STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and between PETER HOOPER and FIND/SVP, INC. with respect to all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of ATLANTIC RESEARCH & CONSULTING, INC. Dated as of March 14, 2005
by and
between
XXXXX
XXXXXX
and
FIND/SVP,
INC.
with
respect to all of the
issued
and outstanding capital stock of
ATLANTIC
RESEARCH & CONSULTING, INC.
Dated as
of March 14, 2005
TABLE
OF CONTENTS |
|||
Page | |||
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS |
1 | ||
ARTICLE
II SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES |
7 | ||
Section
2.1 |
Purchase
of Shares |
7 | |
Section
2.2 |
Consideration |
7 | |
Section
2.3 |
Year
One Deferred Consideration |
8 | |
Section
2.4 |
Year
Two Deferred Consideration |
8 | |
Section
2.5 |
Three
Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration |
8 | |
Section
2.6 |
Payment
of Deferred Consideration in Purchaser Common Stock |
8 | |
Section
2.7 |
Determination
of Calculations |
9 | |
Section
2.8 |
Legending
of Consideration Shares |
10 | |
ARTICLE
III CLOSING |
10 | ||
Section
3.1 |
Time
and Place of Closing |
10 | |
Section
3.2 |
Conditions
Precedent to Purchaser’s Obligation to Close. |
10 | |
(a) |
Representations
and Warranties. |
10 | |
(b) |
Compliance
with Obligations. |
11 | |
(c) |
No
Material Adverse Effect. |
11 | |
(d) |
Consents. |
11 | |
(e) |
Due
Diligence. |
11 | |
(f) |
No
Injunctions, etc |
11 | |
(g) |
Receipt
of Documents, etc. |
11 | |
Section
3.3 |
Conditions
Precedent to Seller’s Obligation to Close. |
13 | |
(a) |
Representations
and Warranties. |
13 | |
(b) |
Compliance
with Obligations. |
13 | |
(c) |
No
Injunctions. etc. |
13 | |
(d) |
Receipt
of Documents, etc. |
13 | |
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
14 | ||
Section
4.1 |
Representations
and Warranties of the Seller. |
14 | |
(a) |
Organization. |
14 | |
(b) |
Articles
of Organization, Bylaws and Corporate Records. |
14 | |
(c) |
Capitalization
of the Company. |
14 | |
(d) |
FIRPTA. |
15 | |
(e) |
Authority. |
15 | |
(f) |
Subsidiaries
and Affiliates. |
15 | |
(g) |
Financial
Statements. |
15 | |
(h) |
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities. |
16 | |
(i) |
Taxes. |
16 | |
(j) |
Tangible
Property. |
17 | |
(k) |
No
Conflict. |
17 | |
(l) |
Absence
of Changes. |
18 | |
(m) |
Litigation. |
20 | |
(n) |
Licenses
and Permits: Compliance With Law. |
20 | |
(o) |
Real
Property Leases. |
21 | |
(p) |
Real
Property Ownership. |
22 | |
(q) |
Intellectual
Property. |
22 | |
(r) |
Contracts. |
24 | |
(s) |
Labor
Matters. |
25 | |
(t) |
Pension
and Benefit Plans. |
26 |
i
|
(u) |
Insurance. |
28 |
(v) |
Employees. |
29 | |
(w) |
Customers
and Suppliers. |
30 | |
(x) |
Governmental
Approvals and Third Party Consents. |
30 | |
(y) |
Transactions
with Related Parties. |
30 | |
(z) |
Brokers
and Intermediaries. |
31 | |
(aa) |
Title
to Securities. |
31 | |
(bb) |
List
of Bank Accounts and Proxies. |
31 | |
(cc) |
Environmental
and Safety Matters. |
31 | |
(dd) |
Accounts
Receivable, Notes Receivable, and Costs in Excess of
Billing. |
32 | |
(ee) |
Investment
in the Consideration Shares. |
32 | |
(ff) |
Disclosure. |
33 | |
Section
4.2 |
Representations
and Warranties of the Purchaser. |
33 | |
(a) |
Organization
and Standing. |
33 | |
(b) |
Corporate
Power and Authority. |
33 | |
(c) |
Agreement
Does Not Violate Other Instruments. |
33 | |
(d) |
Litigation. |
34 | |
(e) |
Approvals. |
34 | |
(f) |
Brokers
and Intermediaries. |
34 | |
(g) |
Consideration
Shares. |
34 | |
ARTICLE
V COVENANTS AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS |
34 | ||
Section
5.1 |
Preparation
of Tax Return; S Corporation Status. |
34 | |
(a) |
Tax
Returns. |
34 | |
(b) |
Cooperation
on Tax Matters. |
34 | |
(c) |
Tax
Refunds. |
35 | |
(d) |
Transfer
Taxes. |
35 | |
(e) |
Apportionment
of Straddle Periods. |
35 | |
(f) |
S
Corporation Status. |
35 | |
Section
5.2 |
Notification. |
35 | |
Section
5.3 |
Confidentiality. |
36 | |
Section
5.4 |
Covenant
Not to Compete. |
36 | |
Section
5.5 |
Further
Assurances. |
38 | |
Section
5.6 |
Subsequent
Actions. |
39 | |
Section
5.7 |
Covenants
Regarding Deferred Consideration. |
39 | |
Section
5.8 |
Payment
of Deferred Consideration Upon Certain Events of Default. |
40 | |
Section
5.9 |
Payment
of Deferred Consideration Upon Bankruptcy Event. |
42 | |
Section
5.10 |
Indebtedness. |
43 | |
Section
5.11 |
Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller. |
43 | |
Section
5.12 |
Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller Relating to Due Diligence. |
44 | |
Section
5.13 |
Negative
Covenants of the Seller. |
44 | |
Section
5.14 |
Affirmative
Covenants of the Purchaser. |
46 | |
Section
5.15 |
Acquisition
Proposals: No Solicitation. In consideration of the
substantial |
47 | |
ARTICLE
V.A TERMINATION |
47 | ||
Section
5A.1 |
Termination
by the Purchaser. |
47 | |
Section
5A.2 |
Termination
by the Seller. |
48 | |
Section
5A.3 |
Effect
of Termination. |
48 | |
Section
5A.4 |
Notice
of Termination. |
48 | |
Section
5A.5 |
Waiver. |
48 | |
ARTICLE
VI INDEMNIFICATION |
49 | ||
Section
6.1 |
Survival
of the Representations and Warranties. |
49 | |
Section
6.2 |
Effects
of Investigation; Supplement of Schedules Prior to
Closing. |
49 | |
Section
6.3 |
Indemnification
Generally. |
49 | |
(a) |
By
the Seller. |
49 |
ii
(b) |
By
the Purchaser. |
50 | |
(c) |
Indemnity
Procedure. |
50 | |
(d) |
Limitations
on Indemnification. |
51 | |
(e) |
Right
to Set-off Against Additional Consideration. |
52 | |
Section
6.4 |
Obligation. |
52 | |
ARTICLE
VII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
52 | ||
Section
7.1 |
Expenses. |
52 | |
Section
7.2 |
Governing
Law. |
52 | |
Section
7.3 |
Notices. |
52 | |
Section
7.4 |
No
Waiver of Remedies, etc |
53 | |
Section
7.5 |
Injunctive
Relief; Jurisdiction and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial. |
53 | |
Section
7.6 |
Counterparts. |
54 | |
Section
7.7 |
Section
and Other Headings. |
54 | |
Section
7.8 |
Entire
Agreement; Incorporation by Reference. |
54 | |
Section
7.9 |
Binding
Effect. |
54 | |
Section
7.10 |
Amendment
or Modification. |
54 | |
Section
7.11 |
Waiver. |
54 | |
Section
7.12 |
Severability. |
54 | |
Section
7.13 |
Assignment. |
55 | |
Section
7.14 |
Publicity. |
55 | |
Section
7.15 |
Enforcement. |
55 | |
Section
7.16 |
Construction. |
55 |
iii
THIS
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 14, 2005, is
entered into by and between FIND/SVP, INC., a New York corporation with its
principal offices at 000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (the
“Purchaser”); and XXXXX XXXXXX, an individual residing at 00 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the “Seller”).
W I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Seller is the legal and beneficial owner of all of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of ATLANTIC RESEARCH & CONSULTING, INC.,
a Massachusetts corporation, with its principal offices at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Company”); and
WHEREAS,
the Seller desires to sell, and the Purchaser desires to acquire, all of the
shares of the capital stock of the Company, upon the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and promises herein contained, the Purchaser and the
Seller hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
As used
herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context
otherwise requires:
“Acquisition
Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.15 hereof.
“Additional
Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount” means a sum determined in
accordance with the formula set forth on Schedule
2.5
hereto.
“Affiliate”
of a Person means a Person that directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with
such Person. The term “Affiliate” shall include any Person that owns or has
control over more than ten percent (10%) of the equity interests in another
Person. With respect to Section 5.4 only, “Affiliate” shall only mean the
subsidiaries and related entities of Purchaser set forth in its filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.
“Agent”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.15 hereof.
“Applicable
Law” means, with respect to any Person, any international, national, regional,
state or local treaty, statute, law, ordinance, rule, administrative action,
regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or other requirement of
any Governmental Entity and any requirements imposed by common law or case law,
applicable to such Person or any of its properties, assets, officers, directors,
employees, consultants or agents (in connection with their activities on behalf
of such Person). Applicable Law includes, without limitation, environmental
laws, state and local zoning laws and ordinances, land use and building laws,
laws respecting the sale of services, laws respecting employment and labor, and
laws respecting bidding on contracts.
1
“Assets”
means all tangible and intangible property owned by the Company and any other
assets of the Company designated as assets pursuant to GAAP.
“Average
Closing Price” means the average closing price of the Purchaser Common Stock
quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board on the NASDAQ System (or whatever principal
exchange the shares of Purchaser are being traded on at the time of
determination) for a twenty (20) consecutive trading day period ending on the
third trading day prior to (a) the Closing Date with respect to the
Consideration Shares payable pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii) hereof, or (b) the
earlier of (i) the actual date of payment or (ii) the 90th day
after the first, second or third anniversary of the Closing Date hereof in
connection with, respectively, the Year One Deferred Consideration Amount, the
Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount or the Three Year Aggregate Deferred
Consideration Amount as may be payable pursuant to Section 2.6
hereof.
“Business”
means the business of the Company, including, but not limited to, qualitative
and quantitative market research, and data collection services.
“CERCLA”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(cc) hereof.
“Closing”
means the consummation of the transactions provided for in this
Agreement.
“Closing
Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 hereof.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statutes
thereto.
“Common
Stock” means the authorized common stock, no par value per share, of the
Company.
“Consideration
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 below.
“Company
Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(q)
hereof.
“Content”
shall mean any and all information, pictures, images, graphics, video, text, and
any other content or information, in whatever form or on any media.
“Company”
has the meaning set forth on the Preamble of this Agreement.
“Determining
Accountants” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(c) hereof.
2
“EBITDA”
means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, each as
determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Employee
Benefit Plan” means any (a) Employee Pension Benefit Plan, (b) Employee Welfare
Benefit Plan or (C) other material fringe benefit plan or program.
“Employee
Pension Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(2) of
ERISA.
“Employee
Welfare Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(1) of
ERISA.
“Encumbrance”
shall mean any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, proxy, voting trust or
agreement, encumbrance, option, restriction on use, voting or transferability,
defect of title, charge or claim of any nature whatsoever on any property or
property interest.
“Environmental
Release” shall have the meaning set forth in CERCLA.
“Environmental
and Safety Requirements” shall mean all Applicable Law concerning public health
and safety, worker health and safety and pollution or protection of the
environment (including, without limitation, all those relating to the presence,
use, production, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage, disposal,
distribution, labeling, testing, processing, discharge, Environmental Release,
threatened Environmental Release, control or cleanup of any hazardous or
otherwise regulated materials, substances or wastes, chemical substances or
mixtures, pesticides, pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum
products or distillates, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise or
radiation).
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“Estimated
Closing Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(g)
hereof.
“Fiduciary”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3(21) of ERISA.
“Financial
Statements” shall have the meaning set forth on Section 4.1(g)
hereof.
“GAAP”
means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied.
“Governmental
Entity” shall mean any national, international, territorial, state, regional,
provincial or local governmental authority, quasi-governmental authority,
instrumentality, court, government or self-regulatory organization, commission,
tribunal or organization or any regulatory, administrative commission or other
agency, or any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of
the foregoing, or any arbitrator or mediator.
“Guaranty”
shall mean, as to any Person, all liabilities or obligations of such Person,
with respect to any indebtedness or other obligations of any other person, which
have been guaranteed, directly or indirectly, in any manner by such Person,
through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, primarily for the purpose of
enabling the debtor to make payment of such indebtedness or obligation or to
guarantee the payment to the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against
loss, or to supply funds to or in any manner invest in the debtor, or
otherwise.
3
"Indebtedness"
of any Person means and includes, without duplication, as of any date as of
which the amount thereof is to be determined, (i) all obligations of such Person
for borrowed money; (ii) all obligations of such Person representing the balance
deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such
balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; (iii) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, or other
similar instruments (other than performance, surety, and appeals bonds arising
in the ordinary course of business); (iv) any capital lease obligation of such
Person; (v) all reimbursement, payment, or similar obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person under acceptance or letters of credit (other than
letters of credit in support of trade obligations or incurred in connection with
public liability insurance, workers compensation, unemployment insurance,
old-age pensions, and other social security benefits other than in respect of
employee benefit plans subject to ERISA); (vi) all obligations of such Person,
contingent or otherwise, under any Guaranty by such Person of the obligations of
another Person of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above; (vii)
all obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above secured by any
mortgage or security interest in property (including without limitation
accounts, contract rights, and general intangibles) owned by such Person and as
to which such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such
obligations other than to the extent of the property subject to such mortgage or
security interest; and (viii) any other indebtedness or liability included on,
or that should be included on, a balance sheet of such Person prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
“Insurance
Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(u) hereof.
“Intellectual
Property” shall mean any United States, foreign, international and state patents
and patent applications, industrial design registrations, certificates of
invention and utility models (collectively, “Patents”); trademarks, service
marks, and trademark or service xxxx registrations and applications, trade
names, trade dress, logos, designs, slogans, and general intangibles of like
nature, together with all goodwill related to the foregoing (collectively,
“Trademarks”); Internet domain names; copyrights, copyright registrations,
renewals and applications for copyrights, including without limitation for
Content and Software (each as defined herein) (collectively, “Copyrights”);
Content; Software, technology, trade secrets and other confidential information,
know-how, proprietary processes, inventions, discoveries, formulae, algorithms,
models and methodologies, rights of privacy and publicity, including but not
limited to, the names, likenesses, voices and biographical information of real
persons, and all license agreements and other agreements granting rights
relating to any of the foregoing which are classified as intangible assets under
GAAP.
“Knowledge”,
whether capitalized or not, means (i) the actual knowledge of such Person after
due inquiry or (ii) knowledge that such Person should have reasonably been
expected to know in the Ordinary Course of Business, unless otherwise provided
for herein to the contrary. A Person (other than an individual) will be deemed
to have “knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if any of such Person's
then current Affiliates, clerk, officers or directors (including, for purposes
of Seller and the Company, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx or Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx), has,
or at any time had, knowledge of such fact or other matter.
4
“Lease”
and “Leases” have the meanings set forth in Section 4.1(o) hereof.
