, the Confidentiality Agreement shall thereupon be deemed waived to the extent necessary to give the other party to the Agreement the benefit of such less favorable terms); (C) effecting a Change in Recommendation in respect of an Acquisition Proposal; (D) engaging in any negotiations or discussions with any Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal or (E) (i) in the case of Molson, concurrently with the termination of this Agreement by Molson pursuant to Section 8.1(j) and following payment by Molson of the Termination Fee to Coors pursuant to Section 8.3(b)(iv), entering into an agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or

40



any agreement referred to in clause (iii) of Section 6.2(a) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or (ii) in the case of Coors, concurrently with the termination of this Agreement by Coors pursuant to Section 8.1(k) and following payment by Coors of the Termination Fee to Molson pursuant to Section 8.3(c)(iv), entering into any agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or any agreement referred to in clause (iii) of Section 6.2(a) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, if and only to the extent that:

        (c)   Each of Molson and Coors shall notify Coors, in the case of Molson, and Molson, in the case of Coors, promptly (but in any event within 24 hours) if any such inquiries, proposals or offers are received by, any such information is requested from, or any such discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated or continued with, any of its representatives, indicating, in connection with such notice, the name of such Person and the material terms and conditions of any proposals or offers and providing, within one business day of receipt thereof, a copy of all documentation setting forth the

41


terms of any such inquiry, proposal or offer, and thereafter shall keep Coors, in the case of Molson, and Molson, in the case of Coors, informed, on a current basis, of the status and terms of any such proposals or offers and the status of any such discussions or negotiations (including by delivering any further documentation of the type referred to above).

        (d)   Each of Molson and Coors shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal. Each of Coors and Molson shall promptly request each Person that has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of acquiring it or any of its Subsidiaries to return or destroy all confidential information heretofore furnished to such Person by or on behalf of it or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither Coors nor Molson shall terminate, amend, modify or waive any provision of any confidentiality or standstill or similar agreement to which Molson, Coors or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party.

        (e)   Each of Molson and Coors shall take the necessary steps to promptly inform the individuals or entities referred to in the first sentence hereof of the obligations undertaken in this Section 6.2.


        6.3    Public Announcements.     Coors and Molson shall use reasonable best efforts (i) to develop a joint communications plan, (ii) to ensure that all press releases and other public statements with respect to this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be consistent with such joint communications plan, and (iii) except in respect of any announcement required by applicable Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any securities exchange, to consult with each other before issuing any press release or, to the extent practical, otherwise making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Except in respect of any announcement required by applicable Law, no party shall issue any press release or otherwise make any public statement or disclosure concerning the other party or the other party's business, financial condition or results of operations without the consent of such other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.


        6.4    Reasonable Best Efforts; Notification.     

        (a)   Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of Coors and Molson agrees to 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 in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Arrangement and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

        (b)   Each of Coors and Molson shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries to perform all obligations required or desirable to be performed by it or any of its Subsidiaries under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, cooperate with the other party in connection therewith, and do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate and make effective, as soon as reasonably practicable, the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party shall and where appropriate shall cause its Subsidiaries to:

42


        (c)   Molson shall provide Coors with a copy of any purported exercise of the Dissent Rights and written communications with such Molson Shareholder purportedly exercising the Dissent Rights; and not settle or compromise any Action brought by any present, former or purported holder of any of its securities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Arrangement.


        6.5    Molson Affiliates.     At least 10 days prior to the Molson Meeting, Molson shall provide to Coors a list of those persons who may be deemed to be, in Molson's reasonable judgment, affiliates of Molson within the meaning of Rule 145 promulgated under the 1933 Act (each, a "Molson Affiliate").


        6.6    Regulatory Filings.     Without limiting the generality of Section 6.4, as soon as may be reasonably practicable, Molson and Coors each shall (i) file with the United States Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") Notification and Report Forms relating to the transactions contemplated herein as required by the HSR Act, (ii) file with the Commissioner a pre-merger notification as required by Part IX of the Competition Act and/or request an ARC, and (iii) file comparable merger notification forms required by the merger notification or control Laws of any other applicable jurisdiction, which Coors and Molson reasonably determine to be necessary. Molson and Coors each shall promptly (a) supply the other with any information which may be required in order to effectuate such filings and (b) supply any additional information which reasonably may be required by the FTC, the DOJ, the Commissioner or the competition or merger control authorities of any other jurisdiction. As soon as reasonably practicable, Coors shall file with the Investment Review Division of Industry Canada ("IRD"), an application for review and any supplemental information (other than privileged information) which may be required in connection therewith pursuant to the ICA, which filings will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the ICA. Molson will provide Coors with such information and documents as Coors reasonably requests for purposes of preparing the ICA analysis.

