STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of April 1, 2009 by and among REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC., CHAMBERS DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC., ALLIED WASTE NORTH AMERICA, INC. and WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
Exhibit 2.5
dated
as of April 1, 2009
by
and among
REPUBLIC
SERVICES, INC.,
XXXXXXXX
DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.,
ALLIED
WASTE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
and
This
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is
executed and delivered effective as of April 1, 2009, by and among REPUBLIC
SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation (“RSG”), ALLIED WASTE
NORTH AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”), XXXXXXXX
DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”) (RSG,
Seller and the Company are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Seller Party” and
collectively as the “Seller Parties”), and
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
Buyer, RSG and certain affiliates of Buyer and RSG are parties to that certain
Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2009 (the
“Asset Purchase
Agreement”), which amends and restates that certain Asset Purchase
Agreement executed and delivered effective as of February 6, 2009, by and among
Buyer, RSG and the other signatories thereto (capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Asset
Purchase Agreement);
WHEREAS,
the Company owns and operates (i) the Anson County Landfill located at 000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Landfill”) and (ii)
the solid waste disposal business conducted at the Landfill (the “Business”);
and
WHEREAS,
Seller desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, all
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (the “Shares”), on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants in this
Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, received to the full
satisfaction of each of the parties, the parties agree as follows:
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES;
XXXXXXXX COMPANY ASSETS
1.1 Purchase and Sale of
Shares. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement, at the Closing, Buyer shall
purchase from Seller, and Seller shall sell and deliver to Buyer, all of the
Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances.
1.2 Xxxxxxxx Company
Assets. The Company’s right, title and interest that it
possesses in and to the following assets, as the same shall exist as of the
Closing Date, are referred to herein as the “Xxxxxxxx Company
Assets”:
(a) The real
property, improvements and fixtures owned by the Company, and the Company’s
leasehold interests in certain real property and improvements, in each case
which are listed on Schedule 1.2(a) (such
owned and leased assets of the Company are referred to as the “Owned Real Property”
and the “Leased Real
Property,” respectively, and collectively as the “Real
Property”);
(b) The
tangible personal property, including vehicles (“Rolling Stock”),
owned or leased by the Company as of the Closing that is listed on Schedule
1.2(b);
(c) Subject
to Section
1.7:
(i) all
Contracts and other rights to provide disposal services to the active customers
identified on Schedule
1.2(c)(i) at the Landfill (the accounts to service such customers at such
disposal facilities are collectively referred to herein as the “Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Accounts,” and the Contracts or other rights to service the Xxxxxxxx
Disposal Accounts are collectively referred to herein as the “Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Contracts”); Schedule 1.2(c)(i):
(i) identifies such Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts by customer number, disposal
volume, rate, type of waste stream and revenue as of the most recent month ended
prior to the date hereof; (ii) will be updated within 5 Business Days prior to
the Closing Date to identify the Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts with respect to the
Xxxxxxxx Disposal Contracts as of such date by customer name, billing address,
number, zip code, disposal volume, rate, type of waste stream and revenue as of
the most recent month ended prior to the Closing Date; and (iii) will be updated
within 5 Business Days following the Closing Date to identify all customer
information relating to the final Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts transferred as of
the Closing Date, including customer name, billing address, number, zip code,
disposal volume, rate, type of waste stream and revenue as of the most recent
month ended prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) The
leases relating to the machinery, heavy equipment and materials handling
equipment (in each case, other than Rolling Stock) (collectively, the “Equipment”) listed on
Schedule
1.2(c)(ii) (collectively, the “Equipment
Leases”);
(iii) The real
property-related leases, occupancy agreements, licenses or similar agreements,
and any amendments thereto, listed on Schedule 1.2(c)(iii)
(collectively, the “Real Estate
Leases”);
(iv) The
additional Contracts listed on Schedule 1.2(c)(iv)
(together with the Contracts listed on Schedules 1.2(c)(i)
through (iii),
the “Specified
Xxxxxxxx Company Contracts”); and
(v) The IP
Rights listed on Schedule
1.2(c)(v).
(d) All
accounts receivable of the Company arising from the Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts
which will be listed on Schedule 1.2(d)
(collectively, the “Accounts
Receivable”), which schedule will be delivered by Seller to Buyer within
5 Business Days following the Closing Date, provided, however, that
Accounts Receivable shall exclude any inter-company accounts receivable and
accounts receivable of the Company related to any National
Accounts;
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(e) The
credits, deferred charges, prepaid expenses, deposits and other prepaid assets,
other than those related to Taxes (except for any prepaid sales Taxes and
property Taxes relating to the fixed assets included within the Assets), of the
Company principally related to the Assets and listed and described on Schedule 1.2(e),
which schedule will be attached by Seller hereto at Closing (collectively, the
“Prepaid
Assets”);
(f) The
computer hardware of the Company that is listed and described on Schedule
1.2(f);
(g) Subject
to Section
1.4(e), all Records;
(h) All
goodwill relating to the Business and the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets;
(i) All
right, title and interest in and to the dedicated telephone and fax numbers,
post office boxes and telephone listings of the Company listed on Schedule 1.2(i);
and
(j) All
Permits related to the ownership, operation, management or use of the Xxxxxxxx
Company Assets that are owned by, issued to, or held by or otherwise benefiting
the Company.
1.3 Certain Dispositions of the
Company’s Assets. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, and subject to Article V and Section 6.9 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement, Buyer agrees that the Company may acquire, dispose of
(or, in the case of Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts, experience additions to or
attrition of) the Company’s assets in the ordinary course of business between
the date hereof and the Closing Date and that such acquisitions or dispositions
(or, in the case of Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts, additions or attritions) shall
not in any manner modify or limit Buyer’s obligations hereunder to purchase the
Shares; provided, however, that such
acquisitions, dispositions, additions or attritions shall not breach or violate
the Republic/Allied Consent Decree or, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Sellers’ Material Adverse Effect.
1.4 Excluded
Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, the parties agree that the Company’s assets shall exclude all
assets other than the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets (right, title and interest to
which shall be transferred by the Company to Seller or its designee, on an
“AS-IS,” “WHERE-IS,” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS” basis, at or prior to Closing or, to
the extent such transfer cannot reasonably be accomplished prior to Closing, as
promptly as practicable following the Closing) (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”),
including without limitation the following.
(a) All cash
or cash equivalents on hand or held in any account of the Company (including all
checking, savings, depository or other accounts);
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(b) All
accounts receivable and notes receivable of the Company related to or arising
out of transactions between the Company, on the one hand, and any Seller
Companies, on the other hand;
(c) All
stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests
in any Seller Companies;
(d) The
Retained IP;
(e) Any
Records to the extent related to the Excluded Assets or the Excluded
Liabilities (including files relating to Taxes and personnel
files);
(f) All
rights of the Company with respect to any Proceedings, causes of action and
claims of every nature, kind and description relating to any Excluded Assets and
not to any of the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets, including all rights, claims, liens,
rights of setoff, offset or recoupment, defenses, lawsuits, judgments and other
claims or demands of any nature against third parties whether liquidated or
unliquidated, fixed or contingent or otherwise;
(g) All
rights under any insurance policies of Seller, any Seller Companies or the
Company, including any cash surrender value under any such insurance
policies;
(h) All
claims for any refunds of Taxes and other governmental charges attributable to
any period ending on or before the Closing Date;
(i) All
assets held under any employee benefit plans maintained by or for the benefit of
the Company;
(j) All prior
title insurance policies and commitments, deeds and surveys covering any Real
Property issued to, on behalf of or for the benefit of Seller, any Seller
Companies or the Company;
(k) Any
computer hardware and software owned or leased by, or licensed to, the Company
that is not listed on Schedule 1.2(f)
(including all billing, route management and other software programs other than
basic operating systems);
(l) All
rights, title and interest in any financial responsibility, financial assurance
or similar mechanisms; and
(m) Such
other assets of the Company that are listed on Schedule
1.4(m).
1.5 Xxxxxxxx Company
Liabilities. Subject to Article IX of the
Asset Purchase Agreement, from and after the Closing, the Company shall pay,
perform and discharge when due, the following Liabilities of the Company (the
“Xxxxxxxx Company
Liabilities”):
(a) All
Liabilities arising under or pursuant to the Xxxxxxxx Company Contracts, the
Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts and the Real Property;
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(b) All
Liabilities for the customer deposits (the “Customer Deposits”)
and deferred revenue obligations (the “Deferred Revenue”)
listed on Schedule
1.5(b), which schedule will be attached by Sellers hereto at
Closing;
(c) Any and
all Liabilities relating to the Assets with respect to Environmental Laws and
Permits whether such Liabilities relate to periods preceding or following the
Closing, including all closure/post-closure Liabilities with respect to the
Assets (including such Permits) and all obligations under Applicable Laws
(including Environmental Laws) to establish accruals for such Liabilities (the
“Landfill
Liabilities”);
(d) All
Liabilities for Taxes relating to the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets accruing on or
after the Closing Date, including Taxes relating to the Real Property (subject
to the terms of Section 6.4 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement and Section 6.19(c) of
this Agreement);
(e) All
Assumed Severance and Retention Bonus Liabilities, in accordance with the terms
of Section
6.13(b) of this Agreement;
(f) All
Liabilities listed on Schedule
1.5(f);
(g) All other
Liabilities which Buyer expressly agrees to cause the Company assume or
otherwise pay, perform or discharge pursuant to this Agreement;
(h) All
payment and performance obligations due, payable or outstanding as of the
Closing Date to the extent taken into account in the calculation of the Actual
True-Up Amount under the Asset Purchase Agreement; and/or
(i) Any other
Liabilities (other than Excluded Liabilities) of any nature whatsoever, whether
legal or equitable, or matured or contingent, arising out of or in connection
with or related to the ownership, lease, operation, performance or use of the
Xxxxxxxx Company Assets after the Closing Date or the operation of the Business
after the Closing Date.
1.6 Excluded
Liabilities. At the Closing, subject to Article IX of the
Asset Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor Buyer shall, by the execution
and performance of this Agreement or otherwise, assume, become responsible for
or incur the following Liabilities of the Company (except to the extent such
Liabilities constitute Xxxxxxxx Company Liabilities), which Seller shall assume
at the Closing and shall agree to pay, perform and discharge when due
(collectively, the “Excluded
Liabilities”):
(a) Except as
provided in Section
6.5, and except if taken into account in the calculation of the Actual
True-Up Amount under the Asset Purchase Agreement, any Liabilities of
Seller or any Seller Companies for Taxes (i) for any Pre-Closing Period,
whether or not assessed or currently due and payable, including any Taxes
arising from the Business or the ownership, operation or use of the Landfill or
the Company’s other assets or (ii) arising from making a §338(h)(10)
Election;
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(b) Subject
to the terms of Section 6.5, any
Liabilities of Seller for expenses incurred in connection with the sale of the
Shares pursuant to this Agreement;
(c) Any
inter-company payables between the Company and any Seller Company;
(d) All
Liabilities for accounts payable and other current liabilities owed or accruing
(as determined in accordance with GAAP) prior to the Closing Date that do not
constitute Xxxxxxxx Company Liabilities;
(e) Any
Proceeding against any Seller Party or any subsidiary or Affiliate of any Seller
Party (any such subsidiaries or Affiliates of Seller Parties are collectively
referred to as the “Seller Companies”)
related to the Business or the ownership, operation or use of any of the
Company’s assets arising on or prior to the Closing Date (including any
Proceeding set forth on Schedule 3.9 or Schedule 3.12 as of
the date hereof and litigation which has been filed and with respect to which
the Company or any Seller Company has received service of process as of the date
hereof but excluding Proceedings relating to the Xxxxxxxx Company
Liabilities);
(f) Subject
to Section 6.4,
any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) relating to the Business or
the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets;
(g) Except
for any Material Xxxxxxxx Disposal Contracts and Assumed Severance and Retention
Bonus Liabilities, any Liabilities arising from or related to (i) any employee
wages or other benefits due to or required to be contributed in respect of any
employees, directors or consultants of the Company on or prior to the Closing
Date or (ii) funding, contributions, benefits, payment obligations,
fees or expenses, including “withdrawal liability,” arising from or relating to
any Benefit Plans sponsored, made available, maintained, contributed to or
required to be contributed to by any Seller Party or any Seller Company for the
benefit of any current or former employee of any Seller Party or any Seller
Company, it being expressly understood that, except for any Material Xxxxxxxx
Disposal Contracts and the Assumed Severance and Retention Bonus Liabilities,
neither the Company nor Buyer are assuming any Benefit Plans of the Company or
any other Seller Party; and
(h) Subject
to Section 1.5
(including without limitation Section 1.5(e)), any
other Liabilities of any nature whatsoever, whether legal or equitable, or
matured or contingent, arising out of or in connection with or related to the
Company, the Business, the ownership, lease, operation, performance or use of
the Landfill and the Company’s other assets or the employment of or compensation
or provision of benefits to employees of the Company on or prior to the Closing
Date that do not constitute Xxxxxxxx Company Liabilities.
