PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as
of November 26, 2010, by and among Xxxxxx C.A. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, and
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, each a resident of the State of Texas (individually a “Seller” and collectively, the
“Sellers”) and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Group Inc., a Texas corporation (“Purchaser” and together with
the Sellers, the “Parties”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS,
Sellers own 100% of the membership interests in Global Financial Services,
L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company (“GFS BD”), and GFS Advisors,
LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“GFS IA” and together with GFS
BD, “GFS” or
individually, a “Company” or collectively, the
“Companies”);
WHEREAS,
GFS BD is governed by Regulations dated as of December 23, 1994, as amended by
an Amendment to Regulations dated as of November 4, 1997 (the “BD LLC Agreement”) and GFS IA
is governed by an Operating Agreement dated as of January 10, 2007 (the “IA LLC
Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
Purchaser desires to purchase 50.1% of the profits interests and 48.743311% of
the capital interests in GFS BD and 50.1% of the profits interest and capital
interests in GFS IA from Sellers, and Sellers desire to sell to Purchaser 50.1%
of the profits interests and 48.743311% of the capital interests in GFS BD and
50.1% of the profits and capital interest in GFS IA, on the terms and conditions
set forth herein;
WHEREAS,
in the previous 12 months, no profits interests or capital interests in GFS BD
have been transferred or sold by the current members or former members of GFS
BD; and
WHEREAS,
because less than 50% of the capital interests in GFS BD are being transferred
and sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and no previous transfers of
capital interests in GFS BD have occurred in the 12 months preceding the Closing
(as hereinafter defined), GFS BD will not incur a termination pursuant to
Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”).
AGREEMENT:
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the Recitals, the mutual covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
BASIC
TRANSACTION
1.1 Purchase and Sale of
Interests.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Sellers shall sell to Purchaser,
and Purchaser shall purchase from Sellers, 50.1% of the profits interests and
48.743311% of the capital interest in each of GFS BD and GFS IA (the “Membership Interests”) in each
of the Companies (the “Purchased
Interest”). The percent Membership Interest to be purchased in
GFS BD and GFS IA from each Seller is set forth in Schedule A attached
hereto (the “Percentage
Interest”).
(b) The
aggregate consideration being paid for the Purchased Interest (the “Initial Closing
Consideration”), subject to adjustment after the Closing (as hereinafter
defined) as provided in Sections 1.1(c) and (d), is as follows: (i) $15,000,000
of cash and (ii) such number of shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value, of
Purchaser (“SMHG Common
Stock”) (rounded to the nearest whole share) as shall equal (x)
$3,000,000 divided by (y) the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined)
determined as of the Business Day following the date hereof. The
Initial Closing Consideration and any adjustments thereto will be allocated
among the Sellers in such manner as the Sellers shall instruct.
(c) Subject
to Section 1.4, the Initial Closing Consideration shall be subject to upward
adjustment (the “Earn-Out
Adjustment”) following the Closing in accordance with this
Section 1.1(c).
(i) If for
the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending December 31, 2011 (the “First Earn-Out Period”), LLC
Net Income (as hereinafter defined) is at least $5,000,000, then the Initial
Closing Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to (A) 3.2143
multiplied by (B) each One Dollar ($1.00) of LLC Net Income in excess of
$5,000,000; provided, that the maximum increase in the Initial Closing
Consideration pursuant to this Section 1.1(c)(i) and Section 1.1(c)(ii) shall be
$4,500,000 (the “Maximum
Earn-Out Adjustment”).
(ii) If the
Maximum Earn-Out Adjustment is not reached at December 31, 2011, and if for the
period beginning January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012 (the “Second Earn-Out Period” and
together with the First Earn-Out Period, the “Earn-Out Period”), LLC Net
Income exceeds the greater of (A) $5,000,000 or (B) LLC Net Income for the year
ended December 31, 2011, then the Initial Closing Consideration shall be
increased by an amount equal to (x) 3.2143 multiplied by (y) each One Dollar
($1.00) of LLC Net Income in excess of the greater of $5,000,000 or the LLC Net
Income for the First Earn-Out Period until the Maximum Earn-Out Adjustment is
reached.
(iii) The
Earn-Out Adjustment (if any) shall be paid 66-2/3% in cash and 33-1/3% in such
number of shares of SMHG Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole share) as
shall equal (x) 33-1/3% of the Earn-Out Adjustment divided by (y) the Current
Market Price determined as of the date immediately prior to the date of delivery
of such SMHG Common Stock to Sellers. The Earn-Out Adjustment (if any) shall be
paid to Sellers ratably in accordance with the Percentage Interest sold by each
of them.
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(iv) The
Earn-Out Adjustment (if any) shall be paid by Purchaser to Sellers promptly (and
in any event within two Business Days (as hereinafter defined)) after the
Earn-Out Adjustment Statement becomes final and binding pursuant to
sub-paragraph (v) below, unless the Sellers deliver a Section 1.1(c) Objection
Notice, in which case the Earn-Out Adjustment shall be paid within two Business
Days following the Independent Earn-Out Determination.
(v) Not later
than March 25, 2012, for the First Earn-Out Period, and March 25, 2013, for the
Second Earn-Out Period (or if the audited financial statements for each Company
have not been delivered prior to March 15, 2012 or 2013, as the case may
be, 10 days following delivery of such audited financial statements),
Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to Sellers a written statement (the “Earn-Out Adjustment
Statement”) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of LLC Net
Income for the Earn-Out Period and the resulting Earn-Out Adjustment (if
any). The Earn-Out Adjustment Statement shall be final and binding on
Sellers unless within 10 Business Days following the date of delivery of the
Earn-Out Adjustment Statement, Sellers notify Purchaser in writing (a “Section 1.1(c) Objection
Notice”) that Sellers do not accept as correct the calculation of LLC Net
Income for such Earn-Out Period and the resulting Earn-Out Adjustment as
reflected in the applicable Earn-Out Adjustment Statement. If Sellers timely
deliver a Section 1.1(c) Objection Notice, then Purchaser and Sellers shall
attempt to reach agreement as to the calculation of LLC Net Income for such
Earn-Out Period and the resulting Earn-Out Adjustment. If within 10
Business Days the Parties have not reached agreement on it, then Purchaser and
Sellers shall promptly designate an accounting firm of nationally or regionally
recognized standing and not having any material business relationship with any
of the Parties (and they shall promptly disclose any such relationships to the
other), which (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) shall be instructed
to make, as soon as practicable after the matter is referred to such accounting
firm, the calculation of LLC Net Income for such Earn-Out Period and the
resulting Earn-Out Adjustment (if any). The determination of LLC Net
Income for such Earn-Out Period by such accounting firm shall be final and
binding on the Parties (“Independent Earn-Out
Determination”).
(vi) For
purposes of this Section 1.1(c), “LLC Net Income”
means:
(A) for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, the consolidated net operating income
of GFS BD and GFS IA for such fiscal year before interest, Taxes (as hereinafter
defined), depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”), as determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time
to time in the United States and any successor principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied by
reference to the audited financial statements of GFS BD and GFS IA for that
fiscal year; and
3
(B) for any
subsequent fiscal year of GFS BD and GFS IA, the EBITDA for such fiscal year, as
determined in accordance with GAAP and by reference to the audited financial
statements of GFS BD and GFS IA for that fiscal year;
but in
each case under (A) and (B) without taking into account any items of income,
cost, expense, expenditure or deduction (I) resulting from the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement (including the amortization of goodwill), (II)
for one-time, non-cash extraordinary items pertaining to strategic growth and
expansion initiatives, (III) otherwise mutually agreed to by Sellers and
Purchaser, or (IV) otherwise agreed to by a Required Vote (as defined in the BD
LLC Agreement and the IA LLC Agreement (as hereinafter defined)) of the Board of
Managers of each Company.
(d) Subject
to Section 1.4, and in addition to the Earn-Out Adjustment, the Initial Closing
Consideration shall be subject to upward adjustment (the “CAGR Adjustment”) following
the Closing in accordance with this Section 1.1(d).
(i) If for
any fiscal year ending on December 31, 2012, 2013, or 2014 (each a “CAGR Period”), LLC Net Income
exceeds the Base Year Net Income (as hereinafter defined) by at least ten
percent (10%), but less than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) (with such
rates compounded annually after 2012 for the number of years elapsed since
20111), then the Initial Closing
Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to 4.76% of the sum of the
Initial Closing Consideration and any Earn-Out Adjustment paid prior to such
CAGR Period.
(ii) If for
any CAGR Period, LLC Net Income exceeds the Base Year Net Income by at least
twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), but less than fifteen percent (15.0%) (with
such rates compounded annually after 2012 for the number of years elapsed since
2011), then the Initial Closing Consideration shall be increased by an amount
equal to 9.52% of the sum of the Initial Closing Consideration and any Earn-Out
Adjustment paid prior to such CAGR Period.
(iii) If for
any CAGR Period, LLC Net Income exceeds the Base Year Net Income by at least
fifteen percent (15.0%), but less than twenty percent (20%) (with such rates
compounded annually after 2012 for the number of years elapsed since 2011), then
the Initial Closing Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to
11.90% of the sum of the Initial Closing Consideration and any Earn-Out
Adjustment paid prior to such CAGR Period.
(iv) If for
any CAGR Period, LLC Net Income exceeds the Base Year Net Income by at least
twenty percent (20%) (with such rates compounded annually after 2012 for the
number of years elapsed since 2011), then the Initial Closing Consideration
shall be increased by an amount equal to 14.29% of the sum of the Initial
Closing Consideration and any Earn-Out Adjustment paid prior to such CAGR
Period.
_____________________
1 I.e., to
achieve the 10% rate, the required rate of growth for 2012 would be 10%, for
2013 would be 21%, and for 2014 would be 31.1%.
4
(v) For
clarity’s sake, the following table summarizes the CAGR ranges, incentive
multiples, percentages and maximum pay-outs for the CAGR
Adjustments:
Minimum
CAGR
|
Incentive
Multiple
|
Additional
%
of
Purchase
Price
|
Maximum
3
year
Earnout2
|
10.0%
|
8
|
4.76%
|
$ 3.2M
|
12.5%
|
9
|
9.52%
|
$ 6.4M
|
15.0%
|
9.5
|
11.90%
|
$ 8.0M
|
20.0%
|
10
|
14.29%
|
$ 9.6M
|
(vi) For
purposes of this Section 1.1(d), “Base Year Net Income” means
(A) for the year ending December 31, 2012, LLC Net Income for the year ending
December 31, 2011, but not less than $5,000.000 or more than $6,400,000, and (B)
for the years ending December 31, 2013 and 2014, the greater of LLC Net Income
for the years ending December 31, 2011 or 2012, but not less than $5,000,000 or
more than $6,400,000.
(vii) Each CAGR
Adjustment (if any) shall be paid 80% in cash and 20% in such number of shares
of SMHG Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole share) as shall equal (x) 20%
of the CAGR Adjustment divided by (y) the Current Market Price determined as of
the date immediately prior to the date of delivery of such SMHG Common Stock to
Sellers. Each CAGR Adjustment (if any) shall be paid to Sellers ratably in
accordance with the Percentage Interest sold by each of them.
