Earnout Payments Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including this Section 1.04 and Article VII, Buyer shall make additional payments to the Management Shareholders (the “Earnout Payments”), as follows and such Earnout Payments shall form part of the consideration for the Shares and transactions contemplated hereby:
(a) The amount of the Earnout Payments shall be determined based on the Earnings Before Taxes of the Company on a consolidated basis and calculated in accordance with Schedule 1.04(a) (“Adjusted EBT”) for each of the calendar years ended December 31, 2007, December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009 (each a “Measurement Period”). The aggregate Earnout Payment paid by Buyer for each Measurement Period shall be equal to the difference between (i) the product of (A) 3.6 times Adjusted EBT during the applicable Measurement Period, multiplied by (B) 0.95, and (ii) the sum of (X) the aggregate Purchase Price (including prior Earnout Payments) paid to all Sellers as of the date of such calculation and (Y) the aggregate amount that the Buyer is entitled to for indemnification claims under Article VII and for any working capital deficiency under Section 1.06. Prior to payment of any Earnout Payment to the Management Shareholders, any fee due to Xxxxxxxx Inc. as a result of the Earnout Payment shall be paid by Buyer and the remaining amount of the Earnout Payment after deduction of any such fee shall be paid to the Management Shareholders. Each Earnout Payment shall be divided among the Management Shareholders in accordance with the allocation set forth on Schedule 1.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total Purchase Price paid to Sellers pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed £120,000,000 and no Earnout Payments shall be paid to the Management Shareholders to the extent such threshold is met.
(b) The calculation and payment of an Earnout Payment will be made within thirty (30) days following completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable Measurement Period and shall be paid, subject to any adjustments as set forth herein, in Section 1.06 or Article VII, by delivery of a Promissory Note for the amount thereof to the Management Representative, on behalf of the Management Shareholders.
Net Payments (a) Except as provided for in Section 3.03(b), all payments made by the Borrower hereunder, under any Note or any other Loan Document, including all payments made by the Borrower pursuant to its guaranty obligations under Section 2.15, will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to such payments (but excluding, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment made by the Borrower hereunder, (i) any tax imposed on or measured by the net income or net profits of such Person and franchise taxes imposed on it pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Lender is organized or the jurisdiction in which the principal office or Applicable Lending Office of such Lender, as applicable, is located or in which it is otherwise doing business or any subdivision thereof or therein, and (ii) any branch profits or similar taxes imposed by any jurisdiction in which such Person is located) and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect to such non-excluded taxes, levies imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges other than those resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment made by the Borrower hereunder (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges being referred to collectively as “Taxes”). If any Taxes are so levied or imposed, the Borrower agrees to pay the full amount of such Taxes and such additional amounts (including additional amounts to compensate for withholding on amounts paid pursuant to this Section 3.03) as may be necessary so that every payment by it of all amounts due hereunder, under any Note or under any other Loan Document, after withholding or deduction of any Taxes will not be less than the amount provided for herein or in such Note or in such other Loan Document. The Borrower will indemnify and hold harmless any Lender, and reimburse such Lender upon its written request, for the amount of any Taxes imposed on and paid by such Lender. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent within 45 days after the date the payment of any Taxes, or any withholding or deduction on account thereof, is due pursuant to applicable law certified copies of tax receipts, or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the respective Lender, evidencing such payment by the Borrower.