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1.7 Asset
Allocations. If, at any time after the Closing Date, either
RSG or Buyer determines in good faith that any Contract (whether or not an
Assumed Contract, and including any Contract right related to a Xxxxxxxx
Disposal Account) relates both to the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets and to assets,
facilities or customers that are not included in the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets,
the parties will use their good faith efforts to enter into arrangements,
including subcontracting arrangements, bifurcation arrangements, operating
agreements and/or modifications of the applicable Contract, to allocate
reasonably and fairly the benefits and burdens thereof based on the relationship
of such Contract to the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets and such assets, facilities or
customers. If, at any time prior to or after the Closing Date, either
RSG or Buyer identifies any tangible personal property (whether or not listed on
the schedules hereto), Contract right or other asset owned by the Company that
RSG or Buyer, as the case may be, reasonably concludes in good faith (i) was not
used or held in connection with the ownership or operation of the Xxxxxxxx
Company Assets during the Hold Separate Period and (ii) was inadvertently
retained by the Company in error at the time the Shares were conveyed by Seller
to Buyers, the parties will use good faith efforts to cause such tangible
personal property, Contract right or other asset to be conveyed to Seller or an
Affiliate of Seller or, if such conveyance is not reasonably practicable, to
enter into other arrangements affording Seller or such Affiliate the benefit of
such tangible personal property or Contract right. If, at any time
after the Closing Date, RSG or Buyer identifies any tangible personal property,
Contract right (whether or not listed on the schedules hereto) or other asset
not owned by the Company that that RSG or Buyer, as the case may be, reasonably
concludes in good faith (i) was used or held in connection with the ownership or
operation of the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets during the Hold Separate Period, and
(ii) was inadvertently not transferred to the Company in error prior to the time
the Shares were conveyed by Seller to Buyers, the parties will use
good faith efforts to cause such tangible personal property, Contract right or
other asset to be conveyed to a Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer or, if such
conveyance is not reasonably practicable, to enter into other arrangements
affording Buyer or such Affiliate the benefit of such tangible personal property
or Contract right. Unless otherwise agreed, neither Buyer nor Seller
shall be entitled to any additional compensation for any conveyances made
pursuant to this Section
1.7.
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE PRICE AND
CLOSING
2.1 Purchase
Price. At the Closing, the portion of the Purchase Price
allocated to the Shares pursuant to Section 1.6 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement (and subject to adjustment as provided therein), shall
be deemed to have been paid to Seller in consideration for the
Shares.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Except as set forth in the disclosure
schedules attached hereto (the “Xxxxxxxx
Company Disclosure Schedules”), subject to Section 6.9 of the Asset
Purchase Agreement, the Seller Parties, jointly and severally, make the
following representations and warranties to Buyer. For the purposes of
this Article
III and any other
representations and warranties herein, (i) matters reflected in the Xxxxxxxx
Company Disclosure Schedules are not necessarily limited to matters required by
the Agreement to be reflected in the Xxxxxxxx Company Disclosure Schedules, any
additional matters are set forth in the Xxxxxxxx Company Disclosure Schedules
for informational purposes, and other matters of a similar nature are not
necessarily included, (ii) any item or matter disclosed by Seller in any section
or subsection of the Xxxxxxxx Company Disclosure Schedules will also be deemed
to be disclosed in any other sections or subsections of the Xxxxxxxx Company
Disclosure Schedules to the extent that it is reasonably apparent from the face
of such disclosure that such item or matter is applicable or relates to such
other sections or subsections and (iii) the Xxxxxxxx Company Disclosure
Schedules are qualified in their entirety by reference to specific provisions of
this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that the inclusion of any
specific item in the Xxxxxxxx Company Disclosure Schedules is not intended to
imply that such items so included or other items are or are not
material.
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3.1 Organization and
Qualification; Authority; Binding Effect.
(a) Each
Seller Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the state of its organization or formation. Each Seller Party
is duly authorized, qualified and licensed under all Applicable Laws to carry on
its business in the places and in the manner in which its business is presently
conducted, except for where the failure to be so authorized, qualified or
licensed would not have a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition. The
Company has full power and authority to own or lease its assets, as applicable,
and to carry on the Business as now conducted.
(b) Each
Seller Party has full power and, subject to obtaining any consents required
hereunder, authority (including full corporate or other entity power and
authority) to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it
is a party, to consummate the Transactions and to perform its obligations under
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party.
(c) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements by the Seller Parties are within their respective corporate rights,
powers and authority and such actions have been approved by each Seller Party’s
board of directors, and no other proceedings on the part of the Seller Parties
will be necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements or the consummation by the Seller Parties of the
Transactions and the performance of their obligations under this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements to which they are parties. This Agreement
has been, and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Seller Parties are parties
when executed and delivered will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by
the Seller Parties. This Agreement is, and the Ancillary Agreements
to which the Seller Parties are parties when executed and delivered will be
(assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of Buyer), the valid and
legally binding agreement of each Seller Party, enforceable against such Seller
Party in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally and the effects of general principles of
equity.
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3.2 Capitalization; Ownership of
Shares; Subsidiaries.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100 shares of common stock,
of which 100 shares are issued and outstanding and held of record and
beneficially owned by Seller. Seller is the owner, beneficially and
of record, of all such issued and outstanding capital stock. All of
the shares of Shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were
not issued in violation of the Company’s Organizational Documents, any
preemptive or similar rights, or Applicable Law.
(b) Neither
Seller nor the Company is a party to, nor is any of the Shares subject to, any
option, warrant, purchase right, right of first refusal, co-sale right or other
written or oral contract, note, bond, mortgage, instrument, lien, security
interest, restriction, pledge or other Encumbrance, agreement or commitment of
any kind (other than this Agreement) relating to the Shares in any
way. No option, warrant, call, conversion or other right or
commitment of any kind (including any of the foregoing created in connection
with any indebtedness of the Company) exists that obligates the Company to issue
any of its authorized but unissued capital stock or other equity interest or
that obligates Seller to transfer any of the Company’s capital stock to any
Person. Neither Seller nor the Company is a party to, nor are the
Shares subject to, any shareholders agreement, voting trust, proxy or other
agreement or understanding with respect to the voting of any of the
Shares.
(c) The
Company does not own any equity interest in, or control, directly or indirectly,
any Person.
(d) The
Company has not granted any power of attorney (except routine powers of attorney
relating to representation before governmental agencies) or entered into any
agency or similar agreement whereby a third party may bind or commit the Company
in any manner.
(e) The
corporate minute books and stock ledgers of the Company (i) have been made
available to Buyer and its agents; and (ii) are materially accurate and
complete.
3.3 Consents and Approvals; No
Violation. Except (a) as set forth in Schedule 3.3, (b) for
the terms of the Republic/Allied Consent Decree, and (c) for such matters that
would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition,
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements, the consummation of the Transactions and the fulfillment of the
terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by the Seller Parties do
not and will not, after the giving of notice or lapse of time or
otherwise:
(a) conflict with, or result in
a breach or violation of, their Organizational Documents;
(b) result
in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any of the Company’s
assets;
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(c) except
for any notices, consents or approvals required under the HSR Act or
Environmental Permits, (i) require the Seller Parties to obtain the consent or
approval of, any Governmental Authority or other third Person (including, with
respect to the transfer of any Permits), or (ii) conflict with, result in a
material breach of or default under or give rise to any material right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of, or to a material loss of any
benefit to which the Company is entitled under, any Specified Xxxxxxxx Company
Contract; or
(d) conflict
with, violate or result in a breach of or default under any Applicable Law to
which the Seller Parties are bound or to which the Company’s assets are
subject.
3.4 Compliance with Laws;
Permits.
(a) Except
as set forth in Schedule 3.4(a) and
except for such matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’
Material Adverse Condition, (i) the Company and the Business are operating, and
the Company’s assets are being maintained and operated, in compliance with all
Applicable Laws, (ii) the Seller Parties are not involved in any Proceeding
relating to the Company’s assets or the Business seeking to impose fines or
penalties or seeking injunctive relief for violation of any Applicable Laws and
Permits, nor has any Person asserted in writing that any the Company has
violated or is in violation of Applicable Laws, and (iii) there is no pending
or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened Proceeding or other form of material
review relating to the Company, the Company’s assets or the Business with
respect to any Applicable Law or Permit.
(b) To
Seller’s Knowledge, the Permits listed on Schedule
3.4(b) comprise all material Permits (excluding Environmental Permits)
necessary to enable the Company to own and use the Company’s assets and conduct
the Business as currently conducted. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.4(b), the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all
such Permits, except for such failures which would not reasonably be expected to
have a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition, and no Proceedings are pending or,
to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened that may result in the revocation,
cancellation, suspension, limitation or adverse modification of any of the
same. Except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to
have a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition, there are no defects in any of such
Permits. All of the Permits are currently valid, in good standing and
in full force and effect in all material respects, except for such failures
which would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material Adverse
Condition. To
Seller’s Knowledge, there are no material defects in any of the Permits,
except for such defects which would not reasonably be expected to
have a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition.
3.5 Xxxxxxxx
Company Assets; Personal Property. Except for such matters
that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material Adverse
Condition: (a) the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets are either owned or leased by the
Company; (b) at the Closing, upon the consummation of the Transactions, the
Company shall have good and marketable title to or valid leasehold interests in
the personal property Xxxxxxxx Company Assets, free and clear of all
Encumbrances (other than Encumbrances created by Buyer, Permitted Encumbrances
and the Blanket Liens that will be released as provided in Section
6.11); (c) except as set forth in Schedule
3.5(c), the Equipment is in operating condition in all material respects,
ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (d) except as set forth in Schedule
3.5(d), the automobiles, trucks, fork lifts, construction vehicles
and other motor vehicles and the attachments, accessories and materials handling
equipment comprising the Rolling Stock are in operating condition in all
material respects, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
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3.6 Real
Property.
(a) Except
for the Permitted Encumbrances, as set forth on Schedule 3.6(a), or
the requirements listed in the Title Commitment, the Company has good and
marketable indefeasible fee simple title to the Owned Real Property and, to
Sellers’ Knowledge, a legal, valid, binding and enforceable leasehold interest
in the Leased Real Property, free and clear of all Encumbrances, subject to
Encumbrances by Buyer.