(viii) Each CAGR
Adjustment (if any) shall be paid by Purchaser to Sellers promptly (and in any
event within two Business Days) after the CAGR Adjustment Statement becomes
final and binding pursuant to sub-paragraph (viii) below, unless the Sellers
deliver a Section 1.1(d) Objection Notice, in which case the CAGR Adjustment
shall be paid within two Business Days following the Independent CAGR
Determination.
(ix) Not later
than March 25 following each CAGR Period (or if the audited financial statements
for each Company have not been delivered prior to March 25 of any year, 10 days
following delivery of such audited financial statements), Purchaser shall
prepare and deliver to Sellers a written statement (the “CAGR Adjustment Statement”)
setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of LLC Net Income for the
CAGR Period and the resulting CAGR Adjustment (if any). The CAGR Adjustment
Statement shall be final and binding on Sellers unless within 10 Business Days
following the date of delivery of the CAGR Adjustment Statement, Sellers notify
Purchaser in writing (a “Section 1.1(d) Objection
Notice”) that Sellers do not accept as correct the calculation of LLC Net
Income for the CAGR Period and the resulting CAGR Adjustment as reflected in the
CAGR Adjustment Statement. If Sellers timely deliver a Section 1.1(d)
Objection Notice, then Purchaser and Sellers shall attempt to reach agreement as
to the calculation of LLC Net Income for such CAGR Period and the resulting CAGR
Adjustment. If within ten Business Days the Parties have not reached
agreement on it, then Purchaser and Sellers shall promptly designate
an accounting firm of nationally or regionally recognized standing
and not having any material business relationship with any of the Parties (and
they shall promptly disclose any such relationships to the other), which (acting
as an expert and not as an arbitrator) shall be instructed to make, as soon as
practicable after the matter is referred to such accounting firm, the
calculation of LLC Net Income for such CAGR Period and the resulting CAGR
Adjustment (if any). The determination of LLC Net Income for such CAGR Period by
such accounting firm shall be final and binding on all of the Parties (“Independent CAGR
Determination”).
_______________
2 Assumes
that EBITDA achieved each year is sufficient to trigger this tier of CAGR
payment.
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(x) For
purposes of this Section 1.1, “Current Market Price” means as
of any date of determination, the arithmetic mean of the sales price of a share
of SMHG Common Stock (calculated as the average of the high and low sales
prices) on each of the 10 trading days immediately preceding such date on the
Nasdaq Stock Market or, if the SMHG Common Stock is no longer quoted thereon, on
such other national securities market or exchange on which SMHG Common Stock is
then listed, as reported on that page of Bloomberg which displays such
data, or if such service is unavailable, such other comparable publicly
available service for displaying such data as may be agreed by the Parties (such
agreement not to be unreasonably withheld). In the event that there is a
stock split (or reverse stock split), stock dividend or other similar event
during the relevant measuring periods under the foregoing calculation, equitable
and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the application of the foregoing
calculation of Current Market Price to take account of such event.
(xi) The cash
portion of the Initial Closing Consideration and any Earn-Out Adjustment, or
CAGR Adjustment shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
the account or accounts designated by the Sellers.
1.2 Escrow of SMHG Common
Stock. The Sellers shall, at the Closing Date, deliver and
deposit with Purchaser, or such other person designated by Purchaser as escrow
agent (the “Escrow
Agent”), stock certificates representing a number of shares of the SMHG
Common Stock (the “Escrow Shares”) equal to $1,000,000
divided by the Current Market Price on the Closing Date. The Escrow Agent is
hereby authorized and directed to hold the Escrow Shares in accordance with the
following terms of this Section 1.2 and Sections 9.1 and 9.3 until the 12 month
anniversary following the Closing Date (the “Escrow Release Date”);
provided, however, that the Escrow Release Date shall be extended if there are
any pending Indemnity Matters (as hereinafter defined) asserted by Purchaser
until such Indemnity Matters are resolved by agreement of the Parties or
pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 11.8. The number of Escrow Shares
deliverable to the Sellers on the Escrow Release Date shall be reduced by the
amount of any Indemnity Matter agreed to by Sellers or determined pursuant to
the procedure set forth in Section 11.8 to be owed to Purchaser. The
Sellers shall be entitled to receive all dividends paid on the Escrow Shares
prior to the Escrow Release Date..
1.3 Employment
Agreement. Each of the Sellers shall enter into an agreement
with the Companies to provide ongoing services to the Companies in connection
with their management of its business activities for a term of three years (two
years for Xx. Xxxxxxxx), including a coterminous non-competition agreement and
with non-competition and non-solicitation continuing for three years (four years
for Xx. Xxxxxxxx) from termination of employment. The foregoing agreement will
be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Employment
Agreement”).
6
1.4 Limitation on Issuances of
SMHG Common Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, (a) if any required issuance of shares of SMHG Common
Stock to the Sellers under the terms of this Agreement as payment of the
purchase price or the payment of any bonuses under an employment agreement
entered into in connection herewith (an “Applicable Payment”), when
combined with all prior issuances of SMHG Common Stock under this Agreement,
would result in the aggregate issuance of (i) SMHG Common Stock with voting
power equal to or exceeding 20% of the voting power of the total number of
shares of SMHG Common Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or
(ii) a number of shares of SMHG Common Stock equal to or exceeding 20% of
the total number of shares of SMHG Common Stock outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement, then Purchaser shall make such Applicable Payment in cash
(rather than in SMHG Common Stock); and (b) if at any time SMHG Common Stock
shall cease to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Market
or other national securities market or exchange, any Applicable Payments shall
be made in an equivalent amount of cash rather than SMHG Common
Stock.
ARTICLE
II
CLOSING
2.1 Closing. The
closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Interest (the “Closing”) shall occur at 10:00
a.m. (Houston time) on December 31, 2010 (the “Closing Date”). At
the Closing, (a) the Sellers will deliver to Purchaser an assignment of the
Purchased Interest in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (an “Assignment of Interest”), (b)
Purchaser shall deliver to the Sellers the Initial Closing Consideration, (c)
the Sellers and Purchaser shall execute and deliver the Amended and Restated
Company Agreement of GFS BD in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (“GFS BD Amended and Restated Company
Agreement”) and the Amended and Restated Company Agreement of GFS IA in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (“GFS IA Amended and Restated Company
Agreement”), and (d) the
Companies and each Seller shall execute and deliver an Employment
Agreement.
2.2 Sellers
Obligations. The Sellers’ obligations to complete the sale and
purchase of the Purchased Interest shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) receipt
by the Sellers of the Initial Closing Consideration;
(b) the
accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties made by
Purchaser and the fulfillment of those undertakings of Purchaser to be fulfilled
prior to or at the Closing;
(c) Purchaser’s
execution and delivery of the GFS BD Amended and Restated Company
Agreement;
7
(d) Purchaser’s
execution and delivery of the GFS IA Amended and Restated Company
Agreement;
(e) The
Purchaser’s execution and deliver of the Registration Rights Agreement (the
“Registration Rights
Agreement”) in the firm attached hereto as Exhibit
E;
(f) the
Companies’ execution and delivery
of each Employment Agreement;
(g) the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has not imposed any
condition on the operation of GFS BD pursuant to NASD Conduct Rule 1017(c)(1) or
1017(g) that is not reasonably acceptable to the Sellers; and
(h) no
Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined) has occurred and is continuing
with respect to the business or financial condition of Purchaser.
2.3 Purchaser
Obligations. Purchaser’s obligation to complete the sale and
purchase of the Purchased Interest shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) each
Seller’s execution of an Assignment of Interest;
(b) the
accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties made by
the Sellers and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Sellers to be
fulfilled prior to or at the Closing;
(c) receipt
by Purchaser of any certificate or certificates of the officers of the Companies
or public officials of any state as may be reasonably requested by
Purchaser;
(d) each
Sellers’ execution and delivery of the GFS BD Amended and Restated Company
Agreement;
(e) each
Sellers’ execution and delivery of the GFS IA Amended and Restated Company
Agreement;
(f) each
Sellers’ execution of an Employment Agreement;
(g) the
Companies shall open a new account for working capital and ensure that it has
cash on hand at Closing of at least $181,000;
(h) FINRA has
not imposed any condition on the operation of GFS BD pursuant to NASD Conduct
Rule 1017(c)(1) or 1017(g) that is not reasonably acceptable to
SMHG;
(i) X.X.
Xxxxxx Clearing Corp. has agreed that the Agreement for Securities Clearance
Services dated September 15, 1995, shall remain in full force and effect
following Closing; and
8
(j) No
Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined) has occurred and is continuing
with respect to the business or financial condition of the
Companies.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
Each of
the Sellers, jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant to Purchaser,
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, except as set forth
on the GFS Disclosure Schedule (as hereinafter defined), as
follows:
3.1 Organization, Existence, and
Qualification. Each of GFS BD and GFS IA is a limited
liability company duly organized and in good standing under the Laws of the
State of Texas and has the power and authority to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted and to own, lease, and operate all of its properties and
assets (the “Business”). Each of
GFS BD and GFS IA is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in
each other jurisdiction in which qualification is required, except where the
failure to be so qualified will not have a Material Adverse Effect (as
hereinafter defined). The Sellers have delivered to Purchaser true
and correct copies of the BD LLC Agreement and the IA LLC Agreement, together
with all amendments thereto, as in effect immediately prior to the date
hereof.
3.2 Capitalization. Sellers
are the sole members of each of the Companies. The Membership
Interests owned by each of the Sellers in each of the Companies are as set forth
on Schedule
A. The issued and outstanding Membership Interests of each of
the Companies are uncertificated. Except as set forth on in Section
3.2 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule, no subscription, warrant, option,
convertible security, or other right (contingent or other) to purchase or
otherwise acquire Membership Interest or other equity interests of either
Company will be outstanding as of the Closing Date. To the knowledge
of the Sellers, the outstanding Membership Interests of each Company have been
duly authorized and issued in compliance with the BD LLC Agreement and the IA
LLC Agreement, and all applicable laws, statute, ordinance, rule, code or
regulation enacted or promulgated, or order, directive, instruction or other
legally binding guideline or policy (“Laws”) issued or rendered by,
any Governmental Entity (as hereinafter defined), and were not issued in
violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe
for or purchase such Membership Interests. There are no outstanding
subscriptions, options, warrants, rights, conversion rights, rights of first
refusal or other agreements or commitments obligating either Company to issue,
sell or purchase equity interests of such Company or any security convertible
into equity interests or obligating such Company to purchase, sell or transfer
any equity interests of such Company.
3.3 Sale and Delivery of the
Purchased Interest. Sellers (i) have not pledged, sold, or
encumbered the Purchased Interest, (ii) are the beneficial owners of the
Purchased Interest and have full authority and power to transfer the Purchased
Interest to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) have paid in full all
capital contributions required by the BD LLC Agreement and the IA LLC Agreement,
and (iv) have no outstanding obligations to either Company with respect to the
Purchased Interest sold by such Sellers. The Sellers have, and at the
Closing will transfer to Purchaser, good and valid title to the Purchased
Interest, free and clear of any material lien, mortgage, deed of trust, deed to
secure debt, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, easement,
priority, assessment, security interest, lease, sublease, charge, adverse
non-contingent claim, levy, or other encumbrance of any kind, excluding
restrictions on transferability imposed by federal and state securities Laws and
excluding restrictions arising under this Agreement (“Liens”) (other than Permitted
Liens (as defined hereinafter)). Upon the Closing, Purchaser will receive and
will own all rights, title and interest relating to the Purchased
Interest. No approval or authority of any person other than FINRA is
required for the sale of the Purchased Interest as contemplated
herein. Based upon representations of Purchaser hereunder, the sale
of the Purchased Interest hereunder shall be in compliance with all applicable
securities Laws.