(b) Each Lender that is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for federal income tax purposes and that is entitled to claim an exemption from or reduction in United States withholding tax with respect to a payment by Borrower agrees to provide to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date, or in the case of a Lender that is an assignee or transferee of an interest under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.06 (unless the respective Lender was already a Lender hereunder immediately prior to such assignment or transfer and such Lender is in compliance with the provisions of this Section), on or prior to the date of such assignment or transfer to such Lender, and from time to time thereafter if required by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8EXP or W-8IMY (or successor, substitute or other appropriate forms and, in the case of Form W-8IMY, complete with accompanying Forms W-8BEN with respect to beneficial owners of the payment) certifying to such Lender’s entitlement to exemption from or a reduced rate of withholding of United States withholding tax with respect to payments to be made under this Agreement, any Note or any other Loan Document, along with any other appropriate documentation establishing such exemption or reduction (such as statements certifying qualification for exemption with respect to portfolio interest). In addition, each Lender agrees that from time to time after the Closing Date, when a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders the previous certification obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, it will deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two new accurate and complete original signed copies of the applicable Internal Revenue Service form establishing such exemption or reduction (such as statements certifying qualification for exemption with respect to portfolio interest) and any related documentation as may be required to confirm or establish the entitlement of such Lender to a continued exemption from or reduction in United States withholding tax if the Lender continues to be so entitled. No Lender shall be required by this Section 3.03(b) to deliver a form or certificate that it is not legally entitled to deliver. The Borrower shall not be obligated pursuant to Section 3.03(a) to pay additional amounts on account of or indemnify with respect to Taxes to the extent that such Taxes arise solely due to a Lender’s failure to deliver forms that it was legally entitled to but failed to deliver under this Section 3.03(b). The Borrower agrees to pay additional amounts and indemnify each Lender in the manner set forth in Section 3.03(a) in respect of any Taxes deducted or withheld by it as a result of any changes after the date such Lender becomes party to this Agreement in any applicable law, treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order, or in the interpretation thereof, relating to the deducting or withholding of income or similar Taxes.
(c) Each Lender or Administrative Agent that is a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for federal income tax purposes shall deliver at the time(s) and in the manner(s) prescribed by applicable law, to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (as applicable), a properly completed and duly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or any successor form, certifying that such Person is exempt from United States backup withholding tax on payments made hereunder. The Borrower shall not be obligated pursuant to Section 3.03(a) to pay additional amounts on account of or indemnify with respect to Taxes to the extent that such Taxes arise solely due to a Person’s failure to deliver forms that it was legally entitled to but failed to deliver under this Section 3.03(c).
(d) If any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, determines that it has finally and irrevocably received or been granted a refund in respect of any Taxes as to which indemnification has been paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.03, it shall promptly remit such refund (including any interest received in respect thereof), net of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses to the Borrower; provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to promptly return any such refund (plus interest) to such Lender in the event such Lender is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. Any such Lender shall provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment from the relevant taxing authority (redacting any unrelated confidential information contained therein) requiring repayment of such refund. Nothing contained herein shall impose an obligation on any Lender to apply for any such refund.
Earn-Out Payments (i) Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the WME Member or the Company, as applicable, are the obligors in respect of a portion of the Earn-Out Payment. Subject to Section 7.03(g)(ii), the Earn-Out Payments may be funded in any of the following manners (or any combination thereof) as determined by unanimous Board approval (provided that if unanimous Board approval is not obtained, the WME Member or the Company, as applicable, shall nevertheless be permitted to comply with their respective obligations to the Earn-Out Recipients under the Purchase Agreement): (A) for so long as the January Capital Member is a Member, a special cash distribution by the Company to the January Capital Member in consideration of that portion of the Earn-Out Payment due to the January Capital Member, (B) a cash distribution to all Common Members on a pro rata basis to enable the Common Members (other than the Class B Members) to make Earn-Out Payments to the Earn-Out Recipients (provided that all such Common Members shall be required to make such Earn-Out Payment following receipt of such distribution), (C) a special cash distribution by the Company to the WME Member to fund Earn-Out Payments by the WME Member to the Earn-Out Recipients (provided that the WME Member shall be required to make such Earn-Out Payment following receipt of such distribution), and (D) funding by the WME Member (and to the extent agreed to by the Sponsor Members, the Sponsor Members) for Earn-Out Payments to the Earn-Out Recipients.