“Leased
Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(o) hereof.
“Liability”
and “Liabilities” means any liability or obligation (whether known or unknown,
whether absolute or contingent, whether liquidated or unliquidated and whether
due or to become due).
“License
Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(q)
hereof.
“Litigation”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(m) hereof.
“Losses”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a) hereof.
“Material
Adverse Effect” means any change, event or condition of any character which has
had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, assets, Liabilities,
properties or business of the Company or on any of its relations with any
Person, employee, customer or supplier.
“Multiemployer
Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(37)(A) of ERISA.
“Ordinary
Course of Business” means, with respect to any Person, the ordinary course of
business of such Person consistent with past custom and practice.
“PBGC”
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Company.
“Person”
shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, business association, unincorporated
association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity or
organization.
“Prohibited
Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975
of the Code.
“Purchase
Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
“Purchaser”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Purchaser’s
Business” means (i) subscription-based research and consulting services, (ii)
any short-answer or rapid-turnaround research and consulting services, (iii) any
in-depth business research or competitive intelligence services, or (iv)
qualitative or quantitative market research.
“Related
Party” and “Related Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(y)
hereof.
5
“Reportable
Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 4043 of ERISA.
“Representatives”
means, as to any Person, its accountants, attorneys, consultants, officers,
directors, employees, agents and other advisers and
representatives.
“Right of
Set-off” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(e) hereof.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
in effect thereunder.
“Seller”
has the meaning set forth in the first preamble of this Agreement.
“Shares”
means all of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
“Software”
shall mean any and all (i) computer programs, including any and all software
implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code
or object code form, (ii) databases, compilations, and any other electronic data
files, including any and all collections of data, whether machine readable or
otherwise, (iii) descriptions, flow-charts, technical and functional
specifications, and other work product used to design, plan, organize, develop,
test, troubleshoot and maintain any of the foregoing, (iv) without limitation to
the foregoing, the software technology supporting any functionality contained on
any of the Company’ Internet site(s), and (v) all documentation, including
technical, end-user, training and troubleshooting manuals and materials,
relating to any of the foregoing.
“Tax” or
“Taxes” means any federal, state, county, municipal, local or foreign income,
gross receipts, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security,
unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, stamp, excise,
occupation, sales, use, transfer, value added, alternative minimum, estimated or
other tax, assessment, charge, duty, fee, levy or other governmental charge of
any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto,
whether disputed or not.
“Three
Year Aggregate EBITDA” means, EBITDA for the Company for the three year period
beginning on the first day of the month following the Closing Date and ending on
the last day of the thirty-sixth month thereafter.
“Three
Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Threshold” means an amount of Three Year
Aggregate EBITDA equal to $2,400,000.
“Three
Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount” means a sum determined in
accordance with the formula set forth on Schedule
2.5
hereto.
“Year One
Deferred Consideration Amount” means a sum determined in accordance with the
formula set forth on Schedule
2.3
hereto.
“Year One
Deferred Consideration Threshold” means an amount of Year One EBITDA equal to
$800,000.
“Year One
EBITDA” means, EBITDA for the Company for the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the Closing Date and ending on the last day of
the twelfth month thereafter.
“Year Two
Deferred Consideration Amount” means a sum determined in accordance with the
formula set forth on Schedule
2.4
hereto.
“Year Two
Deferred Consideration Threshold” means an amount of Year Two EBITDA equal to
$800,000.
6
“Year Two
EBITDA” means, EBITDA for the Company for the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date
and ending on the last day of the twelfth month thereafter.
ARTICLE
II
SALE
AND PURCHASE OF SHARES
Section
2.1 Purchase
of Shares. Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, on the Closing Date, the Seller
shall sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Seller,
all of the Shares issued to Seller, which at Closing shall collectively
constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company. At the Closing, the Seller shall deliver to the Purchaser
all of the certificates representing the Shares together with stock powers
separate from the certificates duly executed by the Seller in blank and
sufficient to convey to the Purchaser good title to all of the Shares free and
clear of any and all Encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.
Section
2.2 Consideration.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the aggregate purchase
price for the Shares shall be Four Million One Hundred Thousand ($4,100,000.00)
Dollars, payable in accordance with Section 2.2 (i) and (ii) below, plus the
amount of any Year One Deferred Consideration Amount, Year Two Deferred
Consideration Amount and Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount that
may be payable pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 hereof, respectively (the
“Purchase Price”). That portion of the Purchase Price to be paid at the Closing
shall be as follows:
(i) |
$3,600,000.00
shall be payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds
at the Closing (the “Initial Cash Consideration”) to the Seller;
and |
(ii) |
$500,000.00
of duly authorized and non-assessable shares (the “Consideration Shares”)
of the Purchaser’s common stock, par value $.0001 per share (the
“Purchaser Common Stock”) issued to the
Seller. |
7
For
purposes of determining the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock which
shall constitute the Consideration Shares payable at Closing to the Seller, the
value of Purchaser Common Stock shall be determined based upon the Average
Closing Price and in the case of any fractional shares resulting from such
determination, the number of shares so determined shall be rounded to the
nearest whole number of shares.
Section
2.3 Year
One Deferred Consideration. If the
Year One EBITDA shall exceed the Year One Deferred Consideration Threshold, the
Purchaser shall, subject to Section 2.6 hereof, pay, or shall arrange for the
Company to pay to the Seller in cash by wire transfer of immediately available
funds the Year One Deferred Consideration Amount indicated on Schedule
2.3 hereto
no later than the later of (i) ninety days after the first anniversary of this
Agreement or (ii) upon the Seller giving timely notice of dispute in accordance
with Section 2.7, within ten (10) days of the determination of the Year One
EBITDA in accordance with Section 2.7.
Section
2.4 Year
Two Deferred Consideration. If the
Year Two EBITDA shall exceed the Year Two Deferred Consideration Threshold, the
Purchaser shall, subject to Section 2.6 hereof, pay, or shall arrange for the
Company to pay to the Seller in cash by wire transfer of immediately available
funds the Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount indicated on Schedule
2.4 hereto
no later than the later of (i) ninety days after the second anniversary of this
Agreement or (ii) upon the Seller giving timely notice of dispute in accordance
with Section 2.7, within ten (10) days of the determination of the Year Two
EBITDA in accordance with Section 2.7.
Section
2.5 Three
Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration. If the
Three Year Aggregate EBITDA equals or exceeds the Three Year Aggregate Deferred
Consideration Threshold, the Purchaser shall, subject to Section 2.6 hereof,
pay, or shall arrange for the Company to pay to the Seller in cash by wire
transfer of immediately available funds the Three Year Aggregate Deferred
Consideration Amount indicated on Schedule
2.5 hereto
no later than the later of (i) ninety days after the third anniversary of this
Agreement or (ii) upon the Seller giving timely notice of dispute in accordance
with Section 2.7, within ten (10) days of the determination of the Three Year
Aggregate EBITDA in accordance with Section 2.7.
Section
2.6 Payment
of Deferred Consideration in Purchaser Common Stock. Notwithstanding
any provision of Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5, Purchaser may, in its sole
discretion, pay no more than one-third of any of the Year One Deferred
Consideration Amount, the Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount or the Three
Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount in the form of Purchaser Common
Stock based on the Average Closing Price.
8
Section
2.7 Determination
of Calculations.
(a) The Year
One EBITDA, the Year One Deferred Consideration Amount, and whether the Year One
Deferred Consideration Threshold has been met shall be determined by the Chief
Financial Officer of the Purchaser no later than sixty (60) days following the
end of the one year period contemplated in the definition of Year One EBITDA,
and notice thereof shall be delivered to the Seller within five (5) days of such
determination. The Year Two EBITDA, the Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount,
and whether the Year Two Deferred Consideration Threshold has been met shall be
determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the Purchaser no later than sixty
(60) days following the end of the two year period contemplated in the
definition of Year Two EBITDA, and notice thereof shall be delivered to the
Seller within five (5) days of such determination. The Three Year Aggregate
EBITDA, the Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount, and whether the
Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Threshold has been met shall be
determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the Purchaser no later than sixty
(60) days following the end of the three year period contemplated in the
definition of Three Year Aggregate EBITDA, and notice thereof shall be delivered
to the Seller within five (5) days of such determination. Each notice delivered
by the Purchaser to the Seller under this Section 2.7 shall include, in
reasonable detail, an explanation of the basis for such determination, a summary
of the books, records and other materials reviewed by the Chief Financial
Officer of the Purchaser in making such determination and a description of the
analysis performed by him in reaching his determination.
(b) The
Seller and his accountant shall be afforded access to and shall be entitled to
review the work papers in connection with the determination of the Year One
EBITDA, the Year Two EBITDA, the Three Year Aggregate EBITDA, the Year One
Deferred Consideration Amount, the Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount, the
Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount and whether the Year One
Deferred Consideration Threshold, the Year Two Deferred Consideration Threshold
or the Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Threshold have been met.
These determinations shall become final and binding upon the parties unless,
within thirty (30) days following notice to the Seller, notice is given by the
Seller to the Purchaser of the Seller’s dispute of any such determination,
setting forth in reasonable detail the Seller’s basis for such objection.
(c) If Seller
delivers timely notice of dispute, the parties shall work together in good faith
to resolve such dispute. If the parties are unable to reach agreement within
thirty (30) days after notice of dispute has been received by the Purchaser,
then all such disputes shall be submitted for resolution as promptly as
practicable thereafter to a mutually acceptable accounting firm of national
reputation (the “Determining Accountants”). The Determining Accountants will
make a determination as to each item in dispute, which determination will be (i)
in writing, (ii) furnished to the Purchaser and the Seller as promptly as
practicable after the items in dispute have been referred to the Determining
Accountants, (iii) made in accordance with this Agreement, and (iv) final and
binding upon each party hereto. Each of the Purchaser and the Seller will use
reasonable efforts to cause the Determining Accountants to render their decision
as soon as reasonably practicable, including without limitation by promptly
complying with all reasonable requests by the Determining Accountants for
information, books, records and similar items. All costs and expenses incurred
as a result of the services rendered by the Determining Accountants in
connection with the determination of such disputed item shall be divided equally
between the Seller and the Purchaser.
9
Section
2.8 Legending
of Consideration Shares. Each
certificate for Purchaser Common Stock to be issued to the Seller pursuant to
this Agreement shall bear substantially the following legend:
NO
TRANSFER OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE EXCEPT
(A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN EFFECT
THEREUNDER (THE “ACT”) AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (B) IF
SUCH TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT. |
ARTICLE
III
CLOSING
Section
3.1 Time
and Place of Closing. The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at
the offices of Xxxx Xxxxxxx, P.C., 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, 00000 at 10:00 A.M., New York time on April 1, 2005, or such other time
and date as the parties shall agree (the “Closing Date”). The closing of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement is herein called the “Closing.” All
proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed at the Closing shall be
deemed to have been taken, delivered and executed simultaneously, and no
proceeding shall be deemed taken nor documents deemed executed or delivered
until all have been taken, delivered and executed.
Section
3.2 Conditions
Precedent to Purchaser’s Obligation to Close. The
obligation of the Purchaser to purchase the Shares and to perform its other
obligations under this Agreement at the Closing shall be subject to the
satisfaction of each and every of the following conditions precedent (or waiver
thereof by the Purchaser) on or prior to the Closing Date:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. Each of
the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in Section 4.1 of
this Agreement or in any certificate or other document delivered pursuant to
this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby,
disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to
materiality or Material Adverse Effect, were true and correct in all material
respects when made and shall be true and correct in all material respects at and
as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such representations and
warranties were made at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that
such representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date),
and the Purchaser shall have received a certificate from the Seller, dated the
Closing Date, to that effect.
10
(b) Compliance
with Obligations.
The
Seller shall have performed and complied, and shall have caused the Company to
perform and comply, in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and
obligations required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them
on or prior to the Closing Date and the Purchaser shall have received a
certificate from the Seller, dated the Closing Date, to that
effect.
(c) No
Material Adverse Effect.Except as
may be set forth herein, since the date hereof there shall have been no change,
occurrence or circumstance having or reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and the Purchaser shall have
received a certificate from the Seller, dated the Closing Date, to such
effect.
(d) Consents. The
Company shall have obtained, on or prior to the Closing Date, the consent of all
Persons, the consent of which is required, so that the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute a default or
accelerate any liability under any agreement to which the Company is a party or
by which the Company is bound.
(e) Due
Diligence. The
Seller shall have afforded the Purchaser, its agents and other Representatives,
complete access to the properties, facilities and books and records of the
Company.
(f) No
Injunctions, etc. The
Closing shall not have been enjoined or prohibited by any judicial or regulatory
proceeding, nor shall any action, proceeding, suit, litigation or investigation
be pending or threatened before any Governmental Entity (i) that seeks to enjoin
or prohibit, or to obtain damages in connection with the Closing or (ii) that
purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement
and the other documents, instruments and agreements to be entered into by the
Seller pursuant hereto.
(g) Receipt
of Documents, etc. The
Purchaser shall have received the following, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Purchaser:
(i) |
certificates
representing the Shares, which certificates shall be in good delivery
form, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock transfer powers
duly executed; |
(ii) |
copies
of the Articles of Organization (as recently certified by its jurisdiction
of incorporation) and Bylaws of the Company, certified by the Secretary of
the Company as of the Closing Date as being true and correct copies
thereof as in effect on the Closing Date; |
(iii) |
a
certificate from the Seller certifying as of the Closing Date the amount
of available cash in the operating account of the Company as of the
Closing; |
(iv) |
all
corporate minute books, stock certificate books and other corporate
records of the Company; |
11
(v) |
a
certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, dated
as of a date within thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, certifying
that the Company is in good standing under the laws of
Massachusetts; |
(vi) |
Employment
agreements, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the forms attached
hereto as Exhibits 3.2(g)(vi)(i),
(ii) and (iii),
by and between the Company and each of Seller, Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, as executed by the employees named therein and the
Company; |
(vii) |
the
written consent of all Persons whose consent is required so that the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
constitute a default or accelerate any liability under any agreement to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company is
bound; |
(viii) |
evidence
of the termination of the Stockholders Agreement of the Company, dated
November 13, 2000; |
(ix) |
a
written waiver by the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company and
Seller of Section 3.3 of the Bylaws of the Company and Section 5A of the
Articles of Organization of the Company in connection with the transfer of
the Shares pursuant to this Agreement; |
(x) |
an
executed release of Seller in form attached hereto as Exhibit
3.2(g)(x); |
(xi) |
such
other documentation as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to
evidence the transfer of good title to the Shares and the release of any
Encumbrances relating to the assets of the Company at Closing other than
those Encumbrances set forth on Schedule
3.2(g)(xi);
and |
(xii) |
evidence
that the Seller or the Company has paid such funds, if any, required
pursuant to Section 5.10 to Citizens Bank under the Company’s $600,000
line of credit arrangement and evidence that such Indebtedness has been
discharged and satisfied in full and that such arrangement has been
terminated and is of no force and effect and that all security therefor
has been returned. |
Section
3.3 Conditions
Precedent to Seller’s Obligation to Close. The
obligations of the Seller to sell the Shares and to perform his other
obligations under this Agreement at the Closing shall be subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (or waiver thereof by the
Seller) on or prior to the Closing Date:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. On the
Closing Date, each of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser
contained in Section 4.2 of this Agreement or in any certificate or other
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, disregarding all qualifications and exceptions
contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall be
true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date with the
same effect as though such representations and warranties were made at and as of
the Closing Date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties
speak as of another date, in which case such representations and warranties
shall be true and correct as of such other date), and the Seller shall have
received a certificate from the Purchaser, dated the Closing Date, to that
effect.