43



        6.7    Indemnification.     From and after the Effective Time, Coors will fulfill, and will cause Molson and/or its successors to fulfill and honor in all respects its obligations pursuant to any indemnification agreements between Molson and its directors and officers (the "Indemnified Parties") in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and any indemnification provisions under the Molson Charter Documents as in effect on the date hereof (and shall also pay expenses in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, upon receipt from the Indemnified Party to whom expenses are advanced of the undertaking to repay such advances if indemnification is subsequently found by a court of competent jurisdiction, which finding is no longer subject to appeal or further proceedings, that such person is not entitled to indemnification). Coors shall cause Molson and/or its successors to not amend, repeal or otherwise modify the provisions with respect to exculpation and indemnification contained in the Molson Charter Documents as in effect on the date hereof for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, immediately prior to the Effective Time, were directors or officers of Molson, unless such modification is required by Law. For a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, Coors will, or will cause Molson and/or its successors to, maintain in effect, if available, directors' and officers' liability insurance covering those persons who are currently covered by Molson's directors' and officers' liability insurance policy with respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or before the Effective Time on terms comparable to those applicable to the current directors and officers of Molson. This Section 6.7 is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties referred to herein, their heirs and personal representatives.


        6.8    Takeover Statutes.     If any "fair price," "moratorium," "control share acquisition" or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation (each a "Takeover Statute") is or may become applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Arrangement, each of Coors, Molson and their respective Boards of Directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that such transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and the Arrangement and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on such transactions.


        6.9    Section 16(b).     The board of directors of Molson and Coors shall, prior to the Effective Time, take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(e) under the 1934 Act to exempt (i) the exchange of Molson Common Shares for Coors Common Stock, (ii) the conversion or exchange of Molson Options into or for Replacement Options and (iii) the acquisition of shares of Coors Common Stock and options to purchase Coors Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Agreement by officers or directors of Molson who may become an officer or director of Coors subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act.


        6.10    Headquarters.     From the Effective Time and until otherwise determined by the board of directors of Coors in accordance with Coors' Bylaws, Coors shall maintain dual headquarters in Denver, Colorado and Montreal, Canada, and will maintain its North American operating units headquarters in Toronto, Ontario and Golden, Colorado.


        6.11    Amendments to Governing Documents of Coors.     Subject to the receipt of the Coors Stockholder Approval (in the case of clause (i)), Coors shall take all actions necessary (i) to cause the certificate of incorporation of Coors at the Effective Time to be in the form of Exhibit G hereto, including changing the name of Coors to "Molson Coors Brewing Company", and (ii) to cause the Bylaws of Coors at the Effective Time to be in the form of Exhibit H hereto.

44



        6.12    Board Composition; Committees.     

        (a)   Coors shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the full board of directors of Coors, effective immediately following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement, to consist of the 15 individuals named on Exhibit I hereto. Following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement, the directors of Coors shall be nominated and elected in accordance with, and shall have the qualifications set forth in, the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Coors, as amended pursuant to Section 6.11 (or as further amended thereafter in compliance with the terms thereof and applicable Law). Coors shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Nominating Committee of Coors to nominate the Vice-Chairman named in Exhibit I as a director at the annual meeting of Coors held in 2005.

        (b)   Coors shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Nominating Committee of Coors and each subcommittee thereof, effective immediately following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement, to consist of the Persons so designated on Exhibit I hereto.

        (c)   If, prior to the Effective Time, any Person named to serve on the board of directors of Coors pursuant to Section 6.12(a) becomes unable or unwilling to serve in such position, then, prior to the Effective Time, (i) if such Person is designated as a "Coors Director" on Exhibit I hereto, Coors shall designate his or her replacement, (ii) if such Person is designated as a "Molson Director", in Exhibit I hereto, Molson shall designate his or her replacement and (iii) if such Person is designated as an "Other Director" on Exhibit I hereto, the parties shall mutually agree on a replacement.