(ii) The Earn-Out Payments shall be subject to the following rules: (A) Earn-Out Payments to the January Capital Member will, to the extent permitted under the terms of any indebtedness and Senior Equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Annex A, and to the extent the WME Directors reasonably determine (after meaningful consultation with the full Board) that doing so would not have an adverse impact on the Company or its Subsidiaries, for so long as the January Capital Member is a Member, be distributed by the Company to the January Capital Member (subject, in each case, to clause (B) below) (provided that, for purposes of clarification, the January Capital Member shall not lose or waive its right to receive unpaid Earn-Out Payments solely because it ceases to be a Member; provided further that, if the Company is prohibited under the terms of any indebtedness or Senior Equity of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Annex A, or the Board otherwise determines that doing so would have an adverse impact on the Company or its Subsidiaries, and accordingly does not distribute Earn-Out Payments to the January Capital Member in accordance with this clause (A), then the January Capital Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to elect in writing to defer the payment of such Earn-Out Payment for a period of up to 24 months (the “Outside Earn-Out Payment Date”); provided further that the deferred Earn-Out Payment will be made to the January Capital Member on the earliest to occur of (A) the date on which the deferred Earn-Out Payment may be made by the Company in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this clause (A), (2) the date specified in writing by the January Capital Member (provided the January Capital Member provides written notice to the WME Member at least 60 days prior to the date on which the January Capital Member would like to receive the deferred Earn-Out Payment if such date is prior to the Outside Earn-Out Payment Date) and (3) the Outside Earn-Out Payment Date, (B) the Class B Members shall be grossed up so that they do not bear the effect of any Dilutive Adjustment (as defined below) or the Economic Cost of any Earn-Out Payments that are funded by distributions by the Company, (C) the Class B Members shall not bear any dilution arising from (x) the issuance of any Units that are issued in connection with the Earn-Out Payments or (y) any adjustment to the exercise price (a “Dilutive Adjustment”) of any securities or other interests convertible into Equity Securities of the Company resulting from any gross-up or true-up payment made in connection with, or that constitutes, any Earn-Out Payment, and (D) if any portion of the Earn-Out Payments are paid pursuant to clause (D) of Section 7.03(g)(i) by the WME Member and, if applicable, any Sponsor Members, the WME Member and such Sponsor Members (if any), will be issued Class A Common Units in respect of the amounts so paid thereby pursuant to such clause (D) at a price to be unanimously determined by the Board, which shall in no event be greater than Fair Market Value; provided, that if the Board does not unanimously agree on the price per Class A Common Unit, such Class A Common Units will be issued at Fair Market Value, as unanimously determined by the Board; provided, further, that if the Board does not unanimously agree on Fair Market Value, such value shall be determined by an investment banking firm of national reputation selected by the WME Member and reasonably acceptable to the SL Member, the KKR Member and the Company, whose expenses shall be borne by the Company.
(iii) Solely for purposes of this Section 7.03(g), “Economic Cost”, means, with respect to a Class B Member, such Member’s direct or indirect Percentage Interest of any Company cash or other Company asset that is distributed in a non-pro rata distribution to fund all or any portion of any Earn-Out Payment; provided, that, “Economic Cost” shall not include any diminution in value, lost profits or similar cost not relating to the immediate economic effect of the applicable non-pro-rata distribution.
FILOT PAYMENTS Pursuant to Section 12-44-50 of the FILOT Act, the Company and any Sponsor Affiliates, as applicable, are required to make payments in lieu of ad valorem taxes to the County with respect to the Economic Development Property. Inasmuch as the Company anticipates an initial investment of sums sufficient for the Project to qualify for a fee in lieu of tax arrangement under Section 12-44-50(A)(1) of the FILOT Act, the County and the Company have negotiated the amount of the FILOT Payments in accordance therewith. The Company and any Sponsor Affiliates, as applicable, shall make payments in lieu of ad valorem taxes on all Economic Development Property which comprises the Project and is placed in service, as follows: the Company and any Sponsor Affiliates, as applicable, shall make payments in lieu of ad valorem taxes during the Exemption Period with respect to the Economic Development Property or, if there are Phases of the Economic Development Property, with respect to each Phase of the Economic Development Property, said payments to be made annually and to be due and payable and subject to penalty assessments on the same dates and in the same manner as prescribed by the County for ad valorem taxes. The determination of the amount of such annual FILOT Payments shall be in accordance with the following procedure (subject, in any event, to the procedures required by the FILOT Act):
Earnout Payment (i) As promptly as practicable after the end of the Earnout Period, but in no event later than 60 days following December 31, 2005, Parent shall provide the Stockholders’ Agent with a report, setting forth the Net Revenues for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2005 (the “Earnout Report”). If an Earnout Dispute Notice is not delivered pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(iii) below, then in no event later than 105 days following December 31, 2005, Parent shall pay or cause to be paid the Earnout Payment Amount in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, subject to the right of offset provisions of Sections 2.4(a), (b) and (d).