12
(b) Compliance
with Obligations. The
Purchaser shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all
agreements, covenants and obligations required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date and the Seller shall have
received a certificate from the Purchaser, dated the Closing Date, to that
effect.
(c) No
Injunctions. etc. The
Closing shall not have been enjoined or prohibited by any judicial or regulatory
proceeding, nor shall any action, proceeding, suit, litigation or investigation
be pending or threatened before any court, arbitration, tribunal, governmental
or regulatory agency or legislative body (i) that seeks to enjoin or prohibit,
or to obtain substantial damages in connection with, the Closing, or (ii) that
purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement
and the other documents, instruments and agreements to be entered into by the
Purchaser pursuant hereto.
(d) Receipt
of Documents, etc.
The
Seller shall have received the following, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Seller:
(i) |
the
Initial Cash Consideration; |
(ii) |
the
Closing Consideration Shares; |
(iii) |
certified
copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Purchaser approving
the transactions set forth in this Agreement, including the issuance of
the Consideration Shares; |
(iv) |
(v) |
Evidence
that the Purchaser has paid such funds required pursuant to Section 5.10
to Citizens Bank under its $600,000 line of credit arrangement and
evidence that such Indebtedness has been discharged and satisfied in full
and that such arrangement has been terminated and is of no force and
effect and that all security therefor has been
returned. |
13
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section
4.1 Representations
and Warranties of the Seller.
The
Seller represents and warrants to the Purchaser that each of the following
statements is true, accurate and complete:
(a) Organization. The Company
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under
the laws of Massachusetts, has the full corporate power and authority and
possesses all governmental franchises, licenses,
permits, authorizations and approvals required to carry on the Business in the
places and as it is now being conducted and to own, lease and sublease the
properties and assets with respect to the Business which it now owns, leases or
subleases and is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each of
the jurisdictions listed in Schedule
4.1(a) attached
hereto, which constitute all of the jurisdictions where the
nature or character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the
nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
Company is in good standing in each of the jurisdictions set forth on
Schedule
4.1(a).
(b) Articles
of Organization, Bylaws and Corporate Records. The
Seller has heretofore furnished to the Purchaser complete and correct copies of
the Articles of Organization, Bylaws, stock ledgers and all minutes books of the
Board of Directors and its committees and the stockholders of the Company. All
material actions taken by the Company since its organization and incorporation
have been duly authorized and/or subsequently ratified by the stockholder or
Board of Directors, as necessary, of the Company and are set forth in the minute
books of the Company. Such minute books contain complete and accurate records of
all meetings and other corporate actions of the board of directors, committees
of the board of directors, incorporators and stockholders of the Company since
the date of its incorporation. All such meetings were duly called (unless
effective waivers of notice were given) and held, and a quorum was present and
acting throughout each such meeting. Such stock ledgers and stock transfer
records reflect all issuances and registrations of transfer of all shares of
capital stock of the Company and certificates representing all canceled shares
of capital stock have been returned to the stock ledger, except where a lost
certificate affidavit has been received from the registered owner (or their
lawful representative) of the shares evidenced thereby. Execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby by the Seller do not and will not violate any provision of
the Articles of Organization and Bylaws of the Company.
(c) Capitalization
of the Company. The
entire authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 200,000 shares of
Common Stock of which 10,400 shares are issued to the Seller and remain
outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been
duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are held
of record by the Seller, and are free and clear of any liens,
charges, Encumbrances
or in violation of any statutory or common law preemptive rights. There are no
outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, contracts, calls, puts,
rights to subscribe, conversion rights or other agreements or commitments to
which the Company or the Seller is a party or which are binding upon the Company
or the Seller providing for the issuance, transfer, disposition or acquisition
of any of its capital stock. There is no outstanding or authorized equity
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to the Company. There
are no dividends which have accrued or been declared but are unpaid on the
outstanding capital stock of the Company. All Taxes required to be paid in
connection with the issuance and any transfers of the outstanding capital stock
of the Company have been paid. All permits or authorizations required to be
obtained from or registrations required to be effected with any Person in
connection with any and all issuances of securities of the Company since the
date of its incorporation have been obtained or effected, and all securities of
the Company have been issued and are held in accordance with the provisions of
all Applicable Law. There are no voting trusts, proxies or any other agreements
or understandings with respect to the voting of the capital stock of the
Company, which would not otherwise be terminated at or before the Closing. Upon
consummation of the Closing, the Company will not have any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock which have
been created prior to the Closing, nor will it have outstanding any rights,
options, agreements or arrangements to subscribe for or to purchase its capital
stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for its capital stock,
which has been created prior to the Closing.
14
(d) FIRPTA. The
Seller is not a ‘foreign person’ within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code.
(e) Authority. The Seller
is a natural Person and is competent and has all requisite power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other documents, instruments and
agreements to be entered into by him pursuant hereto, to perform hereunder and
thereunder, and to consummate the transactions identified in this Agreement
without the necessity of any act or consent of any other Person or entity
whomsoever. This Agreement and each and every agreement, document and instrument
to be executed, delivered and performed by the Seller in connection herewith,
constitute or will, when executed and delivered, constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable against him in accordance with
their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws from time to time
in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and except
as enforcement of remedies may be limited by general equitable
principles.
(f) Subsidiaries
and Affiliates. The
Company does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct or indirect
equity participation in any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture,
limited liability company or other business association or entity. The Seller
does not have any Affiliates that are engaged in the Business.
(g) Financial
Statements. Attached
as Schedule
4.1(g) are true
and complete copies of the (i) unaudited, estimated balance sheet of the Company
as of 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date, prepared in accordance with GAAP,
consistent with the Financial Statements, as reasonably estimated by the Seller
(the “Estimated Closing Balance Sheet”), and (ii) Company’s audited balance
sheet and related audited statement of income, stockholder’s equity and income,
and cash flows at and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and
2004, including the notes thereto and ((i)
and (ii) collectively, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (a)
have been prepared from, are in accordance with, and accurately reflect the
books and records of the Company in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the periods covered thereby, and (b) are true and correct and fairly
reflect in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the
respective dates thereof and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’
equity and income, and cash flows for the periods covered thereby. The
assets of the Company reflected on the December 31, 2004 balance sheet set forth
in the Financial Statements were for the sole use of the Company.
15
(h) Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(h), there
are no Liabilities of the Company including, without limitation, Indebtedness,
other than those that (i) are disclosed or reserved against on the 2004
Financial Statements related to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 or the
notes thereto; or (ii) have been incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business
since December 31, 2004. The reserves reflected in the Financial Statements are
adequate, appropriate and reasonable based on the Company’s historical
performance during previous years, and have been calculated in a consistent
manner.
(i) Taxes. The
Company has duly filed or caused to be filed all Tax reports and returns that it
was required to file. All such reports and returns were prepared and filed in
accordance with Applicable Law and, to the Knowledge of the Seller, are correct
and complete in all material respects and the Company has not reported or taken
any positions on its Tax returns that could give rise to a substantial
understatement of federal or other Tax. The Company is not the beneficiary of
any extension of time within which to file any Tax return. No claim has ever
been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax
returns that the Company is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
All Taxes owed by the Company have been fully paid or fully reserved against in
the Financial Statements. The Company has withheld and paid all Taxes required
to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any
employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party. There is no
action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit dispute or claim concerning any
Tax Liability of the Company either (i) claimed or raised by any authority in
writing or (ii) as to which the Seller has any actual Knowledge, and, to the
Knowledge of the Seller, there exists no reasonable basis for the making of any
such actions, suits, proceedings, investigations, audit disputes or claims. No
Tax authority has sought to audit the Company since January 1, 1999. There is
not now and, to the Knowledge of Seller, there will not be, any liability for
Taxes arising out of, or attributable to, or affecting the assets or the conduct
of the Business through the Closing Date, for which the Company will have any
Liability for payment or otherwise in excess of the amounts so paid by the
Company which would be reflected as a liability of the Company in its financial
statements if prepared as of the Closing Date in accordance with GAAP. The
Company has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed
to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency. Neither
the Seller, with respect to the Company, nor the Company has agreed or is
required to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code or any
similar provision of other tax law, domestic or foreign, by reason of a change
in accounting method initiated by it or any other relevant party nor has it any
Knowledge that any taxing authority has proposed any such adjustment or change
in accounting method. The Company does not have any application pending with any
taxing authority requesting permission for any changes in accounting methods.
The Company is not a party to or bound by any binding tax sharing, tax indemnity
or tax allocation agreement or other similar arrangement with any other party.
The Company has not engaged in any reportable transaction as defined in Treas.
Reg. Section 1.6011-4. The Seller has previously provided or made available to
the Buyer true, correct and complete copies of each of the federal, state,
local, and other income tax returns filed by the Company for the past three
fiscal years which were due, without regard to any extensions granted on or
before the date hereof.
16
The
Company has in effect a valid election to be treated as an “S corporation,” as
that term is defined in Section 1361(a) of the Code and has had such valid
elections in effect at all times since January 1, 2001. As of the date of this
Agreement, the Company qualifies as, and will qualify as of the day before the
Closing Date as, an “S corporation” as that term is defined in Section 1361(a)
of the Code. Since January 1, 2001, neither the Company nor the Seller has taken
any action or omitted to take any action, which action or omission could result
in the loss of “S corporation” status for the Company for all periods from
January 1, 2001 to and including the day before the Closing Date.
(j) Tangible
Property.
(i) |
Assets.
Schedule
4.1(j)
hereto sets forth all plant, machinery, equipment, furniture, leasehold
improvements, fixtures, vehicles, structures, any related capitalized
items and other tangible property used in the Business (“Tangible
Property”). |
(ii) |
Title
to and Location of Assets.
Except
as disclosed in Schedule
4.1(j)
attached hereto, the Company has good and valid title to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, all Tangible Property, in each case free and clear
of any Encumbrances. Each item of tangible property used in connection
with the Business is located at the Leased Property of the
Company. |
(iii) |
Enforceability
of Personal Property Leases.
Each
of the leases for personal property included in the Assets is in full
force and effect and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Company and each other party thereto, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, and there is not existing under any of such leases any default
of the Company or any event or condition which, with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute a
default. |
(iv) |
Operating
Condition.All
of the tangible material assets used in the Business are in operating
condition and in a sufficient state of repair to operate the Business as
presently conducted by the Company, and are inspected, maintained and
operated in conformity with all Applicable
Law. |
(v) |
Sufficiency.
Other
than as set forth on Schedule
4.1(j),
there are no assets owned by any third party which are used in the
operation of the Business, as presently conducted by the Company.
|
17
(k) No
Conflict. Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(k), the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other documents,
instruments and agreements to be entered into pursuant hereto by the Seller do
not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
will not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both): (i) violate
or
conflict with the Articles of Organization or bylaws (or other organizational
documents) of the Company; (ii) violate or conflict with any Applicable Law
binding upon the Company, except as would not be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect; (iii) violate or conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute a default or otherwise cause any loss of benefit under any material
agreement or other obligation to which the Company is a party (including,
without limitation, the Material Agreements) or by which it or any of its Assets
are bound; or (iv) result in the creation of an Encumbrance pursuant to, or give
rise to any penalty, acceleration of remedies, right of termination or otherwise
cause any alteration of any rights or obligations of any party under any
material contract or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which its
assets are bound.
(l) Absence
of Changes. Since
December 31, 2004, the Company has conducted the Business only in the Ordinary
Course of Business and has not made any distribution of cash or other Assets
other than distributions made in the Ordinary Course of Business. In addition,
except as disclosed on Schedule
4.1, since
December 31, 2004:
(i)
the
Company has not (a) sold, leased, licensed, transferred or assigned any Assets
of the Company having a fair market value in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate
other than for fair consideration in the Ordinary Course of Business, and the
Company has not written up the value of any of the Assets, or (b) sold, leased,
licensed, transferred, assigned or disposed of any of the Assets material to the
conduct of the Business.
(ii)
the
Company has not entered into any written contract, lease, sublease or license
involving more than $25,000, other than customer contracts and subcontractor
contracts related thereto entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(iii)
no party
(including, without limitation, the Company) has accelerated, terminated,
modified or canceled any contract, agreement, lease, sublease or license (or
series of related contracts, agreements, leases, subleases and licenses)
involving more than $25,000 to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound, and no party (including, without limitation, the Company) has threatened,
or notified the Seller or the Company of its intent to do any of the
foregoing;
(iv)
the
Company has not imposed any written mortgage or pledge of, or permitted or
allowed the subjection of any lien, charge, security interest or Encumbrance of
any kind on any of the Assets;
(v) the
Company has not made or committed to make any capital expenditure (or series of
related capital expenditures) involving more than $25,000;
18
(vi) the
Company has not created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any Indebtedness
(including capital lease obligations);
(vii)
the
Company has not canceled, amended, delayed or postponed (beyond its normal
practice) the payment of accounts payable and other Liabilities;
(viii) the
Company has not canceled, compromised, waived or released any right or claim (or
series of related rights and claims) involving more than $10,000 in the
aggregate;
(ix)
the
Company has not become a party to any legal action or proceeding, exclusive of
xxxxxxx’x compensation claims, where the amount involved or the potential loss
is claimed to be more than $10,000;
(x)
there has
been no change made or authorized in the Articles of Organization, bylaws or
other organizational documents of the Company and there has been no change in
any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Company;
(xi)
the
Company has not issued, sold or otherwise disposed of, or authorized for
issuance or sale, its capital stock or other equity securities, or granted or
authorized for issuance or sale any options, warrants or other rights to
purchase or obtain (including upon conversion or exercise) any of its capital
stock;
(xii) the
Company has not declared, set aside or paid any dividend or distribution with
respect to its capital stock or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired any of
its capital stock;
(xiii) the
Company has not experienced any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not
covered by insurance) which has had or could have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(xiv) the
Company has not made any new loan to, or entered into any other transaction
with, any of their directors, officers and employees giving rise to any claim or
right on their part against the Person or on the part of the Person against
them, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xv)
the
Company has not granted any increase in the compensation, fringe benefits, or
other compensation of, or paid any bonus or special payment of any kind
(including increases under any bonus, pension, profit-sharing or other plan or
commitment) to any of (A) its employees, (B) the officers or directors of the
Company or the Seller, or their respective Affiliates or Related
Parties;
19
(xvi) the
Company has not adopted any (A) bonus, (B) profit-sharing, (C) incentive
compensation, (D) pension, (E) retirement, (F) medical, hospitalization, life or
other insurance, (G) severance, or (H) other plan, contract or commitment for
any of its directors, officers or employees, or modified or terminated any
existing such plan, contract or commitment;
(xvii)
the
Company has not made any charitable donation or capital contribution to any
Person;
(xviii) there has
not been any other occurrence, commitment, event, incident, action, failure to
act or transaction outside the Ordinary Course of Business involving the Company
which has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xix)
the
Company has not received notice of any material adverse change in their
relationships with any financial institution, customer or supplier with which
they currently do business, nor is the Company or the Seller aware of any
circumstance that could reasonably lead to such a change; and
(xx)
the
Company has not agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any of the
foregoing actions.