        (d)   Coors shall take all actions necessary to cause, effective immediately following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement and until thereafter changed in accordance with the Coors Charter Documents and applicable Law, the committees of the board of directors of Coors to consist of (i) the standing committees contemplated by the Coors Charter Documents as amended as set forth in Section 6.11, (ii) an Audit Committee, the membership of which shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the parties prior to the closing, (iii) a Human Resources and Compensation Committee, the membership of which shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the parties prior to closing, and (iv) such other committees, if any, as the parties shall have agreed prior to the Effective Time shall be constituted immediately following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement.

        (e)   Until the last day of the fiscal year in which the individual specified in Exhibit J ceases to serve as Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the board of directors of Coors shall be the individual specified as such or such other director of Coors as is appointed to serve as such by the board committee comprised of the members of the Class A-M Nominating Subcommittee of Coors. Thereafter, the Chairman of the board of directors of Coors will be appointed and removed by the board committees specified in Coors' Bylaws, as set forth in Section 4.6 thereof.


        6.13    Non-Executive Chairman; Chief Executive Officer.     The parties hereby agree that (i) Coors shall take all actions necessary to cause the current Chairman of Molson's board of directors to become the non-executive Chairman of the board of directors of Coors effective immediately following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement, (ii) the current Chief Executive Officer of Coors shall continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Coors immediately following the filing of the Articles of Arrangement, (iii) Coors shall take all action necessary to cause the current Chief Executive Officer of Molson to become the Vice Chairman, Synergies of Coors; (iv) Coors shall take all actions necessary to cause the Persons set forth on Exhibit J to be appointed to the offices set forth opposite their names on such Exhibit and (v) in each case, the foregoing persons shall continue to serve in the foregoing positions until otherwise provided in accordance with the Coors Charter Documents and applicable Laws.


        6.14    Indemnification of Holders of Exchangeable Shares.     

        Coors shall indemnify and hold holders of Exchangeable Shares harmless from and against any claims, demands, actions, causes of action, judgments, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses

45



(including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys' and experts' fees and disbursements) which are made against or incurred by such holders of Exchangeable Shares in their capacity as shareholders of Exchangeco primarily as a result of, arising out of or relating to the fact that Exchangeco has been or is an operating subsidiary of Coors rather than a special purpose vehicle.


        6.15    Pre-Arrangement Transactions.     Subject to Sections 6.1(c) through (f) and the conditions to closing, Molson and Coors shall each cooperate in good faith to plan and implement transactions that will be beneficial to Molson and Coors after the Effective Time.


        6.16    U.S. Tax Treatment.     Molson and Coors intend for the acquisition by Exchangeco of Molson Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement (i) to be treated as a taxable acquisition of the assets of Molson for U.S. federal income tax purposes (whether as a result of an election under section 338(g) of the Code with respect to the acquisition of Molson Common Shares or otherwise) and (ii) to result in amortization and depreciation deductions with respect to Molson's tangible and intangible assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Molson and Coors shall take reasonable steps to ensure such treatment, including, if necessary, amending the Plan of Arrangement. This Section 6.16 shall not affect the parties' obligations under Sections 6.1(c) through (j) and Article VII of this Agreement.


        6.17    Coors Common Stock.     Coors shall reserve from its authorized capital stock such number of shares of Coors Common Stock as may be required to be issued from time to time upon the exchange of the Exchangeable Shares or upon the exercise from time to time of the Replacement Options and such shares of Coors Common Stock shall be duly and validly issued by Coors, fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, encumbrances, charges and liens on their respective dates of issue.


        6.18    Section 3(a)(10) Exemption.     In the event that the exemption from registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the 1933 Act is not available for any reason to exempt the issuance of the Coors Common Stock, Exchangeable Shares and Exchangeco Public Preference Shares in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, then Coors shall take all necessary action to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (or on such other form that may be available to Coors) in order to register the Coors Common Stock, Exchangeable Shares and Exchangeco Public Preference Shares, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective at or prior to the Effective Time.