(ii) Parent shall keep full, clear and accurate books and records with respect to the Business. The books and records shall be maintained in such a manner that Net Revenue shall be readily verifiable. All books and records with respect to the Business shall be available for inspection by the Stockholders’ Agent or any attorney or accountant engaged by the Stockholders’ Agent to act on behalf of the Holders, in all cases upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours. The information contained in the books and records of Parent with respect to the Business shall remain confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon written request of the Stockholders’ Agent, Parent shall provide the Stockholders’ Agent with a report reflecting the estimate of the Net Revenue to date (which estimate is subject to change in the preparation of the Earnout Report) as promptly as practicable thereafter; provided that the Stockholders’ Agent may only make such a request once every six months commencing on July 1, 2005. If the Stockholders’ Agent does not deliver to Parent an Earnout Dispute Notice (as defined below) as set forth in Section 2.4(c)(iii) below, then the Earnout Report for the Earnout Period shall be deemed final and binding and neither the Stockholders’ Agent nor the Holders shall have any further right to contest the report, the computation of Net Revenue or payment of the Earnout Payment Amount.
(iii) In the event that the Stockholders’ Agent shall dispute the information set forth by Parent in the Earnout Report or, if based on the Stockholders’ Agent’s review of the books and records of the Business in accordance with subsection (c)(ii) above, omitted from the Earnout Report, as the case may be, then, within 60 calendar days following the date of the delivery by Parent of such report, the Stockholders’ Agent shall provide written notice to Parent (the “Earnout Dispute Notice”) specifying the amount disputed and the basis for the dispute, together with supporting documentation reflecting the analysis of and justification for any recomputation made. Parent and the Stockholders’ Agent shall make good faith efforts to resolve the dispute through negotiations for a period of 30 calendar days following the receipt of the written notice defining and describing the nature of the dispute. In the event that the parties are unable to finally resolve the dispute within such 30 calendar-day period, the parties to the dispute may elect by mutual agreement to extend the period of negotiation and may elect by mutual agreement to engage a mediator to assist in such negotiation. To the extent that any matter remains unresolved following negotiations (as determined by notice by any party to the other parties), the Stockholders’ Agent and Parent shall jointly select an independent accountant of recognized national standing to resolve any remaining disagreements, which independent accountant shall not have provided services to the Stockholders’ Agent, the Company or Parent or its affiliates during the five-year period preceding the date of its selection (the “Independent Accountant”). The Stockholders’ Agent and Parent shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Independent Accountant to make its determination within 60 calendar days of accepting its selection. Within 10 business days after the date of determination of such Independent Accountant, Parent shall pay or cause to be paid to the Holders the Earnout Payment Amount, if any, in the manner set forth herein, subject to the right of offset provisions of Sections 2.4(a), (b) and (d). The decision of the Independent Accountant shall be a final, binding, and conclusive resolution of the parties’ dispute, shall be non-appealable, and shall not be subject to further review. Irrespective of the Independent Accountant’s decision, the costs and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be split equally between the parties. In the event that the Stockholders’ Agent does not pay the full amount of one-half of the Independent Accountant’s costs and expenses, Parent shall be entitled to deduct the difference between one-half of the costs and expenses of the Independent Accountant and the amount actually paid by the Stockholders’ Agent to the Independent Accountant from the Earnout Payment Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case, the parties shall be responsible for the payment of their respective costs and expenses, including any attorneys’ and accountants’ fees (other than any accountants’ fees payable to the Independent Accountant, which shall be split equally between the parties) incurred in connection with the dispute. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case, the parties shall be responsible for the payment of their respective costs and expenses, including any attorneys’ and accountants’ fees (other than any accountants’ fees payable to the Independent Accountant, which shall be split equally between the parties) incurred in connection with the dispute.