(m) Litigation. Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(m), there
are no actions, suits, investigations, arbitrations claims or proceedings
(“Litigation”) pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened before any
Governmental Entity (a) against (whether as plaintiff, defendant or otherwise)
or affecting the Company or its directors, officers or shareholders in their
capacities as such (b) against the Seller relating to the Shares or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to the Knowledge of the Seller,
there exist no facts or circumstances creating any reasonable basis for the
institution of any such action, suit, investigation, claim or proceeding. None
of the items set forth on Schedule
4.1(m) could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule
4.1(m) sets
forth a complete and accurate list, description and outcome of any Litigation
against (whether as plaintiff, defendant or otherwise) or affecting the Company
during the last five (5) years. There are no outstanding judgments, decrees,
orders or injunctions issued against the Company that in any way materially and
adversely affects the Business.
(n) Licenses
and Permits: Compliance With Law. The
Company possesses all licenses, certificates, permits and franchises required to
be obtained from federal, foreign, state, county, municipal or other public
authorities in the operation of the Business, and the Company is presently
conducting the Business so as to comply with all Applicable Law and in all
material respects with all licenses, certificates, permits and franchises. The
Company is not in receipt of written notice from any Governmental Entity
alleging the violation of any Applicable Law and to the Knowledge of the Seller
no investigation, inspection, audit, or other proceeding by any Governmental
Entity involving an allegation of violation of any Applicable Law is threatened
or contemplated.
20
(o) Real
Property Leases.
(i) Leases.
Schedule
4.1(o) attached
hereto, lists all leases (each a “Lease,” and collectively the “Leases”) entered
into by the Company pursuant to which any real property is occupied or used by
the Company with respect to the Business (the “Leased Property”). The Seller has
delivered to the Purchaser correct and complete copies of the Leases (including
all amendments thereto) listed in Schedule
4.1(o). Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.1(o) hereto,
with respect to each Lease listed in Schedule
4.1(o): (i) the
Leases are legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect; (ii)
the Leases will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full
force and effect on identical terms following the Closing, and (iii) there are
no disputes, claims, controversies, oral agreements or forbearance programs in
effect as to the Leases; there are no other agreements that concern the right,
title or interest in and to the Leases or grant to any other Person the right to
occupy the Premises used in the Business. All rent and other sums and charges
payable under the Leases are current, no notice of default or termination under
the Leases are outstanding, no termination event or condition or uncured default
on the part of the Company or on the part of the landlord thereunder exists
under the Leases, and, to the Knowledge of the Seller, no event has occurred and
no condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both, would constitute such a default or termination event or condition. There
are no subleases, licenses or other agreements pursuant to which the Company has
granted to any Person other than the Company any right to the possession, use,
occupancy or enjoyment of the premises demised by the Leases and to the
Knowledge of the Seller there are no subleases, licenses or other agreements
granting to any Person other than the Company any right to the possession, use,
occupancy or enjoyment of the premises demised by the Leases. All of the
premises demised under the Leases are used in the conduct of the Business. To
the Knowledge of the Seller, no landlord under the Leases have any plans to make
any material alterations to any of the Leased Property, the construction of
which would interfere with the use of any portion of the Leased Property. To the
Knowledge of the Seller, no landlord under the Leases has any plans to make any
material alterations to any of the buildings in which Leased Property is
located, the costs of which alterations would be borne in any part by a tenant
under such Leases.
(ii) Leasehold
Improvements. All
improvements located on the Leased Property are in a state of good maintenance
and repair and in a condition adequate and suitable for the effective conduct
therein of the Business conducted and proposed to be conducted by the Company.
The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems at
the Leased Properties are in good working order and repair to the extent that it
is the Company’s obligation. To the Knowledge of Seller, the heating,
ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems at the Leased
Properties are in good working order and repair to the extent that it is the
landlord’s obligation. The Company has not experienced any material interruption
in such services provided to the Leased Property within the last year.
21
(p) Real
Property Ownership. The
Company has never owned any real property or any interest in real
property.
(q) Intellectual
Property.
(i) Schedule
4.1(q) sets
forth a complete and accurate list of all United States, international and state
(i) Patents and Patent applications, (ii) Trademark registrations and
applications and all material unregistered Trademarks, (iii) Internet domain
names, and (iv) Copyright registrations and applications and Software (excluding
commercially available off the shelf Software), owned by the Company or used in
the Business indicating for each, the registered owner, any licensor or licensee
(if applicable), the applicable jurisdiction, registration number (or
application number), date issued (or date filed) and descriptions of such
property, together with all licenses related to the foregoing, whether the
Company is the licensee or licensor thereunder.
(ii) The
Company, directly or indirectly, owns or presently has the valid right to use
pursuant to license agreements (the “License Agreements”), or otherwise, all
Intellectual Property used in connection with the Business (such Intellectual
Property, together with the License Agreements the “Company Intellectual
Property”).
(iii) The
Intellectual Property set forth on Schedule
4.1(q) is
solely and exclusively owned by the Company free and clear of all Encumbrances,
and as for all registered Intellectual Property, the Company is listed in the
records of the appropriate United States, state or foreign agency as the sole
owner of record for each registration and application for any Patent, Trademark,
Internet domain name and Copyright. All of the Intellectual Property
registrations and applications and common law trademarks set forth on
Schedule
4.1(q), and the
trademark rights underlying any trademark registrations, applications and common
law marks set forth on Schedule
4.1(q), are
valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, and have not been cancelled,
expired, or abandoned. Neither the Seller nor the Company has received any
written, or oral notification of any pending or threatened opposition,
interference or cancellation proceeding before any court or registration
authority in any jurisdiction against the items set forth on Schedule
4.1(q) or other
Company Intellectual Property, directly or indirectly, owned by any of the
Company or against any Company Intellectual Property not owned by the
Company.
22
(iv) There are
no settlements, injunctions, forbearances to xxx, consents, judgments, or orders
or similar obligations to which the Company is a party or, to the Knowledge of
the Seller, is otherwise bound, which (i) restrict any of the Company’s rights,
as the case may be to use any Company Intellectual Property, (ii) restrict the
Business in order to accommodate a third party’s Intellectual Property rights or
(iii) permit third parties to use any Intellectual Property which would
otherwise infringe any Company Intellectual Property. The Company has not
licensed or sublicensed its rights in any Company Intellectual Property other
than pursuant to the License Agreements set forth on Schedule
4.1(q) and no
royalties, honoraria or other fees are payable by the Company for the use of or
right to use any Company Intellectual Property in connection with the Business,
except pursuant to the License Agreements set forth on Schedule
4.1(q).
(v) The
License Agreements, permits and other agreements under which the Company has
rights to the Company Intellectual Property are valid and binding obligations of
the Company and all other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, and the Seller does not have Knowledge of any event or condition not
listed on Schedule
4.1(q) which
will result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due
notice or lapse of time or both), a default by the Company under any such
License Agreement or other agreement.
(vi) Neither
the Seller nor the Company has received written or oral notification that the
conduct of the Business infringes any Intellectual Property rights owned or
controlled by any third party (either directly or indirectly such as through
contributory infringement or inducement to infringe) or is defamatory or
violative in any way of any publicity, privacy, or other rights. Neither the
Seller nor the Company has received any written or oral notification of any
pending or threatened claims or suits (i) alleging that any of the Company’s
activities or the conduct of the Business infringes upon or constitutes the
unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property rights of any third party, nor
alleging libel, slander, defamation, or other violation of a personal right, or
(ii) challenging the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of any Company
Intellectual Property.
(vii) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(q), to the
Knowledge of the Seller and the Company, no third party is misappropriating,
infringing, or otherwise violating any Company Intellectual Property, and no
such claims are pending against a third party by the Company.
23
(viii) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the loss
or impairment of the Company’s right to own or use any of the Company
Intellectual Property nor require the consent of any Governmental Authority or
third party in respect of any such Company Intellectual Property.
(ix)
The
Company is not licensing to a third party, and has not assigned its rights to
any Company Intellectual Property anywhere in the world.
(x)
The
Company owns or has the right to use all Software used in the Business.
No
unlicensed copies of any Software that is available in consumer retail stores or
otherwise commercially available and subject
to "shrink-wrap" or "click-through" license agreements are installed on any of
the
Company’s computers
or computer systems.
(r) Contracts.
(i) Schedule
4.1(r)(i) sets
forth a list of the following contracts, agreements, binding bids, binding
proposals, or binding quotations (whether written or oral), to which the Company
is a party or signatory or pursuant to which the Company has third party rights
(except with respect to the Leases, which are set forth on Schedule
4.1(o), which
is hereby incorporated by reference into Schedule
4.1(r)(i) and made
a part thereof): (A) contract or series of contracts resulting in a commitment
or potential commitment for expenditure or other obligation or potential
obligation, or which provides for the receipt or potential receipt, involving in
excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in any instance, or series of related
contracts that in the aggregate give rise to rights or obligations exceeding
such amount; (B) indenture, mortgage, promissory note, loan agreement, guarantee
or other agreement or commitment for the borrowing or lending of money or
Encumbrance of Assets involving more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in each
instance; (C) agreement which restricts the Company from engaging in any line of
business or from competing with any other Person; and (D) any partnership,
shareholder, joint venture, or similar agreement or arrangement to which the
Company is a party (collectively, and together with the Leases and all other
agreements required to be disclosed on any schedule to this Agreement, the
“Material Agreements”). The Seller has previously made available to the
Purchaser true, complete and correct copies of all written Material Agreements.
The Company is not a party to any oral agreement that is not terminable by the
Company upon thirty days’ notice to the other party(ies) thereto without
obligation by the Company.
(ii) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(r)(ii), each of
the Material Agreements is in full force and effect and are the valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company
and the Seller, the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms, subject only to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws
affecting the rights of creditors generally and to general equitable
principles.
24
(iii) Neither
the Seller nor the Company has received written or oral notice of default by the
Company under any of the Material Agreements, including any written or oral
contract or agreement relating to borrowed money to which the Company is a party
or by or to which it or its Assets are bound or subject, and no event has
occurred which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would
constitute a material default by the Company thereunder. Neither the Company
nor, to the Knowledge of the Seller and the Company, any of the other parties to
any of the Material Agreements is in material default thereunder, nor, to the
Knowledge of the Seller and the Company, has an event occurred which, with the
passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a material
default by such other party thereunder. Neither the Seller nor the Company has
received written or oral notice of the pending or threatened cancellation,
revocation or termination of any of the Material Agreements, including, without
limitation, any written or oral agreements relating to borrowed money to which
the Company is a party or by or to which its assets are bound or subject, nor
are any of them aware of any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely
to lead to any such cancellation, revocation or termination.
(s) Labor
Matters.
(i) The
Company is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining or similar
agreement with any labor organization or work rules or practices agreed to with
any labor organization or employee association applicable to employees of the
Company.
(ii) No labor
union has been certified by the National Labor Relations Board as bargaining
agent for any of the employees of the Company; no notice has been received from
any labor organization or group of employees stating that it has been designated
as the bargaining agent for any of said employees; and no petition has been
filed by any labor union requesting an election to determine whether or not it
is the exclusive bargaining agent for any of said employees.
(iii) None of
the employees of the Company is represented by any labor organization and, to
the Knowledge of the Seller, there has been no union organizing activities among
the employees of the Company within the past five years, nor does any question
concerning representation exist concerning such employees.
25
(iv) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(s) attached
hereto, within the last three (3) years, the Company has not been the subject of
any union activity or labor dispute, nor has there been any strike, dispute,
worker slowdown, stoppage or lockout of any kind or similar labor activity
called, or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened to be called, against the
Company; and, except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(s), the
Company has not violated in any material respects any applicable federal or
state law or regulation relating to labor or labor practices with regard to the
Business, including, without limitation, all laws relating to labor relations,
equal employment opportunities, wages and hours of work, minimum wages,
overtime, fair employment practices, prohibited discrimination and similar
employment activities, and the Company is not a party to any collective
bargaining agreement affecting the Business.
(v)
There are
no unfair labor practices or proceedings claimed, pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Seller, threatened before any Governmental Entity and neither the Seller
nor the Company knows of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to
such unfair labor practice, representation or other proceeding.
(vi) The
Company is not presently, nor has it even been, (A) a member of any “controlled
group” (as defined in ERISA) or (B) an “ERISA Affiliate” (as defined in the Code
and ERISA) of any Person.
(t) Pension
and Benefit Plans.
(i) Schedule
4.1(t) attached
hereto lists all Employee Benefit Plans that the Company maintains, or at any
time since January 1, 1999 have maintained, or to which the Company contributes,
or at any time since January 1, 1999 have had any obligation to contribute for
the benefit of any current or former employee of the Company. The
representations and warranties set forth in the following subsections A, B, C,
D, E and F are with reference to such Employee Benefit Plans:
(A) Each
Employee Benefit Plan (and each related trust or insurance contract) complies,
in form and in operation in all material respects, and has been maintained in
material compliance with the applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code and
all other applicable law including, but not by way of limitation, the
requirements of Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and of Section 4980B of
the Code (together with any regulations and proposed regulations promulgated
thereunder) and there has been no notice issued by any governmental authority
questioning or challenging such compliance. All Employee Benefit Plans are in
compliance with Code Section 412, to the extent that it is applicable. The
Company has never been a party to, maintained, sponsored, contributed to or
terminated a defined benefit employee pension plan under or subject to
ERISA.
26
(B)
All
required reports, disclosures and descriptions (including Form 5500 Annual
Reports, Summary Annual Reports and Summary Plan Descriptions) have been filed
or distributed appropriately with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan through
plan years ending December 31, 2004. With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan,
all required reports, disclosures and descriptions (including Form 5500 Annual
Reports, Summary Annual Reports and Summary Plan Descriptions) through Plan
years ending December 31, 2004 have been prepared and filed or distributed
appropriately, except to the extent that (i) such preparation, filing or
distribution is not required under applicable law on or before the Closing Date
and (ii) no penalty or interest will be due as a result of any such failure to
prepare, file or distribute such items after the Closing Date.
(C) All
contributions (including all employer contributions and employee salary
reduction contributions) which are due, have been paid to each Employee Pension
Benefit Plan and all contributions for any period ending on or before the
Closing Date which are not yet due through Plan year ended December 31, 2004
have been paid to each Employee Pension Benefit Plan or properly accrued prior
to the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of the plan and past custom and
practice of the Company. All premiums or other payments for all periods ending
on or before the Closing Date have been paid or properly accrued with respect to
each Employee Welfare Benefit Plan. All tax filings required to be made prior to
the date of Closing with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan have been made,
including but not limited to IRS Forms 990-T and 5330, and any Taxes due in
connection with such filings have been paid.
(D) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(t), the
Company has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service indicating that each Employee Pension Benefit Plan meets the
requirements of a “qualified plan” under Section 401(a) of the Code and has
received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service for
GUST and EGTRRA plan amendments. No event has occurred and no condition exists
which could result in the revocation of such letter.
(E) There
have been no prohibited transactions with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.
Neither the Seller nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other fiduciary has any
liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other failure to act or comply in
connection with the administration or investment of the assets of any Employee
Benefit Plan. No charge, complaint, action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, claim or demand against or involving any Employee Benefit Plan or
with respect to the administration or the investment of the assets of any
Employee Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to
the Knowledge of Seller, threatened. The Seller does not have any Knowledge of
any basis for any such charge, complaint, action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, claim or demand.