(b) Except
for the Permitted Encumbrances, the Blanket Liens that will be released as
provided in Section
6.11, as set forth on Schedule
3.6(b):
(i) Except
for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material
Adverse Condition, there are no Proceedings pending and brought by or, to
Seller’s Knowledge, threatened by, any third party which would reasonably be
expected to result in a material change in the allowable uses of the Real
Property;
(ii) The
Company has not leased or otherwise granted a present or future right to
possession or occupancy or use of all or any part of the Owned Real
Property;
(iii) There are
no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to
purchase, right to acquire or right to lease the Owned Real Property or, to
Seller’s Knowledge, the Leased Real Property or any portion
thereof;
(iv) Except
for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material
Adverse Condition, Seller has delivered to Buyer true and complete copies of all
Real Estate Leases, and in case of any oral Real Estate Lease, a summary of the
material terms of such Real Estate Lease. Neither the Company nor, to
Seller’s Knowledge, the landlords, are in material breach or default under any
Real Estate Lease that has not been cured, and no event has occurred or
circumstance exists that, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or
both, would constitute such a breach or default or would permit the termination,
modification or acceleration of rent under such Real Estate Lease;
(v) Except
for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material
Adverse Condition, there are no Proceedings (including condemnation or eminent
domain proceedings) pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against all or
any part of the Real Property;
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(vi) Except
for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material
Adverse Condition, the Company has not received any written notice of (A) any
material violation of any applicable zoning ordinance, building code, use or
occupancy restriction, covenant, condition or restriction of record or any other
violation of Applicable Law relating to the Real Property or the improvements
thereon or (B) any material pending special assessments affecting all or any
part of the Real Property (except as shown on the Title Commitment);
and
(vii) To
Seller’s Knowledge, there are no unrecorded material contracts, leases,
easements or other agreements, rights or claims of third parties affecting the
use, title, access to, occupancy or development of the Owned Real
Property.
(c) Neither
Seller nor any Seller Company (directly or indirectly) owns or has any interest
in or any rights to acquire, lease or otherwise use any land or other real
property that (i) is situated within a 1-mile radius of the Landfill and (ii)
would be reasonably expected to interfere with the Company’s or Buyer’s
prospective ownership, use, operation or expansion of the Landfill.
3.7 Contracts.
(a) Listed
on Schedule
3.7(a) is a complete and accurate list of each disposal agreement under
which the Company billed revenues for the 12 months ended December 31, 2008
equal to or greater than $500,000 (the “Material Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Contracts”).
(b) The
Company is in compliance with all Material Xxxxxxxx Disposal Contracts, except
where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a
Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition, and, to Seller’s Knowledge, all Material
Xxxxxxxx Disposal Contracts are in full force and effect in all material
respects and are valid, binding and enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their respective provisions. The Company has not
received any written notice that any Person intends or desires to modify, waive,
amend, rescind, release, cancel or terminate any Material Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Contracts.
3.8 Taxes. Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.8 or for
matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition:
(a) The
Company, either separately or as a member of an Affiliated Group, (i) has
completed and timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed with any Tax
authority for any Pre-Closing Period and (ii) has paid (or has had paid on
its behalf) all Taxes shown as due and payable thereon. Such Tax
Returns accurately reflect all Taxes due and payable with respect to the periods
covered by them. There are no Encumbrances for Taxes other than
Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable.
(b) There is
no actual, pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened claim, audit,
investigation, dispute or other proceeding concerning any Taxes of the Company
that may result in a material Encumbrance against the Company.
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(c) The
Company has withheld or paid, with respect to its employees, all federal and
state income Taxes, Taxes pursuant to the Federal Insurance Contribution Act,
Taxes pursuant to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and other Taxes required to
be withheld.
(d) The
Company is not party to or has any obligation under any tax-sharing, tax
indemnity or tax allocation agreement or arrangement (other than such agreements
existing as of the date hereof between current members of the Company’s
Affiliated Group, which such agreements shall be terminated immediately prior to
the Closing insofar as they relate to the Company).
(e) To the
Knowledge of the Seller, the Company is in full compliance with all terms and
conditions of any Tax exemptions, Tax holiday or other Tax reduction agreement
or order of a territorial or foreign government and the consummation of this
Agreement will not have any material adverse effect on the continued validity
and effectiveness of any such Tax exemptions, Tax holiday or other Tax reduction
agreement or order.
(f) The
Company has not with respect to any open taxable period applied for and been
granted permission to adopt a change in its method of accounting requiring
adjustments under Section 481 of the Code or comparable state or foreign
law.
3.9 Litigation. Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.9 and
except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’
Material Adverse Condition, (a) there are no Proceedings pending or, to Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened against the Company, the Shares, the Business or the
Company’s assets, at law or in equity, before any federal, state or local court
or regulatory agency or other Governmental Authority, (b) there are no existing
orders, judgments or decrees of any Governmental Authority affecting the
Company, the Business, or any of the Company’s assets, nor, to Seller’s
Knowledge, are there any such orders, judgments or decrees threatened, and
(c) there are no Proceedings pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened,
against the Company that could result in an Encumbrance on any of the Real
Property.
3.10 Conduct of Business Since
December 4, 2008. Except for matters that would not reasonably
be expected to result in a Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition, since December
4, 2008, the Company has operated the Business and the Company’s assets in
accordance with the Republic/Allied Consent Decree.
3.11 Environmental Compliance;
Hazardous Materials.
(a) Except as set forth in
Schedule
3.11(a) or for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition:
(i) To
Seller’s Knowledge, the Company, its assets, including the Landfill, and the
Business are being operated in compliance with all Environmental Laws and
Environmental Permits;
(ii) To
Seller’s Knowledge, during the period that the Company has operated the Xxxxxxxx
Company Assets, there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment or onto or under any Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property in
connection with the ownership or operation of the Business or the Company’s
assets, except in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
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(iii) No
portion of the Owned Real Property is on a CERCLA, CERCLIS or RCRIS list or the
National Priorities List of Hazardous Waste Sites or any similar list or
database maintained by the State of North Carolina, and the Company is not
listed as, nor has it been notified that it is a “potentially responsible
person” with respect to the Landfill, the operation of the Business or the
Company’s other assets; and
(iv) No
Encumbrances with respect to a Release have been imposed against or on any of
the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets under CERCLA, any comparable state statute or other
Applicable Law.
(b) Except as set forth in
Schedule
3.11(b) or for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition, with respect to the Company’s assets, (i)
the Company has not received any written notice or other written communication
from any Governmental Authority or unaffiliated third Person alleging or
relating to the investigation of any alleged (A) violation of Environmental Law
or (B) liability or potential liability for any Release, other than, in each
case, those that have been fully resolved without further liability or
obligation to the Company, (ii) there is no Proceeding pending or, to Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened against either the Company or any of its assets relating
to a violation or failure to comply with Environmental Law or involving
remediation of any condition of any Real Property pursuant to any Environmental
Law, and (iii) there are no matters, circumstances or violations of any
Environmental Permits the effect of which would prevent the Company from
continuing to operate the Business as presently conducted and operate and use
the Company’s assets for their intended purposes.
(c) Schedule 3.11(c) contains a complete list
of all of the Company’s material Environmental Permits. Such Environmental
Permits comprise all of the Environmental Permits required to operate the
Business and the Company’s assets as currently operated, and the Company is in
compliance with each such Environmental Permit, except for where the failure to
have, or be in compliance with, such Environmental Permits would not have a
Sellers’ Material Adverse Condition.
(d) The representations and
warranties made in this Section 3.11 are the
sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Seller (or any Seller under
the Asset Purchase Agreement) as to the Company with respect to environmental
matters.
3.12 Employment and Labor
Matters.
(a) Schedule
3.12(a),
when delivered by the Company to Buyer within 20 Business Days before the
Closing, will list all of the Company’s employees, including any employees who
are out on leave (collectively, the “Company Employees”),
together with each such person’s (i) employment type or classification,
(ii) compensation, including hourly or monthly base compensation and any bonus
to which the employee is entitled, (iii) date of hire, and (iv) contact
information, tax identification number and driver’s license number (for each
driver of Company’s motor vehicles only). Prior to Closing, the
Company will deliver to Buyer as Schedule 3.12 copies
of all employment agreements with such Company Employees.
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(b) Schedule 3.12(b),
when delivered by Seller to Buyer reasonably promptly following the Closing,
will list, for each Company Employee of the Company who is employed as of the
Closing, the following information for the period from January 1, 2009 through
the end of the last pay period prior to the Closing: (i) gross earnings; (ii)
federal income taxes withheld; (iii) state income taxes withheld; (iv) state
unemployment and disability taxes withheld; (v) federal unemployment taxes
withheld; (v) FICA taxes withheld; and (vi) 401(k) contributions
withheld.
(c) Except
as set forth in Schedule 3.12(c), (i)
the Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement and (ii)
within the last 3 years, the Company has not experienced any material labor
disputes, union organization attempts or any work stoppage due to labor
disagreements. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12(c) or for matters
that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material Adverse
Condition, the Company is not a party to any agreement for the provision of
consulting or other professional services which is not cancelable without
penalty on less than 30 days’ notice.
(d) Except to the extent
set forth in Schedule
3.12(d)
or for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sellers’ Material
Adverse Condition, (i) there is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint
against the Company pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened, (ii) there is
no labor strike, dispute, request for representation, slowdown or stoppage
actually pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the
Company, (iii) no question concerning labor representation has been raised to
the Company or, to Seller’s Knowledge, is threatened respecting the Company
Employees, (iv) no grievance, nor any arbitration proceedings arising out of or
under collective bargaining agreements, is pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened, (v) there are no administrative charges, court complaints or
threatened complaints against the Company concerning alleged employment
discrimination or other employment related matters pending or, to Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
the U.S. Department of Labor or any other Governmental Authority, (vi) the
Company has complied with all applicable labor and employment laws, (vii)
the Company is not liable for any arrears of wages or any penalty for failure to
comply with any of the foregoing and is not liable for any payment to any trust
or other fund or to any Governmental Authority, with respect to unemployment
compensation benefits, social security or other benefits for employees (other
than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent
with past practice), and (viii) there are no pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened charges, complaints, claims or grievances alleging wage and hour
violations including allegations of unpaid hours worked, unpaid wages, unpaid
overtime, or violations of meal periods or break period rules, regulations or
statutes.
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3.13 Bank and Credit Card
Accounts.
(a) Schedule 3.13(a) is a
complete and accurate list of:
(i) the name
of each bank in which the Company has accounts or safe deposit
boxes;
(ii) the
name(s) in which the accounts or boxes are held;
(iii) the type
of account; and
(iv) the name
of each person authorized to draw thereon or have access thereto.
(b) Schedule 3.13(b) is a
complete and accurate list of:
(i) each
active credit card or other charge account issued to the Company;
and
(ii) the name
of each person to whom such credit cards or other charge accounts have been
issued.
3.14 Benefit
Plans.
(a) Schedule
3.14(a) lists
each employment, bonus, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock
purchase, stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock-based incentive,
severance, change-in-control or termination pay, hospitalization or other
medical, disability, life or other insurance, supplemental unemployment
benefits, profit-sharing, pension or retirement plan, program, agreement or
arrangement and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or
arrangement, sponsored, maintained or contributed to or required to be
contributed to by the Company, or by any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated (an “ERISA Affiliate“),
that together with the Company would be deemed a “single employer” within the
meaning of Section 400l(b)(l) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended (“ERISA“), or treated
as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code for the
benefit of any current or former employee, independent contractor or director of
the Company (the “Plans“). Schedule 3.14(a)
identifies each of the Plans that is an “employee welfare benefit plan,” or
“employee pension benefit plan” as such terms are defined in Sections 3(1) and
3(2) of ERISA (the “ERISA
Plans“). Except for amendments that are required for the Plans
to meet the requirements of applicable law, tax-qualified status under Section
401(a) of the Code, or regulatory guidance, neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliate has any formal plan or commitment, whether legally binding or not, to
create any additional Plan or modify or change any existing Plan that would
affect any current or former employee, independent contractor or director of the
Company.
(b) With
respect to each of the Plans, true and complete copies of the most recent
Summary Plan Description (“SPD“), together with
all Summaries of Material Modification issued with respect to such SPD, if
required under ERISA, with respect to each ERISA Plan, and all other material
employee communications relating to each ERISA Plan, and written descriptions of
all other Plans have been made available to Buyer.
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(c) Neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability under Title IV of
ERISA that has not been satisfied in full, and, to the Company’s
Knowledge, no condition exists that presents a material risk to the
Company of incurring any liability under such Title. This
representation applies to Sections 4064, 4069 or 4204 of Title IV of ERISA, and
it is made not only with respect to the ERISA Plans but also with respect to any
employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement subject to Title IV of
ERISA to which the Company or any current or former ERISA Affiliate made, or was
required to make, contributions during the past six (6) years.