(iv) The Holders will be deemed to, as part of their approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein and herein, and the Stockholders’ Agent hereby, generally, irrevocably, unconditionally and completely agree that (1) the Company and Parent (as the controlling stockholder of the Company as of the Effective Time of the Merger) and each of their respective Affiliates shall be entitled to operate the Business after the Effective Time as they determine in their sole and absolute discretion, and shall have no obligation to operate the Business in any manner that would maximize, maintain or protect the value of the Common Stock CVRs and the Preferred Stock CVRs, and as a result of such operation of the Business, there may be a diminution in or elimination of the value of the CVRs, (2) the Common Stock CVRs and the Preferred Stock CVRs represent contractual obligations of Parent, and none of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates owes any fiduciary duty of any type (including, without limitation, any duty of loyalty or care) to any Holder of Common Stock CVRs and/or Preferred Stock CVRs, and (3) each of the Holders and the Stockholders’ Agent shall be prohibited from asserting any dispute, right, claim, action, cause of action, controversy or remedy of any kind and nature against any of the Company, Parent or any of their Affiliates resulting from the operation of the Business after the Effective Time or resulting from any allegation of breach of fiduciary duty of any nature, other than claims for fraud or intentional misconduct (and other than the right of the Stockholders’ Agent to dispute the Closing Balance Sheet Payment under Section 2.4(b)(iii) and/or the Earnout Report under Section 2.4(c)(iii) above). Upon either (A) the occurrence of an allegation by the Stockholders’ Agent of any claim which may arise for fraud or intentional misconduct under this subsection (iv) or (B) the receipt by the Stockholders’ Agent of written notice made in accordance with Section 1.3 by any Holder to the Stockholders’ Agent of the occurrence of any claim which such Holder has a good faith belief has arisen for fraud or intentional misconduct under this subsection (iv) (in each case, a “Claim”), the Stockholders’ Agent shall provide notice of such Claim to Parent, stating, to the best of his or her understanding, the circumstances giving rise to the Claim, specifying the amount of the Claim and making a request for any payment then believed due (the “Notice”). Upon receipt of any such Notice by Parent, within the next 45 days thereafter, the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cooperate and arrive at a mutually acceptable resolution of such dispute. If a mutually acceptable resolution cannot be reached between the parties within such 45-day period, the Stockholders’ Agent may submit the dispute for resolution by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the panels of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association in Santa Xxxxx County, California; provided, however, that (i) one arbitrator shall be selected by the Stockholders’ Agent, the second arbitrator shall be selected by Parent and the third arbitrator shall be selected by the two previously selected arbitrators and (ii) in all respects, such panel shall be governed by the American Arbitration Association’s then existing Commercial Arbitration Rules. If it is finally determined that all or a portion of such Claim amount is owed to the Holders, Parent shall, within 10 days of such determination, pay the Holders such amount owed, together with interest from the date that the Stockholders’ Agent initially requested such payment until the date of actual payment, at an annual rate equal to the prime interest rate then generally in effect on the date of payment as set forth in The Wall Street Journal. The arbitration panel’s decision shall be final and binding upon the parties, and may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by any party. The parties shall be responsible for their respective fees and costs (including any attorneys’ or accountants’ fees) incurred in connection with the arbitration. EACH HOLDER AND THE STOCKHOLDERS’ AGENT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE FOR FRAUD OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT UNDER THE PRECEDING SENTENCE IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO FRAUD OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT UNDER THE PRECEDING SENTENCE. EACH HOLDER AND THE STOCKHOLDERS’ AGENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE SUCH WAIVER, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, AND (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY.
(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 2.4(c), in the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) of Parent before December 31, 2005, the Aggregate Earnout Payment Amount payable pursuant to this Section 2.4(c) shall be at least $14,000,000 regardless of the actual Net Revenue recognized during the Earnout Period, subject, however, to the offset provisions of Section 2.4(a), (b) and (d). In event of a Change of Control of Parent as set forth herein, Parent shall make proper provisions so that the continuing or surviving corporation or entity shall assume the obligation to pay the Aggregate Earnout Payment Amount as set forth herein. For purposes of this Section 2.4(c)(v), a “Change of Control” shall mean (1) the consummation of any transaction, including without limitation, any merger or consolidation, pursuant to which any of the voting stock of Parent is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any transaction where the voting stock of Parent outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for voting stock of the surviving or transferee entity constituting more than 50% of such voting stock of such surviving or transferee entity (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) and other than an acquisition of Parent in which the management of Parent participates in ten percent or more of the fully-diluted equity of the acquiror; or (2) a sale of all or substantially all of Parent’s assets.