27
(F) With
respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, to the extent applicable to or required
by Applicable Law with respect to such Employee Benefit Plan, the Seller has
furnished to the Purchaser correct and complete copies of (1) the plan documents
and summary plan descriptions, (2) the most recent determination letter received
from the Internal Revenue Service, (3) the most recent Form 5500 Annual Report,
together with all schedules, as required, filed with the Internal Revenue
Service or the Department of Labor, as applicable, and (4) all related trust
agreements, insurance contracts and other funding agreements which implement
each Employee Benefit Plan.
(ii) The
Company does not maintain, contribute to or has any liability with respect to,
and has never maintained, contributed to nor been required to contribute to or
withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan or Employee Benefit Plan. The Company has
not incurred, and the Seller does not have Knowledge that the Company will
incur, any Liability to the PBGC (other than PBGC premium payments) or otherwise
under Title IV of ERISA (including any withdrawal Liability) or under the Code
with respect to any Employee Pension Benefit Plan that the Company maintains or
at any time maintained or to which the Company contributes or at any time
contributed or at any time been required to contribute unless in each instance
such Liability has been reflected or accrued on the Financial
Statements.
(iii) The
Company does not maintain or contribute to and has not maintained or contributed
or been required to contribute to any Employee Welfare Benefit Plan providing
health, accident or life insurance benefits to former employees, their spouses
or their dependents other than in accordance with Section 4980B of the
Code.
28
(u) Insurance. Schedule
4.1(u) attached
hereto sets forth the following information with respect to each insurance
policy (including but not limited to policies providing property, casualty,
liability and workers’ compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements)
to which the Company has been a party, a named insured or otherwise the
beneficiary of coverage at any time within the past three (3) years (the
“Insurance Policies”):
(i) the name,
address and telephone number of the agent;
(ii) the name
of the insurer, the name of the policyholder and the
name of each covered insured; and
(iii)
the
policy number and the period of coverage.
The
Company has previously provided the Purchaser with true and complete copies of
all of the Insurance Policies, as amended. The Insurance Policies that are in
effect are designated as such on Schedule
4.1(u) (the
“Current Policies”). The Insurance Policies provide adequate and customary
coverage for the Business and are sufficient for compliance by the Company with
all requirements of Applicable Law and all material agreements to which the
Company is a party or by which any of the Assets are bound. All of the Current
Policies are in full force and effect and are valid and enforceable in
accordance with their terms, and the Company has complied with all terms and
conditions of such policies, including premium payments, except where such
non-compliance would not provide grounds for termination or a reduction in or
declination of coverage by the insurance company. None of the insurance carriers
has indicated to the Company or the Seller an intention to cancel, or alter the
coverage under, any of the Current Policies. The Company has no claim pending
against any of the insurance carriers under any of the Insurance Policies and,
to the Knowledge of the Seller, there has been no actual or alleged occurrence
of any kind which may give rise to any such claim and no claims have been made
under any policy at any time since January 1, 1999. All applications for the
Insurance Policies are accurate in all respects. None of such Insurance Policies
or arrangements provides for any retrospective premium adjustment,
experienced-based liability
or loss sharing arrangement affecting the Company. A true and complete list of
all outstanding claims for medical expenses in excess of $10,000 made by or with
respect to any employee of the Company is set forth in Schedule
4.1(u).
(v) Employees.
(i) Except as
disclosed in Schedule
4.1(v)(i) attached
hereto, the Company has no Liability under any written or oral employment
agreement with any director, officer or employee of the Company, and neither the
Company nor Seller has any Liability under any agreements granting severance
benefits or benefits payable upon a change of control of the Company or of the
Business. To the knowledge of the Seller, no key employee or group of employees
has any plans to terminate employment with the Company as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.
(ii) Schedule
4.1(v)(ii) contains
the current names, descriptive title, and 2005 annual salary rates and other
cash compensation paid to all officers, directors, consultants and salaried
employees of the Company in connection with their employment or engagement with
the Company.
29
(iii) Schedule
4.1(v)(iii) sets
forth a list of all employee policies, employee manuals or other written
statements of rules or policies as to working conditions, vacation and sick
leave applicable to such persons.
(w) Customers
and Suppliers.
(i) There are
no pending disputes or controversies between the Company and any major customer
or supplier of the Company where the amount in controversy exceeds, or could
reasonably be expected to exceed $5,000 in Losses to the Company, nor, to the
Knowledge of the Seller, are there any facts which would impair the relationship
of the Company with its major customers or suppliers. There has not been any
material adverse change in the relations of the Company with its customers,
suppliers, contractors, licensors and lessors, as a result of the announcement
or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Seller and the Company have no Knowledge that any of the Company’s major
customers or suppliers has or is contemplating terminating its relationship with
the Company. To the Knowledge of the Seller, no major customer or supplier has
experienced any type of work stoppage or other material adverse circumstances or
conditions that may jeopardize or adversely affect the Company’s relationship
with any major customer or supplier.
(ii) Neither
the Company nor any Person acting with authority on behalf of the Company, nor
any Affiliates of the Company nor the Seller, acting alone or together, has with
respect to the Business directly or indirectly in violation of Applicable Law,
given or agreed to give any gift or similar benefit during the past two (2)
years to any customer, supplier, trading company, shipping company, governmental
employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder the
Business (or assist the Company in connection with any actual or proposed
transaction) which (A) may subject any of the Company to any material damage or
any material penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation,
proceeding or investigation, (B) if not given, may have had a Material Adverse
Effect, or (C) if not continued in the future, may have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(x) Governmental
Approvals and Third Party Consents. Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(x), no
filing or registration with, and no consent, approval, authorization, license,
permit, certificate or order of any Governmental Entity or any other Person is
required to be made or obtained in connection with the execution or performance
of this Agreement by the Seller or any other instrument or agreement required to
be executed or delivered by the Seller at or in contemplation of the
Closing.
30
(y) Transactions
with Related Parties. Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.1(y), the
Company is not a party to any material transaction with any Person which is a
present or former officer or director or shareholder of or partner of the
Company, or Affiliate or family member of such officer, director, shareholder or
partner (each such party being a Related Party and, collectively, the “Related
Parties”). Except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(y), there
are no material commitments to and no material income reflected in the Financial
Statements that has or have been derived from any Person or entity which is a
Related Party and, following the Closing, the Purchaser shall have no obligation
of any kind or description to any such Related Party other than as set forth in
accordance with this Agreement. Except as reflected in the Financial Statements,
no material expense relating to the operation of the Business has been borne by
any Person which is a Related Party, the Company does not have any material
income reflected on the Financial Statements that is dependent upon or
conditioned on the Business’ affiliation with any Related Party and the Company
and the Seller have no reason to believe that any income source will not be
available to the Company after Closing due to lack of sufficient affiliation.
The Company and the Seller have no reason to believe that any material expense
reflected in the Financial Statements will be affected by loss of the Business’
affiliation with any Related Party and has no reason to believe that any expense
will increase for the Company after the Closing due to lack of such affiliation.
(z)
Brokers
and Intermediaries. Neither
the Company nor the Seller has employed any broker, finder, advisor or
intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
which would be entitled to a broker’s, finder’s or similar fee or commission in
connection therewith or upon the consummation thereof.
(aa) Title
to Securities. The
Seller holds, and at Closing will transfer and convey to the Purchaser, good and
marketable title to the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances.
(bb) List
of Bank Accounts and Proxies. Set forth
on Schedule
4.1(bb) is: (a)
the name and address of each bank, trust company, savings and loan association,
or other institution in which the Company maintains an account (cash, securities
or other) or safe deposit box; (b) the name and phone number of each Company
contact person at such bank or institution; (c) the account number of the
relevant account and a description of the type of account; (d) the name of each
person authorized by the Company to effect transactions therewith or to have
access to any safe deposit box or vault; and (e) all proxies, powers of attorney
or other like instruments to act on behalf of the Company in matters concerning
its business or affairs.
(cc) Environmental
and Safety Matters.
(i) The
Company is in compliance with all Environmental and Safety Requirements, and the
Company has not incurred Liabilities nor is subject to any corrective,
investigatory or remedial obligations arising under Environmental and Safety
Requirements which relate to the Company or any of its current or past
properties or facilities, except for such matters which is not reasonably likely
to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) The
Company has not treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for or permitted the
disposal of, transported, handled or released any hazardous substance causing it
to incur any Liabilities for response costs, natural resource damages or
attorneys fees pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”) or any other
Environmental and Safety Requirements.
31
(iii) The
Company has not either expressly or by operation of law, assumed or undertaken
any Liability or corrective, investigatory or remedial obligation of any other
Person relating to any Environmental and Safety Requirements.
(iv) The
Company has not received any communication (written or oral), whether from a
Governmental Entity, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that
the Company is not in full compliance with any Environmental and Safety
Requirements, and there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with
such full compliance in the future. The Company has delivered to Purchaser prior
to the execution of this Agreement all information that is in the possession of
or reasonably available to the Sellers or the Company regarding environmental
matters pertaining to, or the environmental condition of, the Business of the
Company or the compliance (or noncompliance) by the Company with any
Environmental and Safety Requirements.
(dd) Accounts
Receivable, Notes Receivable, and Costs in Excess of Billing. All
accounts, notes receivable and costs in excess of billing of the Company have
arisen in the Ordinary Course of Business, represent valid obligations for sales
made, services performed or other charges and are, to the Knowledge of the
Seller and the Company, not subject to claims or set-off, or other defenses or
counter-claims except for reserves for bad debts provided on the Financial
Statements. All items which are required by GAAP to be reflected as accounts and
notes receivable on the Financial Statements and on the books and records of the
Company are so reflected and have been recorded in accordance with GAAP on a
consistent basis in a manner consistent with past practice.
(ee) Investment
in the Consideration Shares. The
Seller is acquiring the Consideration Shares for his own account and will not
sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of the Consideration Shares or any
interest therein, without registration under the Securities Act and applicable
state “blue sky” laws, except in a transaction which in the opinion of counsel
reasonably acceptable to Purchaser is exempt therefrom. The Seller is an
“accredited investor” as that term is defined in rules promulgated under the
Securities Act. The Seller has such knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of an
investment in the Purchaser Common Stock and has obtained, in its judgment,
sufficient information from Purchaser to evaluate the merits and risks of an
investment in the Purchaser Common Stock. The Seller has been provided the
opportunity to obtain information and documents concerning Purchaser and the
Purchaser Common Stock, and has been given the opportunity to ask questions of,
and receive answers from, the directors and officers of the Purchaser concerning
the Purchaser and the Purchaser Common Stock and other matters pertaining to
this investment. The Seller acknowledges that the offer of the Purchaser Common
Stock will not be reviewed by any Governmental Entity and is being sold to the
Seller in reliance upon exemption from the Securities Act. The Seller is aware
of the risks inherent in an investment in the Purchaser and specifically the
risks of an investment in the Purchaser Common Stock. In addition, the Seller is
aware and acknowledges that there can be no assurance of the future viability or
profitability of the Purchaser, nor can there be any assurance relating to the
current or future price of the Purchaser Common Stock, as quoted on the OTC
Bulletin Board on the NASDAQ System, or market conditions generally.
32
(ff)
Disclosure. No
representation or warranty of the Seller contained in this Agreement, or the
schedules hereto, and no closing certificate furnished by the Seller to the
Purchaser at the Closing contains or will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they are made, not misleading.
Section
4.2 Representations
and Warranties of the Purchaser. The
Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Seller that each of the
following statements is true, accurate and complete in all
respects:
(a) Organization
and Standing.
The
Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of New York, and has the full corporate power and
authority to carry on its business in the places and as it is now being
conducted and to own and lease its properties and assets.
(b) Corporate
Power and Authority. The
Purchaser has the full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the other documents, instruments, and agreements to be entered
into pursuant hereto by the Purchaser, to perform hereunder and thereunder, and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby without the
necessity of any act, approval or consent of any other Person or entity
whomsoever. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this
Agreement, and each and every other agreement, document and instrument to be
executed, delivered and performed in connection herewith have been, or by the
Closing will be, approved by all requisite corporate action on the part of the
Purchaser and constitute or will, when executed and delivered, constitute the
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in
accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
from time to time in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally, and except as enforcement of remedies may be limited by general
equitable principles.
(c) Agreement
Does Not Violate Other Instruments. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other documents, instruments,
and agreements to be entered into pursuant hereto by Purchaser do not, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not,
violate any provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or
Bylaws, as amended, of the Purchaser or constitute an occurrence of default
under any provision of: any mortgage, deed of trust, conveyance to secure debt,
note, loan, lien, lease, agreement, instrument, or any consent, order, judgment
or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are
affected.
33
(d) Litigation. There is
no suit, action, proceeding or claim pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Purchaser, threatened against or affecting the Purchaser or any of its
affiliates that would impair the ability of the Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated by, or perform its obligations under, this Agreement
or operate the Business or own the Assets after the Closing.
(e) Approvals. Assuming
the accuracy of the representations and warranties set
forth in Section 4.1(ee) hereof, no filing
or registration with, and no consent, approval, authorization, license, permit,
certificate or order of any governmental authority is required by any Applicable
Law or by any applicable judgment, order or decree or any applicable rule or
regulation of any Governmental Entity, to permit the Purchaser to execute,
deliver or perform this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereby
to be executed by it at the Closing.
(f) Brokers
and Intermediaries. The
Purchaser has not employed any broker, finder, advisor or intermediary in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would be
entitled to a broker’s, finder’s or similar fee or commission in connection
therewith or upon the consummation thereof.
(g) Consideration
Shares. At
Closing, the Consideration Shares to be delivered to Seller will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and, assuming the
accuracy of the Representations and warranties made by Seller in Section 4.1(ee)
of this Agreement, will be transferred to Seller free and clear of all
Encumbrances other than those imposed by the Securities Act and Applicable Law
regarding securities.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section
5.1 Preparation
of Tax Return; S Corporation Status.
(a)
Tax
Returns. Seller
shall file or cause to be filed when due all Tax returns that are required to be
filed by or with respect to the Company for Tax periods ending on or before the
Closing Date, and shall remit or cause to be remitted any Taxes due in respect
of such Tax returns. Purchaser shall not file or cause to be filed any Tax
return relating to the Company for Tax periods ending on or before the Closing
Date without the Seller’s prior consent (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld), other than Tax returns that will not be materially adverse to the
Seller. Purchaser shall file or cause to be filed all Tax returns that are
required to be filed by or with respect to the Company for Taxes with respect to
any Tax period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (a “Straddle
Period”) and shall remit or cause to be remitted the amount of Taxes shown on
such Tax returns. Seller shall reimburse Purchaser for the portion of the Taxes
payable for all periods of the Straddle Period occurring prior to Closing as
determined pursuant to Section 5.1(e). Purchaser shall file or cause to be filed
when due all other Tax returns that are required to be filed by or with respect
to the Company, and shall remit or cause to be remitted any Taxes due in respect
of such Tax returns. Seller or Purchaser shall reimburse the other party for any
Taxes which are payable with Tax returns to be filed by the other party pursuant
to this Section 5.1(a), in each case, within ten (10) days after such returns
are filed.