(d) To the
Company’s Knowledge, (i) the PBGC has not instituted proceedings pursuant to
Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate any of the ERISA Plans subject to Title IV of
ERISA, and (ii) no condition exists that presents a material risk that such
proceedings will be instituted by the PBGC.
(e) With
respect to each of the ERISA Plans that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the
present value of accumulated benefit obligations under such Plan, as determined
by the Plan’s actuary based on the actuarial assumptions used for funding
purposes in the most recent actuarial report prepared by such Plan’s actuary
with respect to such Plan, did not, as of its latest valuation date, exceed the
then current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accumulated
benefit obligations.
(f) The
Company has not engaged in a transaction or taken or failed to take any action
in connection with which the Company could be subject to any material liability
for either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409, 502(i) or 502(l) of
ERISA, or a tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975(a) or (b), 4976 or 4980B of the
Code.
(g) All
contributions and premiums that the Company and each ERISA Affiliate is required
to pay under the terms of each of the ERISA Plans and Section 412 of the Code,
have, to the extent due, been paid in full or properly recorded on the financial
statements or records of the Company, and none of the ERISA Plans or any trust
established thereunder has incurred any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as
defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code), whether or not
waived, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal year of each of the ERISA
Plans ended prior to the date of this Agreement. No lien has been
imposed under Section 412(n) of the Code or Section 302(f) of ERISA on the
assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, and, to the Company’s Knowledge,
no event or circumstance has occurred that is reasonably likely to result in the
imposition of any such lien on any such assets on account of any ERISA
Plan.
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(h) With
respect to any ERISA Plan that is a “multi-employer plan,” as such term is
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, (i) to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the
Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has, since September 26, 1980, made or suffered
a “complete withdrawal” or a “partial withdrawal,” as such terms are
respectively defined in Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, (ii) to the Company’s
Knowledge, no event has occurred that presents a material risk of a complete or
partial withdrawal, (iii) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has any
contingent liability under Section 4204 of ERISA, and (iv) to the Company’s
Knowledge, no circumstances exist that present a material risk that any such
multi-employer plan will go into reorganization.
(i) Each of
the Plans has been operated and administered in all material respects in
accordance with its terms and applicable laws, including but not limited to
ERISA and the Code.
(j) Each of
the ERISA Plans that is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Code
section 401(a) is so qualified.
(k) No
amounts payable under any of the Plans or any other contract, agreement or
arrangement with respect to which the Company may have any liability could fail
to be deductible for federal income tax purposes by virtue of Section 162(m) or
Section 280G of the Code.
(l) No Plan
provides benefits, including without limitation death or medical benefits
(whether or not insured), with respect to current or former employees of the
Company after retirement or other termination of service (other than (i)
coverage mandated by applicable laws, (ii) death benefits or retirement benefits
under any “employee pension plan,” as that term is defined in Section 3(2) of
ERISA, (iii) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities on the books
of the Company, or (iv) benefits, the full direct cost of which is borne by the
current or former employee (or beneficiary thereof)).
(m) Except as
specifically provided herein, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will not, either alone or in combination with any other event,
(i) entitle any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company
to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other similar termination
payment, or (ii) accelerate the vesting, or increase the amount of or otherwise
enhance any benefit due any such employee, officer or director.
(n) There are
no pending or, to the Company’s or the Shareholders’ knowledge, threatened or
anticipated claims by or on behalf of any Plan, by any current or former
employee or beneficiary under any such Plan or otherwise involving any such Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits).
(o) All stock
options, stock appreciation rights or other equity based awards issued or
granted by the Company are in material compliance with Code Section
409A. Each “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as such term is
defined in Code Section 409A and the guidance thereunder) under which the
Company makes or is obligated to make payments is in good faith operational
compliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the guidance
thereunder. No payment to be made by the Company is or will be
subject to penalties of Code Section 409A.
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3.15 Parachute
Payments. No payment made to any employee, officer, director
or independent contractor of the Company (the “Recipient“) as a
result of the sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement and pursuant to any
employment contract, severance agreement or other arrangement (“Golden Parachute
Payment“) will be nondeductible by the Company because of the application
of Code section 280G to the Golden Parachute Payment, will result in excise tax
under Code section 4999, and the Company will not be required to compensate any
Recipient of a Golden Parachute Payment because of the imposition of an excise
tax (including any interest or penalties related thereto) on the Recipient by
reason of Code sections 280G or 4999
3.16 No Broker’s or Finder’s
Fees. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, no
agent, broker, investment banker, finder, financial advisor or other Person is
or will be entitled to any brokerage commissions, finder’s fees or similar
compensation in connection with the Transactions based on any agreement,
arrangement or understanding made by or on behalf of the Company, Seller or any
Affiliate thereof or to which the Company, Seller or any Affiliate thereof is
subject.
3.17 Indebtedness. The
Company as of the Closing Date does not have any Indebtedness other than that
which is an Excluded Liability.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Except as set forth in Buyer’s
Disclosure Schedules, Buyer makes the following representations and warranties
to the Seller Parties. For the purposes of this
Article
IV and any other
representations and warranties herein, (i) matters reflected in Buyer’s
Disclosure Schedules are not necessarily limited to matters required by the
Agreement to be reflected in Buyer’s Disclosure Schedules, any additional
matters are set forth in Buyer’s Disclosure Schedules for informational
purposes, and other matters of a similar nature are not necessarily included,
(ii) any item or matter disclosed by Buyer in any section or subsection of
Buyer’s Disclosure Schedules will also be deemed to be disclosed in any other
sections or subsections of Buyer’s Disclosure Schedules to the extent that it is
reasonably apparent from the face of such disclosure that such item or matter is
applicable or relates to such other sections or subsections and (iii) Buyer’s
Disclosure Schedules are qualified in their entirety by reference to specific
provisions of this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that the
inclusion of any specific item in Buyer’s Disclosure Schedules is not intended
to imply that such items so included or other items are or are not
material.
4.1 Organization and
Qualification. Buyer is duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation.
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4.2 Authority; Binding
Effect.
(a) Buyer has full
power and, subject to obtaining any consents required hereunder, authority
(including full corporate or other entity power and authority) to enter into
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, to
consummate the Transactions and to perform its obligations under this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party.
(b) The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Buyer
is within its corporate rights, powers and authority and such actions have been
approved by Buyer’s board of directors, and no other proceedings on the part of
Buyer will be necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or the consummation by Buyer of the
Transactions and the performance of their obligations under this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements to which they are parties. This Agreement
is, and the Ancillary Agreements to which Buyer are parties when executed and
delivered will be (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of
each by the Seller Parties), the valid and legally binding agreement of Buyer,
enforceable against Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the effects of general
principles of equity.
4.3 Consents and Approvals; No
Violation. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements, the consummation of the Transactions and the fulfillment of the
terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Buyer do not and will
not:
(a) conflict
with, or result in a breach or violation of, their Organizational
Documents;
(b) result in
the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on the Company’s
assets;
(c) except
for any notices, consents or approvals required under the HSR Act, (i) require
Buyer to obtain the consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority or other
third Person (including with respect to the transfer of any Permits), or (ii)
constitute a material default under or give rise to any material right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of, or to a material loss of any
benefit under, any contract, agreement, arrangement or instrument to which Buyer
is a party or by which Buyer or any of its properties or assets may be bound;
or
(d) conflict
with, or result in a material breach of or default under any Applicable Law to
which Buyer is bound or its material assets are subject.
4.4 Litigation. There
are no Proceedings pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened against Buyer
that would reasonably be expected to have a Buyer’s Material Adverse Effect or
to otherwise interfere with the consummation of the Transactions, at law or in
equity, before any federal, state or local court, regulatory agency or other
Governmental Authority.
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4.5 No Broker’s or Finder’s
Fees. No agent, broker, investment banker, finder, financial
advisor or other Person is or will be entitled to any brokerage commissions,
finder’s fees or similar compensation in connection with the Transactions based
on any agreement, arrangement or understanding made by or on behalf of Buyer or
any Affiliate thereof or to which Buyer or any Affiliate thereof is
subject.
4.6 Available
Funds. As of the date of this Agreement, Buyer has sufficient
funds to pay the full Purchase Price payable hereunder at the
Closing. Buyer will have sufficient funds to pay the full Purchase
Price payable hereunder at the Closing.
4.7 Investment
Purpose. Buyer is acquiring the Shares for investment for its
own account and not with a view to the sale or distribution of any part thereof
within the meaning of the Securities Act and any state “blue sky” securities
laws. Buyer (either alone or together with its advisors) has
sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to
be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Shares
and is capable of bearing the economic risks of such
investment. Buyer is an “accredited investor” as defined by the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. Buyer will not sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise
dispose of any of the Shares except in compliance with the Securities Act and
any state “blue sky” securities laws or pursuant to an exemption provided
thereunder. Buyer acknowledges that (i) the Shares have not been
registered in the United States or in any state, (ii) the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement is being consummated in reliance on an exemption
from the registration provisions of both federal and state law, and that the
availability of said exemption(s) depends in part on Buyer’s investment intent
and the accuracy of this representation, and (iii) the Shares received by Buyer
may not be resold in the United States unless registered or an applicable
exemption from registration is available.
ARTICLE
V
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PRIOR TO
CLOSING
5.1 Activities of the Company
Prior to Closing. Except (a) as permitted by the terms of this
Agreement, (b) as required by the terms of the Republic/Allied Consent Decree,
and (c) for actions taken by the Company to divest itself of the Excluded
Assets, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Closing or the
termination of this Agreement, the Company shall own and/or operate the Landfill
and the Business in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with
past practice, provided, however, that the
Company shall have no obligation to purchase any vehicles, purchase any yellow
iron or (except as provided in Schedule 5.1)
engage in any long-term landfill cell development or otherwise incur any
material capital expenditures with respect to the Landfill or the Business
pursuant to this Section 5.1 or
otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Seller Parties agree that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of
the Closing or the termination of this Agreement, except as provided by the
terms of this Agreement, they shall (a) cause the Company to own and operate the
Landfill and the Business in compliance with the Republic/Allied Consent Decree,
(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact and keep available
the services of the Company Employees listed on Schedule 6.13(a) (but
shall be free to terminate or transfer the employment relationships with Company
Employees who are not listed on Schedule 6.13(a)),
and (c) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain relationships in the
ordinary course of business with suppliers, customers, consultants, independent
contractors, government agencies, communities and others having business
relations with the Company in the operation of the Landfill and the
Business.
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5.2 Activities of Buyer Prior to
Closing. Between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of
the Closing or the termination of this Agreement, except as contemplated by this
Agreement, Buyer shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) engage in any practice,
take any action, fail to take any action or enter into any transaction which
could reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty of Buyer in
this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate or result in a breach of any covenant
made by Buyer in this Agreement or (b) take any actions that would reasonably be
likely to materially prevent or delay the consummation of the
Transactions.
ARTICLE
VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
6.1 Additional
Agreements. Subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, but subject to the obligation to act in good faith, each of the
parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper
or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the
Transactions and to cooperate with each other in connection with the foregoing,
including the taking of such commercially reasonable actions as are necessary to
(a) obtain any necessary consents, approvals, orders, exemptions and
authorizations by or from any public or private third party, including any that
are required to be obtained under any Applicable Laws or any Material Xxxxxxxx
Disposal Contracts or Permits, (b) defend all Proceedings challenging this
Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, (c) effect all necessary
registrations and other filings and submissions of information requested by a
Governmental Authority, including Environmental Permits and (d) use its best
efforts to cause to be lifted or rescinded any injunction or restraining order
or other order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the
Transactions. For so long as the terms of the Republic/Allied Consent
remain in effect, the Seller Parties agree not to undertake, directly or
indirectly, any challenges to any Permits (including Environmental Permits)
relating to the operation of the Landfill or the Business.