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3.4 Authority, Due Execution,
Delivery, and Performance of the Agreement.
(a) Each
Seller has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly authorized, and at the Closing will have been duly executed and delivered
by each of the Sellers.
(b) The
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the Sellers and the
consummation by the Sellers of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i)
result in the creation of any Lien upon any assets of either Company pursuant to
the terms or provisions of, or conflict with, result in the breach or violation
of, or constitute, either by itself or upon notice or the passage of time or
both, a default under any material agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, lease,
franchise, license, indenture, permit or other instrument to which a Company or
the Sellers is a party or by which a Company or any of its properties may be
bound or affected, and in each case which individually or in the aggregate would
have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
properties, business, prospects, or results of operations of a Company (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or
(ii) violate any statute or any authorization, judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation of any U.S. federal, state or local court, executive office,
legislature, governmental agency or ministry, commission, or administrative,
regulatory or self-regulatory authority or instrumentality (a “Governmental Entity”)
applicable to the Sellers or the Companies or any of their respective
properties. No material consent, approval, authorization, or other
order of any Governmental Entity is required for the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement, except for compliance with all securities Laws applicable to the sale
of the Purchased Interest and filing with FINRA pursuant to NASD Conduct Rule
1017.
(c) Upon the
Sellers’ execution and delivery, and assuming the valid execution hereof by
Purchaser, this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the
Sellers, enforceable against the Sellers in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ and contracting
parties’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at Law).
3.5 Subsidiaries. Neither
Company has any investments or ownership interest in any corporations,
partnerships, joint ventures, or other business enterprises other than the
Companies.
10
3.6 No
Defaults. Neither Company is in violation of or default under
any provisions of its articles of organization, the BD LLC Agreement, the IA LLC
Agreement or other organizational documents. Neither Company, and to
the knowledge of the Sellers, nor any party thereto, is in breach of or default
with respect to any provision of any agreement, judgment, decree, order,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise, license, indenture, permit, or other
instrument to which a Company is a party or by which a Company, or any of its
properties are bound; and there does not exist any state of facts which, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default as defined
in such documents on the part of a Company, except for such breaches and
defaults that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. To the knowledge of the Sellers, neither Company is in
violation of (a) any judgment, order, or decree by which a Company or its
properties is bound or (b) any statute, rule, or regulation of any Governmental
Entity, except for such violations that individually or in the aggregate are not
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.7 No
Actions. Except as disclosed in Section 3.7 of the GFS
Disclosure Schedule, there are no actions, suits or proceedings, disciplinary
proceedings, or investigations of any nature pending or, to the knowledge of the
Sellers, threatened by any Governmental Entity to which either Company, or any
partner, officer, manager, or employee of the Companies is or may be a party or
of which property owned or leased by either Company is or may be subject (except
for litigation that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect), and no material labor problem or labor disturbance by the
employees of a Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, is
imminent. Except as disclosed in Section 3.7 of the GFS Disclosure
Schedule, neither Company nor, to the knowledge of the Sellers, any associated
person or investment adviser representative of a Company is a party to or
subject to the provisions of any injunction, judgment, decree, memorandum of
understanding or similar arrangement, or order of any Governmental Entity
charged with supervision or regulation of a Company, including the Securities
and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), FINRA, or any
other agency responsible for the supervision or regulation of investment
advisers, investment adviser representatives, or broker dealers.
3.8 Compliance.
(a) Except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the conduct
of the Business of the Companies has not violated, and as presently conducted
does not violate, any Laws, nor has either Company received any notice of any
such violation which remains outstanding, except for those listed in Section
3.8(a) of the GFS Disclosure Schedule.
(b) GFS IA is
duly registered with the Commission as an investment advisor under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of
the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Advisers Act”). GFS BD is duly
registered with the Commission as a broker dealer under the Securities Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), and is a member of FINRA. The Sellers have furnished to
Purchaser a true, correct, and complete copy of (i) GFS IA’s current Form ADV
(parts I, as filed with the Commission, and II), and has made available to
Purchaser all state registration forms, all prior Form ADV filings, and all
reports filed by Purchaser with the Commission under the Advisers Act and under
similar state statutes since its formation and (ii) GFS BD’s currently effective
Form BD, as filed with the Commission, and has made available to Purchaser all
state registration forms and all reports filed by GFS BD with the Commission and
FINRA since January 1, 2008.
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(c) Each
officer or employee of the Companies who is required by reason of the nature of
his employment by the Companies to be registered as a sales agent or an
investment adviser representative with FINRA, the securities commission of any
state or any self-regulatory body, or other Governmental Entity, is duly
registered or appointed as such, and such registration or appointment is in full
force and effect. Neither Company nor, to the knowledge of the Sellers,
any other person “associated” (as defined under the Advisers Act) with either
Company, has been convicted of any crime or is or has engaged in any conduct
that would be a basis for denial, suspension or revocation of registration of an
investment adviser under Section 203(e) of the Advisers Act or would
need to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 206(4)-4(b) thereunder, and to
the knowledge of the Sellers, there is no proceeding or investigation that is
reasonably likely to become the basis for any such disqualification, denial,
suspension or revocation.
(d) Each
Company has a written policy regarding xxxxxxx xxxxxxx and a code of ethics
which complies in all material respects with applicable Laws, copies of which
have been delivered to Purchaser. All employees of the Companies have
acknowledged that they are bound by the provisions of such codes of ethics and
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policies. There have been no material violations or
allegations of material violations of such codes of ethics or xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
policies during the twelve months preceding the date hereof.
(e) Each
Company is in possession of all permits, licenses, registrations and other
authorizations and approvals material to the conduct of their respective
Business as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted (“Licenses”), and all such
Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to
have, or the suspension or cancellation of, or failure to be valid or in full
force and effect of, any of the Licenses would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Company has timely filed all
material reports, forms, schedules, statements, documents, and other filings,
together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, with the
Commission and FINRA, as the case may be, any applicable Governmental Entity, or
any non-governmental self-regulatory agency, commission, or authority, including
all material reports, statements, and filings required under the Advisers Act,
the Exchange Act, and any applicable state securities Laws, and has paid all
fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, except for such
failure not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
information contained in such forms and reports was true and accurate in all
material respects as of the time of filing and, except as indicated in a
subsequent form or report filed before the Closing Date, continues to be true
and complete. As of their respective dates, each of such forms and
reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
applicable statutes, rules, and regulations pursuant to which they were filed,
and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
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(f) Section
3.8 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule lists the states in which each Company has
made all notice filings required in connection with their status as a broker
dealer or investment advisor.
(g) Neither
Company has been advised nor has reason to believe that it is not conducting
their respective Business in compliance with all licenses, permits, and other
authorizations material to the conduct of their Business and with all applicable
Laws of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting Business, except where
failure to be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. No Governmental Entity has initiated any administrative
proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, investigation into or related to
the Business or operations of the Companies. Except as set forth in
Section 3.8 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule, there is no unresolved violation,
criticism, or exception made in writing by any Governmental Entity with respect
to any report or statement by any Governmental Entity relating to any
examination of the Companies.
(h) Neither
Company is “an investment company” within the meaning of and subject to
regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Investment Company
Act”). Neither Company provides investment advisory services to any
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act.
3.9 Financial Statements.
The
Sellers have delivered to Purchaser accurate and complete copies of audited
income, expense and cash flow statements for GFS BD for the years ended December
31, 2007, 2008, and 2009, unaudited income, expense and cash flow statements for
GFS IA for the years ended December 31, 2008, and 2009, and unaudited income,
expense and cash flow statements for each Company for the nine-months ended
September 30, 2010 (the “Financial Statements”). The Financial
Statements of each Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and the
books of account and records of such Company, and fairly present the financial
position of such Company at the dates and for the periods indicated and the
consolidated results of operations of such Company for the respective periods
then ended in accordance with GAAP, subject, in the unaudited balance sheet of
the Company at September 30, 2010 included in the Financial Statements (the
“Latest Company Balance
Sheet”), to (i) the exclusion of statements of shareholders’ equity
and cash flows, (ii) year-end adjustments (which consist only of normal
recurring accruals), and (iii) the absence of explanatory footnote
disclosures required by GAAP. The Financial Statements do not omit to
state any information necessary in order to make such Financial Statements not
materially misleading.
3.10 No Undisclosed
Liabilities. Neither Company has any liabilities of a nature that
would be required by GAAP to be shown on a balance sheet, except liabilities
(i) disclosed in or reserved against on the Latest Company Balance Sheet or
described in the notes thereto, (ii) arising since the date of the Latest
Company Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of the Business, (iii)
identified in the GFS Disclosure Schedule or (iv) that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
3.11 Properties.
Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule, each Company
has good and marketable title to their respective properties and assets
reflected in the Latest Company Balance Sheet (other than properties and assets
disposed of in the ordinary course of Business since the date of the Latest
Company Balance Sheet, which, in the aggregate, are not material), free of all
Liens (except Permitted Liens). The term “Permitted Liens” means (i)
those Liens reflected in the SMH Commission Filings, in the case of Purchaser
and its assets or properties, or the Financial Statements, in the case of either
Company or the Sellers, (ii) Liens for water and sewer charges and current Taxes
not yet due and payable or being contested in good faith, and (iii) other Liens
(including mechanics’, couriers’, workers’, repairers’, landlords’,
materialmen’s, warehousemen’s and other similar Liens) arising in the ordinary
course of Business as would not in the aggregate have an Material Adverse Effect
on the value of, or materially adversely interfere with the use of, the property
subject thereto.
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3.12 Taxes and Tax
Returns. Except as set forth in Section 3.12 of the GFS Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) the
Companies are taxed as partnerships for federal income tax purposes and no
elections have been made to have the Companies treated as
associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax
purposes;
(b) neither
Company has or has ever had, any liability for federal income taxes
and, to the knowledge of each Seller all material federal income taxes in
respect of the operations and activities of the Companies as imposed on such
Seller has been paid;
(c) all
federal, state, county, and local Tax and informational returns (“Tax Returns”) required to be
filed with any Governmental Entity responsible for the imposition, assessment,
enforcement or collection of any Tax or to which there is an obligation by a
taxpayer to report any activity or action giving rise to any Tax (a “Taxing Authority”) on or
before the Closing by or on behalf of the Companies have been duly filed on a
timely basis in accordance with all applicable Laws, except where the failure to
file such Tax Returns would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) at the
time of their filings, all such Tax Returns described above were complete and
correct in all material respects;
(e) all
material taxes of any kind, however denominated, including any interest,
penalties or other additions to tax payable in respect thereof imposed by any
U.S. federal, foreign, state or local Governmental Entity, including all income,
gross income, gross receipts, profits, goods and services, social security, old
age security, sales and use, ad valorem, excise, franchise, business license,
occupation, real property gains, payroll and employee withholding, unemployment
insurance, real and personal property, stamp, environmental, transfer, workers’
compensation, severance, alternative minimum, windfall, and capital taxes, and
other obligations of the same or a similar nature to any of the
foregoing and shall include, without limitation, any liability for taxes
(i) as a result of being a transferee, (ii) by operation of any federal, state,
local or foreign statute or law that imposes vicarious liability for taxes upon
a related, affiliated or commonly owned or controlled entity, and (iii) pursuant
to any form of agreement or contract, including any type of tax sharing
agreement or otherwise (“Taxes”) shown to be due by any
Tax Return as well as all other Taxes that have become due and required to be
paid by the either Company on or before the date of this Agreement have been
paid, and the reserves for Taxes of each Company reflected in the Latest Company
Balance Sheet were adequate to cover all Taxes that have not been paid, but
which under GAAP were accruable, through the date of the Latest Company Balance
Sheet;
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(f) there are
no Liens for Taxes upon any assets of the Companies, except Liens for Taxes not
yet due or which are being contested in good faith;
(g) there are
no outstanding deficiencies, assessments or written proposals for the assessment
of Taxes proposed, asserted or assessed against the Companies, and, to the
knowledge of the Sellers, no grounds exist for any such assessment of
Taxes;
(h) no Seller
is a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 7701 of the Code and the
Purchased Interest is not a U.S. real property interest pursuant to Section
897(c)(4) of the Code;
(i) neither
Company has received written notice of a claim made by any Taxing Authority in a
jurisdiction where such Company does not file Tax Returns that such Company is
or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction;
(j) no
extension or waiver of the statute of limitations on the assessment of any Taxes
has been granted to or applied for by the Companies;
(k) neither
Company is required to make any material adjustments with respect to a change in
Tax accounting methods, and neither Company has proposed such adjustment or
received written notice that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or another Taxing
Authority has proposed such adjustment;
(l) neither
Company has any deferred income reportable for a current Tax period (or portion
thereof) or a period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date but
that is attributable to a transaction (e.g., an installment sale) occurring in a
period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date other than
any payments described in Section 8.7(c) of this Agreement;
(m) as to
each year or period for which the statute of limitations for assessments has not
yet expired as to a given Tax, neither Company (i) is a party to any Tax
sharing or allocation agreement, (ii) has been a member of a consolidated,
combined or unitary group for purposes of filing Tax Returns, and (iii) has
any material liability for Taxes of any other person as a transferee or
successor, by contract or otherwise;
(n) as of the
Closing, none of the Tax Returns of the Companies are the subject of an action,
suit, proceeding, audit, or examination by a Taxing Authority;
(o) as to
each year or period for which the statute of limitations for assessments has not
yet expired as to a given Tax neither Company has participated in any (i) “tax
shelter” within the meaning of Code Section 6111 (as in effect prior to the
enactment of P.L. 108-357) or (ii) “reportable transaction” within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4, other than transactions that have been
adequately disclosed to the IRS on IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction
Disclosure Statement) (or predecessor form);
15
(p) in the
previous 12 months, no profits interests or capital interests in GFS BD have
been transferred or sold by the current members or former members of GFS BD;
and
(q) the
Companies have withheld and paid all material Taxes required to have been
withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, or other party.
3.13 Litigation.
Except as described in Section 3.13 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule or
as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
there is no suit, action or proceeding, or to the knowledge of the Sellers,
investigation, pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened against
the Companies at Law or in equity before or by any Governmental Entity or before
any arbitrator or mediator of any kind. There is no material judgment,
decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity, arbitrator or
mediator issued against the Companies (or to which any of them is otherwise
particularly subject, but excluding rules and orders of Governmental
Entities that are of general applicability).
3.14 Real
Property. Section 3.14 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule
sets forth any real property owned, leased or occupied by the Companies since
the date of formation. The operations and activities conducted by
each Company at these locations have consisted only of its Business. No
material environmental permits are required for the Companies to operate their
respective Business as now or previously conducted and the Companies have been
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable environmental
Laws.
3.15 Employee Benefit
Plans.
(a) Section 3.15(a) of
the GFS Disclosure Schedule sets forth each material retirement, pension,
bonus, stock purchase, profit sharing, stock option, deferred compensation,
severance or termination pay, insurance, medical, hospital, dental, vision care,
drug, sick leave, disability, salary continuation, unemployment benefits,
vacation, incentive or other compensation plan or arrangement or other employee
benefit which is maintained, or otherwise contributed to or required to be
contributed to, by the Companies (the “Employee Plans”). Each
Company has complied, and currently is in compliance, both as to form and
operation, in all material respects, with the terms of each Employee Plan and
all applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and each other Law or
regulation imposed or administered by any Governmental Entity with respect to
each of the Employee Plans. Neither Company has at any time maintained,
adopted, established, contributed to or been required to contribute to,
otherwise participate in or has, could have or ever been required to participate
in, or had any liability with respect to, any “employee pension benefit plan”
within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Title
IV of ERISA or a multi-employer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA. Neither Company has any liability under Title IV of ERISA.
All contributions to, and payments from, the Employee Plans which may have been
required to be made in accordance with the terms of any such Employee Plan and,
where applicable, the Laws which govern such Employee Plan, have been made in a
timely manner. All material reports, Tax Returns and similar documents
with respect to any Employee Plan required to be filed with any Governmental
Entity or distributed to any Employee Plan participant have been duly filed on a
timely basis or distributed.
16
(b) Except as
set forth in Section 3.15(b) of the GFS Disclosure Schedule,
(i) there are no pending investigations by any Governmental Entity
involving or relating to the Employee Plans, no threatened (to the knowledge of
the Sellers) or pending claims (except for claims for benefits payable in the
normal operation of Employee Plans), suits or proceedings against any Employee
Plan or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Employee Plan which
could give rise to a liability of the Companies, nor, to the knowledge of the
Sellers, are there any facts that could give rise to any liability of the
Companies in the event of any such investigation, claim, suit or proceeding, and
(ii) no notice has been received by the Companies of any complaints or
other proceedings of any kind involving the Companies or any of the employees of
the Companies before any Governmental Entity relating to any Employee
Plan.
3.16 Material
Contracts. Section 3.16 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule lists
all oral and written contracts and agreements (collectively, the “GFS Contracts”) to which
either Company is a party or by which either of their respective properties or
assets are bound (other than this Agreement and the employment agreements with
key employees entered into with the Companies in connection with the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement), of the following
types:
(a) all
employment, consulting, or personal service agreements or contracts currently in
full force and effect with any present or former officer, manager, principal or
employee of the Companies;
(b) all loan
or credit agreements, and all bonds, debentures, promissory notes or other
instruments of indebtedness, relating to the borrowing of money by the
Companies;
(c) all
guaranty, suretyship or similar arrangements under which the Companies have
guaranteed or is otherwise contingently or secondarily liable for any
indebtedness, liability or obligation of any person;
(d) all
leases or subleases of material real or material personal property used in the
conduct of the Business of either of the Companies;
(e) all
contracts or agreements committing the Companies to make a capital expenditure
in excess of $10,000;
(f) all
contracts, agreements, agreements in principal, letters of intent and memoranda
of understanding which provide for the future disposition (including
restrictions on transfer and rights of first offer or refusal) or acquisition of
(or right to acquire) any interest in any business enterprise or the future
disposition of any of the assets or properties of the Companies other than in
the ordinary course of their respective Business;
17
(g) all
contracts, agreements with or commitments to any person containing any provision
or covenant relating to any indemnification or holding harmless by the Companies
creating obligations of $25,000 or more with respect to any such contract,
agreement or commitment;
(h) all
contracts, agreements and undertakings with any Governmental Entity or other
person that contain any provision or covenant limiting (x) the ability of
the Companies to engage on any line of business, to compete with any person, to
do business with any person or in any location or to employ any person or
(y) the ability of any person to compete with or obtain material products
or services from the Companies, including any such restrictions that may have
been imposed by FINRA; and
(i) all
material outstanding proxies, powers of attorney or similar delegations of
authority granted by the Companies to any other person.
The
Sellers have delivered to Purchaser a true and correct copy of each written GFS
Contract and a written description of any that are oral. Each GFS Contract
is in full force and effect and is valid and binding on the Companies, as
applicable, and, to the knowledge of the Sellers, the counterparties to such GFS
Contract. The Companies have performed in all material respects all
obligations required to be performed by it to date under each GFS Contract, as
applicable. Neither GFS BD nor GFS IA is, and to the knowledge of the
Sellers, no other party to any GFS Contract is, in violation or breach of or in
default under such GFS Contract, or with or without notice or lapse of time or
both, would be in violation or breach of or in default under any such GFS
Contract, except for violations, breaches or defaults which, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
3.17 Governmental Licenses and
Permits; Compliance with Laws. Neither Company has during the past
five years received notice of any revocation or modification of any required
license, certification, tariff, permit, registration, exemption, approval or
other required authorization by any Governmental Entity. The conduct of
the respective Business of the Companies complies in all material respects with
all applicable Laws, except for violations or failures to comply, if any, that,
individually or aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
3.18 No Commodity Pool
Operator. Neither Company is, or is required to be, registered with
the Commission as a “commodity pool operator” or “commodity trading advisor”
under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended, or under any applicable
state Laws.
3.19 Material
Customers. Section 3.19 of the GFS Disclosure
Schedule sets forth, as of September 30, 2010, the account number and the
dollar amount of assets for which employees of any of GFS BD or GFS IA served as
the broker or agent of record (“Client Assets”), for each
customer or client of any of GFS BD or GFS IA (a “Material Customer”) that as of
such date accounted for five percent or more of the total Client Assets of GFS
BD or GFS IA. No Material Customer has notified GFS BD or GFS IA that it
will or intends to cease doing business, or substantially decrease the amount of
business it does, with any GFS BD or GFS IA.
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3.20 Customer
Relationships. The Companies are in compliance in all material
respects with the terms of each contract with any customer to whom it provides
services (a “Client”),
and each such contract is in full force and effect. There are no disputes
pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened with any Client under
the terms of such contract or with any former Client. To the knowledge of the
Sellers, there have been no complaints or disputes with customers that have not
been resolved. As of the date of this Agreement, no Client has advised the
Companies that he, she, or it intends to terminate or amend any contract with
the Companies, including without limitation, his, her, or its investment
management agreement, or withdraw any assets to which his, her, or its
investment management agreement relates from any account with the
Companies.
3.21 Bank Accounts.
Section 3.21 of the GFS Disclosure Schedule lists each bank, trust
company or similar institution with which each of the Companies maintains an
account or safe deposit box, and accurately identifies each such account or safe
deposit box by its number or other identification and the names of all
individuals authorized to draw thereon or have access thereto.
3.22 Officers and
Employees. Section 3.22 of the GFS Disclosure
Schedule accurately lists by name and title all officers and employees of
each Company and sets forth with respect to each such officer or employee,
(i) his or her position and years of service with a Company and
(ii) his or her salary, bonus and other compensation for 2009 and the first
nine months of 2010.
3.23 Transactions with
Affiliates. Except as set forth on Section 3.23 of the GFS
Disclosure Schedule, no Affiliate (as defined below) of Sellers (i) is a
party to or has any interest in any material contract or agreement with GFS BD
or GFS IA including any outstanding loan to or receivable from a Company or
(ii) has any ownership interest in any client or customer of the
Companies. The term “Affiliate” means a person that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with another person with the terms
“control” and “controlled” meaning, for this purpose, the power to direct the
management and policies of a person, directly or indirectly, whether through the
ownership of voting securities or partnership, membership or other ownership
interests, or by contract or otherwise.
3.24 Investment in SMHG Common
Stock. Each of the Sellers confirms that he is an “accredited
investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and will be
acquiring SMHG Common Stock hereunder for the account of such Seller for
investment only and with no present intention of reselling or distributing any
SMHG Common Stock in a manner that would require registration under the
Securities Act and has no arrangement or understanding with any other persons
regarding the distribution of such SMHG Common Stock. Each Seller
(a) is knowledgeable, sophisticated, and experienced in making, and is
qualified to make, decisions with respect to investments in securities
representing an investment decision like that involved in the acceptance of SMHG
Common Stock as part of the purchase price, (b) has requested and been provided
with the opportunity to obtain from representatives of Purchaser all information
he deems relevant about Purchaser to evaluate the merits and risks of the
acquisition of SMHG Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, (c) has
sufficient expertise in business and financial matters to be able to evaluate
the risks involved in the acquisition of the SMHG Common Stock pursuant to this
Agreement, (d) acknowledges that the issuance of the SMHG Common Stock
pursuant to this Agreement has not been reviewed by the Commission or any state
regulatory authority, (e) acknowledges that except as provided in the
Registration Rights Agreement, the delivery of SMHG Common Stock to the Sellers
hereunder will not be registered under the Securities Act and accordingly, such
SMHG Common Stock constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of
Rule 144 under the Securities Act; and that the SMHG Common Stock cannot be
sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of unless subsequently registered under
the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration, and
(f) further acknowledge that a legend substantially in the following form
will be placed on any certificate representing SMHG Common Stock:
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“The
shares represented by this certificate have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of in the absence of an effective registration statement
under such Act or an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
corporation to the effect that such registration is not required. Certain
of the shares represented by this certificate are also subject to restrictions
on their transfer under an agreement with the issuer of such
shares.”
3.25 Absence of Certain Changes
of Events. Except as set forth in Section 3.25 of the GFS
Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2009, to the knowledge of the
Sellers:
(a) there has
been no event, occurrence, change in the condition (financial or otherwise), or
operations of the Companies that could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect;
(b) the
Companies have not incurred any indebtedness for money borrowed or any material
liability or obligation, contingent or otherwise, except in the ordinary course
of Business or entered into any material commitment or other transaction not in
the ordinary course of Business;
(c) the
Companies have not altered its method of accounting;
(d) the
Companies have not incurred or become subject to any material claim or material
liability for any damages or alleged damages for any actual or alleged
negligence or other tort or breach of contract;
(e) except in
the ordinary course of Business and consistent with the past practice of the
Companies, the Companies have not sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of,
or agreed to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, property
or rights or canceled or otherwise terminated, or agreed to cancel or otherwise
terminate, any debts or claims;
(f) the
Companies have not entered or agreed to enter into any agreement or arrangement
granting any preferential rights to purchase any of its assets, property or
rights, or requiring the consent of any party to the transfer and assignment of
any of such assets, property or rights;
20
(g) the
Companies have not issued, sold, delivered or agreed to issue, sell or deliver
any member interests, bonds or other securities, or granted or agreed to grant
any options, warrants or other rights calling for the issue, sale or delivery
thereof;
(h) the
Companies have not adopted any new, or made any increase in, any profit sharing,
bonus, deferred compensation, savings, insurance, pension, retirement or other
employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for or with any of such
officers, directors or salaried employees; and
(i) the
Companies have not entered into any material verbal or written agreement or
other transaction that is not in the ordinary course of their respective
Business.
3.26 Brokers. None
of the Sellers or the Companies is a party to or in any way obligated under any
contract or other agreement, and there are no outstanding claims against any,
for the payment of any broker’s or finder’s fee in connection with the origin,
negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement.
3.27 Questionable
Payments. The Sellers have no knowledge or information that
any member, manager, officer, employee, agent or other representative of the
Companies or any person acting on behalf of any of them has made, directly or
indirectly, any bribes, kickbacks, political contributions with corporate funds,
payments from corporate funds not recorded on the books and records of the
Companies, payments from corporate funds that were knowingly and falsely
recorded on the books and records of the Companies, improper payments to
governmental officials in their individual capacities or illegal payments to
obtain or retain business.
3.28 Books and
Records. To the knowledge of the Sellers, the books and
records of the Companies are in all material respects complete and correct and
have been maintained in accordance with good business practice and reflect a
true record of all minutes of meetings or proceedings of, or written consents
of, its managers and members.
3.29 Address. The address
set forth in the signature page hereto for each Seller is such Seller’s true and
correct domicile or residence.
3.30 Other Adverse Facts,
etc. No representation or warranty made by any of the Sellers
in this Agreement, and no statement of the Sellers contained in any document,
certificate, or other writing furnished or to be furnished by Sellers or the
Companies pursuant to this Agreement or in connection herewith, contains or will
contain, at the time of delivery, any intentionally untrue statement of a
material fact or an intentional omission, at the time of delivery, of any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Sellers know of no matter which has not been
disclosed to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement which has or, so far as the
Sellers can now reasonably foresee, will have a Material Adverse
Effect.
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ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser
hereby represents and warrants to each Seller individually and to the Sellers
collectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date,
except as set forth on the SMHG Disclosure Schedule, as follows:
4.1 Accredited
Investor. Purchaser: (a) is an “accredited investor” as
defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act and is
knowledgeable, sophisticated, and experienced in making, and is qualified to
make, decisions with respect to investments in securities representing an
investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the Purchased
Interest, and has requested, received, reviewed, and understood all information
it deems relevant in making an informed decision to purchase the Purchased
Interest; (b) acknowledges that the sale of the Purchased Interest pursuant to
this Agreement has not been reviewed by the Commission or any state regulatory
authority; (c) is acquiring the Purchased Interest for its own account for
investment only and with no present intention of reselling or distributing any
of such Purchased Interest in a manner that would require registration under the
Securities Act and has no arrangement or understanding with any other persons
regarding the distribution of such Purchased Interest; and (d) will not,
directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of
(or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise acquire or take a pledge
of) any of the Purchased Interest except in compliance with the Securities Act,
any applicable state securities or blue sky Laws, the GFS BD Amended and
Restated Company Agreement or the GFS IA Amended and Restated Company Agreement.
Purchaser recognizes that an investment in the Purchased Interest is speculative
and involves a high degree of risk, including a risk of total loss of
Purchaser’s investment. Purchaser further understands that the
transferability of the Purchased Interest will be restricted in accordance with
applicable state and federal securities Laws, and that a restrictive legend to
such effect will be inscribed on any certificate representing such
interests.
4.2 Authority, Due Execution,
Delivery, and Performance of the Agreement. Purchaser has full right,
power, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. No consent, approval,
authorization, or other order of any Governmental Entity that has not been
obtained is required on the part of Purchaser for the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, this Agreement
shall constitute a valid and binding obligation of Purchaser enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting
creditors’ and contracting parties’ rights generally and except as
enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
There is not in effect any order enjoining or restraining Purchaser from
entering into or engaging in any of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement.
4.3 Organization and
Existence. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its Business as now
conducted. Purchaser has delivered to the Sellers a true and correct
copy of its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws.
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4.4 Consents and
Approval. No material consent, order, approval, waiver or
authorization of, or registration, application, declaration or filing with, any
person is required with respect to Purchaser in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated herein, except for cases, considered individually and in the
aggregate, in which any failure to make such registration, application,
declaration or filing or to obtain any such consent, order, approval, waiver or
other authorization is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Purchaser.
4.5 Capitalization of
Purchaser. The authorized capital stock of Purchaser consists of
100 million shares of SMHG Common Stock and 10 million shares of preferred
stock. As of November 5, 2010, 28,878,141 shares of SMHG Common Stock were
outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding. As of
November 11, 2010, those shares set forth in Section 4.5 of SMHG Disclosure
Schedule were reserved for issuance and issuable upon or otherwise
deliverable under Purchaser’s Long-term Incentive Plan or Capital Incentive
Program (collectively, the “SMHG Stock Plans”) in
connection with the exercise of outstanding employee or director stock options
to purchase SMHG Common Stock (“SMHG Options”) and the vesting
of other outstanding stock awards and warrants. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of SMHG Common Stock are, and all shares of SMHG Common Stock
which may be issued pursuant to SMHG Stock Plans, when issued in accordance with
the terms of those plans, and the SMHG Common Stock delivered pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Since November 1, 2010, no shares of SMHG Common Stock have been issued, other
than upon exercise of SMHG Options or the vesting of other stock awards.
Except for SMHG Common Stock, SMHG Options, and other stock awards, there are no
outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness or other securities
of Purchaser having the right to vote (or convertible into, exercisable, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
stockholders of Purchaser may vote. As of the date hereof, except for SMHG
Options and other stock awards outstanding on the date hereof under SMHG Stock
Plans referred to above and except as otherwise disclosed in Section 4.5 of
the SMHG Disclosure Schedule, there are no existing options, warrants, calls,
subscriptions, convertible securities or other securities, agreements,
commitments, or obligations which would require Purchaser to issue, deliver or
sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold shares of common stock, preferred
stock or any other equity securities, or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of common stock, preferred stock or any
other equity securities of Purchaser. Except as set forth in
Section 4.5 of the SMHG Disclosure Schedule, Purchaser has no commitments,
obligations or understandings to purchase or redeem or otherwise acquire any
shares of SMHG Common Stock. Except as set forth in Section 4.5 of
the SMHG Disclosure Schedule, there are no stockholders’ agreements, voting
trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Purchaser is a party or by
which it is bound relating to the voting or registration of any shares of
capital stock of Purchaser or any preemptive rights with respect thereto.
No Subsidiary of Purchaser owns any SMHG Common Stock.
4.6 Commission
Filings. Purchaser has filed all forms, reports and documents
required to be filed by it with the Commission since January 1, 2005,
and Purchaser has made available to the Sellers true and complete copies of
(a) the Annual Reports on Form 10-K of Purchaser for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009, (b) all Annual Reports filed with
the Commission by each Broker-Dealer Subsidiary pursuant to Commission
Rule 17a-5(d) for the year ended December 31, 2009, and
(c) all other reports (including Current Reports on Form 8-K),
statements and registration statements filed by Purchaser with the Commission
since December 31, 2009 (collectively, the “SMH Commission
Filings”). The SMH Commission Filings, including all financial
statements or schedules included therein, (x) comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the
case may be, and (y) did not at the time of their filing (or if amended,
supplemented or superseded by a later filing, on the date of the later filing)
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
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4.7 Brokers. Purchaser
is not a party to or in any way obligated under any contract or other agreement
and there are no outstanding claims against it for the payment of any broker’s
or finder’s fee in connection with the origin, negotiation, execution or
performance of this Agreement.
4.8 Vote
Required. No vote of the holders of any class or series of
Purchaser’s capital stock is necessary to approve the issuance of SMHG Common
Stock pursuant to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
4.9 Other Information.
All of the information provided to the Sellers or their agents or
representatives concerning Purchaser’s suitability to invest in the Companies
and the representations and warranties contained herein, are complete, true, and
correct as of the date hereof, and understands that the Sellers are relying on
the statements contained herein to establish an exemption from registration
under federal and state securities Laws.
4.10 Address. The address
set forth in the signature page hereto for Purchaser is the true and correct
domicile.
ARTICLE
V
SURVIVAL
OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Notwithstanding
any investigation made by any Party to this Agreement, all representations and
warranties made by respective Parties herein and in any certificates or
documents delivered pursuant hereto or in connection therewith shall survive
following the delivery to Purchaser of the Purchased Interest and the payment
therefor and shall, with respect to the Closing, remain in full force and effect
until the first anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, however, the
representations and warranties made by Sellers in Section 3.2 (Capitalization),
Section 3.3 (Sale and Delivery of the Purchased Interest), and Section 3.12
(Taxes and Tax Returns) shall survive until the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations relating thereto. If a bona fide claim is asserted
in writing before the expiration of the survival period of a representation or
warranty made in Section 3 or 4, that representation or warranty shall survive
until the claim is settled, adjudicated or otherwise resolved.
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ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
OF SELLERS
6.1 Confidentiality.
Except for information required for inclusion in any application, filing,
statement or notice required to be filed by Sellers with any Governmental
Entity, all information and data furnished to the Sellers by Purchaser under
this Agreement, whether furnished orally or in writing, shall be received, held
and treated confidentially by the Sellers (except to the extent otherwise
required by Law), and none of such information shall be used in any manner for
the benefit of GFS BD or GFS IA or for the benefit of any business controlled by
any Seller (other than GFS BD or GFS IA after the Closing, or in any action or
proceeding involving this Agreement or any agreement contemplated
hereby).
6.2 Consummation of
Transactions. The Sellers shall use their reasonable best efforts
to perform and fulfill all obligations on their part to be performed under this
Agreement, to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
consummated.
6.3 Notifications.
As promptly as practicable follow the Closing, each of GFS BD and GFS IA shall
distribute to its clients and third-party vendors and service providers such
forms of written notification relating to the transactions contemplated hereby
as are reasonably determined by Sellers (and Purchaser shall be given reasonable
opportunity to review in advance the forms of such notifications).
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
OF PURCHASER
7.1 Confidentiality.
Except for information required for inclusion in any application, filing,
statement or notice required to be filed by Purchaser with any
Governmental Entity, all information and data furnished by the Sellers to
Purchaser under this Agreement shall be received, held and treated
confidentially by Purchaser (except to the extent otherwise required by Law),
and none of such information shall be used in any manner for the benefit of
Purchaser or for the benefit of any business controlled by it (other than GFS BD
and GFS IA after the Closing, or in any action or proceeding involving this
Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby).
7.2 Listing of
Shares. All of the SMHG Common Stock delivered pursuant to this
Agreement shall, immediately following the expiration of any applicable Lockup
Period (as defined hereinafter), be authorized and accepted for listing on the
Nasdaq Stock Market (if SMHG Common Stock is then listed thereon) or on the New
York Stock Exchange (if SMHG Common Stock is then listed thereon), subject to
official notice of issuance.
7.3 Consummation of
Transactions. Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to
perform and fulfill all obligations on its part to be performed under this
Agreement, to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
consummated.
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7.4 Removal of
Legends. Promptly (and in any event within five Business Days)
following a Seller’s submission to Purchaser of certificates representing SMHG
Common Stock delivered to such Seller pursuant to this Agreement that contain a
legend relating to transfer restrictions applicable to such securities,
Purchaser shall provide such holder (at no expense to the holder) with new
certificates of like tenor not bearing any such legends in replacement of such
legended certificates (or, in the event that the requirements of this sentence
have been met with respect to some, but not all, of the shares of SMHG Common
Stock represented by such submitted certificates, then with multiple
certificates that contain appropriate legends with respect to those shares of
SMHG Common Stock still subject to applicable restrictions, and no legends with
respect to those shares of SMHG Common Stock that are no longer subject to such
restrictions), provided that (i) any Lockup Period applicable to such
submitted shares of SMHG Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
has at that time expired, and (ii) either (A) such
shares of SMHG Common Stock are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred
under Rule 144 (provided that Seller provides Purchaser with reasonable
assurances that such shares of SMHG Common Stock are eligible for sale,
assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of
counsel), or (B) such submitted shares of SMHG Common Stock are to be sold
pursuant to an effective resale registration statement under the Securities Act,
or (C) such submitted shares of SMHG Common Stock are otherwise accompanied
by a written opinion of legal counsel to the holder of such submitted shares of
SMHG Common Stock, in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser (acting
reasonably), that the transfer of such shares may otherwise be made without
registration under the Securities Act.
ARTICLE
VIII
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
8.1 Tax
Matters.
(a) Sellers
shall pay all transfer taxes arising out of or in connection with the transfer
of the Membership Interests effected pursuant to this Agreement, and shall
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Purchaser with respect to such transfer
taxes. Seller shall file all necessary documentation and Tax Returns
with respect to the transfer taxes relating to the transfer of the Membership
Interests. Purchaser shall pay all transfer taxes arising out of or
in connection with the issuance of the SMHG Shares effected pursuant to this
Agreement, and shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sellers with respect
to such transfer taxes. Purchaser shall file all necessary documentation and Tax
Returns with respect to the transfer taxes relating to the issuance of the SMHG
Shares.
(b) Except
with respect to the respective LLC Agreement for each Company as amended and
restated, the Sellers shall ensure that (i) any and all Tax allocation or
sharing agreements or other agreements or arrangements binding either Company
with respect to the payment of Taxes shall be terminated with respect to each
such Company as of the day before the Closing Date and, (ii) from and after the
Closing Date, neither Company shall be obligated to make any payment to Seller,
any Affiliate, any Taxing Authority. or any other Person pursuant to any such
agreement or arrangement for any past or future period.
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(c) Sellers
agree that for purposes of Section 706 of the Code, all items of income, gain,
loss, and deduction of the Companies allocated or attributable to the period
between January 1, 2010, and the Closing Date shall be allocated solely among
the Companies and the Sellers in proportion to their Percentage Interests in
effect prior to the Closing Date using the interim-closing-of-the-books
method.. The Parties agree that GFS BD and GFS IA, at the
Purchaser’s expense, will file with the Internal Revenue Service, and the
Parties hereby authorize and direct the officers and representatives of GFS BD
and GFS IA to cause the filing of, an election under Section 754 of the
Code (“Section 754
Elections”). Purchaser shall, within 60 days of the Closing,
provide to Sellers for their review, comment and approval, an allocation of the
consideration paid at Closing (including the Earn-Out Adjustment and the CAGR
Adjustments) among the assets and properties of GFS BD and GFS IA in accordance
with Section 755 of the Code, other applicable U.S. federal Tax Laws and
any analogous provision of foreign, state or local Laws. Such allocation
shall be adjusted as necessary to take into account any payments appropriately
treated as purchase price under applicable Tax Laws. Sellers shall have 30
days after receipt of such allocation to notify Purchaser of any objections to
such allocation. If Sellers fail to notify Purchaser of any objections
within such 30-day period, Sellers shall be conclusively presumed to have agreed
and consented to the allocation determined by Purchaser. If Sellers timely
notify Purchaser of an objection, Sellers and Purchaser will make reasonable
efforts to agree on an allocation. If Sellers and Purchaser are unable to
agree on an allocation within 120 days of the Closing, then Sellers and
Purchaser shall designate an accounting firm of nationally or regionally
recognized standing and not having any material business relationship with any
of the Parties (and they shall promptly disclose any such relationships to the
other), which (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) shall be instructed
to make, as soon as practicable after the matter is referred to such firm, the
calculation of such allocation. The determination of such allocation by such
accounting firm shall be final and binding on all of the Parties. Neither
the Sellers nor Purchaser shall take any position on any Tax Return or before
any Taxing Authority inconsistent with such allocation (except to the extent
otherwise required by a “final determination” within the meaning of the
Code).
8.2 Expenses. Each
Party hereto will pay its own expenses in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, whether or not such transactions shall be
consummated.
8.3 Further
Assurances. From time to time, at the request of any Party,
and without further consideration, each other Party will execute and deliver
such other documents and take such other action as the requesting Party may
reasonably request in order to consummate more effectively the transactions
contemplated hereunder.
8.4 Publicity. No
Party shall issue any other press release or make any public statement related
to this Agreement or the transaction contemplated hereby without the prior
consent of the other Party or Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed, except that Purchaser may make any and all
disclosures that are required under the Exchange Act and applicable Commission
rules.
8.5 Lockup
Agreement. Each Seller agrees that, for a period of one year from
the Closing Date with respect to the SMHG Common Stock included in the Initial
Closing Consideration, he will not, without the prior approval of the Board of
Directors of Purchaser (or its successor), sell, offer to sell, solicit an offer
to buy, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase, distribute or otherwise
transfer (other than to members of his immediate family or estate planning
vehicles established for their benefit, which shall be subject to the same
restrictions hereunder as the initial holder), such SMHG Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for SMHG Common Stock, provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 8.5 shall prohibit any transfer in
connection with an SMHG Change of Control (as defined in the GFS BD Amended and
Restated Company Agreement and the GFS IA Amended and Restated Company
Agreement).
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8.6 Sales
Restrictions. The Sellers agree that, for a period of one year
from the date of issuance with respect to any SMHG Common Stock included in an
Earn-Out Adjustment or CAGR Adjustment, they will not, without the prior
approval of the Board of Directors of Purchaser (or its successor), sell, offer
to sell, solicit an offer to buy, contract to sell, grant any option to
purchase, distribute or otherwise transfer (other than to members of his
immediate family or estate planning vehicles established for their benefit,
which shall be subject to the same restrictions hereunder as the initial
holder), such SMHG Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for SMHG Common Stock, provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 8.6 shall prohibit any transfer in connection with an SMHG Change
of Control (as defined in the GFS BD Amended and Restated Company Agreement and
the GFS IA Amended and Restated Company Agreement).
8.7 Conduct of the
Business. From the
date hereof until the Closing Date, unless the prior written consent of
Purchaser shall have been obtained, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld:
(a) Sellers
shall conduct the Business of each Company in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice and shall use their reasonable best efforts to preserve
intact the business organization and financial condition of the Companies, and
relationships with third parties, and to keep available the services of the
present employees of the Business. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, unless the prior
written consent of Purchaser shall have been obtained, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld, the Sellers will not permit or cause either Company
to:
(i) pay its
accounts payable (or prepay expenses), in any manner other than in the ordinary
course of its Business and consistent with past practice;
(ii) conduct
its Business in a manner that would result in a delay by clients or other
counterparties of such Company from making payments to such Company of accounts
receivable, or delaying such Company from providing services, or taking other
actions, that would delay such Company from receiving revenues it would have
normally received in the ordinary course of its Business;
(iii) hire a
new employee or change the compensation of an existing employee of such
Company;
(iv) incur any
capital expenditures in excess of $10,000;
28
(v) (A) incur
any indebtedness; (B) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or
responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of
any other individual, firm or corporation; or (C) make any loans, advances or
capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person;
(vi) take any
other actions designed (or the primary purpose of which is) to reduce the
capital of such Company, in any manner other than in the ordinary course of its
Business and consistent with past practice;
(vii) declare,
pay or set aside any dividend or distribution (whether in the form of cash or
securities or other rights or benefits);
(viii) issue any
membership interests of such Company or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for membership interests of such Company, or enter into any
agreement or commitment for the issuance or purchase of membership interests in
such Company or such other securities;
(ix) sell,
transfer, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of, or encumber, or agree to sell,
transfer, mortgage or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any properties, real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, in any manner other than in the
ordinary course of its Business and consistent with past practice;
(x) enter
into (except in the ordinary course of business), acquire, assign, transfer,
terminate, modify, amend, waive a right under, permit to expire prior to the
scheduled expiration date or otherwise dispose of any term or condition of or
any right under, any contract, agreement, purchase order, arrangement, plan,
commitment, document, permit, authorization, license or other
right;
(xi) effect or
agree to affect any merger, consolidation, share transfer, share exchange,
liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or similar extraordinary
transaction;
(xii) amend or
modify any provision of the BD LLC Agreement or the IA LLC Agreement;
or
(xiii) agree or
commit to do any of the foregoing.
(b) The
Sellers agree to use their reasonable best efforts under circumstances to ensure
that the neither Company will (i) take or agree or commit to take any action
that would (A) make any representation or warranty of the Sellers hereunder
inaccurate at, or as of any time prior to, the Closing Date, or (B) cause
the Sellers to violate, or default on, any covenant or other agreement
hereunder, and (ii) omit or agree or commit to omit to take any action necessary
to prevent (A) any such representation or warranty from being
inaccurate at, or as of any time prior to, the Closing Date or (B) the Sellers
from violating or defaulting under any covenant or other agreement
hereunder.
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(c) Any revenue
(including commissions, performance fees and performance allocations) and
expenses (including compensation expenses) incurred, accrued, or earned prior to
Closing but not received or paid, as the case may be, by GFS BD or GFS IA prior
to the Closing, once received, shall be allocated to and for the benefit, or are
the responsibility of, the Sellers and shall be allocated to the capital
accounts of the Sellers in GFS BD or GFS IA, as the case may be.
8.8 Client
Consents.
(a) As soon
as reasonably practicable following the date hereof, GFS IA shall send (or cause
to be sent) a notice in form and substance acceptable to Purchaser (the “Notice”) to any Client to whom
GFS IA provides investment management or investment advisory services, (i)
informing each Client of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, (ii)
requesting the consent or approval of the assignment or deemed assignment of
each Client’s investment advisory agreement(s) (if Client’s consent to such
assignment or deemed assignment is required by the Advisers Act or is required
under the respective advisory agreement for such assignment) or deemed
assignment resulting from the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, (iii)
affirming GFS IA’s intention to continue advisory services pursuant to the
existing advisory agreement following the Closing, and (iv) stating that the
consent of the Client will be deemed to have been granted if the Client
continues to accept such advisory services for at least 45 days after such
Notice without termination, provided that such Client shall not have
affirmatively stated to GFS IA that it does not consent, or terminates, its
respective advisory agreement, prior to the Closing. Purchaser shall be provided
a reasonable opportunity to review all such consent materials to be used by GFS
IA prior to distribution.
(b) Purchaser
agrees that consent to assignment or deemed assignment of each investment
advisory agreement resulting from the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement (“Client
Consents”) shall be deemed given for all purposes under this Agreement
(i) if no consent is required under the Advisers Act or the respective advisory
agreement, or (ii) if such consent is required by the Advisers Act and/or under
the respective advisory agreement, (A) if the written consent or approval
requested in any Notice is received, or, (B) if written consent or approval
requested in any Notice is not received, (x) the Client shall not have
affirmatively stated that it does not consent to such assignment or deemed
assignment or intends to terminate such advisory agreement, and (y) at least 45
days have elapsed since the mailing of the Notice to such party pursuant to
Section 8.7(a).
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the covenants of the Parties
contained in this Section 8.7 are intended only for the benefit of the Parties
and for no other person.
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8.9 Key Employee
Bonuses. The Sellers shall use their reasonable best efforts
to cause Xxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (the “Key Employees”) to enter into
employment agreements (“Key
Employee Agreements”) that are reasonably acceptable to the
Purchaser. The Parties contemplate that the Key Employee Agreements
will contain provisions for incentive bonuses for 2011 and 2012 based on the Key
Employees’ net production and for 2013 and 2014 based on the CAGR
Adjustments. The 2011 and 2012 bonus payments will be payable
one-half in cash and one-half in such number of shares of SMHG Common Stock
(rounded to the nearest whole share) as shall equal (w) one-half of the bonuses
divided by (x) the Current Market Price determined as of the date immediately
prior to the date of delivery of such shares of SMHG Common Stock and the 2013
and 2014 bonus payments will be payable 80% in cash and 20% in such number of
shares of SMHG Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole share) as shall equal
(y) 20% of the bonuses divided by (z) the Current Market Price determined as of
the date immediately prior to the date of delivery of such shares of SMHG Common
Stock. The cash portion of such bonuses will be funded by the Sellers
through deemed capital contributions to the Companies immediately following the
request therefor from the Companies which shall be made not more than 30 days
prior to the date on which such bonuses are due and payable. The SMHG
Common Stock payable in connection with the 2011 and 2012 bonuses shall be paid
in shares of SMHG Common Stock that are newly issued by Purchaser and
contributed by Purchaser to the Companies. The SMHG Common Stock payable in
connection with the 2013 and 2014 bonuses shall be paid in shares of SMHG Common
Stock issued to the Sellers pursuant to Section 1.1(b) hereof and contributed by
the Sellers to the Companies. The provisions of Section 1.4 and the Lockup
Period shall apply to the issuance of any such shares of SMHG Common Stock in
connection with the provisions of this Section 8.9.
8.10 Further
Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof,
each of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to
be taken, all appropriate action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable under Laws to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, using
reasonable best efforts to obtain all license, permits, consents, approvals,
authorizations, qualifications and orders of each Governmental Entity and
parties to contracts with such party as are necessary for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and to fulfill the conditions set forth in
Section 2. If at any time after the Closing Date any further action
is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each
party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such action. In
connection with, and without limiting the foregoing, each of the Parties agrees
to use its reasonable best efforts to take (and cause the Companies to take) all
actions necessary to ensure that prior to, or concurrently with, the Closing,
the Companies cause to be made and/or filed, all required filings and
amendments, in each case, in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
Advisers Act.
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Indemnification by
Sellers. From and after the Closing, Sellers jointly and severally
agree to pay and to indemnify and hold harmless and defend Purchaser and its
Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, “Purchaser Indemnified
Parties”) from and against any and all damages, claims, penalties,
losses, judgments, fines, and reasonable costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and disbursements) incurred in
connection with any investigation or defense of any of the foregoing (“Damages”) caused by or arising
out of or in respect of:
(a) any
breach of a covenant or agreement of any Seller contained in this
Agreement;
31
(b) any
breach of a warranty or representation of Sellers set forth in Section 3 of this
Agreement;
(c) (i) the
arbitration proceeding entitled Grupo Internacional de Asesores vs.
Global Financial Services, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxx
Xxxxx; or (ii) any claim or complaint by a customer of the Companies with
allegations similar to those contained in the statement of claim in such
arbitration proceeding to the extent such allegations pertain to the activities
of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx and relate to the purchase and sale of the securities of Bear
Xxxxxxx Companies Inc. and/or Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.; and
(d) the
margin or franchise Tax positions that the Sellers and the Companies have taken
prior the Closing.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, (x) the amount of Damages in respect of which Sellers shall be
required to indemnify Purchaser Indemnified Parties under clauses (a) and (b) of
this Section 9.1 shall be limited to the aggregate amount by which all such
Damages exceed $180,000, and (y) the aggregate indemnification payable by
Sellers pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be limited to the Escrow
Shares. No indemnification shall be payable by Sellers pursuant to this
Section 9.1 after the expiration of the applicable survival period set
forth in Section 5 with respect to the representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement giving rise to such indemnification obligation (the “Indemnification Cut-Off
Date”); provided
that such expiration shall not affect any claim for indemnification with respect
to which a bona fide claim has been asserted in the manner contemplated in
Section 9.3 prior to the applicable Indemnification Cut-Off
Date.
9.2 Indemnification by
Purchaser. From and after the Closing, Purchaser agrees to pay and
to indemnify and hold harmless and defend the Sellers and their respective
successors and assigns (collectively, “GFS Indemnified Parties”) from
and against any and all Damages caused by or arising out of or in respect
of:
(a) any
breach of a covenant or agreement of Purchaser contained in this Agreement;
and
(b) any
breach of a warranty or representation made by Purchaser in Section 5 of this
Agreement.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the amount of Damages in respect of which Purchaser shall be
required to indemnify GFS Indemnified Parties under this Section 9.2 shall
be limited to the aggregate amount by which all such Damages exceed $180,000,
(y) the aggregate indemnification payable by Purchaser pursuant to this
Section 9.2 shall be limited to a maximum of $1,000,000, and (z) no
indemnification shall be payable by Purchaser pursuant to this Section 9.2
after the Indemnification Cut-Off Date; provided that such expiration
shall not affect any claim for indemnification with respect to which a bona fide
claim has been asserted in the manner contemplated in Section 9.3 prior to
the applicable Indemnification Cut-Off Date.
9.3 Requests for
Indemnification.
32
(a) If any
Party (an “Indemnified
Party”) becomes aware of a fact, circumstance, claim, situation, demand
or other matter for which it or any other Indemnified Party has been indemnified
under this Section 9 (any such item being herein called an “Indemnity Matter”), the
Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice of the Indemnity Matter to
the party obligated to provide indemnification therefor under this Section 9
(the “Indemnifying
Party”), requesting indemnification therefor, specifying the nature of
and specific basis for the Indemnity Matter and the amount or estimated amount
thereof to the extent then feasible; provided, however, a 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 actually prejudiced by such
failure. Within 20 Business Days after receiving such notice, the
Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to the Indemnified Party stating
whether it disputes the claim for indemnification and whether it will defend
against any third party claim or liability at its own cost and expense. If
the Indemnifying Party fails to give notice that it disputes an indemnification
claim within 20 Business Days after receipt of such written notice thereof, it
shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed (on behalf of all of the applicable
indemnifying parties) to the claim, which shall become immediately due and
payable.
(b) The
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense or investigation
of such Indemnity Matter and to retain counsel (who shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party) and other experts to represent the
Indemnified Party and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such
counsel and other experts. If within 20 Business Days after receipt of the
request (or five days if litigation is pending) the Indemnifying Party fails to
give notice to the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party assumes the
defense or investigation of the Indemnity Matter, an Indemnified Party may
retain counsel and other experts (whose reasonable fees and disbursements shall
be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party) to file any motion, answer or other
pleading and take such other action which the Indemnified Party reasonably deems
necessary to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying Party until the
date on which the Indemnified Party receives such notice from the Indemnifying
Party. If an Indemnifying Party retains counsel and other experts, any
Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel and other
experts, but the fees and expenses of such counsel and other experts shall be at
the expense of the Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and
the Indemnified Party mutually agree to the retention of such counsel and other
experts or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would, in the opinion of
counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party, be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them.
(c) The
Indemnified Parties shall make available such information and assistance as any
Indemnifying Party may reasonably request and shall cooperate with each other in
all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any claim by such
Indemnifying Parties, at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties. No
Indemnity Matter may be settled by the Indemnified Party without the prior
written consent of the Indemnifying Party. To the extent it is determined
that the Indemnified Party has no right under this Section 9 to be indemnified
by the Indemnifying Party with respect to a particular claimed Indemnity Matter,
the Indemnified Party shall promptly pay to the Indemnifying Party any amounts
previously paid or advanced by the Indemnifying Party with respect to such
claimed Indemnity Matter pursuant to this Section 9.
33
9.4 No Right to Set Off;
Insurance, Tax and Other Benefits.
(a) No Party
shall be entitled to offset any indemnification claim or alleged indemnification
claim that such party may have against another party hereto against any amounts
such Indemnified Party otherwise is obligated to pay to such potential
indemnitor pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; provided, that in the event
that the Indemnifying Party does not pay any amount determined by the final and
non-appealable judgment or settlement of a court of competent jurisdiction to be
due the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to set-off
any such finally determined amounts against any amounts that the Indemnified
Party may owe the Indemnifying Party.
(b) The
amount of any indemnification payment to be made by any Indemnifying Party under
this Agreement shall be reduced to take into account (in assessing the Damages
suffered by the Indemnified Party) any related Tax benefits, insurance
recoveries and similar related benefits, recoveries or payments that such
Indemnified Party has received as a result of the circumstance, event or
occurrence giving rise to such underlying Indemnity Matter, and any such related
benefits, recoveries or payments received by an Indemnified Party hereunder
following its receipt of indemnification payments hereunder shall be reimbursed
to the Indemnifying Parties to the extent failure to do so would result in a
recovery by the Indemnified Parties of more than 100% of their Damages. In
no event shall any Party be entitled to collect consequential or punitive
damages or damages for lost profits as part of any indemnification recovery
under this Agreement.
(c) Each
Party agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to maximize its insurance
recoveries and other similar recoveries against third parties with respect to
any circumstance, event or occurrence which may give rise to indemnification
obligations of other Parties, to the extent that such reasonable best efforts
could reasonably be expected to result in a reduction in the indemnification
obligations of such other Parties.
9.5 Exclusivity.
From and after the Closing, the indemnification provided for under this
Section 9 shall be the exclusive remedy for monetary damages with respect
to breaches of representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
in this Agreement (other than for common law fraud), and shall be in lieu of any
other remedies for monetary damages for such breaches that may be available to
any Indemnified Party pursuant to any Laws; provided, that nothing contained in
this Agreement shall be deemed to limit any Party’s right to seek injunctive
relief or be deemed to limit a Seller’s rights as a shareholder of Purchaser,
any Party’s rights under the Ancillary Agreements, or a Seller’s rights under
applicable securities Laws and regulations with respect to such Seller’s
acquisition or ownership of SMHG Common Stock.
9.6 Adjustment to Purchase
Price. Any indemnity payment under this Agreement shall be treated
as an adjustment to the Initial Closing Consideration for Tax purposes (except
to the extent otherwise required by a “final determination” within the meaning
of the Code).
34
ARTICLE
X
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date
by:
(a) mutual
written consent of Purchaser and Sellers;
(b) either
Purchaser or the Sellers if any Governmental Entity shall have issued an order,
decree, ruling or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and such
order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable;
provided, however, that the Party (as
hereinafter defined) terminating this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 10.1(b) shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such order,
decree, ruling or action vacated;
(c) either
Purchaser or the Sellers if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
December 31, 2010; provided, however, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(c) shall not be available
to any Party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has
been the primary cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to have
occurred on or before such date;
(d) Purchaser
if (i) any of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3 shall have
become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been waived by Purchaser, or
(ii) the Sellers breach in any material respect any of their
representations, warranties, covenants or other obligations set forth in this
Agreement and, within 10 days after written notice of such breach to the Sellers
from Purchaser, such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects
or waived by Purchaser, or the Sellers shall not have provided reasonable
assurance to Purchaser that such breach will be cured in all material respects
on or before the Closing Date; or
(e) the
Sellers, if (i) any of the conditions set forth in Section 2.2 shall
have become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been waived by the
Sellers, or (ii) Purchaser breaches in any material respect any of its
representations, warranties or obligations set forth in this Agreement and,
within 10 days after written notice of such breach to Purchaser from the
Sellers, such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects or
waived by the Sellers, or Purchaser shall not have provided reasonable assurance
to the Sellers that such breach will be cured in all material respects on or
before the Closing Date.
10.2 Effect of
Termination.
In
the event of the termination of this Agreement by Purchaser or the Sellers
pursuant to Section 10.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given by the
terminating Party to any other Party hereto, and this Agreement shall thereupon
terminate and become void and have no further effect, and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be abandoned without further action by the Parties,
except that the provisions of Section 11 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement; provided,
however, that such
termination shall not relieve any Party hereto of any liability for any breach
of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated as provided
herein, all Notices given to Clients pursuant to Section 8.8(b) shall, to the
extent practicable, be withdrawn or terminated.
35
ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices. All
notices, requests, consents, and other communications under this Agreement shall
be in writing and delivered by hand, overnight courier, facsimile, or first
class certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid:
if
to Sellers, to:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
0000
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
|
Xxxxxx
C.A. Xxxxxxxx
0000
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
|
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
0000
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
|
|
with
a copy to:
|
Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Paul,
Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP
00
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx-Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
if
to Purchaser, to:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Group, Inc.
000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
with a copy to: |
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
|
or to
such other person at such other place as such party shall designate to the other
parties in writing. If Notices provided in accordance with this Section 13.1 shall be
deemed delivered (i) upon personal delivery with signature required, (ii) one
Business Day after they have been sent to the recipient by reputable overnight
courier service (charges prepaid and signature required) (iii) upon
confirmation, answer back received, of successful transmission of a facsimile
message containing such notice if sent between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., local time of
the recipient, on any Business Day, and as of 9 a.m. local time of the recipient
on the next Business Day if sent at any other time, or (iv) three Business Days
after deposit in the mail. The term “Business Day” as used in this
Agreement means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions are not required to be open in the State of Texas.
36
11.2 Amendment and
Waiver. This Agreement may be amended or modified only upon
the written consent of all of the Parties. The obligations of the
Sellers and the rights of Purchaser under this Agreement may be waived only with
the written consent of Purchaser. The obligations of Purchaser and
the rights of the Sellers under this Agreement may be waived only with the
written consent of each of the Sellers.
11.3 Headings. The
headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be part of this
Agreement.
11.4 Severability. In
case any provision contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
11.5 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the Laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any
choice of law provisions thereof.
11.6 Counterparts; Electronic
Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when
so executed, will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement, and all
such counterparts, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the
same agreement. This Agreement shall be effective and binding once one or more
counterparts are executed by each party hereto. This Agreement may be executed
by facsimile signature or electronic exchanges of documents bearing a scanned
signature and delivered by facsimile or electronic transmission. The parties
agree that a facsimile, scanned, imaged, electronic, or other copy of a
signature constitutes a legal and valid signature and has the same effect as an
original signature.
11.7 Remedies. In
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by
Law, including recovery of damages, Purchaser will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement. Each of the
Sellers and Purchaser agree that, in view of the uniqueness of the Business of
each of the Companies and the transaction contemplated in this Agreement,
monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of any breach of the obligations under this Agreement and hereby agree to
waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense
that a remedy at Law would be adequate.
11.8 Dispute
Resolution.
(a) Negotiation. Any
controversy or claim (“Dispute”) arising out of or
relating to this Agreement shall be set forth in a written notice to the other
Party. Upon receipt of the written notice, the Parties hereby agree
to enter into a good faith negotiation to resolve the Dispute. If
such good faith negotiation has not resolved the Dispute after 30 days, the
Parties hereby agree to enter into a formal arbitration proceeding pursuant to
Section 11.8(b).
37
(b) Arbitration. Any and all Disputes by
either Party arising from or related to this Agreement that are not settled
pursuant to Section 11.8(a), except actions arising or requesting equitable or
injunctive relief, shall be determined solely and exclusively by arbitration
(“Arbitration”) in
accordance with the rules of either FINRA Dispute Resolution or the Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) as modified herein. The
FINRA Dispute Resolution forum is only available if FINRA Dispute Resolution
deems the matter eligible for submission. If a matter is not eligible
for submission to FINRA Dispute Resolution, then the forum will be AAA. If
Sellers fail to make an election of Arbitration forum before the expiration of
five days after written notice from SMHG to make such election, SMHG may make
such election. The arbitration hearing will be confidential and will
be held in Houston, Texas. The arbitrators’ decision shall be final
and binding, and may be entered and judgment may be enforced in any court of
competent jurisdiction. This arbitration procedure will be governed by the
Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) as will any actions to
compel, enforce, vacate, or conform proceedings, awards, orders of the
arbitrator(s) or settlement under this procedure. Should there by a conflict
between the rules of the FAA and the AAA or FINRA Dispute Resolution, those of
the AAA or FINRA Dispute Resolution will control.
(c) Costs. Each Party shall bear
its own expenses in connection with the Arbitration procedures set forth in this
Section 11.8 except that the Parties shall split equally the costs associated
with any Arbitration.
(d) Communications. All
communications made in connection with the Arbitration procedures set forth in
this Section 11.8 shall be treated as communications for the purposes of
settlement and as such shall be deemed to be confidential and inadmissible in
any subsequent litigation by virtue of Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of
Evidence.
11.9 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (including the attachments hereto)
contains the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes and is in full substitution for any and all prior oral or
written agreements and understandings between them related to such subject
matter, and neither Party hereto shall be liable or bound to the other Party
hereto in any manner with respect to such subject matter by any representations,
indemnities, covenants or agreements except as specifically set forth
herein.
11.10 Binding Effect; Persons
Benefiting; Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective heirs, personal
representatives, successors, and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement is intended
or shall be construed to confer upon any entity or person other than the Parties
and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns
any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or any part
thereof. This Agreement may not be assigned by any Parties without the prior
written consent of each of the other Parties; provided, however, that Purchaser
may assign its rights hereunder to a subsidiary of Purchaser, directly or
indirectly, controlled by Purchaser.
38
11.11 Disclosure
Schedules. A matter set forth in one section of the GFS
Disclosure Schedule or the SMHG Disclosure Schedule (each a “Disclosure Schedule”) need not
be set forth in any other section of such Disclosure Schedule so long
as its relevance to such other section of the Disclosure Schedule or
section of this Agreement is readily apparent on the face of the
information disclosed in such Disclosure Schedule. The fact that any item
of information is disclosed in a Disclosure Schedule shall not be construed
to mean that such information is required to be disclosed by this
Agreement. Any information or the dollar thresholds set forth in a
Disclosure Schedule shall not be used as a basis for interpreting the terms
“material,” “Material Adverse Effect,” or other similar terms in this Agreement,
except as otherwise expressly set forth in such Disclosure Schedule.
Unless this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, neither the specification
of any item or matter in any representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement nor the inclusion of any specific item or matter in any Disclosure
Schedule is intended to imply that such item or matter, or other items or
matters, are or are not in the ordinary course of Business, and no Party shall
use the fact of the setting forth or the inclusion of any such item or matter in
any dispute or controversy between the Parties as to whether any obligation,
item or matter not described herein or included in any Disclosure
Schedule is or is not in the ordinary course of Business for purposes of
this Agreement.
39
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement or have caused
this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives shown
below:
SELLERS:
|
|
/s/ Xxxxxx C.A.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
C.A. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
PURCHASER:
|
|
XXXXXXX
XXXXXX XXXXXX GROUP INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxx
Name: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx
Title
Chairman of the Board
|
40