34
(b) Cooperation
on Tax Matters. Purchaser
and Seller shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by
the other party, in connection with the filing of Tax returns relating to the
Company and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes
relating to the Company, including any Tax claim. Such cooperation shall include
the retention and (upon the other party’s request) the provision of records and
information which are reasonably relevant to any such 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 or to testify at any proceeding.
(c) Tax
Refunds. The
amount or economic benefit of any refunds of Taxes of the Company for any
taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date shall be for the account of
Seller. The amount or economic benefit of any refunds of Taxes of the Company
for any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date shall be for the account
of Purchaser. The amount or economic benefit of any refunds of Taxes of the
Company for any period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date shall
be ratably apportioned between Purchaser and Seller in the manner described in
Section 5.1(e). Any such amounts owing to Purchaser and Seller, as applicable,
as provided in this Section 5.1(c) shall be paid by Purchaser or Seller, as
applicable, within five (5) business days of the receipt of any such refunds.
(d) Transfer
Taxes. All
transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes and
fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (“Transfer Taxes”) shall be shared
equally by Purchaser and Seller. Purchaser will, at its own expense, file all
necessary Tax returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer,
documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees, and, if
required by applicable law, Seller will join in the execution of any such Tax
returns and other documentation.
(e) Apportionment
of Straddle Periods.
In the
event of any Straddle Period:
(i) |
real,
personal and intangible property Taxes and any other Taxes levied on a per
diem basis (“Per Diem Taxes”) of the Company for any Tax period prior to
Closing shall be equal to the amount of such Per Diem Taxes for the entire
Straddle Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days from the beginning of the relevant Straddle Period up to
the day before the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the total
number of days in the Straddle Period; and |
(ii) |
the
Taxes of the Company (other than Per Diem Taxes) for any Tax period prior
to Closing shall be computed as if such Tax period ended as of the close
of business on the day before the Closing
Date. |
(f)
S
Corporation Status. After
Closing, Seller will not take any action or omit to take any action that could
result in the loss of “S corporation” status for the Company for all periods
from January 1, 2001 to and including the day before the Closing Date.
Section
5.2 Notification. Each
party to this Agreement shall promptly notify the other party in writing
of the occurrence, or pending or threatened occurrence, of any event that would
constitute a breach or violation of this Agreement by any party or that would
cause any representation or warranty made by the notifying party in this
Agreement to be false or misleading in any respect (including without
limitation, any event or circumstance which would have been required to be
disclosed on any schedule to this Agreement had such event or circumstance
occurred or existed on or prior to the date of this Agreement). Any such
notification shall not limit or alter any of the representations, warranties or
covenants of the parties set forth in this Agreement nor any rights or remedies
that a party may have with respect to a breach of any representation, warranty
or covenant.
35
Section
5.3 Confidentiality. The
Seller acknowledges that the intangible property and all other confidential or
proprietary information with respect to the business and operations of the
Company are, at and after Closing, valuable, special and unique assets of
Purchaser. The Seller shall not, at any time after the Closing Date, disclose,
directly or indirectly, to any Person, or use or purport to authorize any Person
to use any confidential or proprietary information of or with respect to the
Company, whether or not for Seller’s own benefit (except as may be permitted
pursuant to the employment agreement between Seller and the Company being
entered into contemporaneously herewith and except as may be required by legal
process in connection with any dispute arising out of this Agreement or by
Applicable Law, provided that Purchaser shall in such event be entitled to have
a reasonable amount of time prior to such disclosure to seek protective orders)
without the prior written consent of Purchaser or unless required by Applicable
Law, including without limitation, (i) trade secrets, designs, formulae,
drawings, intangible property, diagrams, techniques, research and development,
specifications, data, know-how, formats, marketing plans, business plans,
budgets, strategies, forecasts and client data of the Company; (ii) information
relating to products developed by or through the Company, (iii) except as
otherwise specifically provided in Section 7.4, the names of customers and
contacts, marketing strategies, the names of vendors and suppliers, the cost of
materials and labor, the prices obtained for services sold (including the
methods used in price determination, manufacturing and sales costs), lists or
other written records used in the business of the Company, (iv) compensation
paid to employees and consultants and other terms of employment, production,
operation techniques or any other confidential information of, about or
pertaining to the business of the Company, and any other information and
material relating to any customer, vendor, licensor, licensee, or other party
transacting business with the Company, (v) all tangible material that embodies
any confidential and proprietary information as well as all records, files,
memoranda, reports, price lists, drawings, plans, sketches and other written and
graphic records, documents, equipment, and the like, relating to the business of
the Company, and (vi) any other confidential information or trade secrets
relating to the business or affairs of the Company which the Seller may acquire
or develop in connection with or as a result of the performance of his or its
performance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, excepting only such
information as is already known to the public or which may become known to the
public without any fault of the Seller or in violation of any confidentiality
restrictions. The Seller acknowledges that Purchaser would not enter into this
Agreement without the assurance that all such confidential and proprietary
information will be used for the exclusive benefit of Purchaser.
Section
5.4 Covenant
Not to Compete. The
Seller acknowledges that in order to assure the Purchaser that the Purchaser
will retain the value of the Company as a “going concern,” the Seller, on the
terms set forth in this Section 5.4, agrees not to utilize its special knowledge
of the Business of the Company and its relationships with customers, prospective
customers, suppliers and others or otherwise to compete with the Business
subject to the terms hereafter set forth. Accordingly, subject to the Closing of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Seller severally covenant
and agree as follows:
36
(a) During
the five (5) year period that begins on the Closing Date, the Seller shall not,
whether for his own account or for the account of any other party other than the
Company or Purchaser or its Affiliates, directly or indirectly engage or have
any financial interest in, own, manage, operate, finance, control or participate
in the ownership, management, operation, financing or control of, be employed
by, associated with or in any manner connected with, lend his name to or any
similar name to, lend their credit to or render services or advice to, any
organization or activity which in any manner competes with (A) the Company with
respect to the Business or (B) the Purchaser or its Affiliates with respect to
the Purchaser’s business. For purposes of this Section 5.4, the term "compete"
shall mean with respect to the Company or the Purchaser and its Affiliates: (i)
with respect to or in connection with conducting any Business or the Purchaser’s
business, calling on, soliciting, taking away, or accepting as a client or
customer or attempting to call on, solicit, take away or accept as a client or
customer, any individual, person, partnership, corporation, association or other
entity or enterprise that is or was a client or customer of the Company or the
Purchaser or its Affiliates on or within two (2) years of the Closing Date; (ii)
with respect to any business reason other than in connection with the Business
or the Purchaser’s business, calling on, soliciting, taking away, or accepting
as a client or customer or attempting to call on, solicit, take away or accept
as a client or customer, any individual, person, partnership, corporation,
association or other entity or enterprise that is or was a client or customer of
the Company or the Purchaser or its Affiliates on or within two (2) years of the
Closing Date without the prior written consent of the CEO of the Purchaser in
each instance; (iii) soliciting, taking away or attempting to solicit or take
away, employ or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or
otherwise, any person who is or was an employee of the Company or the Purchaser
or its Affiliates on or within one (1) year of the Closing Date, on behalf of
any individual, person, partnership, Company, association or other entity or
enterprise conducting Business or the Purchaser’s business; (iv) inducing or
attempting to induce any employee of the Company or the Purchaser and its
Affiliates to terminate employment with the Company or the Purchaser and its
Affiliates, as the case may be; (v) entering into or attempting to enter into
any business similar to or competing in any way with the Business or the
Purchaser’s business. For purposes of this Section 5.4(a), the words "directly
or indirectly" as they modify the word "compete" shall mean (i) acting as an
agent, representative, consultant, officer, director, manager, independent
contractor or employee of any individual, person, partnership, corporation,
association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or other
entity or enterprise which competes with the Company, the Business or the
Purchaser’s business, (ii) participating in any such competing entity or
enterprise as an owner, member, partner, limited partner, joint venturer,
creditor or stockholder (except as a stockholder holding less than a one percent
(1%) interest in a Company whose shares are actively traded on a regional or
national securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended); and (iii) communicating to any
such competing entity or enterprise the names or addresses or any other
information concerning any past, present or identified prospective client or
customer.
37
(b) during
the five (5) year period that begins on the Closing Date, the Seller shall not
interfere with any of the Company’s, the Purchaser’s or Purchaser’s Affiliates’
relationships with any party, including any party who, during the one year
period ending on the Closing Date, was an employee, contractor, supplier or
customer of any of the Company, the Purchaser, or the Purchaser’s Affiliates’.
The Seller shall not make public statements which may negatively impact any of
the Company, the Purchaser or Purchaser’s Affiliates, or any of their,
directors, officers, employees or agents with respect to the customers,
suppliers, products, personnel or business of Purchaser, Purchaser’s Affiliates,
and any of the Company. For purposes of this Section 5.4(b), “interfere” shall
mean intentional or grossly negligent acts or conduct that is reasonably likely
to hamper, hinder or disturb the relationships between the Company, the
Purchaser or Purchaser’s Affiliates and any applicable party.
(c) the
Seller shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, use or purport to
authorize any Person to use any name, xxxx, copyright, logo, a trade dress or
other identifying words or images which are the same as or similar to those used
currently or in the past by Purchaser or the Company, in connection with any
product or service, whether or not such use would be in a business competitive
with that of Purchaser or the Company.
(d) The
Seller hereby acknowledges that a breach of the provisions of Sections
5.4(a)-(c) cannot reasonably or adequately be compensated in damages in an
action at law; and that a breach of any of the provisions contained in Sections
5.4(a)-(c) will cause the Company irreparable injury and damage. By reason
thereof, the Seller hereby agrees that the Company shall be entitled, in
addition to any other remedies it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, to
preliminary, temporary and permanent injunctive and other equitable relief to
prevent or curtail any actual breach of Sections 5.4(a)-(c) by the Seller;
provided, however, that no specification in this Agreement of a specific legal
or equitable remedy shall be construed as a waiver or prohibition against the
pursuing of other legal or equitable remedies in the event of such a
breach.
(e) The
Seller acknowledges that (a) the business of the Company is national and
international in scope and its products are marketed throughout the United
States and in other countries, territories and possessions; (b) the Company
competes with other businesses that are or could be located in any part of the
United States and in other countries, territories and possessions; and (c) the
provisions of this Section 5.4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the
business of the Company and will not restrict the Seller from earning a
livelihood.
Section
5.5 Further
Assurances. At any
time, and from time to time, whether on or after the Closing Date, each party
shall execute such additional instruments, documents, certifications and other
assurances and take such actions as may be reasonably requested by any other
party to confirm or perfect or otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes of
this Agreement.
38
Section
5.6 Subsequent
Actions.
(a) If at any
time after the Closing the Purchaser will consider or be advised that any deeds,
bills of sale, instruments of conveyance, assignments, assurances or any other
actions or things are necessary or desirable (i) to vest, perfect or
confirm ownership (of record or otherwise) in Purchaser, its right, title or
interest in, to or under any or all of the Shares, (ii) to vest, perfect or
confirm ownership (of record or otherwise) in the Company, any of its rights,
properties or assets or (iii) otherwise to carryout this Agreement, the
Seller shall execute and deliver all deeds, bills of sale, instruments of
conveyance, powers of attorney, assignments and assurances and take and do all
such other actions and things as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser in
order to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to
and under such rights, properties or assets in Purchaser or the Company or
otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
(b) After
Closing the Purchaser will do all such other actions and things as may be
reasonably requested by Seller in order to (i) vest, perfect or confirm any and
all right, title and interest in, to and under the Consideration Shares or (ii)
otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
Section
5.7 Covenants
Regarding Deferred Consideration. Between
the Closing and the last day of the subsequent month after the third anniversary
of the Closing, Purchaser agrees as follows:
(a)
Purchaser
agrees to operate and manage the Company Business consistent with reasonable
business practices. Purchaser further agrees and undertakes to the Seller that
Purchaser will use its commercially reasonable efforts to promote, support and
continue the operations of the Company Business and will act in good faith with
regard to the achievement of the maximization of Company EBITDA. Notwithstanding
the foregoing and subject to the immediately succeeding clause (b), Purchaser
shall be entitled to do any act (or refrain therefrom) in the conduct of the
business of the Company Business if it acts in good faith, consistent with
reasonable business practices and reasonably considers such action (or
determination not to act) to be in the best interests of the business of the
Company Business and not for the purpose of adversely affecting the calculation
of Company EBITDA.
(b)
Purchaser
and the Company agree that separate books and records will be kept for the
Company.
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, following the earlier to occur
of (i) the last day of the subsequent month after the third anniversary of the
Closing, (ii) an Event of Default (as defined in Section 5.8 hereof) or (iii) a
Bankruptcy Event (as defined in Section 5.9 hereof), all covenants of the
Purchaser (including any consent and approval rights of Seller) under this
Agreement with respect to the operations of the Business of the Company shall
terminate.
39
Section
5.8 Payment
of Deferred Consideration Upon Certain Events of Default.
If an
Event of Default (as defined in this Section 5.8) shall occur at any time prior
to Seller being paid the Year One Deferred Consideration Amount, the Year Two
Deferred Consideration Amount or the Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration
Amount then Purchaser shall pay, or shall arrange for the Company to pay the
applicable amount set forth below in lieu of any unpaid amount of Year One
Deferred Consideration Amount, Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount or Three
Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount payable pursuant to this
Agreement:
(i) |
if
such Event of Default occurs during the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the Closing Date and ending on the last
day of the twelfth month thereafter, (A) $750,000 less the Deferred
Consideration Deduction Amount, if any, on the date that the Year One
Deferred Consideration Amount would have otherwise been due, (B) $750,000
on the date that the Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount would have
otherwise been due, and (C) $750,000 on the date that the Three Year
Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount would have otherwise been due;
|
(ii) |
if
such Event of Default occurs during the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the one-year anniversary of the Closing
Date and ending on the last day of the twelfth month thereafter, (A)
$750,000, less the Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount, if any, on the
date that the Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount would have otherwise
been due, and (B) $750,000 on the date that the Three Year Aggregate
Deferred Consideration Amount would have otherwise been due;
|
(iii) |
if
such Event of Default occurs during the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the two-year anniversary of the Closing
Date and ending on the last day of the twelfth month thereafter, $750,000,
less the Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount, if any, on the date that
the Aggregate Three Year Deferred Consideration Amount would have
otherwise been due; |
in each
case, paid in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
An “Event
of Default” for purposes of this Section 5.8 shall have occurred upon the
termination of the Employment Agreement between the Company and Seller entered
into as of the Closing Date (the “Seller Employment Agreement”) by the Company
without “Cause” (as defined in the Seller Employment Agreement) or by Seller for
“Good Reason”. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean: (a)
“Good Reason” under Section 6(b) of the Seller Employment Agreement with respect
to material, uncured breaches of Section 5 of the Seller Employment
Agreement.