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6.2 Access to Information;
Confidentiality; Real Property Access. Subject to compliance
with Applicable Laws, the Seller Parties shall afford to Buyer reasonable access
during normal business hours during the period prior to the Closing to all of
the Company’s properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and Records,
and all other information concerning the Landfill and the Business as Buyer may
reasonably request and receive consistent with the provisions of Applicable
Law. All information exchanged with Buyer pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall be
subject to the confidentiality agreement, dated November 6, 2008, between RSG
and Buyer (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Buyer shall have the right to conduct Phase I environmental investigations of
the Real Property, and may conduct Phase II investigations upon the Company’s
prior written consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. Any access to the Real Property requested by Buyer pursuant
to this Section
6.2 shall be granted in accordance with an access agreement containing
customary terms and conditions to be agreed upon by the parties. All
access and testing shall be coordinated with the Company, and Buyer and its
agents and employees shall not enter the Real Property or perform inspections or
meet with employees unless accompanied by a representative of the
Company. The Company shall have the right to delay access or testing
until such time that the access or testing, in the reasonable judgment of the
Company, will not materially interfere with the operations of the Landfill and
the Business. The Company shall have the right to require that access
and testing be conducted on weekends or after normal business hours and shall
have the right to limit access to employees to only those who are designated by
the Company. In addition to the terms of any access agreement, Buyer
agrees to return the Real Property in all material respects to its condition as
of the date of this Agreement to the extent there are any material alterations
to the Real Property attributable to its exercise of its rights pursuant to this
Section 6.2,
and Buyer shall indemnify and save harmless the Company from any damage caused
as a result of Buyer’s activities under this Section 6.2 and all
costs of returning the Real Property to such condition as it existed prior to
Buyer’s activities under this Section
6.2. If Buyer does not promptly perform such work, the Company
shall have the right to perform, or cause to be performed, such work and to
obtain reimbursement for the costs of such work (including legal and consulting
fees) from Buyer, which costs shall be payable by Buyer to the Company upon
demand.
6.3 Insurance Policies of RSG
and its Affiliates. Buyer acknowledges that the Company has in
the past been insured under corporate insurance policies maintained by RSG
and/or one or more of its Affiliates. Buyer further acknowledges that
RSG and its Affiliates shall have no obligation to maintain any such policies
and covenants not to make any claims under any such insurance policies of RSG
and its Affiliates. All rights under any insurance policies of RSG and its
Affiliates, including any cash surrender value under any such insurance policies
shall inure solely to the benefit of RSG and its
Affiliates. Furthermore, Buyer shall have no right under any prior
title insurance policies and commitments, deeds and surveys covering any Real
Property issued to, on behalf of or for the benefit of RSG or any of its
Affiliates.
6.4 Title Insurance and
Survey.
(a) Buyer has
received a title commitment (the “Title Commitment”)
issued by the Title Company for the issuance of an ALTA policy of title
insurance for each parcel of Real Property (each, a “Title Policy”). The
Title Commitment is described on Schedule 6.4(a) and
has been reviewed and approved by Buyer. The base premium (and any
extra cost for any deletions, modifications or endorsements) for each Title
Policy shall be paid for by Buyer at the Closing.
(b) Buyer has
received a survey of the Owned Real Property (the “Survey”) prepared by
a registered land surveyor or engineer. The Survey is described on
Schedule 6.4(b)
and has been reviewed and approved by Buyer. The cost of the Survey
shall be paid for by Buyer at the Closing.
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(c) Except
for any Title Requirements, any matters shown and disclosed in the Title
Commitment and Survey, including any Encumbrances (except for Blanket Liens),
encroachments, overlaps, boundary disputes or gaps shall, from and after the
date hereof, be deemed approved by Buyer and shall constitute Permitted
Encumbrances under this Agreement.
6.5 Fees and
Expenses.
(a) Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, whether or not the Transactions shall be
consummated, (i) Buyer will pay the aggregate of all fees, expenses and
disbursements of Buyer and their agents, representatives, accountants and
counsel incurred in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement and any
amendments to it and all other costs and expenses incurred in the performance
and compliance with all conditions to be performed by Buyer under this Agreement
and (ii) Seller will pay the aggregate of all fees, expenses and disbursements
of the Seller Parties and their respective agents, representatives, accountants
and counsel incurred in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement and
any amendments to it and all other costs and expenses incurred in the
performance and compliance with all conditions to be performed by the Seller
Parties under this Agreement, including legal fees, investment banking and
advisory fees, accounting fees and any other out-of-pocket documented expenses
(collectively, the “Seller’s
Expenses”).
(b) All
transfer, documentary, sales (including any bulk sales), use, stamp,
registration and other Taxes and all conveyance fees, recording charges and
other fees and charges (including any penalties and interest) incurred in
connection with the consummation of the Transactions, shall be paid by Buyer
when due to the applicable Tax authority or remit to Seller at Closing all
sales, transfer, conveyance or other Taxes associated with the transfer of the
Shares to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Except as
may be otherwise provided in this Agreement, all costs to obtain the Title
Commitment and all Title Policy premiums, fees and costs and all other closing
costs related to the Real Property in connection with the consummation of the
Transactions shall be borne by Buyer.
6.6 Contact with Government
Officials, Customers and Employees. Upon the request of Buyer,
the Seller Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate
with Buyer in making contact with the appropriate Governmental Authorities,
customers and other third parties as may be reasonably necessary to obtain all
consents to the consummation of the Transactions, if any, listed on Schedule 7.1(b) to
the Asset Purchase Agreement. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that it
shall not contact any of the Company’s customers prior to the Closing; provided, however, that within
10 Business Days prior to the scheduled date of the Closing, Buyer may contact
customers of the Company that are counterparties to Material Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Contracts for customary due diligence or transitional purposes. Buyer
further agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Company, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, it will not contact any Company
Employees (including managers, supervisors and other key personnel to the
management and operations of the Landfill or the Business) prior to the Closing;
provided,
however, that the Company shall make reasonably available to Buyer all of
the Company’s non-management employees (and their respective Employee Records)
who are employed in connection with the operations of the Landfill and the
Business no later than 10 Business Days prior to the scheduled Closing Date and
shall make reasonably available to Buyer all of the Company’s management
employees who are employed in connection with the operations of the Landfill or
the Business no later than 20 Business Days prior to the scheduled Closing
Date.
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6.7 Public
Announcements. RSG and Buyer shall mutually agree on a form of
press release to be issued in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, this
Agreement and the Transactions. Except as otherwise required by
Applicable Law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the parties agree
that, prior to the Closing, no press release, written communication, public
announcement, statement or filing shall be issued or made by any Seller Party,
on the one hand, or Buyer, on the other hand, containing information regarding
the Asset Purchase Agreement, this Agreement or the Transactions (including the
fact that the Transactions are being discussed or the terms of the Transactions)
without the prior written approval of both RSG and Buyer, which approval may not
be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The parties shall
consult with each other concerning the means by which the Company’s employees,
customers and suppliers and others having dealings with the Seller Parties will
be informed of the Transactions. Nothing in this Section 6.7 shall
restrict Buyer’s ability to contact the parties listed or otherwise described in
Section 6.6 who
are permitted to be contacted pursuant to Section 6.6 with
respect to the Transactions.
6.8 Governmental Approvals;
Required Divestitures.
(a) Each
party shall (i) subject to Applicable Laws, promptly notify the other party of
any written communication to that party from the U.S. Department of Justice,
Antitrust Division or any other Governmental Authority relating to this
Agreement and, subject to Applicable Laws, permit the other party to review in
advance any proposed written communication to any of the foregoing relating to
this Agreement, (ii) to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, not agree to
participate in any substantive meeting or discussion with any Governmental
Authority in respect of any filings, investigation or inquiry concerning this
Agreement or the Transactions unless it consults with the other party in advance
and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other
party the opportunity to attend and participate at any such meeting or
discussion and (iii) to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, furnish the
other party with copies of all correspondence, filings and communications
between them and their Affiliates and their respective representatives, on the
one hand, and any government or regulatory authority or members or their
respective staffs, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the
Transactions.
(b) Buyer
undertakes and agrees to make any asset divestitures required and take any other
actions necessary in order to obtain the consent of the U.S.
Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) to Buyer’s
purchase of the Shares and the consummation of the Transactions (the “DOJ
Consent”).
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6.9 Removal of
Identification. Within 6 months after the Closing, Buyer shall
cause the Company to remove or otherwise conceal all visible usage of the
Retained IP on all assets owned or used by the Company.
6.10 Further
Assurances. From time to time on and after the Closing and
without further consideration except as provided in this Agreement, the parties
hereto shall each deliver or cause to be delivered to any other party or parties
hereto, at such times and places as shall be reasonably requested, such
additional instruments as such other party or parties may reasonably request for
the purpose of carrying out this Agreement and the Transactions, including the
execution and delivery of documents or instruments of sale, assignment, transfer
or assumption to effectuate the transfer of the Excluded Assets from the Company
to Seller or its designee and the assumption by Seller or its designee of the
Excluded Liabilities. The Seller Parties, also without further
consideration, agree to cooperate with Buyer and to use the Seller Parties’
commercially reasonable efforts to have their officers and employees cooperate
on and after the Closing Date in furnishing to Buyer or its advisors (a)
information requested by Buyer with respect to the Company, the Landfill or the
Business and (b) information and other assistance in connection with obtaining
all necessary Permits (including Environmental Permits) and approvals and in
connection with any third-party actions, proceedings, arrangements or disputes
of any nature with respect to the Company, the Landfill and the Business, provided, however, that these
obligations shall not apply to disputes among the parties and that the Seller
Parties shall not be required to expend any sum of money toward such efforts
beyond commercially reasonable and typical overhead expenditures and
commercially reasonable outside counsel and adviser fees and
costs. Buyer, also without further consideration, agrees to cooperate
with the Seller Parties and to use Buyer’s commercially reasonable efforts to
have its officers and employees cooperate on and after the Closing Date in
furnishing to the Seller Parties or their advisors information and other
assistance (including reasonable access to the Landfill and the Business) in
connection with any third-party actions, proceedings, arrangements or disputes
of any nature with respect to the Landfill and the Business, provided, however, that this
obligation shall not apply to disputes among the parties and that Buyer shall
not be required to expend any sum of money toward that end beyond commercially
reasonable and typical overhead expenditures and commercially reasonable outside
counsel and adviser fees and expenses.
6.11 Blanket Lien
Releases. The assets of the Company are encumbered by blanket
liens in favor of various lenders to the Company and/or the other Seller Parties
(the “Blanket
Liens”), all of which liens will be released concurrently with the
Closing. Within 60 days after the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver
evidence to Buyer of the release of any security interests reflecting such
Blanket Liens.
6.12 Restrictive
Covenants. Each of the Seller Parties, for itself and on
behalf of its Affiliates, covenants and agrees as follows:
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(a) For the period
commencing on the date hereof and terminating on the 2nd anniversary of the
Closing Date, neither RSG nor Seller nor any of their respective Affiliates
(other than the Company) will (i) solicit any municipal solid waste disposal
business from any Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts or (ii) solicit from any
counterparty to a Landfill Operating Contract or Government Contract, the
disposal services provided by the Company under such Contract, provided, however, that,
subject to Section 6.12(b)
below, the foregoing restrictions set forth in this Section 6.12 shall
not prohibit RSG, Seller or any of its Affiliates from (A) accepting disposal
business from customers willing to pay the posted gate disposal fees (without
providing any broker, trucking or other refund, deduction, credit or discount of
any kind), (B) responding to, or executing a contract with any customer
solicited through, a request for proposals or other bidding process (whether
public or private), (C) responding to inquiries or solicitations made by any
customers (including pricing inquiries) and providing disposal services to the
customers that are derived as a result of such inquiries or solicitations, or
(D) continuing to do business with any customers of RSG, Seller or any of their
Affiliates at locations not included in the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets, so long as
such business does not include the solicitation of any business included in the
Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts as of the date hereof.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in Section 6.12(a)
above, for the period commencing on the date hereof and terminating on the 1st
anniversary of the Closing Date, RSG, Seller and their respective Affiliates
agree not to accept any municipal solid waste disposal business from any
Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts; provided, however, that the
foregoing restriction set forth in this Section 6.12(b) shall
not prohibit RSG, Seller or any Affiliate from accepting disposal business in
the event that the customer with respect to such Xxxxxxxx Disposal Account
asserts that any of the key disposal terms offered by the Company, Buyer or
their Affiliates to such Xxxxxxxx Disposal Account following the Closing are
materially less favorable than the disposal terms in existence as of the Closing
Date with respect to such Xxxxxxxx Disposal Account; provided further,
however, that
the foregoing restrictions set forth in this Section 6.12(b) shall
not prohibit RSG, Seller or any Affiliate from (i) accepting disposal business
from customers willing to pay the posted gate disposal fees (without providing
any broker, trucking or other refund, deduction, credit or discount of any
kind), (ii) responding to, or executing a contract with any customer solicited
through, a request for proposals or other bidding process (public but not
private), or (iii) continuing to do business with any existing customers of RSG,
Seller or any of their Affiliates at locations not included in the Xxxxxxxx
Company Assets, so long as such business does not include the solicitation or
acceptance of any business included in the Xxxxxxxx Disposal Accounts as of the
date hereof. For purposes of clarifying clause (iii) above, contracts
in place as of the date hereof with existing customers of RSG, Seller or their
Affiliates shall not be considered a solicitation or acceptance of existing
Xxxxxxxx Disposal Account business.
(c) In addition to any
other rights or remedies available to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement or any
other agreement, at law or in equity, Buyer shall be entitled to injunctive
relief requiring specific performance by Seller and its Affiliates of this
Section and Seller, for itself and its Affiliates, consents to the entry
thereof.
(d) The Seller Parties
and Buyer acknowledge that the intent of this Section 6.12 is to
impose the same restrictions, limitations, conditions and exceptions that would
apply pursuant to Section 6.20 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement if the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets were being sold under
the Asset Purchase Agreement.
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6.13 Employees and Employee
Benefits.
(a) Effective
as of the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause the Company to continue employment of
the Company Employees listed on Schedule 6.13(a) and
who remain actively employed by the Company as of such date on terms (position,
salary or hourly wage rate, bonus, health and welfare benefits, etc.) similar to
those in effect immediately prior to Closing for similarly situated employees of
Buyer and its Affiliates; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer may cause the Company to terminate (i) up
to a number of the employees of the Company listed on Schedule 6.13(a)
that, when taken together with Offered Employees who are not offered employment
pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of Section 6.10(a)
of the Asset Purchase Agreement, does not exceed 5 so long as Buyer has valid
business reasons (which may include any position that Buyer deems redundant or
unnecessary) for doing so as reasonably approved by RSG and (ii) an unlimited
number of such employees who fail to satisfy Buyer’s pre-employment screening
policies (provided that Buyer shall provide RSG with a reasonably detailed
description of the circumstances with respect to such failure for each such
employee). For purposes of this Agreement, any such Company Employee
who is not actively at work on the Closing Date because of vacation, holiday,
personal leave, sick or medical leave, maternity, paternity or other
family-related leave, military leave, jury duty, bereavement leave or any other
leave shall be treated in accordance with the preceding
sentence. Each such Company Employee who continues employment with
the Company immediately following the Closing is referred to as a “Continuing
Employee.” Seller shall update Schedule 6.13(a) at
Closing to reflect those such employees who remain actively employed by the
Company as of such date (including any such employees on leave as of such
date). “Seller Benefit
Plan(s)” means all “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section
3(3) of ERISA and any other written or oral employee benefit plan, arrangement,
practice, contract, policy, or program (other than arrangements merely involving
the payment of wages) which are or at any time have been established,
maintained, or contributed to for the benefit of current or former Continuing
Employees.
(b) Buyer
acknowledges and agrees that the Continuing Employees are entitled to the
severance, retention and stay bonus obligations described on Schedule 6.13(b) (the
“Assumed Severance,
Retention and Stay Bonus Liabilities”) and that, as of the Closing, the
Company and/or the Buyer shall jointly and severally assume the Assumed
Severance, Retention and Stay Bonus Liabilities for the Continuing
Employees.
(c) Continuing
Employees shall be given credit for their years of service with the Company
under Buyer’s Benefit Plans. Buyer shall take all actions reasonably
necessary to ensure that all Continuing Employees are eligible to be enrolled in
all applicable Benefit Plans of Buyer effective as of the Closing and are
enrolled as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing (but in no
event later than 15 Business Days following the Closing Date), and shall take
all actions reasonably necessary to ensure that, to the fullest extent permitted
under such Benefit Plans, any applicable probationary or waiting periods, or
eligibility requirements are waived with respect to Continuing
Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyers shall take all
actions reasonably necessary to ensure that all Continuing Employees are
enrolled in all applicable Benefit Plans of Buyer providing health, medical and
similar benefits (the “Medical Plans”)
effective as of the Closing and shall take all actions reasonably necessary to
ensure that any probationary or waiting periods, eligibility requirements,
applicable under any such Medical Plans are waived with respect to the
Continuing Employees.
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(d) Buyer is not
assuming any of the Seller Benefit Plans.
(e) Sellers
shall take all necessary action to cease participation by the Company and all
Company Employees’ in Sellers or its Affiliates’ Benefit Plans and to assure
that the Company will not be a sponsor of or participate in or maintain any
Benefit Plans.
6.14 Certain Other
Matters. The Seller Parties and Buyer hereby acknowledge and
agree as follows: (a) Buyer has conducted an independent investigation of the
Company, the Landfill and the Business and, except for the representations,
warranties, covenants and obligations of the Seller Parties expressly set forth
in this Agreement, is purchasing the Shares on an “as-is, where-is” basis, (b)
except as expressly set forth in Article III, the
Seller Parties make no representations or warranties, express or implied, at law
or in equity, in respect of the Shares or otherwise in connection with this
Agreement including with respect to merchantability or fitness for any
particular purpose, and any such other representations or warranties are hereby
expressly disclaimed, (c) except as expressly set forth in Article III, Buyer
has not relied on any representations or warranties by or on behalf of the
Seller Parties in connection with its execution of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Transactions, and any such other representations or
warranties shall not be implied at law or in equity, (d) except as expressly set
forth in Article
IV, Buyer makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, at
law or in equity, in connection with this Agreement, and any such other
representations or warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed, and (e) except as
expressly set forth in Article IV, the
Seller Parties have not relied on any representations or warranties by or on
behalf of Buyer in connection with their execution of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Transactions, and any such other representations or
warranties shall not be implied at law or in equity. The terms and
provisions of this paragraph shall survive the Closing hereunder.
6.15 Exclusivity
Period. Following the date of this Agreement through the
Closing Date (the “Exclusivity Period”),
neither the Seller Parties nor any of their respective Affiliates shall
initiate, solicit, negotiate, encourage or provide information to facilitate,
and neither the Seller Parties nor any of their respective Affiliates shall, and
shall use its or their reasonable efforts to cause any officer, director or
employee of the Seller Parties and their respective Affiliates, or any counsel,
accountant, investment banker, financial advisor or other agent retained by it
or them not to, initiate, solicit, negotiate, encourage or provide information
to facilitate, any proposal or offer to acquire all or any substantial part of
the Shares or the Company’s assets, including the Landfill, whether for cash,
securities or any other consideration or combination thereof (any such
transactions being referred to herein as an “Acquisition
Transaction”), nor shall the Seller Parties or any of their respective
Affiliates enter into or consummate any agreement or commitment with
respect to an Acquisition Transaction; provided, however, that the foregoing
obligations of the Seller Parties pursuant this Section 6.15 and the
Exclusivity Period shall immediately terminate and be of no further effect upon
the earlier to occur of any of the following: (a) the right of RSG to terminate
the Asset Purchase Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d) of the
Asset Purchase Agreement is triggered; (b) the right of Buyer to terminate the
Asset Purchase Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c) of the
Asset Purchase Agreement is triggered; or (c) the DOJ at any time indicates to
RSG and Buyer verbally or in writing that the DOJ Consent is being withheld or
materially delayed.
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6.16 Notice of
Developments. The Seller Parties shall promptly notify Buyer
of any facts, circumstances or matters arising after the date of this Agreement
that any Seller Party becomes aware of that could reasonably be expected to have
a Sellers’ Material Adverse Effect. The parties hereto agree to give
prompt notice to each other of, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to
remedy, (a) the occurrence or failure to occur of any event which occurrence or
failure to occur would be likely to cause any of its or their representations or
warranties in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect
at the Closing Date (with respect to the Seller Parties, after giving effect to
Section 6.9 of
the Asset Purchase Agreement), and (b) any material failure on its or their part
to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied
with or satisfied by it or them hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery
of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall
not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party
receiving such notice. During the period between the date hereof and
the Closing Date, Seller shall provide written notice to Buyer in the event that
the Company receives notice of the loss or termination of any Material Xxxxxxxx
Disposal Contract.
6.17 Certain Deliveries by Seller
and Buyer.
(a) At the
Closing or as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, Seller shall use
its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Buyer certificates of recent
date (with respect to the Closing) as to the good standing of each Seller
Party.
(b) At the
Closing or as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, Buyer shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Seller certificates of recent date
(with respect to the Closing) as to the good standing of Buyer.
6.18 General Release by Seller
and RSG. Each of Seller and RSG hereby fully releases and
discharges the Company and its directors, officers, agents and employees from
all rights, claims and actions, known or unknown, of any kind whatsoever, which
such Seller Party now has against the Company and its directors, officers,
agents and employees, arising out of or relating to events arising prior to or
on the Closing Date, except for the obligations of the Company arising after the
Closing under this Agreement. Specifically, but not by way of
limitation, each Seller Party waives any right of indemnification, contribution
or other recourse against the Company which it now has or may hereafter have
against the Company with respect to representations, warranties or covenants
made in this Agreement by the Company.
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6.19 Tax
Returns.
(a) Seller shall timely
prepare and file, or cause to be timely prepared and filed, all Tax Returns of
the Company for all Tax periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date and
timely pay, or cause to be paid, when due, all Taxes relating to such returns.
All such Tax Returns
shall be prepared and filed in a manner consistent with prior practice, except
as required by a change in applicable law. Neither Buyer nor any
Affiliate of Buyer shall amend, refile or otherwise modify, or cause or permit
the Company to amend, refile or otherwise modify, any Tax election or Tax Return
with respect to any taxable period (or portion of any taxable period), ending on
or before the Closing Date without the prior written consent of Seller, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(b) Buyer
shall timely prepare and file, or cause to be timely prepared and filed, all Tax
Returns of the Company for taxable periods that begin before and end after the
Closing Date (“Straddle Periods”),
and timely pay, or cause to be paid, when due, all Taxes relating to such
returns. All such Tax Returns shall be prepared and filed in a manner
consistent with prior practice, except as required by a change in applicable
law. Buyer shall provide, or cause to be provided, to Seller a
substantially final draft of each such Tax Return with respect to which Seller
may be responsible for the payment of any Tax at least 30 days prior to the due
date, giving effect to extensions thereto, for filing such Tax Return, for
review by Seller. Seller shall notify Buyer of any reasonable
objections Seller may have to any items set forth in such draft Tax Return and
Buyer and Seller agree to consult and resolve in good faith any such objection
and to mutually consent to the filing of such Tax Return. At least 10
days prior to the due date for such Tax Returns, giving effect to extensions
thereto, Seller shall pay to Buyer the amount of Taxes for which Seller is
responsible under Section 9.2 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement, giving effect to Section 6.19(c)
below.
(c) For
the sole purpose of appropriately apportioning any Taxes relating to a Straddle
Period, such apportionment shall be made assuming that the Company had a taxable
year that ended at the close of business on the Closing Date. In the
case of property Taxes and similar Taxes which apply ratably to a taxable
period, the amount of Taxes allocable to the portion of the Straddle Period
ending on the Closing Date (i.e., the portion
that is a Pre-Closing Period) shall equal the Tax for the period multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days in the period up to
and including the Closing Date, and the denominator of which shall be the total
number of days in the period.
6.20 Code Section 338(h)(10)
Election and Allocation.