        6.19    Dividends.     Subject to the fiduciary duties of the Coors directors and applicable Law at the time of any declaration of dividends, Coors shall cause the quarterly dividend rate on the Coors Common Stock to be changed so that, from the period commencing with the Effective Time and until thereafter changed in accordance with the Coors Charter Documents and applicable Law, the quarterly dividend rate on the Coors Common Stock shall be equal to the quarterly dividend rate on the Molson Common Shares in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that such dividend rate shall be adjusted to reflect (i) the exchange rate between U.S. and Canadian dollars (as reported in "The Wall Street Journal" (Northeast edition) on the date hereof) and (ii) the Exchange Ratio.


        6.20    Canadian Voting Trust Agreements.     Upon the request of the Family Holders of Molson under the circumstances set forth in Section 3.3 of the Molson Voting Agreement, Coors and the Family Holders of Molson shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into voting trust agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Family Holders of Molson and Coors, acting reasonably, providing for the deposit of such shares into voting trusts in Canada providing for the same voting arrangements with respect to the Class A Common Stock owned by the Family Holders of Molson and preserving the fundamental elements of the Control Voting Trust Agreements in a manner so as not to constitute a disposition or deemed disposition by the Family Holders of Molson for the purposes of the ITA. In the event the parties so agree on the terms of such voting trust agreement, the Family Holders of Molson and Coors shall enter into such voting trust agreement in lieu of the Family

46


Holders of Molson depositing their shares of Class A Common Stock into the Class A Coors Voting Trust Agreement.


        6.21    Class C Preferred Shares.     Each of Coors and Molson shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the service provider referenced in Section 2.2(c) to make a representation to Exchangeco that such service provider is not entitled to, and shall not, receive pursuant to or in connection with the Arrangement, any stock of Exchangeco other than the Class C Preferred Shares to be acquired in exchange for services provided to Exchangeco, and that it shall not constructively own, pursuant to Section 318(a) of the Code (other than paragraph (4) thereof, relating to options) or the Treasury Regulations under section 1502 of the Code, any stock of Exchangeco to be issued to any Person pursuant to or in connection with the Arrangement, and shall not otherwise purchase (or agree to purchase) any stock of Exchangeco until at least 60 days after the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, each of Coors and Molson shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such service provider to enter into binding arrangements with an unrelated third party to sell at least twenty-five percent (25%) (but not more than seventy-five percent (75%)) of the Class C Preferred Shares.


        6.22    Solvency of Exchangeco.     Coors covenants and agrees in favor of Exchangeco that, prior to the Effective Time and thereafter for so long as any Exchangeable Shares are owned by any Person other than Coors or its Affiliates, Coors shall give due regard to taking such necessary action within its control (including taking into account the interests of the holders of Exchangeable Shares) to ensure that at all times during such period Exchangeco shall meet the solvency tests under the CBCA prescribed in respect of the declaration or payment of dividends and the redemption of its shares (provided Coors meets any such comparable tests at such time).


ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS

        7.1    Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Arrangement.     The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Arrangement and the other transactions contemplated herein shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

47



        7.2    Additional Conditions to Obligations of Molson.     The obligation of Molson to consummate and effect the Arrangement shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Molson:

48



        7.3    Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Coors.     The obligations of Coors to complete the Arrangement shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Coors:

49



ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

        8.1    Termination.     This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after the requisite approval of the shareholders of Molson or the stockholders of Coors:

50



        8.2    Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination.     Subject to Sections 8.1(j) and (k), any termination of this Agreement under Section 8.1 above will be effective immediately upon the delivery of written notice of the terminating party to the other party hereto. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect, except that (i) Section 6.1(a), Section 8.2, Section 8.3 and Article IX (General Provisions) shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for any intentional or willful breach of this Agreement. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the obligations of the parties contained in the Confidentiality Agreement, all of which obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with their terms.


        8.3    Fees and Expenses.     


        (a)    General.     Except as set forth in this Section 8.3, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses whether or not the Arrangement is consummated; provided, however, that Coors and Molson shall share equally all out-of-pocket expenses (other than the fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, investment bankers and other advisors) incurred in respect of the printing and filing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Circular and the filing or registration fees incurred in connection with Section 6.6.