40
If an
Event of Default occurs during the second six months of any of the applicable
twelve month periods described in (i) - (iii) above (each, a “Deferred
Consideration Period”), there shall be a deduction amount (the “Deferred
Consideration Deduction Amount”) based on the shortfall, if any, between the
Company’s EBITDA to date and the EBITDA targets set forth in the left column on
Schedules 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5. The Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for any
Deferred Consideration Period shall equal: (i) the maximum amount of the Year
One Deferred Consideration Amount, Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount or
Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount, as applicable, less (ii) the
amount of Year One Deferred Consideration Amount, Year Two Deferred
Consideration Amount or Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration Amount, as
applicable, that would have been paid assuming that the Year One EBITDA, Year
Two EBITDA or Three Year Aggregate EBITDA, as applicable, equals (A) the EBITDA
earned from the beginning of the applicable Deferred Consideration Period until
the date of the Event of Default, multiplied by (B) a fraction, (x) the
numerator of which is twelve and (y) the denominator of which is the number of
months into the applicable Deferred Consideration Period that the Event of
Default occurred, multiplied by (C) 120%. In the case of Three Year Aggregate
EBITDA, the pro rata calculation described in the preceding sentence will only
be performed for the EBITDA for the third and final one-year Deferred
Consideration Period, which number will be added to the actual Year One EBITDA
and Year Two EBITDA for purposes of determining the Three Year Aggregate EBITDA
to be used in the calculation of the Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for
such period. Any objection made by the Seller to the calculation of the Deferred
Consideration Deduction Amount shall be resolved by the parties in the same
manner prescribed by Section 2.7(c) hereof.
If an
Event of Default occurs during the first six months of any applicable twelve
month Deferred Consideration Period there shall be no Deferred Consideration
Deduction Amount. In addition, if the Company’s EBITDA for the twelve month
Deferred Consideration Period in which an Event of Default occurs would have
entitled the Seller to the payment of Year One Deferred Consideration Amount,
Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount or Three Year Aggregate Deferred
Consideration Amount, as the case may be, in excess of the amount payable for
such Deferred Consideration Period pursuant to this Section 5.8(a), such excess
amount shall be paid to the Seller.
The
following examples are meant to be illustrative and not comprehensive:
Example
1:
The
Seller’s employment with the Company is terminated during the seventh month of
the first Deferred Consideration Period and such termination constitutes an
Event of Default. The Company’s One Year One EBITDA through the date of
termination is $350,000. The Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for such
Deferred Consideration Period would equal $750,000: $750,000 (the maximum amount
payable for such period), less $0 (the amount of Year One Deferred Consideration
Amount that would have been paid if One Year EBITDA equaled $720,000 ($350,000 x
12/7 x 120% = $720,000.00).
Example
2:
The
Seller’s employment with the Company is terminated during the eighth month of
the second Deferred Consideration Period and such termination constitutes an
Event of Default. The Company’s Year Two EBITDA through the date of termination
is $500,000. The Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for such Deferred
Consideration Period would equal $500,000: $750,000 (the maximum amount payable
for such period), less $250,000 (the amount of Year Two Deferred Consideration
Amount that would have been paid if Year Two EBITDA equaled $900,000 ($500,000 x
12/8 x 120% = $900,000).
41
Example
3:
The
Seller’s employment with the Company is terminated during the eighth month of
the third and final Deferred Consideration Period and such termination
constitutes an Event of Default. The Year One Deferred Consideration Amount was
$375,000 on the basis of Year One EBITDA of $950,000. The Year Two Deferred
Consideration Amount was $375,000 on the basis of Year Two EBITDA of $950,000.
The Company’s Three Year Aggregate EBITDA through the date of termination is
$2,100,000, $200,000 of which came in the third Deferred Consideration Period.
The Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for such Deferred Consideration
Period would equal $2,250,000: $2,250,000 (the maximum amount payable for such
period in connection with an Event of Default), less $0 (the amount of Three
Year Deferred Consideration Amount that would have been paid in connection with
an Event of Default if EBITDA for the full third Deferred Consideration Period
equaled $360,000 ($200,000 x 12/8 x 120% = $360,000), which, when added to the
actual Year One EBITDA and Year Two EBITDA, gives a Three Year Aggregate EBITDA
of $2,260,000).
Example
4: Same as
Example 3, except EBITDA was $750,000 in the third Deferred Consideration Period
through the date of termination. The Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for
such Deferred Consideration Period would equal $(625,000): $750,000 (the maximum
amount payable for such period in connection with an Event of Default), less
$1,375,000 (the amount of Three Year Deferred Consideration Amount that would
have been paid in connection with an Event of Default if EBITDA for the full
third Deferred Consideration Period equaled 1,350,000 ($750,000 x 12/8 x 120% =
$1,350,000), which, when added to the actual Year One EBITDA and Year Two
EBITDA, gives a Three Year Aggregate EBITDA of $3,250,000). Thus, there would be
no Deferred Consideration Deduction Amount for the third year, and $625,000
would be added, for a total deferred compensation amount of $2,125,000 ($375,000
in year one, $375,000 in year two, and $1,350,000 in year three equals
$2,125,000).
Section
5.9 Payment
of Deferred Consideration Upon Bankruptcy Event.
If a
Bankruptcy Event shall occur, then Purchaser immediately thereupon shall pay, or
shall arrange for the Company to pay, the applicable amount set forth below in
lieu of any unpaid amount of Year One Deferred Consideration Amount, Year Two
Deferred Consideration Amount or Three Year Aggregate Deferred Consideration
Amount payable pursuant to this Agreement:
42
(i) |
if
such Bankruptcy Event occurs during the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the Closing Date and ending on the last
day of the twelfth month thereafter,
$2,250,000; |
(ii) |
if
such Bankruptcy Event occurs during the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the first anniversary of the Closing Date
and ending on the last day of the twelfth month thereafter, $1,500,000;
or |
(iii) |
if
such Bankruptcy Event occurs during the one year period beginning on the
first day of the month following the second anniversary of the Closing
Date and ending on the last day of the twelfth month thereafter,
$750,000; |
in each
case, to the Seller in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds
within ten (10) business days of the Bankruptcy Event.
A
“Bankruptcy Event” for purposes of this Section 5.9 shall mean any material
bankruptcy, reorganization, debt arrangement or other proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution or liquidation proceeding, that
is instituted by or against the Purchaser and if instituted against the
Purchaser, is not dismissed within sixty (60) days.
Section
5.10 Indebtedness.
At or
prior to Closing, the Seller shall pay and discharge all of the Indebtedness of
the Company other than (i) Indebtedness, not to exceed $100,000.00, to be
paid and discharged by the Purchaser to Citizens Bank as contemplated by Section
3.3(d)(v) hereof and (ii) the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule
5.10
hereof. Prior to
the Closing Date, the Seller shall pay, or cause the Company to pay, any amounts
of Indebtedness to Citizens Bank such that the Indebtedness to Citizens Bank on
the Closing Date does not exceed $100,000.00.
Section
5.11 Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller. The
Seller hereby covenants and agrees that prior to the Closing Date, unless
otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in writing by
Purchaser, the Seller shall, and shall cause the Company, as applicable,
to:
(a) |
operate
the Business in the Ordinary Course of
Business; |
(b) |
use
reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact the Company’s business
organization and goodwill, maintain the Company’s rights and franchises,
retain the services of the Company’s officers and key employees and
maintain the Company’s relationships with its customers and
suppliers; |
43
(c) |
maintain
and keep its properties and tangible Assets in as good repair and
condition as at present, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and maintain
supplies in quantities consistent with their customary business
practice; |
(d) |
use
reasonable best efforts to keep in full force and effect insurance in
amount and scope of coverage to that currently
maintained; |
(e) |
comply
promptly with all requirements with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and cooperate promptly with, and furnish
information to, the Purchaser in connection with any such
requirements; |
(f) |
use
reasonable efforts to obtain (and to cooperate with the Purchaser in
obtaining) any consent, authorization or approval of, or exemption by, any
Person required to be obtained or made by the Seller in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; |
(g) |
use
reasonable efforts to bring about the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent to the Closing set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement;
and |
(h) |
promptly
advise the Purchaser orally and within three (3) business days thereafter,
in writing of any change in the Business or condition that has had or is
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Company. |
Section
5.12 Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller Relating to Due Diligence.
From the
date of this Agreement and until the Closing Date, the Seller hereby covenants
and agrees to cause the Company to afford the Purchaser and its Representatives,
reasonable access to the properties and facilities of the Company, and cause the
Company to make available to Purchaser and its Representatives, all books and
records relating to the Company and to the Business. The rights of access and
investigation provided for in this Section 5.12 shall be conducted during normal
business hours, upon reasonable prior notice and in such manner as not to
interfere unreasonably with the operation of the Business. The Seller authorizes
the Purchaser to disclose to such banks, lenders, potential investors and
investors, as well as the Purchaser’s attorneys, accountants and other financial
advisors, all financial statements and other information of the Company
reasonably required by such persons to evaluate an investment in the
Purchaser.
Section
5.13 Negative
Covenants of the Seller. The
Seller hereby covenants and agrees that prior to the Closing, unless otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in writing by the
Purchaser, the Seller shall not permit the Company to do any of the
foregoing:
(a) |
except
as set forth on Schedule
5.13(a),
(i) increase the compensation payable to or to become payable to any
director, officer or employee, unless such increase results from the
operation of written compensation agreements or past practices in effect
prior to the date hereof; (ii) grant any severance or termination pay
(other than pursuant to the normal severance policy of the Company as in
effect on the date of this Agreement) to, or enter into or amend any
employment or severance agreement with, any director, officer or employee;
(iii) establish, adopt or enter into any employee benefit plan or
arrangement; or (iv) except as may be required by applicable law, amend in
any material respect, or take any other actions with respect to, any of
the Employee Benefit Plans or any of the plans, programs, agreements,
policies or other arrangements described in Section 4.1(t) of this
Agreement. |
44
(b) |
take
any willful action for the primary purpose of causing any condition to the
Closing (as set forth in Article III hereof) to be materially delayed or
fail to be satisfied; |
(c) |
sell,
transfer, license, lease or otherwise dispose of, or suffer or cause the
encumbrance by any lien upon any of its properties or assets, tangible or
intangible, or any interest therein other than in the Ordinary Course of
Business and provided, that any such sale, transfer or disposition which
would otherwise be in the Ordinary Course of Business is nevertheless not
inconsistent with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby;
|
(d) |
make
or commit to make any capital expenditures exceeding in the aggregate
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000); |
(e) |
except
as listed on Schedule
5.13(e),
enter into any agreement which would be a Material Agreement, or amend or
terminate any existing Material Agreement, in each case which is not in
the Ordinary Course of Business; |
(f) |
except
as set forth on Schedule
5.13(f),
enter into any commitment or transaction other than in the Ordinary Course
of Business; |
(g) |
change
any of the Company’s accounting principles, methods, records or practices;
|
(h) |
create,
incur or assume any liability or indebtedness, except indebtedness
incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business and not exceeding Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in the aggregate, excluding all legal expenses
for the services of outside legal counsel and accounting
expenses; |
(i) |
become
subject to any Guaranty; |
(j) |
amend
any of the Company’s Articles of Organization or Bylaws; (ii) acquire by
merging or consolidating with, or agreeing to merge or consolidate with,
or purchase substantially all of the stock or assets of, or otherwise
acquire, any business or any Company, partnership, association or other
business organization or division thereof, (iii) enter into any
partnership or joint venture, (iv) declare, set aside, make or pay any
dividend or other distribution in respect of its capital stock or purchase
or redeem, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock, (v)
issue or sell any shares of its capital stock of any class or any options,
warrants, conversion or other rights to purchase any such shares or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares, (vi)
reclassify any of its capital stock, or (vii) liquidate or dissolve or
obligate itself to do so; |
45
(k) |
redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of their
capital stock or any option, warrant or other right to purchase or acquire
any such capital stock; |
(l) |
terminate
or modify, or commit or cause or suffer to be committed any act that will
result in material breach or violation of any term of or (with or without
notice or passage of time, or both) constitute a default under or
otherwise give any Person a basis for non-performance under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, lease,
license or other agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding,
written or oral, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
|
(m) |
apply
any Assets to the direct or indirect payment, discharge, satisfaction or
reduction of any amount payable directly or indirectly to or for the
benefit of the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller or any Related Party
or to the prepayment of any such amounts, other than expenses payable in
the Ordinary Course of Business; |
(n) |
do
any act, or omit to do any act or omission to act which would cause a
violation or breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants
of the Seller or the Company set forth in this Agreement or cause any
representation or warranty set forth herein, or in any certificate or
other document delivered in connection herewith, to be untrue on the
Closing Date; |
(o) |
take
any action which has or could have a Material Adverse
Effect; |
(p) |
alter
in any manner any of the Company’s existing working capital facilities, or
prepay any debt other than a mandatory prepayment in the Ordinary Course
of Business; |
(q) |
transfer,
directly or indirectly, in any way, any cash, cash equivalents,
securities, or other assets to the Seller, or for the benefit of the
Seller, including, but not limited to, by way of dividend, loan, repayment
of indebtedness, payment of fees, or other distribution or transfer; or
|
(r) |
agree,
whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
|
Section
5.14 Affirmative
Covenants of the Purchaser. The
Purchaser hereby covenants and agrees that, unless otherwise expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in writing by the Seller, the
Purchaser will and hereby agrees to:
(a) |
comply
promptly with all requirements with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and furnish information to the Seller in
connection with any such requirement; |
(b) |
use
its reasonable efforts to obtain any consent, authorization or approval
of, or exemption by, any Person required to be obtained or made by
Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; |
46
(c) |
not
take any willful action for the primary purpose of causing any condition
to the Closing (as set forth in Article III hereof) to be materially
delayed or to fail to be satisfied; and |
(d) |
use
its reasonable efforts to bring about the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent to Closing set forth in Section 3.3 of this Agreement.
|
Section
5.15 Acquisition
Proposals: No Solicitation. In
consideration of the substantial expenditure of time, effort, and expense
undertaken by the Purchaser in connection with the negotiation and execution of
this Agreement, the Seller agrees that unless this Agreement has been terminated
pursuant to the terms hereof or by the mutual agreement of the parties, neither
the Seller, nor their respective Affiliates, Representatives, employees or
agents (collectively, “Agents”) will, between the date hereof and earlier of
such termination and the Closing, directly or indirectly, (i) assist, solicit,
encourage, negotiate or accept any proposal (whether solicited or unsolicited)
(an “Acquisition Proposal”), for, or execute any agreement relating to, a sale
of all or any part of the Shares, the Company, or their respective assets or a
sale of any equity or debt security of the Company or any merger, consolidation,
combination, recapitalization, sale of any material assets or other transaction
involving any of the Company with any other party, or (ii) provide any
information regarding any of the Company to any third party for the purpose of
soliciting, encouraging or negotiating an Acquisition Proposal (it being
understood that nothing contained in clauses (i) or (ii) above shall restrict
the Seller or any of the Agents from providing information as required by legal
process). In addition, the Seller shall promptly notify the Purchaser in writing
of any third party’s Acquisition Proposal, or communication in connection with
any potential Acquisition Proposal, to the Seller or any of the Company,
together with all relevant terms and conditions thereof.