Earn-Out Payment (a) The Earn-Out Amount, if any, due to the Company shall be paid by Purchaser (or one of its Affiliates) by wire transfer of same-day funds to an account designated by the Company no later than two (2) months following the day of final determination of such Earn-Out Amount in accordance with Section 2.03(b) and Section 2.03(c) below.
(b) Within ninety (90) calendar days after the end of each Earn-Out Period, Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to the Company a reasonably detailed statement (each, an “Earn-Out Statement”) setting forth a calculation of the Earn-Out Amount for such period together with reasonable supporting information. The Company may dispute the calculation of such Earn-Out Amount by providing written notice (an “Earn-Out Dispute Notice”) to Purchaser within thirty (30) calendar days of Purchaser’s delivery of the Earn-Out Statement to the Company. If the Company does not provide an Earn-Out Dispute Notice, such Earn-Out Statement shall be deemed final upon the end of such thirty (30) calendar days of Purchaser’s delivery of the Earn-Out Statement to the Company. An Earn-Out Dispute Notice shall identify each disputed item, specify the amount of such dispute and set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such dispute. Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to, provide the Company and its Representatives with reasonable access, information and assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Company in connection with its review of an Earn-Out Statement. In the event of any such disputes, Purchaser and the Company shall attempt, in good faith, to reconcile their differences (including providing information that is reasonably requested to the other party), and any resolution by them as to any disputed items shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Parties and shall be evidenced by a writing signed by Purchaser and the Company reflecting such resolution. If Purchaser and the Company are able to reach a resolution, such Earn-Out Statement shall be deemed final. If Purchaser and the Company are unable to reach such resolution within thirty (30) calendar days after the Company’s delivery of an Earn-Out Dispute Notice to Purchaser, then Purchaser and the Company shall promptly submit any remaining disputed items for final binding resolution to the Designated Accounting Firm. If any remaining disputed items are submitted to the Designated Accounting Firm for resolution, (i) each Party will furnish to the Designated Accounting Firm such workpapers and other documents and information relating to the remaining disputed items as the Designated Accounting Firm may request and are available to such Party, and each Party will be afforded the opportunity to present to the Designated Accounting Firm any material relating to the disputed items and to discuss the resolution of the disputed items with the Designated Accounting Firm; (ii) each Party will use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cooperate with the resolution process so that the disputed items can be resolved within forty-five (45) calendar days of submission of the disputed items to the Designated Accounting Firm; (iii) the determination by the Designated Accounting Firm, as set forth in a written notice to Purchaser and the Company, shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Parties; and (iv) the fees and expenses of the Designated Accounting Firm shall be borne by the Company and Purchaser in inverse proportion as they may prevail on the matters resolved by the Designated Accounting Firm, which proportionate allocation shall be calculated on an aggregate basis based on the relative dollar values of the amounts in dispute and shall be determined by the Designated Accounting Firm at the time the determination is rendered on the merits of the matters submitted to the Designated Accounting Firm, and all other costs and expenses shall be paid by the respective Party incurring such expense. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize or permit the Designated Accounting Firm to resolve any item in dispute by making an adjustment to the Earn-Out Statement that is outside of the range for such item defined by the Earn-Out Statement and an Earn-Out Dispute Notice. In calculating the Earn-Out Amount, the Designated Accounting Firm shall be limited to addressing only those particular disputes referred to in an Earn-Out Dispute Notice.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, an Earn-Out Statement shall be deemed to be final, binding and conclusive on Purchaser and the Company upon the earliest of (i) the failure of the Company to deliver to Purchaser an Earn-Out Dispute Notice within thirty (30) calendar days of Purchaser’s delivery of such Earn-Out Statement to the Company; (ii) the resolution of all disputes by Purchaser and the Company, documented in a writing executed by the Parties; and (iii) the resolution of all disputes by the Designated Accounting Firm in accordance with Section 2.03(b).
(d) The Parties understand and agree that (i) any sale event (including stock purchase or all of substantially all of the respective stock, asset purchase or all of substantially all of the respective assets, merger, combination, exclusive license having the effect of a sale or other change of control, whether direct or indirect, whether by operation of law or otherwise) involving Purchaser or its Affiliates after the Closing shall (A) not relieve Purchaser of its obligations under this Section 2.03, and (B) require, as a condition precedent to such sale event, that the acquiror or surviving corporation, as the case may be, assume (whether expressly or by operation of law) this Agreement as part of the sale event and be liable for the payment of all amounts under this Section 2.03, and (ii) except as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to any applicable withholding Tax or as provided in Article VIII with respect to indemnification obligations of the Company and Parent, that the Earn-Out Amount payable hereunder shall be made without any deduction, abatement, set-off or counterclaim whatsoever.
(e) During an Earn-Out Period, Purchaser hereby covenants and agrees to, and to cause its Affiliates not to, act in bad faith with respect to attaining any Revenue for the purpose of reducing the Earn-Out Amount.
Bonus Payments No employee shall be required or requested to make any written or verbal agreement that will conflict with the terms of this Agreement. All employees must be paid weekly for all hours worked as provided in this Agreement. Any bonuses, commissions or other methods of payments over and above the requirements of this Agreement shall be in addition to the requirements of this Agreement and may not be used to offset such contractual requirements and shall not be subject to negotiations.
Settlement Payments A. Unless the Court orders otherwise, each Participating Class Member will receive an equal, pro-rata portion of the Net Settlement Amount. The “Net Settlement Amount” is the Settlement Amount (plus any accrued interest thereon) reduced by any sums awarded by the Court for attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, service payments, and all expenses of settlement administration (including expenses previously incurred and the Settlement Administrator’s good faith estimate of future expenses to be incurred). The pro-rata share of each Participating Class Member shall be computed by dividing the Net Settlement Amount by the number of Participating Class Members.
B. As soon as practicable after the Effective Date, the Settlement Administrator will transmit to each Participating Class Member that person’s settlement payment, which may be in the form of a check or an electronic payment such as Venmo, direct deposit/ACH, or PayPal. The settlement payment will be accompanied by a statement that the Participating Class Member should consult his or her tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the settlement payment. In the event any check is returned to the Settlement Administrator as undeliverable, or in the event any electronic payment is unable to be processed, the Settlement Administrator will attempt to contact the Participating Class Member by telephone or email or perform a skip trace to attempt to locate a current address or other relevant information necessary to re-issue payment. Any payment instrument not negotiated within ninety (90) days of its mailing or other transmission by the Settlement Administrator will be void. Any portion of the Settlement Amount, including accrued interest, that remains unpaid at the end of such ninety-day period will be paid to one or more cy pres recipients mutually proposed by the Parties and approved by the Court, unless the Court orders otherwise.
Quarterly Payments The quarterly payment cannot be increased in cases of target over-achievement. The payments are given on cumulative outputs, in arrears, and therefore the maximum payment available will be given by the end of the Contract if the agreed (target) number of outputs is reached or exceeded.
Contingent Payments (a) The Seller shall be eligible to earn an aggregate of up to an additional One Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,350,000) (a “Maximum Contingent Payment Amount”) in contingent payments pursuant to this Section 1.6.
(b) Within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar quarter (each, a “Measurement Period”) commencing with the calendar quarter in which the Closing Date occurs, Buyer, in good faith, shall calculate the Net Revenue for such Measurement Period and shall deliver to the Seller a certificate setting forth such calculation in reasonable detail, which calculation shall be final and binding on all parties unless the Seller objects to such calculation as set forth in Section 1.6(e) below. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.7, within ten (10) days following the final determination of the Net Revenue for such Measurement Period, Buyer shall pay (or, if deposited with SunTrust Bank, as the escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), cause the Escrow Agent to pay) to the Seller an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the Net Revenue for such Measurement Period (each, a “Contingent Payment”); provided, however, that the maximum aggregate payments to which the Seller shall be entitled hereunder shall not exceed the Maximum Contingent Payment Amount.