(a) At
Buyer’s request, Seller (or the parent of the consolidated group that includes
Seller) and Buyer shall join in making an election under Code §338(h)(10) (and
any corresponding elections under state, local, or foreign tax law)
(collectively a Ҥ338(h)(10)
Election”) with respect to the purchase and sale of the Shares
hereunder.
(b) In the
event of a §338(h)(10) Election, the parties agree that the portion of the
Purchase Price allocated to the Shares under Section 1.6 of the Asset Purchase
Agreement and the liabilities of the Company (plus other relevant items) will be
allocated among the assets of the Company for all purposes (including Tax and
financial accounting purposes) as determined by Seller and Buyer in accordance
with Section 338 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder. Buyer, the Company, and Seller shall file all Tax Returns
(including amended returns and claims for refund) and information reports,
including Internal Revenue Service Forms 8023 and 8883, in a manner consistent
with an allocation determined in accordance with these provisions.
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6.21 Refunds. Seller
shall be entitled to any refunds, credits or other receivables of the Company
against or relating to Taxes to the extent for, attributable to or arising in
Pre-Closing Periods, except to the except such refunds, credits or other
receivables are taken into account in the determination of the Actual True-Up
Amount under the Asset Purchase Agreement. The Company agrees to file or cause
to be filed or permit Seller to file all Tax Returns (including amended Tax
Returns) or other documents claiming any such refunds or credits to which Seller
is entitled pursuant to this Section 6.21,
provided that no such Tax Returns (other than a Tax Return involving only RSG
and/or members of its consolidated tax group) shall be filed without the consent
of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. The Company shall permit Seller to control the prosecution
of any such refund claim, provided that no such claim (other than a claim
involving only RSG and/or members of its consolidated tax group) shall be
settled without the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
6.22 Tax
Contests.
(a) For
periods following the Closing, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing of
any proposed assessment or the commencement of any Tax audit or administrative
or judicial proceeding or any demand or claim on Buyer, its Affiliates or the
Company that, if determined adversely to the taxpayer or after the lapse of
time, could be grounds for indemnification by Seller under Section 9.2 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement. Such notice shall contain factual
information (to the extent known to Buyer, its Affiliates or the Company)
describing the asserted Tax liability in reasonable detail and shall include
copies of any notice or other document received from any taxing authority in
respect of any such asserted Tax liability. If Buyer fails to give
Seller prompt notice of an asserted Tax liability as required by this Section 6.22,
then Seller shall not have any obligation to indemnify for any loss arising out
of such asserted Tax liability, but only to the extent that failure to give such
notice results in a detriment to Seller.
(b) In the
case of a Tax audit or administrative or judicial proceeding (a “Tax Contest”) that
relates solely to taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date, Seller
shall have the sole right, at its expense, to control the conduct of such Tax
Contest; provided, however, that if settlement of
such a Tax Contest could affect Buyer’s or the Company’s liability for Taxes for
which Buyer is responsible under this Agreement, such settlement shall not be
agreed to by Seller without the consent of Buyer, which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. In the case of Tax Contests
covering multiple periods, including one or more taxable period ending on or
before the Closing Date and one or more other taxable period beginning after the
Closing Date, Seller shall have the sole right, at its expense, to control the
portion of such Tax Contests that relates to taxable periods ending on or before
the Closing Date, and Buyer shall have the sole right, at its expense, to
control the portion of such Tax Contests that relates to taxable periods
beginning after the Closing Date; provided, however, that if
settlement of all or any portion of such any such Tax Contest by the party
controlling it could affect Taxes for which the other party (Buyer or Seller, as
the case may be) is responsible under this Agreement, such settlement shall not
be agreed to by the party controlling such Tax Contest without the consent of
such other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
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(c) With
respect to Tax Contests that relate to Straddle Periods, Seller and Buyer shall
cooperate and shall jointly control such Tax Contests, each at its own
expense. Buyer shall cause the Company to cooperate in such Tax
Contests. No Tax Contest relating to a Straddle Period may be settled
or compromised without the consent of both Buyer and Seller, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
6.23 Cooperation.
(a) Buyer,
the Company and Seller shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably
requested by the other party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns of
the Company and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes.
Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other party’s
request) the provision of books, records and information that are reasonably
relevant to any such Tax Returns, audit, litigation or other proceeding and
making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional
information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Company and
Seller agree (i) to retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters
pertinent to the Company relating to any taxable period beginning before the
Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the
extent notified by Buyer or Seller, any extensions thereof) of the respective
taxable periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into
with any taxing authority, and (ii) to give the other party reasonable written
notice prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and
records and, if the other party so requests, the Company or Seller, as the case
may be, shall allow the other party to take possession of such books and
records.
(b) Buyer and
Seller further agree, upon request, to use their commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain any certificate or other document from any governmental authority or
any other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax
that could be imposed (including, but not limited to, with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby).
6.24 Prorations and
Charges. Seller shall (or shall cause the Company to) pay all
Taxes and assessments relating to the Owned Real Property for any Tax year prior
to the real estate Tax year in which the Closing occurs shall be paid in full on
or before the Closing Date or deposit (or cause the Company to deposit) in
escrow with the Title Company for payment to the relevant Tax authority an
amount sufficient to fully discharge the same. Real Property Taxes
for the current Tax year shall be prorated between Seller and Buyer as of the
Closing Date on a daily, pro-rata basis based upon the latest available
estimates of the amount thereof or the actual amount of such
Taxes. In the event that the actual amount of any such Taxes for an
applicable Tax period is not known as of the Closing Date, the proration of such
Taxes shall be made based upon the latest available Tax figures, and when the
actual Tax bills for such Taxes for the applicable Tax period is received by
either Buyer (or the Company) or Seller, such party shall provide
notice of its receipt and a copy of such bills to the other and, if necessary,
they shall thereafter promptly make a cash settlement based upon the actual Tax
bills. In addition, all other operating expenses associated with the
Owned Real Property shall be prorated as of the Closing Date.
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6.25 Condemnation or
Casualty. If prior to the Closing, the Owned Real Property or
any part thereof is subject to an eminent domain or condemnation proceeding or
any improvement thereon is damaged by fire, flood or other casualty, Sellers
shall give written notice thereof to Buyer, and Buyer shall be entitled to any
condemnation award or insurance proceeds resulting from any such event. At the
Closing, Seller shall and shall cause the Company to execute and deliver all
documents reasonably requested by Buyer to effectuate such
assignment. Upon any assignment of a condemnation award or insurance
proceeds, all risk of collection with respect thereto shall be on Buyer and not
Seller.
6.26 Seller Parties’
Representative. In order to administer efficiently the rights and
obligations of the Seller Parties under this Agreement, each Seller Party hereby
designates and appoints RSG as such Seller Party’s representative (the “Seller’s
Representative”) to serve as Seller Parties’ agent and attorney-in-fact
for the limited purposes set forth in this Agreement. Each Seller
Party hereby appoints Seller’s Representative as such Seller Party’s agent,
proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, for all purposes
set forth in this Agreement, including the full power and authority on such
Seller Party’s behalf: (i) to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; (ii) to disburse any funds received hereunder to the Seller
Parties; (iii) to execute and deliver on behalf of each Seller Party any
amendment of or waiver under this Agreement, and to agree to resolution of all
claims hereunder; (iv) to retain legal counsel and other professional services,
at the expense of the Seller Parties, in connection with the performance by
Seller’s Representative of this Agreement including all actions taken on behalf
of Seller Parties as Indemnifying Party pursuant to Article IX of the
Asset Purchase Agreement; and (v) to do each and every act and exercise any and
all rights which such Seller Party is permitted or required to do or exercise
under this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and certificates
executed in connection herewith. Each Seller Party agrees that such
agency and proxy are coupled with an interest, are therefore irrevocable without
the consent of Seller’s Representative and shall survive the bankruptcy or other
incapacity of any Seller Party. Each Seller Party hereby agrees that
any amendment or waiver under this Agreement, and any action taken on behalf of
the Seller Parties to enforce the rights of the Seller Parties under this
Agreement, and any action taken with respect to any claim subject to
indemnification by any Seller Party pursuant to Article IX of the
Asset Purchase Agreement (including any action taken to object to, defend,
compromise or agree to the payment of such claim), shall be effective if
approved in writing by Seller’s Representative, and that each and every action
so taken shall be binding and conclusive on each Seller Party, whether or not
such Seller Party had notice of, or approved, such amendment or
waiver.
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ARTICLE
VII
CLOSING CONDITION;
TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
7.1 Closing
under the Asset Purchase Agreement. The respective obligations of
each of the parties to effect the Transactions are subject solely to the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (ii) of
paragraph 7 of the Closing Side Letter.
7.2 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated or abandoned solely as set forth in Article VIII of the
Asset Purchase Agreement. Any termination or abandonment of this
Agreement shall have the effect specified in Section 8.2 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement based on the applicable provision in Section 8.1 of the
Asset Purchase Agreement giving rise to the termination of the Asset Purchase
Agreement and this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VIII
NONDISCLOSURE
8.1 Nondisclosure by
Buyer. Buyer recognizes and acknowledges that, in connection
with the Transactions, the Seller Parties have provided to Buyer and will
provide to it prior to the Closing Date Confidential Information of Seller and
the Company, including lists of customers, operational policies and pricing and
cost policies that are valuable, special and unique assets of the Seller
Parties. Buyer agrees that it will not, except as may be required by
law or valid legal process, disclose such Confidential Information to any Person
for any purpose or reason whatsoever, prior to the Closing Date except to
authorized representatives of Buyer, unless such information is or becomes known
to the public generally through no fault of Buyer. The provisions of
this Section
8.1 shall apply at all times prior to the Closing Date and for a period
of one year following the earlier of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) termination
of this Agreement without a Closing having occurred.
8.2 Confidential
Information. Neither Seller or RSG nor any of their respective
Affiliates shall at any time subsequent to the Closing, except as explicitly
requested by Buyer or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, use for any
purpose or disclose to any Person any Confidential Information relating
primarily to the Company, the Landfill, the Business or the Xxxxxxxx Company
Liabilities, all such information being deemed to be transferred to Buyer under
this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential
Information” shall mean proprietary, non-public information relating
primarily to the Company, the Landfill, the Business or the Xxxxxxxx Company
Liabilities. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to any
information which is or relates to an Excluded Asset or to the Excluded
Liabilities or which relates to Tax matters of Seller or RSG. Both
the Seller Parties and Buyer shall maintain Confidential Information that
relates to Excluded Liabilities in duplicate. If, at any time after
the Closing, Seller or RSG should discover that they are in possession of any
records and files containing the Confidential Information of Buyer or the
Company, then the party making such discovery shall immediately turn such
records and files over to Buyer, which shall upon request make available to the
surrendering party any information contained therein which is not Confidential
Information. Seller and RSG agree that they will not assert a waiver
of loss of confidential or privileged status of the information based upon such
possession or discovery.
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8.3 Equitable Relief for
Violations. The parties acknowledge that an irreparable injury
may result to the non-violating party and its business in the event of a breach
by the violating party of any provision in this Article
VIII. The parties also acknowledge and agree that the damages
or injuries that a non-violating party sustains as a result of such a breach are
difficult to ascertain and money damages alone may not be an adequate remedy to
a non-violating party. The parties therefore expressly agree that if
a controversy arises concerning the rights or obligations of a party under this
Article VIII,
such rights or obligations shall be enforceable by a court decree of specific
performance and a non-violating party shall also be entitled to any injunctive
relief from the court pursuant to Article X necessary
to prevent or restrain any such breach. Such relief shall be granted
without the necessity of a showing of irreparable harm and without the posting
of a bond or other security. Such relief, however, shall be
cumulative and non-exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedy to
which the parties may be entitled in accordance with this Agreement
ARTICLE
IX
DEFINITIONS
As used
in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings given
to them below:
“Acquisition
Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section
6.15.
“Affiliate” means,
with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly
controlled by, controlling or under common control with such
Person. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to
control another Person if such first Person directly or indirectly owns or holds
10% or more of the ownership interest in such other Person.