ARTICLE
V.A
TERMINATION
Section
5A.1 Termination
by the Purchaser. This
Agreement may be terminated by the Purchaser as follows:
(a) |
upon
a breach of any material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
on the part of the Seller set forth in this Agreement, or if any material
representation or warranty of the Seller shall have become untrue, in
either case such that the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 of this
Agreement would be incapable of being satisfied by the Seller on or prior
to the Closing; provided, that in any case, a willful breach shall be
deemed to cause such conditions to be incapable of being satisfied for
purposes of this Section 5A.1(a), and further provided that such breach or
untrue representation or warranty, other than a breach of Section 5.15, is
not cured within ten (10) days after notice thereof;
|
(b) |
any
legal proceeding is commenced or threatened by any Governmental Entity or
other Person directed against the consummation of the Closing or any other
transaction contemplated hereby, and Purchaser reasonably and in good
xxxxx xxxxx it impractical or inadvisable to proceed in view of such legal
proceeding or threat thereof; or |
47
(c) |
at
any time after 5:00 p.m., New York time, on April 30, 2005 if the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have not closed by such
time. |
Section
5A.2 Termination
by the Seller. This
Agreement may be terminated by the Seller as follows:
(a) |
upon
a breach of any material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
on the part of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement, or if any material
representation or warranty of Purchaser shall have become untrue, in
either case such that the conditions set forth in Section 3.3 of this
Agreement would be incapable of being satisfied by Purchaser on or prior
to the Closing; provided, that in any case, a willful breach shall be
deemed to cause such conditions to be incapable of being satisfied for
purposes of this Section 5A.2(a), and further provided that such breach or
untrue misrepresentation or warranty is not cured within ten (10) days
after notice thereof; or |
(b) |
at
any time after 5:00 p.m., New York time, on April 30, 2005 if the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have not closed by such
time. |
Section
5A.3 Effect
of Termination. In the
event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Sections 5A.1 and 5A.2,
this Agreement (except for the provisions of Sections 5.15 (Acquisition
Proposals; No Solicitation), 7.1 (Expenses), 7.2 (Governing Law), and this
Section 5A.3, which shall continue indefinitely) shall forthwith become void and
neither party shall have any further liability to the other under this
Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability
for fraud or willful breach of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section
5A.4 Notice
of Termination. A party
shall provide each of the other parties with at least ten (10) days’ notice
prior to termination under Sections 5A.1 and 5A.2 hereof and the opportunity to
cure any such deficiency or, if not capable of being cured in such ten (10) day
period, then to commence cure and proceed to complete same diligently and in any
event within thirty (30) days of such notice.
Section
5A.5 Waiver. At any
time prior to the Closing, each of the parties hereto may (a) extend the time
for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party
hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or (c) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any such
extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed by the party to be bound thereby.
48
ARTICLE
VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
6.1
Survival
of the Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of the Seller and the Purchaser set forth in this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall survive the Closing Date and remain
in full force and effect only until March 31, 2007; provided, however, that
the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.1(c), 4.1(e), 4.1(h),
4.1(i), 4.1(j)(ii), 4.1(m), 4.1(t), and 4.1(aa) shall survive the Closing Date
and remain in effect until thirty days after the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations.
Section
6.2
Effects
of Investigation; Supplement of Schedules Prior to Closing. The right
to indemnification, payment of Purchaser Losses or for other remedies based on
any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation of the Seller or the
Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall not be affected by
any investigation conducted with respect to, or any knowledge acquired (or
capable of being acquired) at any time, whether before or after the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or the date the Closing occurs, with respect to
the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any such representation,
warranty, covenant or obligation. The Seller shall have the right to supplement
the Schedules to Section 4.1 of this Agreement with respect to any matter
arising after the date hereof but prior to the Closing Date; provided, that any
such supplement (i) shall be delivered to Purchaser in writing promptly after
the occurrence that such matter occurs or becomes known, (ii) shall not be
deemed a waiver by Purchaser of any breach of a representation or warranty made
on the date hereof and shall not affect the right to indemnification, payment of
Purchaser Losses, or other remedy based on such representation or warranty, and
(iii) shall not be deemed to change any condition to the obligation of the
Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
6.3
Indemnification
Generally.
(a)
By the Seller. The
Seller agrees to be responsible for and shall pay and indemnify and hold
harmless Purchaser and its Representatives (the “Purchaser Indemnitees”) from,
against and in respect of, the amount of any and all liabilities, damages,
claims, deficiencies, fines, assessments, losses, Taxes, penalties, interest
(collectively, “Losses”), costs and expenses, including, without limitation,
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel arising from, in connection with,
or incident to (i) any breach or violation of any of the representations or
warranties contained in this Agreement or any agreement, document or other
writing referred to herein and delivered pursuant hereto, (ii) any breach or
violation of any of the covenants or agreements of the Seller contained in this
Agreement or any agreement, document or other writing referred to herein and
delivered pursuant hereto; (iii) any liability resulting from any litigation
involving any of the Company, regardless of whether or not such litigation was
disclosed by the Seller on Schedule
4.1(m) or
otherwise in this Agreement or in any other schedule or exhibit hereto; (iv) any
and all Taxes for any unaccrued or unreported Tax liabilities with respect to
the Company for all periods prior to or including the Closing Date; (v) any and
all claims arising at or prior to Closing relating to, resulting from or caused
(whether in whole or in part) by any Liability arising (a) from or under any
Employee Benefit Plan (except to the extent that such Liability has been accrued
on the Financial Statements or Additional Financial Statements) or (b) from the
Company’ failure to fully perform under and comply with the requirements of
ERISA with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan of the Company; and (v) any and
all actions, suits, proceedings, demands, assessments or judgments, costs and
expenses incidental to any of the foregoing.
49
(b)
By the Purchaser. The
Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Seller from, against and in
respect of, the full amount of any and all Losses, costs and expenses,
including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
arising from, in connection with, or incident to (i) any breach or violation of
any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of Purchaser
contained in this Agreement or any agreement referred to herein and delivered at
or prior to the Closing; and (ii) any and all actions, suits, proceedings,
demands, assessments or judgments, costs and expenses incidental to any of the
foregoing.
(c)
Indemnity
Procedure. A party
or parties hereto agreeing to be responsible for or to indemnify against any
matter pursuant to this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Indemnifying
Party” and the other party or parties claiming indemnity is referred to as the
“Indemnified Party”.
(i) An
Indemnified Party under this Agreement shall, with respect to claims asserted
against such party by any third party, give written notice to the Indemnifying
Party of any liability which might give rise to a claim for indemnity under this
Agreement, to the extent reasonably possible, not later than eight (8) days
prior to the date any answer or responsive pleading is due, and with respect to
other matters for which the Indemnified Party may seek indemnification, give
prompt written notice to the Indemnifying Party of any liability which might
give rise to a claim for indemnity; provided, however, that any failure to give
such notice will not waive any rights of the Indemnified Party, except to the
extent the rights of the Indemnifying Party are materially
prejudiced.
(ii) The
Indemnifying Party shall have the right, at its election, to take over the
defense or settlement of such claim by giving written notice to the Indemnified
Party at least four (4) days prior to the time when an answer or other
responsive pleading or notice with respect thereto is required. If the
Indemnifying Party makes such election, it may conduct the defense of such claim
through counsel of its choosing (subject to the Indemnified Party's approval of
such counsel, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), shall be
solely responsible for the expenses of such defense and shall be bound by the
results of its defense or settlement of the claim. The Indemnifying Party shall
not settle any such claim without prior notice to and consultation with the
Indemnified Party, and no such settlement involving any equitable relief or
which might have an adverse effect on the Indemnified Party may be agreed to
without the written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld). So long as the Indemnifying Party is diligently
contesting any such claim in good faith, the Indemnified Party may pay or settle
such claim only at its own expense and the Indemnifying Party will not be
responsible for the fees of separate legal counsel to the Indemnified Party,
unless the named parties to any proceeding include both parties and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate in the
reasonable opinion of the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnifying Party does not
make such election, or having made such election does not, in the reasonable
opinion of the Indemnified Party proceed diligently to defend such claim, then
the Indemnified Party may (after written notice to the Indemnifying Party), at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party, elect to take over the defense of and
proceed to handle such claim in its discretion and the Indemnifying Party shall
be bound by any defense or settlement that the Indemnified Party may make in
good faith with respect to such claim. In connection therewith, the Indemnifying
Party will fully cooperate with the Indemnified Party should the Indemnified
Party elect to take over the defense of any such claim.
50
(iii) The
parties agree to cooperate in defending such third party claims and the
Indemnified Party shall provide such cooperation and such access to its books,
records and properties as the Indemnifying Party shall reasonably request with
respect to any matter for which indemnification is sought hereunder; and the
parties hereto agree to cooperate with each other in order to ensure the proper
and adequate defense thereof.
(iv) With
regard to claims of third parties for which indemnification is payable
hereunder, such indemnification shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party upon the
earlier to occur of: (i) the entry of a judgment against the Indemnified Party
and the expiration of any applicable appeal period, or if earlier, five (5) days
prior to the date that the judgment creditor has the right to execute the
judgment; (ii) the entry of an unappealable judgment or final appellate decision
against the Indemnified Party; or (iii) a settlement of the claim.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided that there is no good faith dispute as
to the applicability of indemnification, the reasonable expenses of counsel to
the Indemnified Party shall be reimbursed on a current basis by the Indemnifying
Party if such expenses are a liability of the Indemnifying Party. With regard to
other claims for which indemnification is payable hereunder, such
indemnification shall be paid promptly by the Indemnifying Party upon demand by
the Indemnified Party.
(d)
Limitations on Indemnification. Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no indemnification payment
shall be made to the Purchaser Indemnitees arising from breaches of
representations or warranties of the Seller under Section 6.3(a)(i) until the
amounts which Purchaser Indemnitees would otherwise be entitled to receive as
indemnification under this Agreement aggregate at least $25,000, at which time
the Purchaser Indemnitees shall be indemnified dollar-for-dollar to the extent
any Liability with respect to such matter exists up to a maximum of fifty
percent of the Purchase Price that Seller is entitled to be paid hereunder. The
indemnification provisions set forth in Section 6.1 with respect to Sections
4.1(c), 4.1(e), 4.1(h), 4.1(i), 4.1(j)(ii), 4.1(m), 4.1(t), 4.1(aa), 5.1, 5.4,
or 7.1 or with respect to a claim of fraud or willful misconduct by the Seller
shall not be subject to the limitations set forth in this Section
6.3(d).
51
(e)
Right to Set-off Against Additional Consideration. Should
the Seller be liable for any indemnification payments under this Article VI to
the Purchaser Indemnitees, the Purchaser may, without limitation, set-off and
deduct such amounts from any payments or obligations (the "Right of Set-off")
due and owing to the Seller for any of the Year One Deferred Consideration
Amount, Year Two Deferred Consideration Amount or Three Year Aggregate Deferred
Consideration Amount.
Section
6.4
Obligation. Subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 6.3, all representations, warranties,
covenants, agreements, and liabilities of the Seller under this Agreement shall
be the obligation of the Seller and are only for the benefit of Purchaser and
its successors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall give rise to any
right of action by or for the Seller as against the Company, and the Seller
shall not have any rights against the Company if a remedy is sought or obtained
against the Seller because the Company breaches any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement set forth herein. Notwithstanding the forgoing, subject to
the limitations set forth in Section 6.3, all representations, warranties,
covenants, agreements and liabilities of the Purchaser under this Agreement
shall be for the obligation of the Purchaser and are only for the benefit of
Seller and his successors and the Seller’s recourse on account of any breaches
of such representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and liabilities shall
be against the Purchaser.
ARTICLE
VII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
Section
7.1 Expenses. Except as
otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, Purchaser will bear its
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution, and performance
of this Agreement, and the Seller will bear its expenses and the expenses of the
Company incurred prior to and after the Closing in connection with the
preparation, execution, and performance of this Agreement.
Section
7.2 Governing
Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of New York applicable to agreements to be fully performed within such
State.
Section
7.3 Notices. All
notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing (including telecopier communication) and be delivered by personally or
by overnight courier (with written receipt requested) or telecopied (with
confirmed receipt), to the following addresses (or such other address as any
party shall have designated from time to time by notice to the other
party):
If to the
Seller to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Atlantic
Research & Consulting, Inc.
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
52
with a
copy to:
Company
Counsel, LLC
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to the
Purchaser to:
FIND/SVP,
Inc.
000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
with a
copy to:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, P.C.
1350
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
All such
notices and other communications shall be effective upon written confirmation of
delivery or if sent by facsimile, upon confirmed receipt of
transmission.
Section
7.4 No
Waiver of Remedies, etc. No
failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay of any party in
exercising, any right or remedy available hereunder or by law shall operate as a
waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or
remedy by any party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right by such party. The remedies herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section
7.5 Injunctive
Relief; Jurisdiction and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial. The
parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this
Agreement. The parties further agree (a) that this Agreement shall be subject to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New York County, New York; (b) that
any breach of any term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a
breach occurring in the State of New York by virtue of a failure to perform an
act required to be performed in the State of New York and irrevocably and
expressly agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New
York for the purpose of resolving any disputes among the parties relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; and (c) to irrevocably
waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which they may now
or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any
court in respect hereof brought in New York County, New York, and further
irrevocably waive any claim that any suit, action or proceeding brought in New
York County, New York has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Seller and
Purchaser each further irrevocably waive the right to a jury trial in connection
with any action arising under this Agreement.
53
Section
7.6 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed an original of this Agreement and all of which together
shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, and delivery by
telecopier of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof, provided,
however, that in each instance an original executed counterpart shall be
promptly delivered to the other parties by hand or overnight
courier.
Section
7.7 Section
and Other Headings. The
sections and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not define, limit or extend the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Section
7.8 Entire
Agreement; Incorporation by Reference. All
Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto and all certificates, documents and other
instruments contemplated to be delivered hereunder are hereby expressly made a
part of this Agreement as fully as though set forth herein, and all references
to this Agreement herein or in any of such writings shall be deemed to refer to
and include all of such writings. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section
7.9 Binding
Effect. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, successors and
permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer on any Person other than the parties, or their respective successors or
permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by
reason of this Agreement.
Section
7.10 Amendment
or Modification. This
Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified by the parties
in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Seller
and an authorized officer of Purchaser.
Section
7.11 Waiver. The
failure of any party to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor
in any way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part thereof or the
right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision, and the
single or partial exercise of any right hereunder by any party shall not
preclude any other or further exercise of such right or any other right by such
party or the other party.
Section
7.12 Severability. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be determined by a court pursuant to Section
7.5 of this Agreement to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such
determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement in such jurisdiction. If any provision of this
Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or entity or any
circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a
suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry
out, so far as may be valid or enforceable, the unenforceable provision and (b)
the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other
Persons, entities or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or
unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the
validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any
other jurisdiction.
54
Section
7.13 Assignment. This
Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the written consent of the
other party; provided, that Purchaser may assign this Agreement to a
corporation, partnership, or limited liability company of which Purchaser
maintains voting control.
Section
7.14 Publicity. No public
announcement or other publicity regarding this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be made prior to or after the date hereof without the
prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Seller as to form, content,
timing and manner of distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
this Agreement shall preclude any party or its affiliates from making any public
announcement or filing pursuant to any federal or state securities laws or stock
exchange rules.
Section
7.15 Enforcement. The
parties hereto agree that money damages or other remedy at law would not be a
sufficient or adequate remedy for any breach or violation of, or default under,
this Agreement by them and that in addition to all other remedies available to
them, each of them shall be entitled to the fullest extent permitted by law to
an injunction restraining such breach, violation or default and to other
equitable relief, including, without limitation, specific performance, with bond
or other security being required.
Section
7.16 Construction. Each
party has been represented by counsel of its choice in the negotiation of this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted by each of the
parties hereto jointly, and no rule of construction shall be invoked respecting
the authorship hereof.
[THE REST
OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
55
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
SELLER: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
PURCHASER: | FIND/SVP, INC. | |||
By: |
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxx |
||||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |