Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
dated as of May 17, 1998
among
VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.,
XXXXXXX plc
and
XXXXXXX INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE
SECTION 2.01. Purchase and Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 2.02. Purchase Price; Allocation of Purchase Price. . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 2.03. Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 2.04. Closing Deliveries by the Seller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 2.05. Closing Deliveries by the Purchaser . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 2.06. Purchase Price Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 2.07. Payments and Computations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
SECTION 3.01. Incorporation and Authority of the Seller . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 3.02. Incorporation and Qualification of the Publishing Subsidiaries 16
SECTION 3.03. Capital Stock of the Publishing Subsidiaries. . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 3.04. No Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 3.05. Consents and Approvals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 3.06. Financial Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 3.07. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 3.08. Absence of Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 3.09. Compliance with Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 3.10. Governmental Licenses and Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 3.11. The Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 3.12. Intellectual Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 3.13. Employee Benefits Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 3.14. Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 3.15. Environmental Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 3.16. Material Contracts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 3.17. Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 3.18. EXCLUSIVITY OF REPRESENTATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 3.19. Real Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 3.20. No Undisclosed Liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 3.21. Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER AND THE PARENT
SECTION 4.01. Incorporation and Authority of the Purchaser. . . . . . . . . 27
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SECTION 4.02. No Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 4.03. Consents and Approvals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 4.04. Absence of Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 4.05. Securities Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 4.06. Financial Ability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 4.07. Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 4.08. Shareholder Approval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 4.09. EXCLUSIVITY OF REPRESENTATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 5.01. Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 5.02. Access to Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 5.03. Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
SECTION 5.04. Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Consents . . . . . . . . 34
SECTION 5.05. Intercompany Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 5.06. Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 5.07. Letters of Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
SECTION 5.08. Permitted Reorganization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION 5.09. Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION 5.10. Further Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION 5.11. Additional Financial Statements and Information . . . . . . . 38
SECTION 5.12. Non-Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SECTION 5.13. Non-Solicitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
ARTICLE VI EMPLOYEE MATTERS
SECTION 6.01. Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SECTION 6.02. Retirement Plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SECTION 6.03. Retiree Medical and Dental Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
SECTION 6.04. Foreign Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
SECTION 6.05. Indemnity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SECTION 6.06. No Third-Party Beneficiaries, Etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
SECTION 6.07. Cooperation and Exchange of Information . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ARTICLE VII TAX MATTERS
SECTION 7.01. Tax Indemnities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
SECTION 7.02. Refunds and Tax Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
SECTION 7.03. Contests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
SECTION 7.04. Preparation of Tax Returns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 7.05. Section 338(h)(10) Election and Allocations . . . . . . . . . 51
SECTION 7.06. Cooperation and Exchange of Information . . . . . . . . . . . 52
SECTION 7.07. Conveyance Taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
SECTION 7.08. Termination of Tax Sharing Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
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SECTION 7.09. FIRPTA Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
SECTION 7.10. Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
SECTION 8.01. Conditions to Obligations of the Seller . . . . . . . . . . . 54
SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Obligations of the Parent and the Purchaser . . 55
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
SECTION 9.02. Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
SECTION 9.03. Waiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
ARTICLE X INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 10.01. Indemnification by the Parent and the Purchaser. . . . . . . 58
SECTION 10.02. Indemnification by the Seller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
SECTION 10.03. Notification of Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SECTION 10.04. Exclusive Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
ARTICLE XI GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 11.01. Survival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
SECTION 11.02. Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
SECTION 11.03. Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
SECTION 11.04. Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 11.05. Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 11.06. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 11.07. Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 11.08. Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 11.09. No Third-Party Beneficiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 11.10. Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 11.11. Sections and Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 11.12. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers . . . . . 64
SECTION 11.13. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
SECTION 11.14. No Presumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
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SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 Excluded Assets
Schedule 2 Directly Acquired Publishing Subsidiaries
Schedule 2A Directly Acquired Foreign Subsidiaries
Schedule 3 Publishing Subsidiaries
Schedule 4 Minority Interests
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1.01(a) Forms of License Agreements
Exhibit 1.01(b) Form of Services Agreements
Exhibit 1.01(c) Form of Sublease Agreement
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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 17, 1998, among VIACOM
INTERNATIONAL INC., a Delaware corporation (the "SELLER"), XXXXXXX INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "PURCHASER"), and XXXXXXX plc, a corporation organized
under the laws of the United Kingdom that is the indirect holder of all of the
outstanding capital stock of the Purchaser ("PARENT").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Seller wishes to sell, or cause its Affiliates to sell,
to the Purchaser and Parent (or one or more of their Affiliates pursuant to an
assignment permitted by Section 11.08 hereof), and the Purchaser and Parent wish
to purchase (or cause one or more of their Affiliates to purchase, as the case
may be) from the Seller or its Affiliates, all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock (the "SHARES") of the Publishing Subsidiaries (as such
term is hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein; and
WHEREAS, in connection with such sale, the Seller and the Purchaser
are willing to license, or cause their Affiliates to license, certain
intellectual property to each other and their respective Affiliates, upon the
terms of the License Agreements referred to herein, and the Purchaser and the
Seller are willing to provide, or cause their Affiliates to provide, certain
services to each other and their respective Affiliates upon the terms of the
Services Agreements referred to herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
"ACTION" means any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry,
proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority.
"AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other
Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such specified
Person.
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"AGREEMENT" means this Agreement, including the Disclosure Schedule
and all amendments hereto made in accordance with Section 11.10.
"ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS" means the Services Agreements, the License
Agreements and the Sublease Agreement.
"ASSETS" means the assets of every type and description (including,
without limitation, rights under Contracts) that are owned, leased or
licensed by any Affiliate of Seller in connection with the Businesses,
including, without limitation, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx, Inc., Simon & Xxxxxxxx or
International Book Distribution Limited or any of their direct or indirect
Subsidiaries, other than (a) such assets that are used or held for use
exclusively in the operation of the Consumer Business and (b) the assets
set forth on Schedule 1.
"BASE PRICE" means $4.6 billion.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other
day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in the
City of New York.
"BUSINESSES" means, collectively, on the date hereof, the children's
learning, higher education, business and professional, and reference
publishing businesses comprising the publishing segment of Viacom as
reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Viacom for the year ended
December 31, 1997, and specifically excluding the Consumer Business. For
the purposes of this Agreement, "consumer", "trade", "K-12", "education
technology", "supplementary", "children's learning", "higher education",
"business and professional" and "reference" shall have the meanings
commonly employed by the management of Simon & Xxxxxxxx on the date of this
Agreement, "reference" specifically includes "reference", "library
reference", "Macmillan Computer Publishing" and "Macmillan Publishing" (and
any other variation on the term "Macmillan") and "business" refers to
businesses managed as a unit, without regard to the specific legal entity
that conducts such business.
"CLOSING NET ASSETS" means, for the Businesses on a combined basis as
of the close of business on the Closing Date, total assets minus total
liabilities, in each case as of such date, calculated in the same manner
and using the same policies and methods consistently applied (without
giving effect to costs of replacing the assets set forth on Schedule 1 or
items related thereto) as used in preparation of the December 31, 1997
Audited Balance Sheet; PROVIDED that any reversal of reserves commencing on
January 1, 1998, through the close of business on the Closing Date that is
required by GAAP but is not the result of "payment of the full amount" (as
defined in Section 3.07 of this Agreement) shall not be given effect for
purposes of calculating Closing Net Assets.
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"CLOSING NET ASSETS ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT" means the Estimated Closing Net
Assets less the amount of total assets minus total liabilities reflected on
the December 31, 1997 Audited Balance Sheet.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"CONSUMER BUSINESS" means the consumer/trade publishing business that
is included within the publishing segment of Viacom as reported in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Viacom for the year ended December 31, 1997.
"CONTRACT" means any agreement, lease, evidence of indebtedness,
mortgage, indenture, security agreement, deed of trust or other contract,
obligation or commitment.
"CONTROL" means, as to any Person, the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The term
"Controlled" shall have a correlative meaning.
"DECEMBER 31, 1997 AUDITED BALANCE SHEET" means the audited
consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 1997 for the Businesses to be
provided to Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.11.
"DIRECTLY ACQUIRED FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES" means the entities set forth
on Schedule 2A.
"DIRECTLY ACQUIRED PUBLISHING SUBSIDIARIES" means the entities set
forth on Schedule 2.
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" means the Disclosure Schedule delivered by the
Seller to the Parent and the Purchaser on the date hereof.
"ELECTION SHARES" means all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of Ahsuog Inc., a California corporation; Silver Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Inc., a Delaware corporation; Modern Curriculum, Inc., a California
corporation; Regents Publishing Co., Inc., a New York corporation; and
Globe Xxxxxx Inc., a California corporation.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAW" means any Law relating to pollution or protection
of the environment, including to the use, handling, transportation,
treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.
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"ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY" means any written claim or demand, order,
suit, obligation, liability, cost (including the cost of any investigation,
testing, compliance or remedial action), damages (consequential or direct),
loss or expense (including reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and
expenses) arising out of, relating to or resulting from any environmental
matter or condition and related in any way to the Assets, the Businesses,
the Publishing Subsidiaries or to this Agreement or its subject matter, in
each case whether arising or incurred before, on or after the Closing Date.
"ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT" means any permit, approval, identification
number, license and other authorization required under or issued pursuant
to any Environmental Law.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"FINAL NA STATEMENT" means the determination of the Closing Net Assets
that is final and binding on the parties, either through agreement by the
parties or through the action of the Independent Accounting Firm in the
manner set forth in Section 2.06.
"FINAL NET ASSETS ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT" means the Closing Net Assets
reflected on the Final NA Statement less the amount of total assets minus
total liabilities reflected on the December 31, 1997 Audited Balance Sheet.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any United States federal, state or
local or any foreign government, governmental, regulatory or administrative
authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or
arbitral body.
"GOVERNMENTAL ORDER" means any order, writ, judgment, injunction,
decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any
Governmental Authority.
"HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" means (a) petroleum, petroleum products, by
products or breakdown products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos or
polychlorinated biphenyls, and (b) any chemical, material or substance
defined or regulated as toxic or as a pollutant, contaminant or waste under
any Environmental Law.
"HSR ACT" means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM" means (a) an independent certified
public accounting firm in the United States of national recognition
mutually acceptable to the
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Seller and the Purchaser or (b) if the Seller and the Purchaser are unable
to agree upon such a firm, then each party shall select one such firm and
those two firms shall select a third firm, in which event "Independent
Accounting Firm" shall mean such third firm.
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means: (a) United States, international, and
foreign patents, patent applications and statutory invention registrations,
including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part,
extensions and reexaminations thereof, all inventions, all rights therein
including rights provided by international treaties or conventions, and all
improvements thereto, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos,
trade names, corporate names, domain names and other source identifiers,
whether or not registered, including all common law rights and all goodwill
associated therewith, and registrations and applications for registration
thereof, all rights therein including rights provided by international
treaties or conventions, and all reissues, extensions and renewals of any
of the foregoing, (c) copyrightable works, copyrights, whether or not
registered, and registrations and applications for registration thereof,
and all rights therein including rights provided by international treaties
or conventions, (d) confidential and proprietary information, including
technology, trade secrets, ideas, know-how, formulas, customer and supplier
lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and
proposals, (e) computer software (including source code, data and related
documentation) and (f) all other proprietary rights.
"INTEREST RATE" means the rate of interest per annum equal to the
average of the rate per annum publicly announced by Citibank, N.A. or any
successor thereto in New York, New York from time to time as its "base"
rate on each day during the period for which interest is paid.
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.
"KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELLER" or "SELLER'S KNOWLEDGE" means the actual
knowledge of any of the following individuals: the Chairman, any Deputy
Chairman or any Senior Vice President of Viacom, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, the
President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx,
the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Simon &
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of
Simon & Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx (solely in respect of human resources and employee benefits
matters), Xxxx Xxxxx (solely in respect of Tax matters), Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
(solely in respect of real property matters), Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx (solely in
respect of the higher education business and the Canadian operations of the
Businesses), Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (solely
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in respect of the higher education business), Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx (solely in respect of the reference publishing business), Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx (solely in respect of the business and professional publishing
business and the international business, excluding Canada), Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
(solely in respect of the business and professional publishing business),
and Xxxxx Xxx and Xxxxxx XxXxxxx (solely in respect of the children's
learning publishing business), in each case without specific investigation
or inquiry by such person.
"LAW" means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law,
ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, other requirement or rule of law.
"LICENSE AGREEMENTS" means the License Agreements between the
Purchaser or an Affiliate of the Purchaser and the Seller or an Affiliate
of the Seller in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit 1.01(a).
"LICENSES" means all licenses, permits, certificates of authority,
authorizations, approvals, registrations, filings, qualifications,
privileges, franchises and similar consents granted or issued by any
Governmental Authority.
"LIEN" means any mortgage, deed or trust, pledge, hypothecation,
security interest, encumbrance, claim, lien or charge of any kind, or any
conditional sale Contract, title retention Contract or other Contract to
create any of the foregoing.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any event, change, effect, occurrence
or state of facts that has had or is reasonably expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, results of operations or the financial
condition of the Businesses, taken as a whole; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any
adverse effect arising out of or resulting from (a) an event or series of
events or circumstances affecting (i) the publishing industry generally in
any country in which any of the Businesses operate or (ii) the United
States economy generally or the economy generally of any other country in
which the Businesses operate or (b) the entering into of this Agreement or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the
announcement thereof, shall not, in and of itself, constitute a Material
Adverse Effect.
"MINORITY INTERESTS" means any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company, trust or estate or other Person (other
than a Subsidiary) in which a Publishing Subsidiary holds, as of the date
of this Agreement, a beneficial interest in less than 50% of (a) the issued
and outstanding capital stock of such corporation, (b) the profits or
capital of such partnership, joint venture or limited liability company or
(c) such trust or estate or other Person, each as set forth on Schedule 4.
"PERMITTED LIENS" means the following Liens: (a) Liens for Taxes,
assessments or other governmental charges or levies that are not yet due or
payable or that are
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being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (b) statutory
Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by Law and on a basis
consistent with past practice for amounts not yet due; (c) Liens incurred
or deposits made in the ordinary course of the Businesses and on a basis
consistent with past practice in connection with worker's compensation,
unemployment insurance or other types of social security; (d) minor defects
of title, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges
or encumbrances not materially detracting from the value of any of the
Owned Real Property or interfering with the ordinary conduct of the
Businesses; (e) Liens not created by or through the Seller or any
Publishing Subsidiary which affect the underlying fee interest of any
Leased Real Property that do not materially interfere with the conduct of
the Businesses as currently conducted; and (f) Liens incurred in the
ordinary course of the Businesses and on a basis consistent with past
practice securing obligations or liabilities which are not individually or
in the aggregate material to the relevant Owned Real Property or Leased
Real Property, respectively.
"PERMITTED REORGANIZATION" means an internal reorganization of assets
owned by the Seller or its Subsidiaries to be completed on or prior to the
Closing Date (1) to effect any transfer (a) of Assets to the Publishing
Subsidiaries (or otherwise in connection with an assignment permitted
pursuant to Section 11.08 hereof), (b) of assets from the Publishing
Subsidiaries to the Seller or an Affiliate of the Seller (other than a
Publishing Subsidiary) and (c) of assets from any Publishing Subsidiary to
any other Publishing Subsidiary or (2) to transfer any inactive Subsidiary
to the Seller or one of its Affiliates that is not a Publishing Subsidiary.
"PERSON" means any natural person, general or limited partnership,
corporation, limited liability company, firm, association, Governmental
Authority or other legal entity.
"PUBLISHING SUBSIDIARIES" means the entities set forth on Schedule 3.
"PURCHASE PRICE" means (a) the Base Price, (b) increased by, if
positive, or decreased by, if negative, 75% of the Closing Net Assets
Adjustment Amount, (c) increased by the amount, if any, payable by the
Parent and the Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.06(e) hereof and (d)
decreased by the amount, if any, payable by the Seller pursuant to Section
2.06(e) hereof.
"SECTION 338 TAX" means a Tax that is attributable to, or arises or
results from, any Election other than Taxes subject to Section 7.07.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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"SERVICES AGREEMENTS" means the Services Agreements between the
Purchaser and the Seller or Affiliates thereof in the forms attached hereto
as Exhibit 1.01(b).
"SIMON & XXXXXXXX" means Simon & Xxxxxxxx, Inc., a New York
corporation.
"SITE" means any of the real properties currently owned or leased by
the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller in connection with the Businesses
or by any of the Publishing Subsidiaries, including all soil, subsoil,
surface waters and groundwater thereat.
"SUBLEASE AGREEMENT" means the Sublease Agreement between the
Purchaser (or an assignee reasonably acceptable to the Seller and
acceptable to the landlord for such property) and the Seller with respect
to 0000 Xxxxxxxx substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
1.01(c) and containing representations and warranties with respect to
subleased property comparable to those contained in Section 3.19 of this
Agreement.
"SUBSIDIARY" of any Person means any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company, trust, estate or other Person of which
(or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock
having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors
of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of
any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting
power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the interest in the
capital or profits of such partnership, joint venture or limited liability
company or other Person or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or
estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such
first Person, or by such first Person and one or more of its other
Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person's other Subsidiaries.
"TAX" or "TAXES" means all income, excise, gross receipts, ad valorem,
sales, use, employment, franchise, profits, gains, property, transfer, use,
payroll, intangibles or other taxes, fees, stamp taxes, duties, charges,
levies or assessments of any kind whatsoever (whether payable directly or
by withholding), together with any interest and any penalties, additions to
tax or additional amounts imposed by any Tax authority with respect
thereto.
"TAX RETURNS" means all returns and reports (including elections,
declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns)
required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to Taxes.
"VIACOM" means Viacom Inc., a Delaware corporation.
9
SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINED TERMS. The following terms have the
meanings defined for such terms in the Sections set forth below:
TERM SECTION
---- -------
Assumed Pension Benefits 6.02(d)
Audited Financial Statements 5.11(a)
Business Employees 3.13(a)
Closing 2.03
Closing Date 2.03
COBRA 6.02(c)
Competing Business 5.12
Confidentiality Agreement 5.03
Contest 7.03(b)
Draft Allocation Statement 2.02(b)
Election 7.05(a)
Election Allocations 7.05(b)
Estimated Closing Net Assets 2.06(a)
Extraordinary Meeting of Shareholders 5.04(c)
Financial Statements 3.06(a)
Financing 4.06
Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement 3.13(d)
Foreign Plan 3.13(d)
Former Business Employees 3.13(a)
Forms 7.05(a)
GAAP 3.06(b)
Indemnified Party 10.03(a)
Indemnifying Party 10.03(a)
Initial NA Statement 2.06(b)
Leased Real Property 3.19(b)
Leased Real Property Permitted Exceptions 3.19(b)
Licensed Intellectual Property 3.12(a)
Losses 10.01(a)
MADSP 7.05(b)
Material Contracts 3.16(a)
Material Licenses 3.10
Notice of Disagreement 2.06(c)
Offering Circular 5.02(b)
Owned Intellectual Property 3.12(a)
Owned Real Property 3.19(a)
Owned Real Property Permitted Exceptions 3.19(a)
Paramount DCP 6.02(e)
Parent Preamble
Parent Board Recommendation 4.01
Post-Closing Date Tax Benefit 7.02(c)
10
Pre-Closing Date NOL 7.02(a)
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada Pension Plan 6.02(d)
Purchase Price Notice 2.06(a)
Purchaser Preamble
Purchaser Indemnified Parties 10.02(a)
Purchaser's DC Plan 6.02(b)
PW 5.11(b)
Real Property 3.19(b)
Real Property Leases 3.19(b)
Recipients 5.03(b)
Reference Statement of Net Assets 3.06
Retirees 6.03
S&S DCP 6.02(e)
S&S EIP 6.02(b)
SEC 5.11
Seller Preamble
Seller Indemnified Parties 10.01(a)
Seller LOCs 5.07
Shares Recitals
Stock Allocations 2.02(b)
UK Pension Plan 6.02(f)
Unaudited Interim Period Financial Statements 5.11
VEIP 6.02(b)
VEPP 6.02(a)
Viacom ERISA Plans 3.13(a)
Viacom Plans 3.13(a)
VICL Pension Plan 6.02(d)
VIP 3.13(a)
VPP 3.13(a)
SECTION 1.03. TERMS GENERALLY. (a) Words in the singular shall be
held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held
to include the other genders as the context requires, (b) the terms "hereof",
"herein", and "herewith" and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise
stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement, and Article, Section, paragraph, Exhibit and
Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections, paragraphs, Exhibits and
Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified, (c) the word "including"
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean "including,
without limitation", unless otherwise specified and (d) provisions shall apply,
when appropriate, to successive events and transactions.
ARTICLE II
11
PURCHASE AND SALE
SECTION 2.01. PURCHASE AND SALE. On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Seller shall sell,
convey, assign, transfer and deliver to the Parent and the Purchaser (and/or
cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to sell, convey, assign, transfer and
deliver to the Parent and the Purchaser), and the Parent and the Purchaser shall
purchase, acquire and accept from the Seller or such Subsidiaries (i) first, all
right, title and interest in and to all the outstanding capital stock of the
Directly Acquired Foreign Subsidiaries and (ii) immediately thereafter (but
subsequent to the distribution of all proceeds received by a Publishing
Subsidiary from the sale of any Directly Acquired Foreign Subsidiary), all
right, title and interest in and to all the outstanding capital stock of the
Directly Acquired Publishing Subsidiaries.
SECTION 2.02. PURCHASE PRICE; ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE. (a) The
Parent and the Purchaser shall pay that portion of the Purchase Price as is
specified in the Purchase Price Notice in cash to the Seller at the Closing, as
provided in Section 2.05(a), with the remainder payable as provided in Section
2.06(e). The Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment after the Closing as
set forth in Section 2.06 hereof.
(b) Within 130 days after the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall
prepare and submit to the Seller a draft statement (the "DRAFT ALLOCATION
STATEMENT") of the allocation of the Purchase Price among (i) the Directly
Acquired Publishing Subsidiaries and among the Directly Acquired Foreign
Subsidiaries (the "STOCK ALLOCATIONS") and (ii) the covenant not to compete
contained in Section 5.12. Purchaser and Parent agree to allocate at least $200
million to the acquisition of Viacom Holdings [name to be changed], and at least
$300 million to the acquisition of the other Directly Acquired Foreign
Subsidiaries. Purchaser and Parent further agree to allocate no more than 5% of
the Purchase Price to such covenant not to compete. Seller shall not dispute
any of the foregoing three allocations to such extent. On or prior to the 30th
day after the Seller's receipt of the Draft Allocation Statement, the Seller
shall either (i) consent to such Stock Allocations as set forth on the Draft
Allocation Statement or (ii) notify the Purchaser that it disagrees with the
Draft Allocation Statement. If the Seller and the Purchaser are unable to
resolve their differences within 30 days after the Purchaser has been notified
with respect to the Seller's disagreement with the Draft Allocation Statement,
then any unresolved issues shall be submitted to an Independent Accounting Firm
to resolve in a final binding manner after hearing the views of the Seller and
the Purchaser. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accounting Firm shall
be shared equally between the Seller and the Purchaser.
(c) The Seller, the Parent and the Purchaser shall report the
federal, state, local and foreign Tax consequences of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement in a manner consistent with the Stock Allocations
as agreed by the Seller and the Purchaser or as
12
determined by the Independent Accounting Firm, as the case may be. The Seller,
the Parent and the Purchaser further covenant and agree not to take a position
with respect to Taxes that is inconsistent with the Stock Allocations on any Tax
Return or otherwise, except as may be required by Law.
SECTION 2.03. CLOSING. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the sale and purchase of the Shares contemplated hereby shall take
place at a closing (the "CLOSING") to be held at 10:00 a.m., New York City time,
on or before the fifth Business Day following the later to occur of the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the obligations of the parties set
forth in Sections 8.01(b) and (c) and 8.02(b), (c) and (f), at the offices of
the Seller, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, or at such other time or on such
other date or at such other place as the Seller and the Purchaser may mutually
agree upon in writing (the day on which the Closing takes place being the
"CLOSING DATE"). The Closing shall be deemed effective as of the close of
business on the Closing Date.
SECTION 2.04. CLOSING DELIVERIES BY THE SELLER. At the Closing, the
Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Parent and the Purchaser:
(a) stock certificates evidencing all of the Shares, duly endorsed in
blank or accompanied by stock powers and transfer forms duly executed in
blank;
(b) a receipt for the portion of the Purchase Price as is specified
in the Purchase Price Notice;
(c) the Ancillary Agreements required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 8.02; and
(d) any required stock transfer tax stamps.
SECTION 2.05. CLOSING DELIVERIES BY THE PURCHASER. At the Closing,
Parent and the Purchaser shall deliver to the Seller:
(a) the portion of the Purchase Price equal to the Base Price
increased by, if positive, or decreased by, if negative, 75% of the Closing
Net Assets Adjustments Amount by wire transfer in immediately available
funds, to an account or accounts designated at least four Business Days
prior to the Closing Date by the Seller in a written notice to the
Purchaser; and
(b) the Ancillary Agreements required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 8.01.
13
SECTION 2.06. PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENT. (a) Not less than 15 days
prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall provide the Purchaser with a
preliminary good faith estimate of the anticipated Estimated Closing Net Assets
(as defined below). Not less than three Business Days prior to the Closing
Date, the Seller shall deliver a notice (the "PURCHASE PRICE NOTICE") to the
Purchaser that sets forth (i) the Seller's good faith estimate of the Closing
Net Assets (the "ESTIMATED CLOSING NET ASSETS") and (ii) the calculation of the
Closing Net Assets Adjustment Amount and the portion of the Purchase Price
payable at Closing pursuant to Section 2.05(a). The calculation of the Closing
Net Assets Adjustment Amount set forth in the Purchase Price Notice shall be
binding on the Parent, the Purchaser and the Seller absent manifest error.
(b) As promptly as practicable, but no later than 120 days after the
Closing Date, the Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to the Seller an audited
consolidated balance sheet (including the related notes and schedules thereto)
which shall set forth the Purchaser's determination of the Closing Net Assets
(the "INITIAL NA STATEMENT"). During the 20 Business Days immediately following
the Seller's receipt of the Initial NA Statement, the Seller and its
representatives will be permitted to review at the Seller's offices the
Purchaser's working papers relating to the Initial NA Statement as well as all
of the books and records relating to the operations and finances of the
Businesses with respect to the period up to and including the Closing Date, and
the Purchaser shall make reasonably available at the Seller's offices the
individuals responsible for the preparation of the Initial NA Statement in order
to respond to the reasonable inquiries of the Seller.
(c) The Seller shall notify the Purchaser in writing (the "NOTICE OF
DISAGREEMENT") within 20 Business Days after receiving the Initial NA Statement
if the Seller disagrees with the Purchaser's calculation of the Closing Net
Assets, which Notice of Disagreement shall set forth in reasonable detail the
basis for such dispute and the U.S. Dollar amounts involved and the Seller's
good faith estimate of the Closing Net Assets. If no Notice of Disagreement is
received by the Purchaser within such 20 Business Day period, then the Initial
NA Statement shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Seller, shall become
final and binding upon the parties and shall be the Final NA Statement.
(d) During the 20 Business Days immediately following the delivery of
a Notice of Disagreement, the Seller and the Purchaser shall seek in good faith
to resolve any differences that they may have with respect to any matter
specified in the Notice of Disagreement. If at the end of such 20 Business Day
period the Seller and the Purchaser have been unable to agree upon a Final NA
Statement, the Seller and the Purchaser shall submit to the Independent
Accounting Firm for review and resolution any and all matters that remain in
dispute with respect to the Notice of Disagreement. The Independent Accounting
Firm shall use commercially practicable efforts to make a final determination,
binding on the parties hereto, of the Closing Net Assets within 20 Business
Days, and such final determination shall be the Final NA Statement. The cost of
the Independent Accounting Firm's review and
14
determination shall be paid by the party that has determined an amount of
Closing Net Assets that is the greatest amount different from the amount on the
Final NA Statement. During the 20 Business Day review by the Independent
Accounting Firm, the Purchaser and the Seller will each make available to the
Independent Accounting Firm interviews with such individuals and such
information, books and records as may be reasonably required by the Independent
Accounting Firm to make its final determination.
(e) (i) If the Final Net Assets Adjustment Amount (as set forth in
the Final NA Statement) exceeds 75% of the Closing Net Assets Adjustment Amount,
then the Parent and the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to
such excess or (ii) if 75% of the Closing Net Assets Adjustment Amount exceeds
the Final Net Assets Adjustment Amount (as set forth in the Final NA Statement),
then the Seller shall pay to the Parent and the Purchaser an amount equal to
such excess, in either case within five Business Days after the Final NA
Statement becomes final and binding on the parties hereto and, in either case,
together with interest thereon from the Closing Date until the date of payment
at the Interest Rate. If the Final Net Assets Adjustment Amount (as set forth
in the Final NA Statement) is equal to 75% of the Closing Net Assets Adjustment
Amount, then neither the Parent and the Purchaser, on the one hand, nor the
Seller, on the other hand, shall owe any amount to the other party pursuant to
this Section 2.06.
(f) The Parent and the Purchaser agree that following the Closing
through the date that payment, if any, is made pursuant to Section 2.06(e), it
will not take any actions with respect to any accounting books, records, policy
or procedure on which the Initial NA Statement or the Final NA Statement is to
be based that are inconsistent with past practices of the Seller or that would
make it impossible or impracticable to calculate the Closing Net Assets in the
manner and utilizing the methods required hereby.
SECTION 2.07. PAYMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS. Each party shall make each
payment due to the other party hereunder as soon as practicable on the day when
due in U.S. dollars by wire transfer in immediately available funds. All
computations of interest shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days, in
each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding
the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable.
Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day,
and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of
payment of interest.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
The Seller represents and warrants to the Parent and the Purchaser as
follows:
15
SECTION 3.01. INCORPORATION AND AUTHORITY OF THE SELLER. (a) The
Seller is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all necessary
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements, to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by the Seller, the
performance by the Seller of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the
consummation by the Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the
Seller. This Agreement has been, and upon execution the Ancillary Agreements
will be, duly executed and delivered by the Seller, and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Parent and the Purchaser) this
Agreement constitutes, and upon execution the Ancillary Agreements will
constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Seller, enforceable
against the Seller in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of any
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject, as
to enforceability, to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) Each Affiliate of the Seller that is a party to one or more
Ancillary Agreements is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has or
prior to Closing will have all necessary corporate power and authority to enter
into the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, to carry out its
obligations thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.
The execution and delivery of the Ancillary Agreements by each such Affiliate,
the performance by each such Affiliate of its respective obligations thereunder
and the consummation by each such Affiliate of the transactions contemplated
thereby have been or prior to Closing will have been duly authorized by all
requisite corporate action on the part of each such Affiliate. Upon execution,
each such Ancillary Agreement will be duly executed and delivered by each such
Affiliate, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by any party
that is not the Seller or an Affiliate of the Seller) the Ancillary Agreements
will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of each such Affiliate that
is a party thereto, enforceable against each such Affiliate in accordance with
their terms, subject, as to enforceability, to the effect of general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
SECTION 3.02. INCORPORATION AND QUALIFICATION OF THE PUBLISHING
SUBSIDIARIES. Each Publishing Subsidiary is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and, to the extent legally applicable, in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and
authority to own, operate or lease its respective Assets. Each Publishing
Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in
good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned,
operated or leased
16
or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for
where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.03. CAPITAL STOCK OF THE PUBLISHING SUBSIDIARIES. The
Shares constitute all the authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of each of the Publishing Subsidiaries. Immediately prior to the Closing,
the Directly Acquired Publishing Subsidiaries and the Directly Acquired Foreign
Subsidiaries will own all the outstanding capital stock of the other Publishing
Subsidiaries. The number of shares of capital stock of each Publishing
Subsidiary issued and outstanding, and the owners thereof, are set forth in
Section 3.03 of the Disclosure Schedule. The Shares have been duly authorized
and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in
violation of any pre-emptive rights. There are no subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, preemptive rights or rights of conversion or other rights,
agreements, arrangements or commitments relating to the capital stock of any
Publishing Subsidiary obligating such Publishing Subsidiary to issue or sell or
to purchase or redeem any of its shares of capital stock. Schedule 4 hereto
lists all equity interests held by any Publishing Subsidiary in any Person that
is not a Publishing Subsidiary. The Seller beneficially owns the Shares and the
Minority Interests, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens arising out of,
under or in connection with this Agreement or created by or through the
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates. There are no voting trusts, stockholder
agreements, proxies or other agreements in effect with respect to the voting or
transfer of the Shares or the Minority Interests. Upon payment for the Shares
as contemplated by this Agreement, the Parent and the Purchaser will acquire
from the Seller good and marketable title to the Shares, free and clear of all
Liens, except Liens arising by or through the Purchaser or any of its
Affiliates.
SECTION 3.04. NO CONFLICT. Assuming all consents, approvals,
authorizations and other actions described in Section 3.05 have been obtained,
and except as may result from any facts or circumstances relating to the Parent
or the Purchaser or as described in Section 3.04 of the Disclosure Schedule, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements by the Seller and its Affiliates does not and will not (a) violate or
conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation, other constitutive documents or
by-laws of the Seller or any Publishing Subsidiary, (b) conflict with or violate
any material Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Seller or any
Publishing Subsidiary or (c) result in any breach of, or constitute a default
(or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would
become a default) under, or give to any Person any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation, or give to any Person any additional
rights or entitlement to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed
payments under, or result in the creation of any Lien on any Shares or on any of
the Assets pursuant to, any note, bond, Contract, license, permit, franchise or
other instrument to which the Seller or any Publishing Subsidiary is a party or
by which any of such Shares or the Assets are bound or affected, except (i) for
Liens created by or through the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates and (ii) as
17
would not, individually or in the aggregate (A) have a Material Adverse Effect
or (B) materially impair the ability of the Seller to consummate the sale of the
Shares to the Parent and the Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 3.05. CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement by the Seller and those of its
Affiliates that are parties to any of the Ancillary Agreements do not, and the
performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement by the Seller and
such Affiliates will not, require any material consent, approval, authorization
or other action by, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental
Authority, except (a) as described in Section 3.05 of the Disclosure Schedule,
(b) the notification requirements of the HSR Act and applicable filings under
foreign antitrust and competition Laws, (c) where failure to obtain such
consent, approval, authorization or action, or to make such filing or
notification, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect or prevent the Seller from performing any of its material
obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or (d) as may be
necessary as a result of any facts or circumstances relating solely to the
Purchaser or its Affiliates.
SECTION 3.06. FINANCIAL INFORMATION. (a) The unaudited special
purpose profit and loss statement of the Publishing Subsidiaries for the year
ended December 31, 1997 and the unaudited special purpose statement of net
assets of the Publishing Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997 included in
Section 3.06 of the Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the "FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS") have been prepared on the basis set forth in Section 3.06 of the
Disclosure Schedule and present fairly in all material respects the results of
operations and net assets of the Publishing Subsidiaries as of the date
indicated and for the period then ended. The Financial Statements were prepared
based upon the information contained in the Seller's books and records. Each of
the Parent and the Purchaser acknowledges that the Financial Statements do not
reflect the net assets or results of operations of the Publishing Subsidiaries
that would have occurred if such subsidiaries were a separate business on the
date and during the periods presented. The unaudited special purpose statement
of net assets of the Publishing Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997 is herein
referred to as the "Reference Statement of Net Assets".
(b) The Audited Financial Statements, once prepared as contemplated
by Section 5.11(a), shall be presented in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), consistently applied, and
shall present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results
of operations and cash flows of the Businesses as of the dates indicated and for
the periods then ended. The Unaudited Interim Period Financial Statements, once
prepared as contemplated by Section 5.11(a), shall be presented in accordance
with GAAP, consistently applied, and shall present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the
Businesses as of the dates indicated and for the periods then ended, except for
the absence of footnotes and subject to normal year-end adjustments.
18
SECTION 3.07. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since December
31, 1997, except as disclosed in Section 3.06 or 3.07 of the Disclosure Schedule
or as contemplated by this Agreement, the Businesses have been conducted in the
ordinary course and consistent with past practice and (a) there has not occurred
any event which, individually or in the aggregate, has had a Material Adverse
Effect or that would materially impair the ability of the Seller to consummate
the sale of the Shares to the Parent and the Purchaser as contemplated by this
Agreement or (b) to the Knowledge of the Seller, except as required by GAAP, any
reversal of reserves on the financial statements of the Publishing Subsidiaries
except as a result of payment of the full amount specifically attributable to
such reserve. For purposes of this Agreement, "payment of the full amount"
shall include reserve reductions for actual returns, bad debt write-offs,
inventory write-offs and accounts receivable deductions taken by customers and
approved by the Publishing Subsidiaries, in each case consistent with past
practice of the Publishing Subsidiaries. In addition, Seller has not permitted
any Affiliate to take any action referred to in Section 5.01(b)(vi) through
(ix).
SECTION 3.08. ABSENCE OF LITIGATION. Except as set forth in Section
3.08 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no material Actions pending or, to
the Knowledge of the Seller, threatened in writing against the Seller or any
Publishing Subsidiary, or to which any of the Shares or Assets are subject, that
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or that would
materially impair the ability of the Seller to consummate the sale of the Shares
to the Parent and the Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 3.09. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. To the Knowledge of the Seller,
neither the Seller nor any Publishing Subsidiary is in material violation of any
material Laws and Governmental Orders applicable to the Businesses, the Shares
or any material Asset, or by which any of them is bound, except (a) as set forth
in Section 3.09 of the Disclosure Schedule or (b) for violations the existence
of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect or that would not materially impair the ability of the Seller to
consummate the Permitted Reorganization or the sale of the Shares to the Parent
and the Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 3.10. GOVERNMENTAL LICENSES AND PERMITS. The Publishing
Subsidiaries hold all governmental qualifications, registrations, filings,
privileges, franchises, licenses, permits, approvals or authorizations
(collectively, "MATERIAL LICENSES") material to the operation of the Businesses
as currently operated by the Publishing Subsidiaries. All of such licenses,
permits, approvals and authorizations are in full force and effect and the
Businesses are in material compliance with each such Material License, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or
that would not materially impair the ability of the Seller to consummate the
Permitted Reorganization or the sale of the Shares to the Parent and the
Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement.
19
SECTION 3.11. THE ASSETS. (a) Except as set forth in Section
3.11(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Assets, taken together with the Sublease
Agreement and the License Agreements, will, as of the Closing Date, constitute
all of the assets used to conduct the Businesses in all material respects as
conducted on the date of this Agreement.
(b) Except (i) as disclosed in Section 3.11(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule, (ii) for Permitted Liens, or (iii) for Liens created by or through the
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, the Assets are owned, licensed or leased by
a Publishing Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens.
SECTION 3.12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. (a) The Publishing
Subsidiaries own or have the right to use, and to continue using (subject to the
terms thereof), all Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of
the Businesses as currently operated by the Publishing Subsidiaries ("OWNED
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" or "LICENSED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY", as applicable). The
Seller's and the Publishing Subsidiaries' ownership or right to use trademarks
and service marks is subject to the rights of third parties who may have begun
using such trademarks or service marks before the Seller or such Publishing
Subsidiaries, and the Seller's and the Publishing Subsidiaries' ownership or
right to use common law trademarks and service marks is subject to the
capability of such trademarks or service marks to serve as a trademark or
service xxxx. Except as provided for in the Consumer to Purchaser License
Agreement, the Owned Intellectual Property and the Licensed Intellectual
Property collectively constitute all of the Intellectual Property material to
the continued operation of the Businesses as conducted on the date of this
Agreement. The Seller has previously made available to the Purchaser a true and
complete list of all registered U.S. and foreign trademarks, trade names and
service marks that are used by the Businesses.
(b) Except for such infringements as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Owned Intellectual Property nor, to the
Knowledge of the Seller, the Businesses' use of the Licensed Intellectual
Property, infringes upon the Intellectual Property rights of any third party,
and (ii) no written claim has been asserted to the Seller or any Publishing
Subsidiary which is currently pending that the use of such Owned Intellectual
Property or Licensed Intellectual Property in a manner consistent with past and
present practice does or may infringe upon the Intellectual Property rights of
any third party.
(c) Subject to the exceptions described in Section 3.12(a), the
Publishing Subsidiaries are entitled to use the Owned Intellectual Property in a
manner consistent in all material respects with current practice of the
Businesses.
(d) Subject to the exceptions described in Section 3.12(a), the
Publishing Subsidiaries have the right to use all Licensed Intellectual Property
in a manner consistent in
20
all material respects with current practice of the Businesses and subject to the
terms of the respective license agreements and permissions.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Seller, no Person is engaging in any
activity that infringes in any material respect upon the Owned Intellectual
Property or the Publishing Subsidiaries' rights in the Licensed Intellectual
Property. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without
limitation, the purchase and sale of the Shares and the Permitted
Reorganization) and the Ancillary Agreements will not result in the termination
or impairment of any of the Owned Intellectual Property or of any license or
sublicense of the Licensed Intellectual Property or the Owned Intellectual
Property.
(f) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither
the Seller nor any Publishing Subsidiary is in material breach of, or material
default under, any material term of any license or sublicense of the Owned
Intellectual Property or the Licensed Intellectual Property and (ii) no other
party to such license, sublicense or Contract is in material breach of or
material default under any term of any such license, sublicense or Contract.
(g) With respect to any Owned Intellectual Property filed with or
recorded by any Governmental Authority (including patent, trademark, copyright
and other registrations and applications), all of such registrations and
applications are valid and in full force and effect and all necessary
registration, maintenance and renewal fees in connection therewith have been
paid and all necessary documents and certificates in connection therewith have
been filed with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other authority in
the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purpose
of maintaining the registrations or applications for registration of such Owned
Intellectual Property except where the failure to be valid and in full force and
effect or to make such payment or filing would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(h) Except (i) as described in Section 3.12(a), (ii) as set forth in
Section 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedule and (iii) for licences, options,
consents and permissions granted to use Owned Intellectual Property or Licensed
Intellectual Property, all right, title and interest in and to the Owned
Intellectual Property is, or at the Closing will be, owned by a Publishing
Subsidiary subject to no Lien other than Permitted Liens, and neither the Seller
nor any of its Affiliates nor any of the Publishing Subsidiaries has, or at the
Closing will have, assigned, transferred, conveyed or otherwise encumbered any
right, title or interest in the Owned Intellectual Property or the Licensed
Intellectual Property.
SECTION 3.13. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MATTERS. (a) Section 3.13(a)(i) of
the Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of all employee
benefit plans (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, hereafter "VIACOM
ERISA PLANS") and all other profit
21
sharing, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive,
deferred compensation, supplemental retirement, pension, supplemental
unemployment benefits, change of control, severance, death, health, dental,
medical, welfare, disability, life insurance or other benefit plans, programs or
arrangements and all employment, termination, severance or other Contracts or
agreements with respect to which Viacom, the Seller or any Publishing Subsidiary
has any obligation and which are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by
Viacom, the Seller or any Publishing Subsidiary for the benefit of (i) any
current employee, officer or director of Viacom, the Seller or any Publishing
Subsidiary who is employed in the Businesses and who is listed on Section
3.13(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, which includes the names and current
annual salary rates of all such individuals as of the date hereof, excluding
those individuals listed on Section 3.13(a)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule
(collectively, the "BUSINESS EMPLOYEES") or (ii) any former employee, officer or
director of Viacom, the Seller or any Publishing Subsidiary who was previously
employed in the Businesses (collectively, the "FORMER BUSINESS EMPLOYEES"),
other than plans, programs, arrangements, Contracts or agreements for which no
benefits are payable after the Closing or for which no benefits will be required
to be paid by the Purchaser or any Publishing Subsidiary (collectively, the
"VIACOM PLANS"). Except as disclosed in Section 3.13(a)(i) of the Disclosure
Schedule, each Viacom ERISA Plan is in writing and the Seller has previously
made available to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of each Viacom ERISA
Plan and the most recently received IRS determination letter for each of the
Viacom Pension Plan (the "VPP") and the Viacom Investment Plan (the "VIP").
(b) Except as otherwise disclosed in Section 3.13(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule, none of the Viacom Plans (i) is a "multiemployer plan",
within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, or a
"single-employer plan", within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, for
which the Seller or any Publishing Subsidiary could incur liability under
Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, or (ii) provides or promises to provide retiree
medical or life insurance benefits. To the knowledge of the Seller, no
circumstances exist pursuant to which any Publishing Subsidiary could incur
liability under Title IV of ERISA or Section 4971 through 4980B of the Code or
Section 502(i) or (l) of ERISA.
(c) Except as disclosed in Section 3.13(c) of the Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Seller nor any Publishing Subsidiary is a party to any
collective bargaining or other labor union Contract applicable to any Business
Employees. As of the date hereof, except as disclosed in Section 3.13(c) of the
Disclosure Schedule, there is, to the Knowledge of the Seller, no material labor
strike, slowdown or work stoppage against the Seller or any Publishing
Subsidiary pending or, to the Knowledge of the Seller, threatened in writing,
which may interfere in any material respect with the business activities of the
Businesses.
(d) With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a
government other than the United States (a "FOREIGN GOVERNMENT SCHEME OR
ARRANGEMENT") and with respect to each Viacom Plan that is subject to laws other
than United States law (a "FOREIGN
22
PLAN"), except as any inaccuracy in the following statements, individually or in
the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) with respect to each Foreign Plan which is a pension plan, the
Seller will furnish to the Purchaser, prior to the Closing, a copy of the
most recent actuarial report, financial statement and asset statement and
no changes have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur which would
materially affect the solvency of such Foreign Plan (on an ongoing or
winding up basis) or the information contained in such actuarial report,
financial statement or asset statement;
(ii) any employer and employee contributions required by law or by
the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign
Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with
country-specific accounting practices;
(iii) the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign
Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through
insurance or for each Foreign Plan where there are no such assets or
insurance, a book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with
any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the
accrued benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all
current and former beneficiaries in such Foreign Plan according to the
actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to determine
employer contributions to such Foreign Plan; and
(iv) each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been
registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable
regulatory authorities.
(e) The aggregate maximum severance and stay bonus liability under
the Executive Management Enhanced Severance and Retention Bonus Program is
approximately $88 million. The additional liability under employment agreements
for Tier II executives will not exceed six additional months of severance.
Further, Tier I executives' employment agreements do not extend beyond September
30, 2000, except for three executives' employment agreements as disclosed.
(f) Except as disclosed in Section 3.13(f) of the Disclosure
Schedule, no benefit under any Viacom Plan, including, without limitation, any
severance or parachute payment plan or agreement, will be established or become
accelerated, vested or payable by reason of any transaction contemplated by this
Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.
SECTION 3.14. TAXES. (a) All material Tax Returns required to have
been filed on or before the Closing Date by or with respect to any Publishing
Subsidiary, the
23
Businesses or the Assets or any affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or
similar group of which any Publishing Subsidiary or any Person that holds any
Assets or conducts any of the Businesses, is or was a member have been duly and
timely filed (or, if due between the date hereof and the Closing Date, will be
duly and timely filed), and each such Tax Return correctly and completely
reflects the income, franchise or other Tax liability and any other information
required to be reported thereon. All Taxes owed by any Publishing Subsidiary
shown on any Tax Return have been paid (or, if due between the date hereof and
the Closing Date, will be duly and timely paid) or are being contested in good
faith.
(b) There are no currently outstanding claims by any Tax authority
in a jurisdiction in which a Publishing Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns to
the effect that a Publishing Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(c) Each Publishing Subsidiary has withheld and paid all Taxes
required by applicable law to have been withheld and paid on or before the
Closing Date in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, former
employee, creditor, shareholder, Affiliate, customer, supplier or other third
party.
(d) There are no accounting method changes, and, to the Knowledge
of the Seller, there are no proposed or threatened accounting method changes, of
any Publishing Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to give rise to an
adjustment under Section 481 of the Code for periods after the Closing Date.
(e) Except with respect to a ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service relating to Section 197 of the Code, no Publishing Subsidiary has
received any written ruling of a Tax authority related to Taxes with respect to
a Publishing Subsidiary or entered into any written and legally binding
agreement with a Tax authority relating to Taxes with respect to a Publishing
Subsidiary.
(f) Each Publishing Subsidiary has disclosed (in accordance with
Section 6662(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Code or applicable predecessor provisions) on
its federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could reasonably
be expected to give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax
within the meaning of Section 6662(d) of the Code (or applicable predecessor
provisions).
(g) No Publishing Subsidiary has made or is subject to an election
under Section 475 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or
foreign law).
(h) Each of the Publishing Subsidiaries listed in the definition
of Election Shares is a member of the group of affiliated corporations within
the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code of which the Seller or Viacom is the
common parent, and the Seller
24
otherwise is eligible to join with Purchaser in making an Election with respect
to the acquisition of the Election Shares.
SECTION 3.15. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as disclosed in Section
3.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, or as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) the Publishing Subsidiaries have obtained all necessary
Environmental Permits;
(b) all Assets are in material compliance with all terms,
conditions and provisions of all applicable (i) Environmental Permits and
(ii) Environmental Laws;
(c) there are no pending or threatened material Environmental
Liabilities against the Seller or any of its Affiliates in connection with
the Businesses or the Publishing Subsidiaries;
(d) no releases of Hazardous Materials at concentrations that
would be reasonably likely to give rise to material Environmental
Liabilities have occurred at, from, in, to, on, or under any Site; and
(e) there are no (i) underground storage tanks, active or
abandoned, (ii) polychlorinated biphenyl containing equipment, or (iii)
friable asbestos containing material at any Site, except for those the
presence of which could not reasonably be expected to result in the
Businesses or Publishing Subsidiaries incurring material Environmental
Liabilities.
SECTION 3.16. MATERIAL CONTRACTS. (a) Section 3.16(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule lists each of the following Contracts of the Seller and the
Publishing Subsidiaries (such Contracts being "MATERIAL CONTRACTS"):
(i) each Contract for the purchase or lease of inventory, other
materials or real or personal property with any supplier or for the
furnishing of services (including printing services and fulfillment
services) or equipment or the development of electronic products to the
Businesses or any Publishing Subsidiary under the terms of which: (A) the
Businesses or any Publishing Subsidiary (I) paid more than $1,000,000 in
the aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31, 1997 or is likely
to pay or receive consideration of more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate
during the calendar year ended December 31, 1998 or (II) is likely to pay
or otherwise give consideration of more than $5,000,000 in the aggregate
over the remaining term of such Contract and (B) cannot be cancelled by the
applicable Business or such Publishing Subsidiary without penalty or
further payment or without more than 90 days' notice;
25
(ii) each Contract for the sale or lease of inventory or other
personal or real property or for the furnishing of services by the
Businesses or any Publishing Subsidiary which: (A)(I) paid more than
$1,000,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31,
1997 or is likely to involve consideration of more than $1,000,000 in the
aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31, 1998 or (II) is
likely to involve consideration of more than $5,000,000 in the aggregate
over the remaining term of the contract and (B) cannot be cancelled by the
applicable Business or such Publishing Subsidiary without penalty or
further payment or without more than 90 days' notice;
(iii) each Contract relating to indebtedness for borrowed money of
the Businesses or any Publishing Subsidiary which individually is in excess
of $1,000,000; and
(iv) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of
the Seller (insofar as it relates to any Business) or any Publishing
Subsidiary to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any
geographic area or during any period of time after the Closing Date.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 3.16(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect, each Material Contract: (i) is valid and binding on
the Publishing Subsidiary which is a party thereto and is in full force and
effect and (ii) upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except to the extent that any consents set forth in Section 3.04 or
Section 3.05 of the Disclosure Schedule are not obtained, shall continue in full
force and effect without penalty or other adverse consequence. Except as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, to the
Seller's knowledge, neither the Seller nor any Publishing Subsidiary is in
material breach of, or material default under, any Material Contract.
SECTION 3.17. BROKERS. Except for fees and commissions which will be
paid by Viacom, no broker, finder or investment banker is or will be entitled to
any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements based
upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Seller or Viacom.
SECTION 3.18. EXCLUSIVITY OF REPRESENTATIONS. (a) THE
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES MADE BY THE SELLER IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE IN LIEU
OF AND ARE EXCLUSIVE OF ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES. THE SELLER HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY SUCH
OTHER OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, NOTWITHSTANDING THE
26
DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE PURCHASER, THE PARENT OR THEIR RESPECTIVE
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION
OR OTHER INFORMATION (INCLUDING ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL
DATA).
(b) Each of the Parent and the Purchaser acknowledges that (i) the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15 and
3.19 are the only representations and warranties being made with respect to
(A) Intellectual Property, (B) compliance with or liability under ERISA,
(C) Taxes, (D) compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws and (E)
Real Property, respectively, or with respect to any Intellectual Property,
employee benefit, Tax or environmental, health or safety matter related in any
way to the Assets, the Businesses, the Publishing Subsidiaries or to this
Agreement or its subject matter and (ii) no other representation contained in
this Agreement shall apply to any such matters and no other representation or
warranty, express or implied, is being made with respect thereto.
SECTION 3.19. REAL PROPERTY. (a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a list of all real property owned by Seller or its Affiliates
in connection with the Businesses or any Publishing Subsidiary (such real
property, together with all buildings, improvements and structures thereon and
all easements, rights of way, and appurtenances relating thereto but excluding
the assets listed on Schedule 1, the "OWNED REAL PROPERTY"). The applicable
Seller, Affiliate or Publishing Subsidiary owns the Owned Real Property in fee
subject to no Liens except as set forth on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule and other than Permitted Liens (collectively, the "OWNED REAL PROPERTY
PERMITTED EXCEPTIONS"). After giving effect to the Permitted Reorganization,
the Publishing Subsidiaries will own all of the Owned Real Property free and
clear of all Liens other than the Owned Real Property Permitted Exceptions.
(b) Section 3.19(b) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a list of
all real property leased or subleased by Seller or any Affiliate thereof in
connection with the Businesses or any Publishing Subsidiary other than the
assets listed on Schedule 1 and the property that is the subject of the Sublease
Agreement (the "LEASED REAL PROPERTY" and, together with the Owned Real
Property, the "REAL PROPERTY"). All leases and subleases for the Leased Real
Property (including all modifications, extensions or amendments thereto) (the
"REAL PROPERTY LEASES") are subject to no Liens except as set forth on Section
3.19(b) of the Disclosure Schedule and other than Permitted Liens (collectively,
the "LEASED REAL PROPERTY PERMITTED EXCEPTIONS", together with the Owned Real
Property Permitted Exceptions, the "REAL PROPERTY PERMITTED EXCEPTIONS"). After
giving effect to the Permitted Reorganization, the Publishing Subsidiaries will
lease all of the Leased Real Property free and clear of all Liens other than the
Leased Real Property Permitted Exceptions.
27
(c) True and complete copies of the material Real Property Leases
have been made available to Purchaser by Seller. Subject to the terms of the
respective Real Property Leases and the Leased Real Property Permitted
Exceptions, at least one Publishing Subsidiary has a valid and subsisting
leasehold estate in each parcel of Leased Real Property. The Real Property
Leases are in full force and effect. Each such Seller or Affiliate and each
Publishing Subsidiary has not sublet all or any portion of any Leased Real
Property except as set forth on Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.
Subject to the terms of the respective Real Property Leases, each such Seller or
Affiliate and each Publishing Subsidiary is in possession of the Leased Real
Property. To the Knowledge of Seller, there are no material defaults by any
tenant or landlord under any Real Property Lease, and no event has occurred or
failed to occur which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or
both, would constitute a material default under any Real Property Lease, except
as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.20. NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as would not have a
Material Adverse Effect, there are no material liabilities of the Publishing
Subsidiaries, other than liabilities (a) reflected or reserved against on the
Reference Statement of Net Assets, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of
business since the date of the Reference Statement of Net Assets or (c)
disclosed in Section 3.20 of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 3.21. INSURANCE. Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedule
contains a true and complete list (including the names of the insurers, the
expiration dates thereof, a brief description of the interests insured thereby
and any deductibles or self insurance amounts associated with such interests) of
all liability, property, workers' compensation, directors' and officers'
liability and other insurance policies currently in effect that insure the
Assets or the business, operations, property or employees of the Businesses, or
affect or relate to the ownership, use or operation of any of the Assets and
that have been issued to the Seller, any of its Affiliates or any Publishing
Subsidiary. Each policy listed in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedule is
valid and binding and in full force and effect, no premiums due thereunder have
not been paid, and none of the Seller, any of its Affiliates or any Publishing
Subsidiary has received any notice of reduction, cancellation or termination in
respect of any such policy or is in default thereunder.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE PURCHASER AND THE PARENT
The Purchaser and the Parent, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Seller as follows:
28
SECTION 4.01. INCORPORATION AND AUTHORITY OF THE PURCHASER. Each of
the Purchaser and the Parent is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation and, except for the approval of Parent's shareholders contemplated
in Section 8.02(f), has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, to carry out its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. The Board of Directors of the Parent has unanimously approved this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and this approval has not
been modified or amended in any way adverse to the Seller and, as provided in
Section 5.04(c), will unanimously recommend to the shareholders of the Parent
that they approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
related matters (the "PARENT BOARD RECOMMENDATION"). Except for the approval of
the Parent's shareholders contemplated in Section 8.02(f), the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by the Purchaser and the
Parent, the performance by the Purchaser and the Parent of their respective
obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Purchaser and
the Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and related
matters have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part
of the Purchaser and the Parent. This Agreement has been, and upon their
execution the Ancillary Agreements will be, duly executed and delivered by the
Purchaser and the Parent, and (assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by the Seller) constitutes, and upon their execution the Ancillary
Agreements will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Purchaser and the Parent enforceable against the Purchaser and the Parent in
accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to the
effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
SECTION 4.02. NO CONFLICT. Assuming all consents, approvals,
authorizations and other actions described in Section 4.03 have been obtained,
and except as may result from any facts or circumstances related to the Seller
or any of its Affiliates or as described in Schedule 4.02, and except for the
approval of Parent's shareholders contemplated in Section 8.02(f), the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements by the Purchaser and the Parent do not and will not (a) violate or
conflict with the certificate of incorporation, other constitutive documents or
By-laws (or other similar applicable documents) of the Purchaser or the Parent,
(b) conflict with or violate any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the
Purchaser or the Parent or (c) result in any breach of, or constitute a default
(or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would
become a default) under, or give to any Person any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any
Lien on any of the assets or properties of the Purchaser or the Parent pursuant
to, any note, bond, mortgage, Contract, license, permit, franchise or other
material instrument relating to such assets or properties to which the
29
Purchaser, the Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of such assets or properties is bound or affected, except as would not
materially impair the ability of the Purchaser or the Parent to consummate the
purchase of the Shares from the Seller as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.03. CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement by the Purchaser and the Parent do
not, and the performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement by the
Purchaser and the Parent will not, require any consent, approval, authorization
or other action by, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental
Authority, except (a) the notification requirements of the HSR Act and
applicable filings under foreign antitrust and competition laws, (b) approval
from the Minister responsible for the Investment Canada Act, (c) where failure
to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or action, or to make such
filing or notification, would not prevent the Purchaser or the Parent from
performing any of their respective material obligations under this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements, (d) any applicable transfer tax filings, (e) in
connection with obtaining the approval of Parent's shareholders contemplated in
Section 8.02(f) and (f) as may be necessary as a result of any facts or
circumstances relating solely to Viacom or its Affiliates.
SECTION 4.04. ABSENCE OF LITIGATION. No Action is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Purchaser or the Parent, threatened in writing against the
Purchaser or the Parent which seeks to delay or prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or which would materially impair the ability of
the Purchaser or the Parent to consummate the purchase of the Shares from the
Seller as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.05. SECURITIES MATTERS. The Purchaser and the Parent
understand that the offering and sale of the Shares hereunder is intended to be
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to
Section 4(2) thereof. The Shares are being acquired by the Purchaser and the
Parent for their own account and without a view to the public distribution of
the Shares or any interest therein. The Purchaser and the Parent have
sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to
be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of their investments in the
Shares, and the Purchaser and the Parent are capable of bearing the economic
risks of such investments, including a complete loss of their investments in the
Shares. In evaluating the suitability of an investment in the Shares, the
Purchaser and the Parent have relied solely upon the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements made by the Seller herein and neither the
Purchaser nor the Parent has relied upon any other representations or other
information (whether oral or written and including any projections or
supplemental data) made or supplied by or on behalf of the Seller or any
Affiliate, employee, agent or other representative of the Seller. The Purchaser
and the Parent understand and agree that they may not sell or dispose of any of
the Shares other than pursuant to a registered offering or in a transaction
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
30
SECTION 4.06. FINANCIAL ABILITY. The Purchaser and the Parent have
cash available or have existing borrowing facilities or unconditional, binding
firm commitments that are sufficient to enable them to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The financing required to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is collectively
referred to as the "FINANCING". The conditions to the Financing will each be
satisfied and the Financing will be available on a timely basis for the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.07. BROKERS. Except for fees and commissions which will be
paid by the Purchaser, no broker, finder or investment banker is or will be
entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or the
Parent.
SECTION 4.08. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. No corporate proceedings on the
part of Parent or the Purchaser are necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby other than the approval of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and related matters by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding shares of Parent capital stock which actually vote
at the Extraordinary Meeting of Shareholders.
SECTION 4.09. EXCLUSIVITY OF REPRESENTATIONS. THE REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES MADE BY THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE IN
LIEU OF AND ARE EXCLUSIVE OF ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES. THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER HEREBY
DISCLAIM ANY SUCH OTHER OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES,
NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE SELLER OR ITS OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER
INFORMATION (INCLUDING ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL DATA).
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 5.01. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PRIOR TO THE CLOSING. (a) Unless
the Purchaser otherwise agrees in writing and except as otherwise set forth in
Section 5.01 of the Disclosure Schedule, between the date of this Agreement and
the Closing Date, the Seller will and will cause each of its Affiliates that
conducts any portion of the Businesses or holds any Assets and each Publishing
Subsidiary to (i) conduct the Businesses only in the ordinary course
31
consistent with past practice, and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to
keep available to the Purchaser the services of the key employees of the
Businesses (except for retirements in the ordinary course); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that none of the Seller, any such Affiliate nor any of the Publishing
Subsidiaries shall be required to increase the compensation of, or provide any
other retention incentive to, any such key employee beyond that currently
provided.
(b) Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or Section 5.01
of the Disclosure Schedule, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing
Date, the Seller will not and will not permit any Affiliate that conducts any
portion of the Businesses or holds any Assets or any Publishing Subsidiary to do
any of the following without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld):
(i) except in the ordinary course of business in connection with
licenses of intellectual property rights, grant or permit the creating of
any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any material Asset (whether
tangible or intangible);
(ii) establish or materially increase any bonus, insurance,
severance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing,
stock option (including the granting of stock options, stock appreciation
rights, performance awards or restricted stock awards), stock purchase or
other employee benefit plan, or otherwise materially increase the
compensation payable to or to become payable to any officers or key
employees of any Business by the Seller, any such Affiliate or any
Publishing Subsidiary, except in any case described above, in the ordinary
course of business or as may be required by any applicable employment
agreement or collective bargaining agreement in effect on the date hereof
or by Law;
(iii) enter into any material employment or severance agreement with
any of the Business Employees;
(iv) except (A) for dispositions of inventory in the ordinary
course of business, (B) for cash dividends by the Publishing Subsidiaries
to the Seller, (C) for transfers pursuant to the Permitted Reorganization
or (D) in the ordinary course of business in connection with licenses of
intellectual property rights, sell, assign, transfer, lease, license or
otherwise dispose of any of the Assets having a value individually
exceeding $2,000,000 or an aggregate value exceeding $10,000,000;
(v) except for transfers pursuant to the Permitted Reorganization
(A) acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or
otherwise) any corporation, partnership or other business organization or
division thereof or (B) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (other
than to the Seller) or issue any debt securities or assume, grant,
guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible
for, the obligations of any Person, or make any loans (other than employee
32
loans in the ordinary course of business), advances (other than advances to
authors, developers and licensors, in each case in the ordinary course of
business) or distributions of cash (other than by the Publishing
Subsidiaries to the Seller);
(vi) except to the extent required by applicable Law, or with
respect to accounting matters, by GAAP, (A) cause the books and records of
the Publishing Subsidiaries to be maintained other than in the usual,
regular and ordinary manner; (B) permit any material change in (1) any
accounting, financial reporting, or Tax practice or policy of Seller or any
of its Affiliates or any Publishing Subsidiary, (2) any method of
calculating any bad debt, contingency or other reserve for accounting,
financial reporting or Tax purposes of any Seller or any of its Affiliates
or any Publishing Subsidiary or (3) the fiscal year of any Publishing
Subsidiary; and (C) reverse any reserves set forth on the financial
statements of the Publishing Subsidiaries except as a result of payment of
the full amount specifically attributable to such reserve (for purposes of
this Agreement, "payment of the full amount" shall include reserve
reductions for actual returns, bad debt write-offs, inventory write-offs
and accounts receivable deductions taken by customers and approved by the
Publishing Subsidiaries, in each case consistent with past practice of the
Publishing Subsidiaries);
(vii) issue or sell any additional shares of the capital stock of,
or other equity interests in, any Publishing Subsidiary or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, or
issue or grant any options, warrants, calls, subscription rights or other
rights of any kind to acquire additional shares of such capital stock, such
other equity interests, or such securities;
(viii) amend the certificate of incorporation, other constitutive
documents or by-laws of any Publishing Subsidiary; or
(ix) except in the ordinary course of business, enter into any
amendment, modification, extension, waiver, or termination of any material
Real Property Lease or Material Contract.
SECTION 5.02. ACCESS TO INFORMATION. (a) From the date hereof until
the Closing (upon reasonable notice to and approval of the Seller, which shall
not be unreasonably withheld) during normal business hours with the purpose that
an uninterrupted and efficient transfer of the Businesses may be accomplished or
in order to permit the Purchaser or the Parent to arrange the possible resale of
certain of the Businesses, the Seller shall, and shall cause the officers,
directors, employees, auditors and agents of each Business to (i) afford the
officers, employees and authorized agents and representatives of the Purchaser
reasonable access to the offices, properties, books and records of each
Business, (ii) furnish to the officers, employees and authorized agents and
representatives of the Purchaser such additional financial and operating data
and other information regarding the Businesses and the Assets as
33
the Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request and (iii) afford the
officers, employees and authorized agents and representatives of the Purchaser
reasonable access to the relevant employees and consultants of each Business to
aid the Purchaser in its preparation for "Year 2000 Conformity" (as defined in
the British Standards Institution document PD2000-1 "A Definition of Year 2000
Conformity Requirements"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such investigation shall not
unreasonably interfere with any of the businesses or operations of the Seller or
any Affiliate of the Seller, including the Publishing Subsidiaries and the
Businesses.
(b) The Seller shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and their
respective officers, employees and representatives to, provide reasonable access
to the Purchaser and the Purchaser's independent auditors to the financial books
and records of the Publishing Subsidiaries in connection with the Purchaser's
preparation of such audited and unaudited financial statements of the Publishing
Subsidiaries and for preparation by Parent of the offering circular required to
be issued by Parent to its shareholders for the purpose of obtaining its
shareholders' approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and related matters at the meeting of Parent's shareholders contemplated
by Section 8.02(f) (the "OFFERING CIRCULAR"), or as the Purchaser may reasonably
determine are necessary to satisfy the requirements of its financing sources,
the London Stock Exchange, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act applicable to
the Purchaser and its Affiliates. Under no circumstances shall the Seller, its
Affiliates or any such officer, employee or representative have any liability
whatsoever (other than as expressly provided in this Agreement) to the Parent,
the Parent's independent auditors, the Purchaser, the Purchaser's independent
auditors or otherwise to any Person or Governmental Authority, including under
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in connection with such financial
statements or the preparation or use thereof and the Parent and the Purchaser
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller and each such Person
against and reimburse the Seller and each such Person for any and all such
liability. The Parent and the Purchaser shall pay all expenses in connection
with the preparation of such financial statements, including any reasonable
expenses incurred by the Seller.
SECTION 5.03. CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) The terms of the confidentiality
agreement (the "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT") between Viacom and the Parent with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and shall continue in full force and effect
until the Closing, at which time such Confidentiality Agreement and the
obligations of the Parent and the Purchaser under this Section 5.03 shall
terminate; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate
only in respect of that portion of the Evaluation Material (as defined in the
Confidentiality Agreement) exclusively relating to the Assets, the Businesses
and transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If this Agreement is, for any
reason, terminated prior to the Closing, the Confidentiality Agreement shall
nonetheless continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
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(b) From and after the Closing Date, the Seller shall, and shall
cause its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and
advisors (collectively, the "RECIPIENTS") to, keep confidential any information
relating to the Publishing Subsidiaries, the Assets or the Businesses, except
for any such information that (i) is available to the public on the Closing
Date, (ii) thereafter becomes available to the public other than as a result of
a disclosure by any of the Recipients or (iii) is or becomes available to a
Recipient on a non-confidential basis from a source that to the Recipient's
knowledge is not prohibited from disclosing such information to such Recipient
by a legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation to any other Person. Should a
Recipient be required to disclose any such information in response to a court
order or as otherwise required by Law or administrative process, it shall inform
the Purchaser in writing of such request or obligation as soon as possible after
it is informed of it and, if possible, before any information is disclosed, so
that a protective order or other appropriate remedy may be obtained. If a
Recipient is obliged to make the disclosure, it shall only make the disclosure
to the extent to which it is so obliged but not further or otherwise. Nothing
in this Section 5.03 shall interfere with Viacom's normal reporting obligations
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
SECTION 5.04. REGULATORY AND OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS; CONSENTS.
(a) Each of the Parent and the Purchaser shall use its best efforts to promptly
obtain all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all federal, state
and local and foreign regulatory bodies and officials that may be or become
necessary for its execution and delivery of, and the performance of its
obligations pursuant to, this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the
Seller will cooperate with each of the Parent and the Purchaser in promptly
seeking to obtain all such authorizations, consents, orders and approvals; it
being understood that the Seller shall not be required to pay any fees or other
payments to any such regulatory bodies or officials in order to obtain any such
authorization, consent, order or approval (other than normal filing fees).
(b) Each party hereto agrees to make an appropriate filing of a
notification and report form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby within ten Business Days after the date hereof
and to supply promptly any additional information and documentary material that
may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act. In addition, each party agrees to
promptly make any other filing that may be required under any antitrust Law or
by any antitrust authority. Each of the Parent and the Purchaser agrees to take
any and all steps necessary to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment
under any antitrust law that may be asserted by any United States or foreign
governmental antitrust authority or any other party so as to enable the parties
to expeditiously close the transactions contemplated hereby, including without
limitation, negotiating, committing to and/or effecting, by consent decree, hold
separate orders, or otherwise, the sale or disposition of such of its assets or
businesses or of the Assets or the Shares to be acquired by it pursuant hereto
as are required to be divested in order to avoid the entry of, or to effect the
dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order in
any suit or proceeding, which would
35
otherwise have the effect of materially delaying or preventing the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party shall bear its respective
filing fees associated with the HSR filings and any other similar filings
required in any other jurisdictions.
(c) The Parent will take all action necessary to hold an
extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders (the "EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS") as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this
Agreement and, in any event, within 45 days after the Seller has delivered the
Audited Financial Statements to the Parent, to consider and vote upon the
approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and related
matters. Subject to the fiduciary duties of the Parent's board of directors and
the requirements of applicable Law, the Parent agrees to (i) unanimously
recommend to its shareholders approval of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and related matters and not to withdraw or modify in a
manner adverse to the Seller such recommendation, and (ii) use its best efforts
to obtain from its shareholders the approval and adoption of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby and related matters. Parent will take all
action necessary to prepare the Offering Circular, and shall cause the Offering
Circular to comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the London Stock Exchange and other applicable Law.
The Seller agrees upon reasonable request by the Purchaser to furnish the
Purchaser with all information concerning itself and its Subsidiaries,
directors, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably
necessary in connection with the Offering Circular; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Seller shall in no event be required to disclose nonpublic information other
than required financial information.
(d) Each party hereto agrees to cooperate in obtaining any other
consents and approvals that may be required in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Seller shall not be required to compensate any third party to obtain
any such consent or approval. The Seller shall use all reasonable efforts to
obtain the consent of SAP America, Inc. required in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements.
SECTION 5.05. INTERCOMPANY ACCOUNTS. Immediately prior to the
Closing, there shall be no amounts owing from the Publishing Subsidiaries to the
Seller and the Seller's Affiliates (other than the Publishing Subsidiaries)
other than in respect of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course, and
there shall be no amounts owing from the Seller and its Affiliates (other than
the Publishing Subsidiaries) to the Publishing Subsidiaries other than in
respect of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course.
SECTION 5.06. INSURANCE. (a) Effective 12:01 a.m. (New York time)
on the Closing Date, each Publishing Subsidiary and each Business shall cease to
be insured by the Seller's or its Affiliates' (other than the Publishing
Subsidiaries) insurance policies; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to
insurance coverage written on an "occurrence basis", to the extent one of the
Publishing Subsidiaries was an insured under such policies, such Publishing
36
Subsidiary shall continue to have rights under such policies to the extent the
events giving rise to a claim under such policies occurred prior to 12 midnight
(New York time) on the Closing Date. The Sellers agree to cooperate with the
Purchaser or any Publishing Subsidiary in making claims under the Seller's
insurance policies in connection with insurable events that occurred prior to 12
midnight (New York time) on the Closing Date, and shall remit any recoveries
promptly to the Purchaser. With respect to events or circumstances covered by
insurance coverage written on an "occurrence basis", the Seller and its
Affiliates will have no liability for occurrences that take place on and after
12 midnight (New York time) on the Closing Date. With respect to events or
circumstances covered by insurance coverage written on a "claims made basis",
the Seller and its Affiliates will have no liability for claims made after 12:01
a.m. on the Closing Date. Each of the Parent and the Purchaser agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller and its Affiliates against and
reimburse the Seller and its Affiliates for any Losses, that the Seller and its
Affiliates may at any time suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a result or
in connection with any such occurrences, losses or claims.
(b) From and after the Closing Date, neither the Seller nor any of
its Affiliates shall have any liability for self-insured workers' compensation
claims with respect to the Publishing Subsidiaries in existence on the Closing
Date or arising from any event or circumstance taking place or existing prior
to, on or subsequent to the Closing Date. The Parent and the Purchaser shall
take all steps necessary under any applicable law to assume the liability for
self-insured workers' compensation pursuant to this Section 5.06 and shall fully
indemnify the Seller and its Affiliates with respect to any liability, claim,
damage or expense of any kind whatsoever arising out of or relating to any
workers' compensation claim assumed by the Purchaser hereunder. The Parent and
the Purchaser shall cooperate with the Seller and its Affiliates in order to
obtain the return or release of bonds or securities or indemnifications given by
the Seller or any of its Affiliates to any state in connection with workers'
compensation self-insurance with respect to the Businesses; and, in order to
effectuate such return or release, the Parent and the Purchaser shall, to the
extent required by any state, post its own bonds, letters of credit,
indemnifications or other securities in substitution therefor.
SECTION 5.07. LETTERS OF CREDIT. The Parent and the Purchaser agree
to use their reasonable efforts (a) to arrange for substitute letters of credit
and the Parent and the Purchaser guarantee, respectively, to replace (i) the
letters of credit and guarantees entered into by or on behalf of the Seller or
any of its Affiliates (other than the Publishing Subsidiaries) outstanding as of
the date of this Agreement in connection with any Business as set forth in
Section 5.07 of the Disclosure Schedule and (ii) any letters of credit and
guarantees entered into by or on behalf of the Seller or any of its Affiliates
(other than the Publishing Subsidiaries) in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice on or after the date of this Agreement and prior
to the Closing (together, the "SELLER LOCS") or (b) to assume all obligations of
reimbursement under each Seller LOC, obtaining from the applicable creditor a
full release of all parties liable, directly or indirectly, for reimbursement to
the
37
creditor in connection with amounts drawn under a Seller LOC under the existing
terms of a Seller LOC. The Parent and the Purchaser further agree that to the
extent the beneficiary under any Seller LOC refuses to accept any such
substitute letter of credit or Parent or Purchaser guarantee proffered by the
Parent or the Purchaser, the Parent or the Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the Seller against and reimburse the Seller for any and all costs
or expenses in connection with such Seller LOCs, including the Seller's expenses
in maintaining such Seller LOCs whether or not any such Seller LOC is drawn
upon, and shall in any event promptly reimburse the Seller to the extent any
Seller LOC is called upon and the Seller makes any payment thereunder or is
obligated to reimburse the party issuing the Seller LOC.
SECTION 5.08. PERMITTED REORGANIZATION. On or prior to the Closing
Date, the Seller shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, effect the
Permitted Reorganization. The Seller agrees to reasonably consult with the
Purchaser with respect to effecting the Permitted Reorganization. Seller shall
be responsible for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses arising out of or
related to the Permitted Reorganization.
SECTION 5.09. FINANCING. Each of the Parent and the Purchaser
covenants and agrees not to take any action between the date of this Agreement
and the Closing Date that would reasonably be expected to make the Financing
unavailable for any reason.
SECTION 5.10. FURTHER ACTION. (a) From and after the Closing Date
each of the parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates
to, execute and deliver such documents and other papers and take such further
actions as may be reasonably required to carry out the provisions of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and give effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. Without limiting the foregoing, from and after
the Closing, (i) the Seller shall do all things necessary, proper or advisable
under the applicable Laws to put the Parent and the Purchaser in effective
possession, ownership and control of the Assets and the Parent and the Purchaser
shall cooperate with the Seller for that purpose and (ii) the Parent and the
Purchaser shall do all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
Laws to put the Seller in effective possession, ownership and control of assets
not included within the Assets and the Seller shall cooperate with the Parent
and the Purchaser for that purpose. Subject to the terms of the Services
Agreement, all cash and other remittances, mail and other communications
relating to the Assets or the Businesses received by the Seller or its
Affiliates shall be promptly turned over to the Purchaser by the Seller.
Subject to the terms of the Services Agreement, all cash and other remittances,
mail and other communications relating to any business of the Seller not
included within the Businesses being purchased by the Parent and the Purchaser
hereunder that are received by the Parent or the Purchaser shall be promptly
turned over to the Seller by the Parent or the Purchaser.
(b) For a period of ten years from the date hereof, the Parent and
the Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain all books
and records of the
38
Publishing Subsidiaries relating to periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date and shall make them, and any individuals responsible for the preparation
and maintenance of such books and records, available to the Seller as reasonably
requested. If at any time after the Closing, the Seller requires a copy of any
such book or record, it shall have the right to promptly obtain a copy thereof
(at the Seller's cost) from the Parent or the Purchaser.
SECTION 5.11. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION. (a)
The Seller (i) shall provide or cause to be provided to Parent within six weeks
of the date of this Agreement, and shall use its best efforts to provide or
cause to be provided to Parent within one month of the date of this Agreement,
the audited consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and statements of
cash flows as at and for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997
(collectively, the "AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") and (ii) shall provide or
cause to be provided to Parent by August 7, 1998, the unaudited consolidated
balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows as at and for the six month
periods ended June 30, 1997 and 1998 and, to the extent reasonably available
prior to the Closing (and promptly after the preparation thereof), each
subsequent quarter thereafter and the corresponding quarter of the prior year,
in each case, for the Businesses (collectively, the "UNAUDITED INTERIM PERIOD
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS").
(b) The Audited Financial Statements shall be audited by Price
Waterhouse, LLP ("PW"). The Audited Financial Statements shall be presented in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied and in accordance with Regulation S-X
as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The
Seller shall use reasonable efforts to cause PW to provide, in connection with
the Audited Financial Statements, PW's unqualified opinion that the Audited
Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position, results of operations and cash flows of the Businesses as of the dates
indicated and for the periods then ended in conformity with GAAP. The Unaudited
Interim Period Financial Statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP,
consistently applied and in accordance with Regulation S-X as promulgated by the
SEC and shall present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position,
results of operations and cash flows of the Businesses as of the dates indicated
and for the periods presented in conformity with GAAP, except for the absence of
footnotes and subject to normal year end adjustments.
(c) Prior to the Closing, the Seller shall reasonably cooperate
with the Purchaser in connection with the preparation by the Purchaser of
audited consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 1996 and 1997 and audited
consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flows for the years
ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and unaudited consolidated balance
sheets, statements of income and cash flows as at and for the six month periods
ended June 30, 1997 and 1998 and, to the extent reasonably available prior to
the Closing, each subsequent quarter thereafter and the corresponding quarter of
the prior year, in each case, for (i) the portion of the Businesses that
comprise the "reference" and
39
"business and professional" publishing segments and (ii) the portion of the
Businesses that comprise all publishing segments other than "reference" and
"business and professional."
(d) Prior to the Closing, the Seller shall deliver to the Parent
true and complete copies of the monthly financial statements with respect to the
Publishing Subsidiaries and the Businesses that are prepared by the Seller,
within 15 days of the date each of the monthly financial statements are
delivered to the Seller's senior management.
SECTION 5.12. NON-COMPETITION. The Seller acknowledges that
reasonable limits on its ability to engage in activities competitive with the
Purchaser are warranted to protect the Purchaser's substantial investment in
acquiring the Shares, the Assets and the Businesses. Accordingly, the Seller
hereby covenants and agrees that during the period commencing with the Closing
Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Closing Date, Viacom and the
Seller shall not, and shall cause their direct and indirect Subsidiaries not to
(subject, in the case of its existing Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned, to
its fiduciary duties to holders of minority interests), for the Seller's own
account or jointly with any other Person, publish or produce textbooks intended
for use primarily in instruction in academic institutions of higher learning or
publish or produce any branded series of tutorial reference books in the
computer applications and operating systems categories (a "COMPETING BUSINESS");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing shall not be breached as a result of (a)
the ownership or other right to acquire by Viacom or the Seller (or any of their
Subsidiaries) of not more than an aggregate of 10% of any class of stock of a
Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in a Competing Business; (b) the
acquisition of, holding by, operation of, or disposition by Viacom or the Seller
(or any of their Subsidiaries) of an interest in any Person whose primary
business is not a Competing Business; (c) the licensing or sale of any of the
Seller's or its Subsidiaries' intellectual property for use in connection with
any Competing Business; (d) any activity relating to the publication of fiction
or non-fiction (other than in the subject matter of computer applications and
operation systems) sold primarily into the consumer retail channel; or (e) any
activity relating to any book or category of books presently published by Simon
& Xxxxxxxx'x Consumer division or similar in genre to any such book or category.
SECTION 5.13. NON-SOLICITATION. The Seller shall not, and shall
cause each of its Affiliates not to, during the period beginning at the Closing
and ending on January 1, 2000, solicit or recruit any information technology
employee of the Businesses or encourage any such employee to leave the
employment of the Businesses; PROVIDED that this Section 5.13 shall not be
breached as a result of a general solicitation that is not directed at the
information technology employees of the Businesses; PROVIDED FURTHER that this
Section 5.13 shall not be breached unless the Purchaser shall have notified the
Seller in writing that the Purchaser was aware of a potential breach hereof and,
following receipt of such notice, the Seller shall have failed to use all
reasonable efforts to end such soliciting or recruiting.
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ARTICLE VI
EMPLOYEE MATTERS
SECTION 6.01. EMPLOYEES. (a) The Seller or one of its Affiliates
shall retain responsibility under the health and welfare benefits plans in which
the Business Employees participate for all amounts payable by reason of, or in
connection with, any and all medical and dental claims made by Business
Employees within 120 days after the Closing Date to the extent such claims
relate to events which occurred prior to the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Purchaser shall be responsible for all amounts payable under any
short-term or long-term disability programs maintained by the Seller to the
extent such amounts are not covered by insurance. Following the Closing Date,
the Purchaser shall be responsible for all other such benefit claims made by the
Business Employees whether under the Seller's or the Purchaser's medical or
dental plans.
(b) To the extent that service is relevant for eligibility and
vesting (and, solely for purposes of calculating entitlement to vacation and
sick days, benefit accruals) under any retirement plan, employee benefit plan,
program or arrangement established or maintained by the Purchaser or any of its
Subsidiaries for the benefit of Business Employees, such plan, program or
arrangement shall credit such Business Employees for service on or prior to the
Closing with the Seller or any Affiliate or predecessor thereof. In addition,
the Purchaser shall waive limitations on benefits relating to any pre-existing
conditions to the same extent eligible for coverage under a Viacom ERISA Plan
and recognize, for purposes of annual deductible and out-of-pocket limits under
its medical and dental plans, deductible and out-of-pocket expenses paid by
Business Employees, Retirees and their respective dependents under the Seller's
medical and dental plans in the calendar year in which the Closing Date occurs.
SECTION 6.02. RETIREMENT PLANS. (a) It is agreed by both parties
that the Seller or one of its Affiliates will continue to maintain the VPP, the
Viacom Excess Pension Plan ("VEPP") and the VIP, with the benefit accruals of
the Business Employees under such plans ceasing as of the Closing Date and
Seller shall retain all liabilities thereunder. The Seller shall cause the
Business Employees to be fully vested in their accrued benefits in each such
plan as of the Closing Date.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, the Seller
shall prepare and deliver to the Purchaser a schedule listing the Business
Employees and Former Business Employees who were participants in the VIP as of
the Closing Date. Seller shall cause the Trustee of the VIP to transfer to the
Trustee of a defined contribution plan designated by the Purchaser (the
"PURCHASER'S DC PLAN") an amount equal to the aggregate account balances of the
Business Employees and Former Business Employees participating in the VIP,
including
41
any loan obligation. To the extent that a loan obligation is transferred to the
Purchaser's DC Plan, the Purchaser's DC Plan shall continue to accept repayments
of such loan amounts and shall otherwise administer such loans in accordance
with their terms and ERISA until such loan amounts are repaid or are defaulted.
Other than with respect to the loan obligations (which shall be transferred in
the form of promissory notes or other documentation thereof), the transfer shall
be in cash or property as mutually agreed by Purchaser and Seller (which
agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld) based on the value of the account
balances on the date of transfer, which shall occur as soon as reasonably
practicable after the Closing. Upon such transfer, the Purchaser's DC Plan
shall assume the liabilities represented by such transferred account balances.
The Seller shall cause the Business Employees to be fully vested in their
account balances under the VIP as of the Closing Date. Prior to Closing, one or
more of the Publishing Subsidiaries shall have established a separate
non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the "S&S EIP") with terms and benefits
identical to those provided under the Viacom Excess Investment Plan (the "VEIP")
and providing for the unsecured contractual commitment to deliver at a future
date all of the following: (i) deferred compensation credited to an account
under the S&S EIP, (ii) deferred bonus compensation credited to an account under
the S&S EIP, (iii) amounts credited to an account under the S&S EIP as matching
contributions, and (iv) amounts credited to an account under the S&S EIP as
investment income under the foregoing amounts. The S&S EIP will assume the
responsibility for all account balances, and earnings thereon, of Business
Employees and Former Business Employees participating in the VEIP. The
Purchaser agrees that it will assume the S&S EIP at Closing, and cause the
Publishing Subsidiaries to honor the terms of any elections previously made by
the VEIP participants. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto
acknowledge that the VEIP is an unfunded plan for which no assets have been
segregated from the Seller's general account for the payment of obligations
thereunder, and that no assets will be transferred by the Seller to the
Purchaser or to the Publishing Subsidiaries in connection with the establishment
of the S&S EIP and the assumption thereof by the Purchaser.
(c) Following the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall (i) provide
continuation health care coverage to all Business Employees and their qualified
beneficiaries who incur a qualifying event on and after the date hereof in
accordance with the continuation health care coverage requirements of Section
4980B of the Code and Title I, Subtitle B, Part 6 of ERISA ("COBRA") and
(ii) assume the obligation of the Seller and its Affiliates to provide such
continuation coverage to Former Business Employees and their qualified
beneficiaries to whom the Seller or any of its Affiliates is, on the Closing
Date, providing such continuation coverage or to whom the Seller or any of its
Affiliates is under an obligation to provide such continuation coverage at the
election of such Former Business Employee or qualified beneficiary.
(d) Prior to the Closing Date or as soon as practicable
thereafter, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada shall have established and registered a
separate defined benefit pension plan (the
42
"XXXXXXXX-XXXX CANADA PENSION PLAN") to provide for Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada
Business Employees and Former Business Employees pension and other benefits that
are identical to those provided under the terms of the Pension Plan for Salaried
Employees of Viacom International Canada Ltd. and Affiliated Companies (the
"VICL PENSION PLAN") on the Closing Date. Effective upon receipt of applicable
regulatory approvals and the transfer of assets from the VICL Pension Plan to
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada Pension Plan as described below, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx
Canada Pension Plan shall assume responsibility for all pension and other
benefits earned by Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada Business Employees and Former Business
Employees under the VICL Pension Plan prior to the Closing Date (the "ASSUMED
PENSION BENEFITS") and shall recognize the period of service and pensionable
earnings recognized under the VICL Pension Plan for the purposes and to the
extent such service and pensionable earnings are recognized under the VICL
Pension Plan. The Assumed Pension Benefits under the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada
Pension Plan shall be fully funded on a going concern basis effective as of the
Closing Date through a transfer of assets from the VICL Pension Plan in the
amount determined by the VICL Pension Plan actuary based upon the actuarial
methods and assumptions provided to the Purchaser prior to Closing, subject to
receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. In the event that the necessary
regulatory approvals for the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada Pension Plan are not received
until after the Closing Date, the Seller will continue to administer the Assumed
Pension Benefits after the Closing Date on behalf of and at the expense of the
Purchaser pending receipt of such approvals, immediately after which the Assumed
Pension Benefits and assets will be transferred from the VICL Pension Plan to
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada Pension Plan in accordance with the provisions hereof,
PLUS interest accrued from (and including) the Closing Date to (but not
including) the date of asset transfer at the same rate utilized by the Seller's
actuaries for determining liabilities. For a period of two years, the Purchaser
agrees not to amend or terminate the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Canada Pension Plan, other
than amendments which are required under applicable law.
(e) Prior to the Closing Date, one or more of the Publishing
Subsidiaries shall have established a separate non-qualified deferred
compensation plan (the "S&S DCP") providing for the payment of deferred benefits
to Business Employees or Former Business Employees who have previously deferred
the settlement of performance awards under the terms of the Paramount
Communications, Inc. Corporate Annual Performance Plan (the "PARAMOUNT DCP") and
the Seller shall transfer assets, if any, and liabilities related to each
Participant's account balance in the Paramount DCP, including all earnings
thereon, into the S&S DCP. The S&S DCP shall contain provisions that are
identical to those in the Paramount DCP, including provisions for the crediting
of earnings and losses on deferred benefits, other than provisions that are no
longer applicable. The Purchaser agrees that it will cause the Publishing
Subsidiaries to honor the terms of the distribution elections previously made by
the Business Employees or Former Business Employees, subject to the terms of the
S&S DCP.
(f) Prior to the Closing Date or as soon as practicable
thereafter, the Seller shall cause the Paramount Communications UK Pension Plan
(the "UK PENSION PLAN") to
43
transfer the accrued benefits calculated in accordance with the actuarial
assumptions as determined by Seller's actuarial advisor and related assets for
all plan beneficiaries who are not Business Employees or Former Business
Employees to another retirement plan sponsored or to be established by the
Seller or one of its Affiliates, at which time, and subject to the receipt of
applicable regulatory approvals, if any, the Publishing Subsidiaries shall
assume responsibility for all pension and other benefits provided under the
terms of the UK Pension Plan. For a period of one year following the later of
the Closing Date or, if applicable, the date of the Purchaser's assumption of
the UK Pension Plan, the Purchaser agrees not to amend or terminate the UK
Pension Plan, other than amendments that are required under applicable law or
permitted under applicable law without adversely affecting the split-up of such
plan or resulting in any constructive termination of any Business Employee.
SECTION 6.03. RETIREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL BENEFITS. The Purchaser
agrees to assume the obligations of the Seller and its Subsidiaries for the
provision of retiree medical and dental benefits described on Section 3.13(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule (whether through participation in the Purchaser's
equivalent plans or by establishing a new retiree medical and dental plan) to
(a) all Former Business Employees and their eligible dependents who are
currently receiving such benefits and who are listed on Section 6.03 of the
Disclosure Schedule and (b) all Business Employees and their eligible dependents
(upon becoming eligible to begin receiving such benefits) (collectively, the
"RETIREES").
SECTION 6.04. FOREIGN PLANS. (a) If a Foreign Plan is sponsored or
maintained by one or more entities, and all of the shares or other indicia of
ownership of such entity or entities are to be acquired (directly or indirectly)
by the Purchaser pursuant to the transactions contemplated herein, the Purchaser
shall assume all obligations under such Foreign Plan to current and former
employees of such entity or entities.
(b) In the event that the acquisition of a foreign division of the
Seller by the Purchaser is structured in a manner other than described in clause
(a) above, and one or more of the entities comprising such foreign division
sponsors a Foreign Plan, the following rules shall apply with respect to such
Foreign Plan:
(i) To the extent that any Foreign Plan is an externally funded
plan, the Purchaser and the Seller agree to determine the actuarially
appropriate level of assets to be transferred from such Foreign Plan to a
similar employee benefit plan maintained by (or to be established by) the
Purchaser. To the extent that book reserves have been established for an
internally financed Foreign Plan and assets have been placed in a separate
account for the purpose of funding obligations under such Foreign Plan, the
Seller or the applicable entity will transfer sufficient funds to cover the
accrued benefit obligations of participating Business Employees and Former
Business Employees. To the extent that actuarial reserves have been built
up within an insured Foreign Plan, the
44
Seller will transfer the amount necessary to fund the accrued obligations
of participating Business Employees and Former Business Employees.
(ii) All such transfers and payments described in clause (i) shall
occur as soon as practicable after the Closing Date and the amount to be
transferred, if applicable, with respect to any Foreign Plan shall be
sufficient to cover the accrued benefit obligations of the Business
Employees and Former Business Employees participating in such plan
calculated using usual country-specific actuarial assumptions.
(c) For the one-year period commencing on the Closing Date, the
Purchaser agrees to provide all Business Employees and Former Business
Employees, if applicable, of a foreign division of the Seller acquired by the
Purchaser with health, welfare and other employee benefits that in the aggregate
are substantially equivalent to, and no less favorable than, those provided to
such Business Employees and Former Business Employees immediately prior to the
Closing Date and, with respect to those Business Employees and Former Business
Employees whose employment is governed by the terms of a collective bargaining
agreement, such health, welfare and other employee benefits as are required by
the terms of such collective bargaining agreement for the duration thereof.
SECTION 6.05. INDEMNITY. (a) Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding (including Section 10.01), the Purchaser hereby agrees
to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller and its Affiliates against and
reimburse the Seller and its Affiliates for any Losses that the Seller and its
Affiliates may at any time suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a result or
in connection with (i) any failure of the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries to
comply with their obligations under any collective bargaining agreement listed
in Section 3.13(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, (ii) any claim made by any
Business Employee or Former Business Employee against the Seller or any of its
Affiliates for any severance or termination benefits pursuant to any Viacom
Plan, (iii) any suit or claim of violation brought against the Seller or any of
its Affiliates under the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act for
any actions taken by the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries on or after the Closing
Date with respect to any facility, site of employment or operating unit, (iv)
any suit or claim of violation brought against the Seller or any of its
Affiliates under the continuation health care coverage requirement of COBRA for
failure by the Purchaser to provide such continued coverage at the election of
the Business Employees, Former Business Employees or qualified beneficiaries or
the failure to assume responsibility for ongoing COBRA obligations related to
Former Business Employees or qualified beneficiaries of the Publishing
Subsidiaries, (v) any claim for payments of benefits by Former Business
Employees, Business Employees, Retirees or their respective beneficiaries under
any Viacom Plan that the Purchaser assumes or continues to maintain after the
Closing Date or with respect to any benefit arrangement that the Purchaser has
agreed hereunder to maintain for such individuals (or in which the Purchaser has
agreed hereunder to permit such individuals to participate), (vi) any claim of
employment discrimination by the Purchaser, including, but not limited to,
discrimination in the
45
Purchaser's hiring or termination of any employees, (vii) any claim of wrongful
discharge of any Business Employee (including constructive discharge) and
(viii) any claim made by any Business Employee or any Former Business Employee
against the Seller or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of the payment or
non-payment of deferred benefits under the S&S EIP or VEIP, the S&S DCP or the
Paramount DCP.
(b) For a period of nine months following the Closing, the
Purchaser shall replicate the Viacom enhanced severance plan as disclosed in
Section 3.13(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, and shall pay severance benefits
thereunder to any Business Employee that is terminated by the Purchaser within
such nine month period.
SECTION 6.06. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES, ETC. Nothing in this
Article VI or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to (a) make any
present or future Business Employees or Former Business Employees third-party
beneficiaries of this Agreement, (b) confer on any Business Employee any right
to specific compensation or benefits or any right to continued employment, or
(c) prevent the Purchaser from terminating or modifying any benefit plan that
the Purchaser may establish or maintain.
SECTION 6.07. COOPERATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. The Purchaser
and the Seller shall, and the Seller shall cause the Publishing Subsidiaries to,
provide one another with such cooperation and information, and all such other
reasonable assistance, as any of them may reasonably request of another in the
provision of current information regarding the Business Employees, Former
Business Employees, Retirees and their dependents and beneficiaries on an
ongoing basis in order to facilitate (a) determination of eligibility of, and
payments of benefits to, Business Employees, Former Business Employees, Retirees
and their dependents and beneficiaries under the VPP or any other Viacom Plan
and (b) the administration and maintenance of any plan maintained by the Seller
or its Affiliates. Each party shall make its employees available on a mutually
convenient basis to provide explanations of any documents or information
provided hereunder. Any information obtained under this Section 6.07 shall be
kept confidential, except as may otherwise be required under applicable Law.
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ARTICLE VII
TAX MATTERS
SECTION 7.01. TAX INDEMNITIES. (a) From and after the Closing Date,
the Seller shall be responsible for, shall pay or cause to be paid, and shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Parent, the Purchaser and the Publishing
Subsidiaries against and reimburse the Parent, the Purchaser and the Publishing
Subsidiaries for (i) any Tax imposed on Viacom or any member of an affiliated
group with which Viacom files a consolidated or combined income Tax Return
(other than the Publishing Subsidiaries) with respect to any Tax period that
ends on or before the Closing Date or includes the Closing Date, including any
such Tax for which any Publishing Subsidiary may be liable under Section
1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or any similar provision of state, local
or foreign law), (ii) any Tax imposed on the Publishing Subsidiaries with
respect to any Tax period or portion thereof that ends on or before the Closing
Date, in excess of the amount, if any, for Taxes in Section 3.06 of the
Disclosure Schedule; (iii) any Tax arising from a breach of a representation or
warranty set forth in Section 3.14 of this Agreement; (iv) any Section 338 Tax;
(v) any Tax arising from the Permitted Reorganization; and (vi) any obligation
to pay an amount under the Tax Benefit Agreement among Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx, Inc.,
Macmillan, Inc., and the Realization Trust dated as of February 28, 1994 with
respect to the use of Pre-Closing Date NOL in any period ending on or before the
Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no indemnity shall be provided under this
Agreement for any Tax resulting from any transaction of the Publishing
Subsidiaries occurring on the Closing Date but after the Closing that is not
contemplated by this Agreement or is not in the ordinary course of business.
(b) From and after the Closing Date, the Parent, the Purchaser and
the Publishing Subsidiaries shall, jointly and severally, be responsible for,
shall pay or cause to be paid, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Seller and its Affiliates against and reimburse the Seller and its Affiliates
for all Taxes that the Seller and its Affiliates may at any time suffer or
incur, or become subject to, as a result or in connection with the Publishing
Subsidiaries that are not subject to indemnification pursuant to paragraph (a)
of this Section 7.01, including, but not limited to, Taxes resulting from any
transaction of the Publishing Subsidiaries occurring on the Closing Date but
after the Closing that is not contemplated by this Agreement or is not in the
ordinary course of business.
(c) Payment by the indemnitor of any amount due to the indemnitee
under this Section 7.01 shall be made within 10 days following written notice by
the indemnitee that payment of such amounts to the appropriate Tax authority is
due by the indemnitee, provided that the indemnitor shall not be required to
make any payment earlier than two days before it is due to the appropriate Tax
authority. If the Seller receives an assessment or other notice of Tax due with
respect to the Publishing Subsidiaries for any period ending on or before the
Closing Date for which the Seller is not responsible, in whole or in part,
pursuant to Section
47
7.01(a) because all or a part of such Tax does not exceed the amount for Taxes
in Section 3.06 of the Disclosure Schedule, and the Seller or any of its
Affiliates pay such Tax, then the Parent, the Purchaser or a Publishing
Subsidiary shall pay to the Seller, in accordance with the first sentence of
this Section 7.01(c), the amount of such Tax for which the Seller is not
responsible. In the case of a Tax that is contested in accordance with the
provisions of Section 7.03, payment of the Tax to the appropriate Tax authority
will not be considered to be due earlier than the date a final determination to
such effect is made by such Tax authority or a court.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, in the case of any Tax that is
imposed on a periodic basis and is payable for a period that begins before the
Closing Date and ends after the Closing Date, the portion of such Taxes payable
for the period ending on the Closing Date shall be (i) in the case of any Tax
other than a Tax based upon or measured by income, the amount of such Tax for
the entire period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is
the number of days in the entire period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (x) if any
property, asset or other right of a Publishing Subsidiary is sold or otherwise
transferred prior to the Closing Date, then ad valorem Taxes pertaining to such
property, asset or other right shall be attributed entirely to the pre-Closing
period, and (y) if any property, asset or other right of a Publishing Subsidiary
is purchased or otherwise acquired after the Closing Date, then ad valorem Taxes
pertaining to such property, asset or other right shall be attributed entirely
to the post-Closing period, and (ii) in the case of any Tax based upon or
measured by income, the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended
as of the close of the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Tax resulting
from the departure of a Publishing Subsidiary from an affiliated, combined or
consolidated group in which it was a member in a pre-Closing period (resulting
from the triggering into income of deferred intercompany transactions under
Section 1.1502-13 of the Treasury regulations or excess loss accounts under
Section 1.1502-19 of the Treasury regulations or otherwise) shall be allocated
to the pre-Closing period. In the case of any Tax based upon or measured by
capital (including net worth or long-term debt) or intangibles, any amount
thereof required to be allocated under this Section 7.01(d) shall be computed by
reference to the level of such items on the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that (x) if any property, asset or other right of a Publishing Subsidiary is
sold or otherwise transferred prior to the Closing Date, then any such Tax
computed by reference to such property, asset or other right shall be attributed
entirely to the pre-Closing period, and (y) if any property, asset or other
right of a Publishing Subsidiary is purchased or otherwise acquired after the
Closing Date, then any such Tax computed by reference to such property, asset or
other right shall be attributed entirely to the post-Closing period.
SECTION 7.02. REFUNDS AND TAX BENEFITS. (a) The Seller shall be
entitled to any refund or credit of Taxes (including any interest paid or
credited with respect thereto), and the Purchaser shall promptly pay to the
Seller any such refund or credit of Taxes (including any interest paid or
credited with respect thereto) received by the Purchaser, the Parent or the
48
Publishing Subsidiaries (i) relating to Tax periods or portions thereof ending
on or before the Closing Date or (ii) attributable to an amount for which the
Seller is responsible under Section 7.01(a) hereof, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
rights and obligations described in this sentence shall not apply to any net
operating loss, capital loss or other Tax attribute or benefit item of a
Publishing Subsidiary arising in any Tax period ending on or before the Closing
Date (a "PRE-CLOSING DATE NOL") that is utilized by the Purchaser, the Parent or
any Publishing Subsidiary in any Tax period beginning after the Closing Date.
The Purchaser agrees to assume the rights and obligations of Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx, Inc.
and/or Macmillan, Inc. under the Tax Benefit Agreement among Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx,
Inc., Macmillan, Inc. and the Realization Trust dated as of February 28, 1994.
The Seller may utilize any Pre-Closing Date NOL on any Tax Return for any Tax
period ending on or before the Closing Date and shall have no obligation of any
nature to indemnify the Purchaser with respect to the utilization of such
Pre-Closing Date NOL other than as provided in Section 7.01(a)(vi). The
Purchaser shall, if the Seller so requests and at the Seller's expense, cause a
Publishing Subsidiary to file for and obtain any refund determined by the Seller
to be due to the Seller. The Purchaser shall permit the Seller to control (at
the Seller's expense) the prosecution of any such refund claim, and shall cause
the Publishing Subsidiary to authorize by appropriate power of attorney such
Persons as the Seller shall designate to represent such Publishing Subsidiary
with respect to such refund claim. In the event that any refund or credit of
Taxes for which a payment has been made pursuant to this Section 7.02(a) is
subsequently reduced or disallowed, the Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Publishing Subsidiary against and reimburse the Publishing
Subsidiary for any Tax liability, including interest and penalties, assessed
against such Publishing Subsidiary by reason of the reduction or disallowance.
(b) Any refund or credit of Taxes (including any interest paid or
credited with respect thereto) that relates to any Publishing Subsidiary and
that is attributable to a post-Closing period shall be the property of the
Publishing Subsidiary and shall be retained by the Publishing Subsidiary (or, if
any such refund (or interest thereon) is received by Seller or any of its
Affiliates, promptly paid by Seller to the Publishing Subsidiary). Without
limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, any such refund or other
benefit realized by any Publishing Subsidiary in a post-Closing period that
results from the carry forward of any Pre-Closing Date NOL shall be the property
of the Publishing Subsidiary and shall be retained by the Publishing Subsidiary.
(c) If, as a result of any payment by the Seller, the Publishing
Subsidiaries or their Affiliates on or prior to the Closing Date of any amounts
with respect to which the timing of any available deduction would be determined
under Section 404 of the Code, the Purchaser or any Publishing Subsidiary
becomes entitled to any deductions or tax credits in any Tax period or portion
thereof ending after the Closing Date (a "POST-CLOSING DATE TAX BENEFIT"), then
the Purchaser shall pay the Seller an amount equal to the Tax savings resulting
from such Post-Closing Date Tax Benefit. The amount of any such Tax savings for
any Tax period shall be the amount of the reduction in Taxes reflected on any
Tax Return for such Tax
49
period as compared to the Taxes that would have been reflected on such Tax
Return in the absence of such Post-Closing Date Tax Benefit. All payments to the
Seller pursuant to this Section 7.02(c) shall be made within 30 days after the
filing of a Tax Return for the Tax period in which a Post-Closing Date Tax
Benefit results in a reduction in the Taxes paid by the Purchaser.
SECTION 7.03. CONTESTS. (a) After the Closing, the party first
receiving notice shall promptly notify the other party in writing of any demand
or claim on the first party from any Tax authority or other party with respect
to Taxes for which the other party is liable pursuant to Section 7.01. Such
notice shall contain factual information (to the extent known) describing the
asserted Tax liability in reasonable detail and shall include copies of any
notice or other document received from any Tax authority in respect of any such
asserted Tax liability. If such notifying party fails to give the other party
prompt notice of an asserted Tax liability as required by this Section 7.03,
then (a) if the other party is precluded by the failure to give prompt notice
from contesting the asserted Tax liability in both the administrative and
judicial forums, then such notifying party shall have sole responsibility for
such Tax liability or (b) if the other party is not precluded from contesting
but such failure to give prompt notice results in detriment to the other party,
then any amount that the other party is otherwise required to pay to such
notifying party pursuant to Section 7.01 with respect to such liability shall be
reduced by the amount of such detriment.
(b) The Seller may elect to control the conduct to a final
determination, through counsel of its own choosing and at its own expense, of
any audit, claim for refund and administrative or judicial proceeding involving
any asserted liability with respect to which indemnity may be sought by the
Purchaser under Section 7.01(a) (any such audit, claim for refund or proceeding
relating to an asserted Tax liability is referred to herein as a "CONTEST"). If
the Seller elects to control a Contest, it shall within 30 calendar days of
receipt of the notice of asserted Tax liability notify the Purchaser in writing
of its intent to do so. In such case, thereafter the Seller shall have all
rights to settle, compromise and/or concede such asserted liability and the
Purchaser shall cooperate and shall cause a Publishing Subsidiary or any of its
successors to cooperate, at the expense of the Seller, in each phase of such
Contest; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) Seller shall not, other than in good faith
based on the merits, enter into any compromise or settlement of such Contest
that would result in any Tax detriment to the Purchaser, the Parent or any
Publishing Subsidiary; and (ii) if a Publishing Subsidiary is requested by the
Seller to pay or cause to be paid the tax claimed and to xxx for a refund, then
the Seller shall advance to the Publishing Subsidiary on an interest-free basis
the amount of Tax claimed. The Seller shall inform the Purchaser of all
developments and events relating to such Contest (including, without limitation,
providing to the Purchaser copies of all written materials relating to such
contest reasonably requested by Purchaser), and the Purchaser and its authorized
representatives shall be entitled, at the expense of the Purchaser, to attend,
but not participate in or control, all conferences, meetings and proceedings
relating to such Contest. If, pursuant to Section 7.03(b)(ii), the Seller
advances to a Publishing Subsidiary an
50
amount of Tax claimed under a Contest and there is a final determination that
the Publishing Subsidiary is entitled to a refund of all or any portion thereof,
then the Publishing Subsidiary shall promptly pay or cause to be paid to Seller
such refund upon its receipt thereof (together with any interest paid or
credited thereon by the applicable Tax authority). If the Seller elects not to
control the Contest, fails to notify the Purchaser of its election as herein
provided or contests its obligation to indemnify under Section 7.01(a), the
Purchaser or a Publishing Subsidiary may pay, compromise or contest such
asserted liability. Neither the Purchaser nor any Publishing Subsidiary may
settle or compromise any asserted liability with respect to which indemnity may
be sought by the Purchaser over the objection of the Seller; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that consent to settlement or compromise shall not be unreasonably withheld. In
any event, the Seller may participate, at its own expense, in the Contest. If
the Seller chooses to control the Contest, the Purchaser shall promptly empower
and shall cause a Publishing Subsidiary or any of its successors promptly to
empower (by power of attorney and such other documentation as may be
appropriate) such representatives of the Seller as it may designate to represent
the Purchaser, a Publishing Subsidiary or any of their successors in the Contest
insofar as the Contest involves an asserted Tax liability with respect to which
indemnity may be sought by the Purchaser.
SECTION 7.04. PREPARATION OF TAX RETURNS. The Seller shall prepare
and file U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise Tax Returns
relating to the Publishing Subsidiaries for any Tax period ending on or prior to
the Closing Date and which are required to be filed after the Closing Date on a
basis consistent with prior tax years unless different treatment is required by
applicable Law. Without limitation to the obligations of the Seller under
Section 7.01(a), the Seller shall pay any Taxes shown to be due on such Tax
Returns. With respect to any Tax Returns for which the Seller has filing
responsibility pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Publishing Subsidiaries
will be included in consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Returns that include
the Seller on a basis consistent with prior tax years unless a different
treatment is required by applicable Law. The parties agree that if a Publishing
Subsidiary is permitted, but not required, under applicable state, local or
foreign income or franchise tax laws to treat the Closing Date as the last day
of a Tax period, they will treat the Tax period as ending on the Closing Date.
The Seller or its designee shall prepare and file all other Tax Returns for any
period ending on or prior to the Closing Date to the extent the Seller or Viacom
previously was responsible for the preparation and filing of such Tax Returns
for the immediately preceding Tax period. Without limitation to the obligations
of the Seller under Section 7.01(a), the Seller shall pay any Taxes shown to be
due on such Tax Returns. The Seller shall not, on any Tax Return referred to in
this Section 7.04(a) or otherwise, make any election under Section 475 of the
Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law) with respect to
any Publishing Subsidiary. The Purchaser shall prepare and timely file or cause
a Publishing Subsidiary to prepare and timely file all Tax Returns for which the
Seller is not responsible pursuant to this Section 7.04. The Purchaser will
deliver to the Seller for its review and approval a complete and accurate copy
of each Tax Return required to be filed by the Purchaser or a Publishing
Subsidiary under this
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Section 7.04 for Tax periods that end on or prior to the Closing Date or that
include the Closing Date, and any amendment to such Tax Return, accompanied by
an allocation between the pre-Closing period and the post-Closing period of any
Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Return at least 30 days prior to the date such
Tax Return is filed with the appropriate Tax authority. Such Tax Return and
allocation shall be final and binding on the Seller, unless, within 20 calendar
days after the date of receipt by the Seller of such Tax Return and allocation,
Seller delivers to Purchaser a written request for changes to such Tax Return or
allocation. If the Purchaser and the Seller have been unable to resolve their
differences within 30 days after the Purchaser has received the Seller's written
request for changes to such Tax Return and allocation, then any disputed issues
shall be submitted to an Independent Accounting Firm to resolve in a final
binding manner after hearing the views of both parties. The fees and expenses
of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be shared equally between the Seller
and the Purchaser. In the case of a Tax Return that includes a period that
begins on or before the Closing Date and ends after the Closing Date, not later
than (i) five Business Days before the due date (including any extension
thereof) for payment of Taxes with respect to such Tax Return or (ii) in the
event of a dispute, five Business Days after the resolution thereof either by
mutual agreement of the parties or by a determination of an Independent
Accounting Firm, without prejudice to the obligations of the parties under
Section 7.01, each party shall pay to the other the portion of the Taxes set
forth on such Tax Return that are allocable to the portion of the period for
which such party bears responsibility, to the extent that such Tax has not been
previously paid to such other party or to the appropriate Tax authority, after
giving effect to any agreement of the parties or any determination by the
Independent Accounting Firm, net of any payments made prior to the Closing Date
in respect of such Taxes, whether as estimated Taxes or otherwise.
SECTION 7.05. SECTION 338(H)(10) ELECTION AND ALLOCATIONS. (a) The
Seller and the Purchaser shall jointly make the election provided for by Section
338(h)(10) of the Code and any corresponding elections under state, local or
foreign tax law (the "ELECTIONS") solely with respect to the Election Shares and
not with respect to any other Publishing Subsidiary. The Seller and the
Purchaser shall provide to the other all necessary information to permit the
Election to be made. The Seller and the Purchaser shall, as promptly as
practicable following the Closing Date, take all actions necessary and
appropriate (including filing IRS Form 8023 and other such forms, returns,
elections, schedules, attachments, and other documents as may be required
(together, the "FORMS")) to effect a timely Election.
(b) The Purchaser shall further allocate the Stock Allocations
determined in accordance with Section 2.02 for purposes of making the Election
described in Section 7.05(a). In connection with such Elections, the Purchaser
shall determine (i) the amount of the modified aggregate deemed sales price
("MADSP") of the Election Shares (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section
1.338(h)(10)-1(f)) and (ii) the proper allocations of the MADSP among the Assets
in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.338(h)(10)-1(f). The allocations
referred to in the two preceding sentences are referred to herein as the
"ELECTION ALLOCATIONS". The
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Seller will calculate the gain or loss, if any, in a manner consistent with the
Election Allocations and will not take any position with respect to Taxes that
is inconsistent with the Election Allocations in any Tax Return or otherwise,
except as may be required by Law. The Purchaser will allocate the Purchase
Price consistently with the Election Allocations and will not take any position
with respect to Taxes that is inconsistent with the Election Allocations in any
Tax Return or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
(c) The Seller and the Purchaser agree that the Forms shall be
timely filed with the appropriate Tax authorities not earlier than 60 days
before the latest date for the filing thereof. At least 120 days prior to the
latest date for the filing of each Form, the Purchaser shall prepare and submit
to the Seller a draft of each Form setting forth the Election Allocations. No
party hereto shall file any Form unless it shall have obtained the consent of
the other party hereto, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. On or
prior to the 30th day after the Seller's receipt of a draft Form, the Seller
shall either (i) consent to such filing or (ii) notify the Purchaser that it
disagrees with the Election Allocations as set forth on the draft Forms. If the
Purchaser and the Seller have been unable to resolve their differences within 30
days after the Purchaser has been notified with respect to the Seller's
disagreement with the Election Allocations as set forth on the draft Forms, then
any remaining disputed issues shall be submitted to an Independent Accounting
Firm to resolve in a final binding manner after hearing the views of both
parties. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be
shared equally between the Seller and the Purchaser.
SECTION 7.06. COOPERATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. The Seller,
the Purchaser and the Publishing Subsidiaries will provide each other with such
cooperation and information as any of them reasonably may request of another in
filing any Tax Return, amended Tax Return or claim for refund, determining a
liability for Taxes or a right to a refund of Taxes or participating in or
conducting any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes. Such cooperation
and information shall include the preparation of tax packages for the Seller in
substantially the same form and at the same time in which such information
customarily was provided to the Seller in previous Tax periods and providing
copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying
schedules and related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other
determinations by Tax authorities. Each such party shall make its employees
available on a mutually convenient basis to provide explanations of any
documents or information provided hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentence,
each party required to file Tax Returns pursuant to this Agreement shall bear
all costs of filing such Tax Returns. Each such party will retain all Tax
Returns, schedules and work papers and all material records or other documents
relating to Tax matters of the Publishing Subsidiaries for their Tax period
first ending after the Closing Date and for all prior Tax periods until the
later of (a) the expiration of the statute of limitations of the Tax periods to
which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions
except to the extent notified by another party in writing of such extensions for
the respective Tax periods, or (b) eight years following the due date (without
extension) for such Tax
53
Returns. Any information obtained under this Section 7.06 shall be kept
confidential, except as may be otherwise necessary in connection with the filing
of Tax Returns or claims for refund or in conducting an audit or other
proceeding.
SECTION 7.07. CONVEYANCE TAXES. Except as provided in
Section 2.04(d), the Purchaser and the Seller shall each assume liability for,
indemnify the other party against and pay 50% of all sales, value added,
transfer, stamp, registration, real property transfer or gains and similar Taxes
incurred as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall file all
required change of ownership and similar statements, provided that Seller shall
pay and be solely responsible for any such Taxes that are attributable to the
Permitted Reorganization. In addition, each of Purchaser and Seller shall
indemnify the other party and its Affiliates for any and all liabilities,
losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and
penalties (including attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses) incurred by
the other party and its Affiliates arising out of such party's failure to make
timely or full payments of such Taxes.
SECTION 7.08. TERMINATION OF TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS. Except as
otherwise provided in this Article VII and except for the Tax Benefit Agreement
among Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx, Inc., Macmillan, Inc. and the Realization Trust dated as of
February 28, 1994, any and all Tax allocation or sharing agreements or other
agreements or arrangements relating to Tax matters between any Publishing
Subsidiary on the one hand and the Seller or any of its Affiliates on the other
hand shall be terminated with respect to the Publishing Subsidiary as of the day
before the Closing Date and, from and after the Closing Date, no Publishing
Subsidiary shall be obligated to make any payment to the Seller or any of its
Affiliates, any Tax authority or any other person pursuant to any such agreement
or arrangement for any past or future period.
SECTION 7.09. FIRPTA CERTIFICATES. The Seller and each of its
Affiliates that are required to do so to prevent the imposition of withholding
under Section 1445 of the Code shall deliver to the Purchaser on the Closing
Date a duly completed and executed certification of non-foreign status pursuant
to Section 1.1445-2(b)(2) of the Treasury regulations.
SECTION 7.10. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) The parties agree to treat all
payments made under Article X and the Articles and Sections listed in Section
10.04(a) as adjustments to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes.
(b) Except as expressly provided otherwise and except for the
representations contained in Section 3.14 of this Agreement, this Article VII
shall be the sole provision governing Tax matters and indemnities therefor under
this Agreement.
(c) For purposes of this Article VII, all references to the
Purchaser or the Seller include successors thereto.
54
(d) Neither Purchaser, its Affiliates nor any foreign Publishing
Subsidiary shall take any action which may result in a distribution with respect
to the stock of a foreign Publishing Subsidiary prior to the last day of the
first U.S. taxable year of such foreign Publishing Subsidiary which ends after
the Closing Date. After the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing,
Seller will not allow the foreign Publishing Subsidiaries to take any action
which may result in a distribution with respect to the stock of a foreign
Publishing Subsidiary.
(e) The Purchaser, its Affiliates and any Publishing Subsidiary
shall not take any action or enter into any transaction not in the ordinary
course of business which may result in an amount included in the gross income of
the Seller pursuant to Section 951 or Section 956 of the Code and the Treasury
regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
SECTION 8.01. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLER. The
obligation of the Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or waiver, at or prior to the
Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS. (i) The
representations and warranties of the Parent and the Purchaser contained in
Article IV shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the
Closing as though made on and as of the Closing, except (A) for changes
specifically permitted by this Agreement and (B) that those representations
and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date shall
remain true and correct in all material respects as of such date; PROVIDED
THAT any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality shall
be true in all respects as of the Closing Date or as of such particular
date, as the case may be; (ii) the covenants contained in this Agreement to
be complied with by the Parent or the Purchaser on or before the Closing
shall have been complied with in all material respects except that the
Parent and the Purchaser shall have complied in all respects with their
respective obligations under Article II hereof; and (iii) the Seller shall
have received a certificate of each of the Parent and the Purchaser to such
effect signed by a duly authorized officer of each thereof;
(b) HSR ACT; OTHER GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Any
waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act applicable to
the purchase of the Shares and the Assets contemplated hereby shall have
expired or shall have been terminated and, to the extent applicable, any
necessary approval (i) under
55
the Competition Act (Canada) and (ii) of the German Cartel Office shall
have been obtained;
(c) NO GOVERNMENTAL ORDER. There shall be no Governmental Order
in existence which expressly prohibits or materially restrains the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or materially impairs the value
to be received by the Seller under this Agreement;
(d) RESOLUTIONS. The Seller shall have received a true and
complete copy, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each
of the Purchaser and the Parent, of the resolutions duly and validly
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Purchaser and the Parent
respectively, evidencing its authorization of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and
(e) ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS. Each of the Parent and the Purchaser
shall have executed and delivered to the Seller each of the Ancillary
Agreements to which it or any of its Affiliates is a party.
SECTION 8.02. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARENT AND THE
PURCHASER. The obligations of the Parent and the Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment
or waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS. (i) The
representations and warranties of the Seller contained in Article III shall
be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing as though
made on and as of the Closing, except (A) for changes specifically
permitted by this Agreement and (B) that those representations and
warranties which address matters only as of a particular date shall remain
true and correct in all material respects as of such date (PROVIDED THAT
any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality (including,
without limitation, by reference to a Material Adverse Effect) shall be
true in all respects as of the Closing Date, or as of such particular date,
as the case may be), except in any case for such failures to be true and
correct which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect; (ii) the covenants contained in this Agreement to be
complied with by the Seller on or before the Closing shall have been
complied with in all material respects except that the Seller shall have
complied in all respects with its obligations under Article II hereof; and
(iii) the Purchaser and the Parent shall have received a certificate of the
Seller to such effect signed by a duly authorized officer thereof;
(b) HSR ACT; OTHER GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Any
waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act applicable to
the purchase of the Shares and the Assets contemplated hereby shall have
expired or shall have been
56
terminated and, to the extent applicable, any necessary approval (i) under
the Competition Act (Canada) and (ii) of the German Cartel Office shall
have been obtained;
(c) NO GOVERNMENTAL ORDER. There shall be no Governmental Order
in existence which expressly prohibits or materially restrains the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or materially impairs the value
to be received by the Purchaser and the Parent under this Agreement;
(d) RESOLUTIONS. The Purchaser shall have received a true and
complete copy, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Seller, of the resolutions duly and validly adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Seller evidencing its authorization of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a
party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby;
(e) ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS. The Seller shall have executed and
delivered, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Parent and the
Purchaser each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it or any of its
Affiliates (other than a Publishing Subsidiary) is a party;
(f) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. The Parent's shareholders shall have
approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
related matters, as contemplated in Section 4.08; and
(g) PERMITTED REORGANIZATION. The Seller and its Subsidiaries
shall have effected the Permitted Reorganization in accordance with the
terms of Section 5.08.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any
time prior to the Closing (except as limited as to time in paragraph (b) below):
(a) by the mutual written consent of the Seller and the Parent;
(b) by either the Seller or the Parent, if the Closing shall not
have occurred prior to December 31, 1998, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right
to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.01(b) shall not be
available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this
Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall
57
have resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur prior to such date;
and PROVIDED FURTHER that this Agreement may be extended by the Seller to
February 15, 1999 by written notice to the Parent given prior to December
31, 1998 if the failure of the Closing to have occurred prior to such date
is due to the failure of the condition specified in Section 8.01(b) or (c)
or 8.02(b) or (c) to have been satisfied;
(c) by the Seller in the event (i) a condition set forth in
Section 8.01 becomes incapable of being fulfilled, (ii) the Board of
Directors of Parent modifies, changes or withdraws the Parent Board
Recommendation in a manner that is adverse to the Seller or (iii) the
Parent's shareholders fail to approve this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and related matters at the Extraordinary Meeting of
Shareholders contemplated by Section 5.04(c);
(d) by the Parent in the event a condition set forth in Section
8.02 becomes incapable of being fulfilled; or
(e) by either party in the event of the issuance of a final,
nonappealable Governmental Order restraining or prohibiting the
transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION 9.02. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. (a) In the event of the
termination of this Agreement by the Seller pursuant to Section 9.01(c)(ii) or
(iii), the Parent shall pay to the Seller within two Business Days of
termination a fee of L70 million, which amount shall be payable in immediately
available funds, in cash, by wire transfer to an account specified by the
Seller.
(b) In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided
in Section 9.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be
no liability on the part of any party hereto, except as set forth in Section
5.03, Section 11.02 and Section 9.02; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein
shall relieve either the Seller or the Purchaser from liability for (i) failure
to perform the obligations set forth in Section 5.04 or (ii) any willful breach
of this Agreement or willful failure to perform hereunder.
SECTION 9.03. WAIVER. At any time prior to the Closing, any party
may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of any other party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth
in an instrument in writing signed by the party to be bound thereby.
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ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 10.01. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER.
(a) Subject to Section 11.01, the Parent and the Purchaser shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller, its Affiliates and
their respective employees, officers and directors (collectively, the "SELLER
INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") against and reimburse any Seller Indemnified Party for,
any and all losses, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities, obligations and
claims of any kind (including any Action brought by any Governmental Authority
or Person and including reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses
and other legal costs and expenses reasonably incurred in investigation,
remediation, defense or settlement) (collectively, "LOSSES"), that such Seller
Indemnified Party may at any time suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a
result or in connection with:
(i) the inaccuracy of any representations and warranties made by
the Parent or the Purchaser in this Agreement;
(ii) any failure by the Parent or the Purchaser to perform any of
its covenants or agreements under this Agreement; or
(iii) any claim or cause of action by any party arising before, on
or after the Closing Date against any Seller Indemnified Party with respect
to the Assets, the Businesses or the operations of the Publishing
Subsidiaries, except for any claims with respect to which the Seller is
obligated to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnified Parties under
Section 10.02 hereof.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the
Parent and the Purchaser shall not be required to indemnify, defend or hold
harmless any Seller Indemnified Party against or reimburse any Seller
Indemnified Party for any Losses pursuant to subclause (i) or (ii) of Section
10.01(a) unless the Seller has notified the Purchaser in writing in accordance
with Section 10.03(a) of a pending or threatened claim with respect to such
matters within the applicable survival period set forth in Section 11.01.
SECTION 10.02. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE SELLER. (a) Subject to
Section 11.01 hereof, the Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Purchaser, its Affiliates and their respective employees, officers and directors
(collectively, the "PURCHASER INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") against, and reimburse any
Purchaser Indemnified Party for, any and all Losses that such Purchaser
Indemnified Party may at any time suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a
result or in connection with:
59
(i) the inaccuracy of any representations and warranties made by
the Seller in this Agreement; or
(ii) any failure by the Seller to perform any of its covenants or
agreements under this Agreement.
In all cases, the amount of indemnifiable Losses pursuant to this
Section 10.02(a) shall be determined as if the term "Material Adverse Effect"
were not included in the representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that
forms the basis of any such claim for indemnification.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the
Seller shall not be required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Purchaser
Indemnified Party against or reimburse any Purchaser Indemnified Party for any
Losses pursuant to Section 10.02(a)(i) or Section 10.02(a)(ii) in connection
with any failure by the Seller to perform any of its covenants or agreements
under Section 5.01 and Section 5.02(a), (i) if such claim or demand otherwise
was raised (whether or not accepted) in connection with the Purchase Price
adjustment procedures set forth in Section 2.06, (ii) with respect to any claim,
unless such claim involves Losses in excess of $25,000 (nor shall such item be
applied to or considered for purposes of calculating the aggregate amount of the
Purchaser Indemnified Parties' Losses), (iii) unless the Purchaser has notified
the Seller in writing in accordance with Section 10.03(a) of a pending or
threatened claim with respect to such matters within the applicable survival
period set forth in Section 11.01, and (iv) until the aggregate amount of the
Purchaser Indemnified Parties' Losses exceeds $20 million, after which the
Seller shall be obligated for all Losses of the Purchaser Indemnified Parties in
excess of such amount; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the cumulative indemnification
obligation of the Seller under this Article X in respect of Section 10.02(a)
shall in no event exceed the Purchase Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
limits on indemnification contained in this Section 10.02(b) shall not apply to
any Losses arising from a misrepresentation or breach of warranty by Seller
contained in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 and 3.17.
SECTION 10.03. NOTIFICATION OF CLAIMS. (a) A party that may be
entitled to be indemnified pursuant to Section 10.01 or 10.02 (the "INDEMNIFIED
PARTY") shall promptly notify the party liable for such indemnification (the
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing of any pending or threatened claim or demand
which the Indemnified Party has determined has given or could give rise to a
right of indemnification under this Agreement (including a pending or threatened
claim or demand asserted by a third party against the Indemnified Party),
describing in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances with respect to the
subject matter of such claim or demand; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to
provide such notice shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its
obligations under this Article X except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is
materially prejudiced by such failure. Subject to the Indemnifying Party's
right to defend in good faith third party claims as hereinafter provided, the
60
Indemnifying Party shall satisfy its obligations under this Article X within 30
days after the receipt of written notice thereof from the Indemnified Party.
(b) If the Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party
of any claim or demand pursuant to Section 10.03(a), and if such claim or demand
relates to a pending or threatened claim or demand asserted by a third party
against the Indemnified Party which the Indemnifying Party acknowledges is a
claim or demand for which it must indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Indemnified Party against or reimburse the Indemnified Party for under Section
10.01 or 10.02, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to employ counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party to defend any such claim or
demand asserted against the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have
the right to participate in the defense of any such claim or demand at its own
expense. The Indemnifying Party shall notify the Indemnified Party in writing,
as promptly as possible (but in any case at least three Business Days before the
due date for the answer or response to a claim) after the date of the notice of
claim given by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party under Section
10.03(a) of its election to defend in good faith any such third party claim or
demand. So long as the Indemnifying Party is defending in good faith any such
claim or demand asserted by a third party against the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party shall not settle or compromise such claim or demand. The
Indemnified Party shall make available to the Indemnifying Party or its agents
all records and other material in the Indemnified Party's possession reasonably
required by it for its use in defending any third party claim or demand.
Whether or not the Indemnifying Party elects to defend any such claim or demand,
the Indemnified Party shall have no obligations to do so. The Indemnifying
Party shall not settle or compromise any such claim or demand, unless the
Indemnified Party is given a full and completed release of any and all liability
by all relevant parties relating thereto.
SECTION 10.04. EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES. (a) Following the Closing,
except for performance of the obligations set forth in Article II and Sections
5.03, 5.08, 5.12 and 5.13 and except for the indemnification obligations
specified in Sections 5.02(b), 5.06, 5.07 and 10.04(b) and in Article VI and
Article VII, the Seller, the Parent and the Purchaser acknowledge and agree that
the indemnification provisions of Sections 10.01 and 10.02 shall be the sole and
exclusive remedies of the Seller, the Parent and the Purchaser, respectively,
for any breach of the representations or warranties herein or nonperformance of
any covenants and agreements herein of another party, except in the event of
willful breach or fraud.
(b) Subject to the Parent's and the Purchaser's right to
indemnification pursuant to Section 10.02, from and after the Closing Date, (i)
each of the Parent and the Purchaser shall fully release the Seller from any
Environmental Liability incurred by the Parent or the Purchaser, its parents,
Subsidiaries, divisions and Affiliates, their predecessors, successors and
assigns, and their officers, directors, employees and agents; (ii) each of the
Parent and the Purchaser hereby waives on its behalf and on behalf of its
parents, Subsidiaries, divisions and Affiliates, their predecessors, successors
and assigns, and their officers,
61
directors, employees and agents, to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law, any claim or remedy against the Seller Indemnified Parties now
or hereafter available under any applicable Environmental Law, including the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or any
similar federal or state law, whether or not in existence on the date hereof;
and (iii) each of the Parent and the Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Seller Indemnified Parties against and reimburse the Seller
Indemnified Parties for any Environmental Liability that the Seller, Viacom,
their respective Subsidiaries, divisions and Affiliates, their predecessors,
successors and assigns, and their officers, directors, employees and agents may
at any time suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a result or in connection
with any Environmental Liability.
ARTICLE XI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 11.01. SURVIVAL. The representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements of the Seller, the Parent and the Purchaser contained in or made
pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or in any certificate
furnished pursuant hereto shall terminate at the Closing, except that (a) the
representations and warranties made in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.14, 3.17,
4.01 and 4.07 shall survive in full force and effect until the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations and the representations and warranties made in
Sections 3.13 and 3.15 shall survive in full force and effect until the date
that is three years after the Closing Date, (b) the representations and
warranties made in Article III and Article IV, other than those specified in
Section 11.01(a), shall survive in full force and effect until the later of
March 31, 1999 (or March 31, 2000, if the Closing occurs after December 31,
1998) and the date six months following the Closing, (c) the covenants and
agreements made in this Agreement that are to be performed in whole or in part
subsequent to the Closing Date and that do not, by their terms, expire on a date
certain, and in Sections 5.02(b), 5.03, 5.06, 5.07 and 5.10 and in Article VI,
Article VII, Article X and Article XI of this Agreement shall survive in full
force and effect indefinitely, (d) the covenants and agreements made in Article
II shall survive in full force and effect until such time as fully complied with
and (e) the covenants and agreements made in this Agreement that are to be
performed in whole or in part subsequent to the Closing Date and that, by their
terms, expire on a certain date, shall survive until such certain date.
SECTION 11.02. EXPENSES. Except as may be otherwise specified
herein, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel,
financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring
such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred.
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SECTION 11.03. NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made
(and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery
in person, by overnight courier service, by facsimile (followed by delivery of a
copy via overnight courier service) or by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following
addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a
notice given in accordance with this Section 11.03):
(a) if to the Seller:
c/o Viacom Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Deputy General Counsel
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Shearman & Sterling
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx O'X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to the Parent or the Purchaser:
c/o Addison-Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Publishing
Xxx Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
with copies to:
Xxxxxxx plc
0 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X0X 0XX
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopier: 011-44-171-411-2254
and to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx & Bockius LLP
63
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
SECTION 11.04. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Except as may be required by
law or stock exchange rules, no party to this Agreement shall make any public
announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without prior notification
to the other parties, and the parties shall cooperate as to the timing and
contents of any such announcement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where an
announcement is required by law or stock exchange rules, the party required to
make such an announcement shall notice the other parties of such (and provide a
copy of such to the other parties) as soon as practicable in advance of such
announcement and, to the extent practical, take the views of the other parties
in respect of such announcement into account prior to making such announcement.
SECTION 11.05. HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 11.06. SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any Law or
public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
SECTION 11.07. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings,
both written and oral, other than the Confidentiality Agreement, among the
Seller, the Parent and the Purchaser with respect to the subject matter hereof
and except as otherwise expressly provided herein.
SECTION 11.08. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of Law or otherwise, except that (a) the Seller may assign any or all
of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates;
PROVIDED that no such assignment shall release the Seller from any liability
hereunder and (b) each of the Parent and the Purchaser may assign any or all of
its rights and obligations under this Agreement in connection with the sale by
the Parent or the Purchaser, as the case may be, to Hicks, Muse,
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Xxxx and Xxxxx Incorporated (and/or any Affiliate thereof) of certain Assets
and/or Shares of any of the Publishing Subsidiaries and to any Subsidiary of the
Parent; PROVIDED that no such assignment shall release the Parent or the
Purchaser from any liability hereunder or delay the consummation of the purchase
and sale of the Shares hereunder; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that no assignment shall be
permitted by this sentence that would result in the sale by the Seller or the
Seller's Subsidiaries at the Closing of any Assets or Shares to any party
(including Hicks, Muse, Xxxx and Xxxxx Incorporated (and/or any Affiliate
thereof)) other than the Parent, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent or
the Purchaser. The Seller agrees that if the Parent or the Purchaser is
required to sell or otherwise dispose of a significant amount of Assets in
connection with obtaining the regulatory approvals referred to in Section
5.04(b), it will in good faith discuss permitting the Parent or the Purchaser to
assign the related rights and obligations under this Agreement to the party
acquiring such Assets.
SECTION 11.09. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except as provided in
Article X, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and
their permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to
or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right,
benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
SECTION 11.10. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or
modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the Seller, the Parent and
the Purchaser.
SECTION 11.11. SECTIONS AND SCHEDULES. Any disclosure with respect
to a Section or Schedule of this Agreement shall be deemed to be disclosure for
all other Sections and Schedules of this Agreement.
SECTION 11.12. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVERS.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws
of the State of New York. Each of the Seller, the Parent and the Purchaser
agrees that any dispute relating to or arising from this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be resolved only in the Courts of the
State of New York sitting in the County of New York or the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York and the appellate courts
having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Seller, the Parent and the
Purchaser hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal suit, action
or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect
thereof, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New
York sitting in the County of New York, the court of the United States of
America for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts having
jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and each of the parties
hereto
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irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any
such suit, action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such New
York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court;
(b) consents that any such suit, action or proceeding may and
shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or
hereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such action or
proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought
in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;
(c) agrees that service of process in any such suit, action or
proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or
certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage
prepaid, to such party at its address as provided in Section 11.03; and
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect
service of process in any other manner permitted by New York law.
SECTION 11.13. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but
all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by
telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of
this Agreement.
SECTION 11.14. NO PRESUMPTION. This Agreement shall be construed
without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or
interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be
drafted.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by its respective
officer thereunto duly authorized.
VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
By
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Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Deputy Chairman
XXXXXXX INC.
By
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Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
XXXXXXX PLC
By
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Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Finance Director