        (b)    Molson Payments.     

51



        (c)    Coors Payments.     

52



        (d)    Defined Terms.     For purposes of Sections 8.3(b) and (c), the following term shall have the following meaning:


        8.4    Amendment.     Subject to applicable Law and the Interim Order, this Agreement may be amended, not later than the Effective Time, whether before or after the Molson Shareholder Approval and the Coors Stockholder Approval have been obtained, by action taken or authorized by the respective boards of directors of the parties (or, to the extent permitted by Laws, any duly empowered committee thereof) at any time by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of Coors and Molson; provided that after the Coors Stockholder Approval or Molson Shareholder Approval is obtained, no such amendment which requires further approval by the stockholders of Coors or the shareholders of Molson, as the case may be, shall be effected without such further approval.


        8.5    Extension; Waiver.     At any time prior to the Effective Time, any party hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party, shall be limited to its terms and shall not be deemed to extend or waive any other provision of this Agreement. Delay in exercising any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.

53



ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

        9.1    Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties.     The representations and warranties of Molson and Coors contained in this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time, and only the covenants and agreements that by their terms survive the Effective Time (which shall include Sections 6.1(c), (e), (g), (h), (i) and (j), 6.7, 6.10, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.17, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21 and 6.22) shall survive the Effective Time.


        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 Coors, to:

 

 

Adolph Coors Company
311 10th Street
Golden, CO 80401
Attention: Robert Reese
Telecopy No.: (303) 277-7407

 

 

with copies to:

 

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Ave.
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Charles I. Cogut, Esq.
                     Maripat Alpuche, Esq.
  Telecopy No.: (212) 455-2502

 

 

and

 

 

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
P.O. Box 50
1 First Canadian Place
Suite 6600
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5X 1B8
Attention: Clay Horner, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (416) 862-6666

(b)

 

if to Molson, to:

 

 

Molson Inc.
1555 Notre Dame Street East
4th Floor
Montreal, Quebec H2L 2R5
Attention: Marie Giguére
Telecopy No.: (514) 590-6332
   

54



 

 

with copies to:

 

 

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Attention: Howard Chatzinoff, Esq.
                     Jeffrey Nadler, Esq.
  Telecopy No.: (212) 310-8007

 

 

and

 

 

McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Le Windsor
1170 Peel Street
Montreal, Quebec H3B 4S8
Attention: Garth M. Girvan, Esq.
                     Lorna J. Telfer, Esq.
  Telecopy No.: (416) 868-0673 and (514) 397-4170


        9.3    Counterparts.     This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, which may be delivered by facsimile transmission, 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.


        9.4    Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries.     This Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements among the parties hereto as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the Molson Disclosure Schedule and the Coors Disclosure Schedule, (a) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior representations, agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and neither party is relying on any prior oral or written representations, agreements, understandings or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof, it being understood that the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and shall survive any termination of this Agreement; and (b) are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder except as specifically provided in Section 6.7.


        9.5    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.


        9.6    Other Remedies; Specific Performance.     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. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to seek 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, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

55



        9.7    Governing Law.     This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with, and any disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent mandatorily governed by the laws of Canada or the laws of the province of Quebec or the State of Delaware, as applicable. Except with respect to the Interim Order or Final Order or any other matter relating thereto over which the Court has jurisdiction, the parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any Action for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such Action may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such Actions shall be heard and determined in such New York court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such Action in the manner provided in Section 9.2 or in such other manner as may be permitted by Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.


        9.8    No Personal Liability.     


        9.9    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.


        9.10    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.     EACH OF COORS AND MOLSON HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF COORS OR MOLSON IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.


        9.11    Currency.     Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all sums of money referred to in this Agreement are expressed in U.S. Dollars.

* * * * *

56


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

  ADOLPH COORS COMPANY

 

 

By:

/s/  W. LEO KIELY      
  Name:  W. Leo Kiely
  Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

COORS CANADA INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  ROBERT E. REESE      
  Name:  Robert E. Reese
  Title:    Authorized Signatory

 

 

MOLSON INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  ERIC H. MOLSON      
  Name:  Eric H. Molson
  Title:    Chairman of the Board

[ Exhibits ]


ClubJuris.Com