“Affiliated Group”
means an affiliated group as defined in Code Section 1504(a) or any similar
group defined under a similar provision of state or local Tax law.
“Agreement” has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Antitrust Division”
means the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of
Justice.
“Applicable Laws”
means all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, rules, regulations,
orders, ordinances (including zoning restrictions and land use requirements and
Environmental Laws and regulations) and all administrative and judicial
judgments, rulings, decisions and orders applicable to Seller, Buyer, the
Company, the Landfill or the Business.
“Asset Purchase
Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Assumed Severance, Retention
and Stay Bonus Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section
6.13(b).
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“Blanket Liens” has
the meaning specified in Section
6.11.
“Business” has the
meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Business Day” means
any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which banks are
authorized or required by law to be closed in New York, New York.
“Buyer” has the
meanings specified in the introductory paragraph of the Agreement.
“Buyer’s Disclosure
Schedules” means the schedules to the specific Sections of the Agreement
delivered by Buyer to Seller.
“CERCLA” means the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
1980.
“Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Company” has the
meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Xxxxxxxx Company
Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section
1.5.
“Shares” has the
meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Confidential
Information” has the meaning specified in Section
8.2.
“Confidentiality
Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section
6.2.
“Contract” means any
agreement, contract, arrangement, understanding, lease, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, loan agreement, franchise agreement, covenant, employment agreement,
license, instrument, purchase and sales order, commitment, undertaking,
obligation, or other legally binding agreement, whether written or oral, and
including all amendments thereto.
“Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Accounts” has the meaning specified in Section
1.2(c)(i).
“Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section
1.2(c)(i).
“DOJ” and “DOJ Consent” have the
meanings specified in Section
6.8(b).
“Employee Records”
means human resources records, employee personnel files (including all employee
benefit files and employee investigation files, if applicable) and related
files.
“Encumbrances” means
liens, security interests, encumbrances, adverse claims, leases, rights of
repurchase or purchase, rights of first refusal, pledges, voting trusts,
equities and other restrictions, limitations or conditions on transfer of any
nature whatsoever.
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“Environmental Laws”
means all Applicable Laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or
the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land
surface or subsurface strata), including laws and regulations relating to
workplace or worker safety and health or emissions, discharges, Releases or
threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental
Permits” means any environmental permits, license approval, consent, or
authorization issued by a federal, state, or local government or regulatory
entity to the extent related to the Xxxxxxxx Company Assets.
“Equipment” has the
meaning specified in Section
1.2(c)(ii).
“Equipment Leases” has
the meaning specified in Section
1.2(c)(ii).
“Excluded Assets” has
the meaning specified in Section
1.4.
“Excluded Liabilities”
has the meaning specified in Section
1.6.
“Exclusivity Period”
has the meaning specified in Section
6.15.
“Fraud Claims” means
indemnity claims based upon a willful, fraudulent or intentional
misrepresentation or concealment of any party contained in this Agreement or
Buyer’s Disclosure Schedules or Seller’s Disclosure Schedules, as
applicable.
“GAAP” means United
States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis.
“Governmental
Authority” means the Antitrust Division, any State of the United States
of America, any local authority and any political subdivision of any of the
foregoing, any multi-national organization or body, any agency, department,
commission, board, bureau, court or other authority of any of the foregoing, or
any quasi-governmental or private body exercising, or purporting to exercise,
any executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, police, regulatory or
taxing authority or power of any nature.
“Hazardous Materials”
means any chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes and toxic substances,
including: (A) the presence of which requires reporting, investigation, removal
or remediation under any Environmental Law; (B) that is defined as a “hazardous
waste,” “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “pollutant” or “toxic
substance” under any Environmental Law; (C) that is toxic, explosive, corrosive,
flammable, ignitable, infectious, radioactive, reactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic
or otherwise hazardous and is regulated as such under any Environmental Law; or
(D) that contains gasoline or any other petroleum product or byproduct,
polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos and urea formaldehyde.
“Hold
Separate Period” means the
period beginning on December 4, 2008 and ending on the Closing Date pursuant to
and in accordance with the Republic/Allied Consent Decree.
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“HSR
Act” means the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as
amended.
“Indebtedness” means,
as to any Person, all obligations for payment of principal, interest, penalties
and collection costs related thereto, and other similar obligations (including
any capitalized lease obligations) provided, however, that Indebtedness shall
not include any Landfill Liabilities.
“IP Rights” means all
intangible rights and property, including all customer information and symbols,
trademarks, service marks, logos and trade names, but expressly excluding the
Retained IP.
“Landfill” has the
meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Landfill Liabilities”
has the meaning specified in the Section
1.5(c).
“Leased Real Property”
has the meaning specified in Section
1.2(a).
“Liabilities” means
any claims, obligations, damages, actions, suits, Proceedings, demands,
assessments, adjustments, penalties, losses, debts, costs and expenses and any
other liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever (including court costs,
reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and expenses, consulting fees and
expenses of investigation), whether equitable or legal, matured or contingent,
known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, ordinary or extraordinary, patent or
latent, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued
or due or to become due, and expressly including punitive damages, consequential
damages, treble damages and any damages as a result of or relating to a loss of
profits.
“Material Xxxxxxxx Disposal
Contract” has the meaning specified in Section
3.7(a).
“Medical Plans” has
the meaning specified in Section
6.13(c).
“Organizational
Documents” means the certificates or articles of incorporation,
certificates of formation or articles of organization and the bylaws, LLC
operating agreements or partnership agreements, as applicable, of any
Person.
“Owned Real Property”
has the meaning specified in Section
1.2(a).
“Permits” means any
permits, grants, filings, notices of intent, exemptions, licenses,
authorizations, registrations, franchises, consents, approvals and related
applications of every kind from or with any federal, state, local or foreign
government or regulatory authorities or industrial bodies, including all FCC
radio licenses or call signs to the extent related to the Xxxxxxxx Company
Assets.
“Permitted
Encumbrances” means: (i) zoning ordinances and regulations which do not
materially adversely affect the Company’s use or marketability of the Owned Real
Property for its current uses; (ii) Taxes and assessments, both general and
special, which are a lien but are not yet due and payable at the Closing Date
and (iii) easements, encroachments, Encumbrances, covenants, conditions,
reservations, restrictions and other matters identified on Schedule B-II of the
Title Commitment or on the Survey.
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“Person” means any
individual, firm, partnership, association, trust, corporation, joint venture,
unincorporated organization, limited liability company, Governmental Authority
or other entity.
“Pre-Closing Period”
means any Tax period or portion thereof ending on or before the Closing Date
(including the portion of any Straddle Period ending on the Closing
Date).
“Proceedings” means
any claim, investigation, litigation, action, suit or proceeding, formal
arbitration, informal arbitration or mediation, administrative, judicial or
otherwise.
“Real Estate Leases”
has the meaning specified in Section
1.2(c)(iii).
“Real Property” has
the meaning specified in Section
1.2(a).
“Records” means all of
the Company’s (i) operating records, customer records, maintenance files,
engineering studies, plans and specifications to the extent related to any
Xxxxxxxx Company Assets (in whatever format they exist, whether in hard copy or
electronic format) and (ii) Employee Records related to employees of the Company
who are employed by the Company immediately following the Closing, but excluding
past e-mails that are not part of such files, documents, books and records and
that instead may be stored on servers or networks of Seller or are otherwise
included in the Excluded Assets.
“Release” means
release, spill, leak, discharge, dispose of, pump, pour, emit, empty, inject,
xxxxx, dump or allow to escape into or through the environment.
“Republic/Allied Consent
Decree” means that certain Proposed Final Judgment in U.S. et. al v.
Republic Services, Inc. and Allied Waste Industries, Inc. and the Hold Separate
Stipulation and Order (Civil Action No.: 1:08-cv-02076-RWR) as filed on December
4, 2008 in the District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Retained IP” means
any and all symbols, trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names and other IP
Rights of the Company that are not listed on Schedule
1.2(c)(v).
“Seller” has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph of the Agreement.
“Seller Party” and
“Seller
Parties” have the meanings specified in the introductory paragraph of
this Agreement.
“Seller’s Expenses”
has the meaning specified in Section
6.5(a).
“Seller’s
Representative” has the meaning specified in Section
6.24.
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“Shares” has the
meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Straddle Period” has
the meaning specified in Section
6.19(b).
“Survey” has the
meaning specified in Section
6.4(b).
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any
federal, state, local, foreign, and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, transfer, franchise, real property, profits, payroll, withholding,
unemployment, excise, customs, duties and other taxes, fees, assessments and
charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties and
additions to tax with respect thereto and any Liability for such amounts as a
result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary
group.
“Tax Contest” has the
meaning specified in Section
6.22(b).
“Tax Returns” means
any report, statement, form, return or other document or information required to
be supplied to a taxing authority in connection with Taxes.
“Title Commitment” has
the meaning specified in Section
6.4(a).
“Title Company” means
Xxxxxxx Title Guaranty Company.
“Title Policy” has the
meaning specified in Section
6.4(a).
“Title Requirements”
means those matters shown on Schedule B-I of the Title Commitment.
“Transactions” means
the purchase by Buyer of the Shares from Seller and the other related
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
X
GENERAL
10.1 General. Except
as provided in Article
VIII, the parties agree that any disputes arising out of or related in
any way to this Agreement, including a breach of this Agreement, shall be
brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Wilmington,
Delaware. By execution and delivery of this Agreement, with respect
to any dispute, each of the parties knowingly, voluntarily and irrevocably
(a) consents, for itself and in respect of its property, to the exclusive
jurisdiction of these courts, (b) waives any immunity or objection, including
any objection to personal jurisdiction or the laying of venue or based on the
grounds of forum non conveniens, which it may have from or to the bringing of
the dispute in such jurisdiction, (c) waives any personal service of any
summons, complaint or other process that may be made by any other means
permitted by the State of Delaware, (d) waives any right to trial by jury, (e)
agrees that any such dispute will be decided by court trial without a jury, (f)
understands that it is giving up valuable legal rights under this Section 10.1,
including the right to trial by jury, and that it voluntarily and knowingly
waives those rights and (g) agrees that any party to this Agreement may file an
original counterpart or a copy of this Section 10.1 with any
court as written evidence of the consents, waivers and agreements of the parties
set forth in this Section
10.1.
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10.2 Assignment; Binding Effect;
Amendment. This Agreement and the rights of the parties under
it may not be assigned (except by operation of law) by Seller without the prior
written consent of Buyer or by Buyer without the prior written consent of
Seller. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted
assigns. This Agreement may be modified or amended only by a written
instrument executed by all parties.
10.3 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute but
one and the same instrument.
10.4 Notices. Notices
and other communications shall be given in the manner and with the effect
specified in Section 12.4 of the Asset Purchase Agreement.
10.5 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, the other Equity Purchase
Agreements, the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Closing Side Letter and the other
agreements executed herewith and therewith, together with their respective
exhibits and schedules, are the final, complete and exclusive statement and
expression of the agreement among the parties with relation to the subject
matter of this Agreement, the other Equity Purchase Agreements, the Asset
Purchase Agreement, the Closing Side Letter and such other
agreements. This Agreement, the other Equity Purchase Agreements, the
Asset Purchase Agreement, the Closing Side Letter and such other agreements
supersede, and cannot be varied, contradicted or supplemented by evidence of,
any prior or contemporaneous discussions, correspondence, or oral or written
agreements of any kind, related to the subject matter hereof or
thereof.
10.6 Other. The
provisions of Sections 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8 and 12.9 of the Asset Purchase
Agreement and the provisions of Article XIII of the Asset Purchase Agreement are
incorporated by reference.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by
their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above
written.
BUYER:
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx Xxxx | |||
Name: |
Xxx
Xxxx
|
|||
Title: |
VP,
General Counsel
|
|||
SELLER
PARTIES:
|
||||
REPUBLIC
SERVICES, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title:
|
Vice President | |||
ALLIED
WASTE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title:
|
Vice President | |||
XXXXXXXX
DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title:
|
Vice President |
[Xxxxxxxx Stock Purchase
Agreement]