(c) If at any time prior to the one year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Contingent Payments paid to the Seller (whether such payments are placed in escrow as contemplated by this Agreement, paid to the Seller or offset pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1.5 and 8.7) total, in the aggregate, an amount equal to or greater than $1,100,000, then Buyer shall deposit, on behalf of the Seller, any remaining Contingent Payments up to the Maximum Contingent Payment Amount earned by the Seller on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date into escrow with the Escrow Agent to be held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of an escrow agreement to be entered into on the Closing Date (the “Escrow Agreement”). Any such amount (in addition to other remedies available to the Buyer Indemnified Persons as contemplated by this Agreement) placed in escrow with the Escrow Agent shall be available to satisfy claims by the Buyer’s Indemnified Persons for indemnification pursuant to Article VIII hereof. Promptly following the first year anniversary of the Closing Date, any Contingent Payments placed in escrow pursuant to this Section 1.6(c) shall be released to the Seller by the Escrow Agent, less any amounts used or which may be used, as the case may be, to satisfy any final or unresolved claims for indemnification by the Buyer’s Indemnified Persons pursuant to Article VIII hereof.
(d) Upon payment of the aggregate Contingent Payments in the amount of the Maximum Contingent Payment Amount (whether such payments are placed in escrow as contemplated by this Agreement, paid to the Seller or offset pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1.5 and 8.7), then, except with respect to the Seller’s right to any amounts placed in escrow pursuant to Section 1.6(c), the respective rights and obligations of the Seller and Buyer pursuant to this Section 1.6 shall terminate.
(e) With respect to Section 1.6(b), Buyer shall, upon the reasonable request of the Seller, provide the Seller with reasonable evidence substantiating such calculations; provided, however, that the Seller shall hold all such information in strict confidence and shall not use any such information for any purpose whatsoever other than to verify the calculation of Net Revenue.
(f) If the Seller objects to the calculation of the Net Revenue or any Contingent Payment, the Seller shall deliver to Buyer within thirty (30) days following Seller’s receipt of Buyer’s calculation of the Net Revenue a written notice setting forth in reasonable detail such objections (a “Net Revenue Objection Notice”), together with all supporting documentation. If the Seller delivers a Net Revenue Objection Notice to Buyer, Buyer shall pay to Seller the amount of the applicable Contingent Payment not in dispute, and shall deposit any amount in dispute into escrow with the Escrow Agent to be held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement, and Buyer and the Seller shall attempt in good faith to resolve the matters set forth in the Net Revenue Objection Notice within twenty (20) days after receipt of the same by Buyer. If the Parties are unable to do so, either Buyer or the Seller may refer all remaining disputes to the Dispute Accounting Firm which shall be instructed to resolve such disputes within thirty (30) days of the referral. Buyer and the Seller shall have the right to meet jointly with the Dispute Accounting Firm during this period and to present their respective positions. The resolution of disputes by the Dispute Accounting Firm will be set forth in writing and will be conclusive and binding upon the parties, upon the date of such resolution, absent manifest error. In making its determination, the Dispute Accounting Firm shall consider only those items that the Seller and Buyer are unable to resolve and the Dispute Accounting Firm shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the definition of Net Revenue and the terms of this Section 1.6. The Seller and Buyer will each pay their own fees and expenses (including any fees and expenses of their accountants and other representatives) in connection with the resolution of any dispute under this Section 1.6 (excluding the fees and expenses of the Dispute Accounting Firm). The fees and expenses of the Dispute Accounting Firm pursuant to this Section 1.6(f) shall be borne by Buyer and the Seller, in inverse proportion as they may prevail on matters resolved by the Dispute Accounting Firm, which proportionate allocations shall also be determined by the Dispute Accounting Firm at the time the determination of such firm is rendered on the merits of the matters submitted.
(g) For purposes hereof, the term “Net Revenue” shall mean the aggregate dollar amount of revenues (net of credits, discounts, refunds, rebates and returns) recognized by the Business, including revenues from title insurance and settlement services recognized by any Affiliate of HSCC, during a Measurement Period, calculated in accordance with GAAP and Buyer’s accounting principles.
