AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among RENTECH, INC., “Parent”, RTK ACQUISITION SUB, INC., “Merger Sub”, RTK ACQUISITION SUB, LLC, “Second Merger Sub”, SILVAGAS HOLDINGS CORPORATION, “Company”,
Exhibit
2.1
by and
among
RENTECH,
INC.,
“Parent”,
RTK
ACQUISITION SUB, INC.,
“Merger
Sub”,
RTK
ACQUISITION SUB, LLC,
“Second
Merger Sub”,
SILVAGAS
HOLDINGS CORPORATION,
“Company”,
XXXX X.
XXXXXXXX
“Principal
Stockholder”,
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
“Xxxxxx”
individually
and in his capacity as
“Stockholder
Representative”
and
THE
STOCKHOLDERS OF COMPANY
Dated: June
23, 2009
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
|
2
|
|
1.1
|
Defined
Terms
|
2
|
1.2
|
Other
Defined Terms
|
11
|
ARTICLE
II THE MERGER
|
14
|
|
2.1
|
The
Merger
|
14
|
2.2
|
Effective
Time
|
14
|
2.3
|
Effects
of the Merger
|
15
|
2.4
|
Subsequent
Actions
|
15
|
2.5
|
Conversion
of Securities.
|
16
|
2.6
|
Appraisal
Rights.
|
17
|
2.7
|
Surrender
and Payment of Company Common Stock.
|
18
|
2.8
|
Delivery
of Closing Payment Certificate
|
20
|
2.9
|
Escrow
of Consideration
|
20
|
2.10
|
Net
Working Capital Adjustment.
|
21
|
2.11
|
Registration
of Shares; Facilitation of Sales Pursuant to Rule 144
|
22
|
2.12
|
The
Second Step Merger
|
24
|
2.13
|
Calculation
of Earn-Out Amounts
|
25
|
2.14
|
Participation
in Excess Licensing Fees
|
31
|
2.15
|
Securities
Law Compliance
|
34
|
2.16
|
Tax
Consequences
|
34
|
2.17
|
Mergers,
Consolidations, etc
|
34
|
ARTICLE
III STOCKHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE
|
35
|
|
3.1
|
Designation
|
35
|
3.2
|
Authority
|
36
|
3.3
|
Costs
|
36
|
ARTICLE
IV CLOSING
|
37 | |
4.1
|
Closing
Date
|
37
|
4.2
|
Conveyances
at Closing
|
37
|
ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
|
40
|
|
5.1
|
Organization
and Good Standing
|
40
|
5.2
|
Authorization;
Enforceability
|
40
|
i
5.3
|
Capitalization
|
40
|
5.4
|
Subsidiaries
|
42
|
5.5
|
Books
and Records
|
43
|
5.6
|
Conflicts;
Third-Party Consents
|
43
|
5.7
|
Financial
Statements
|
44
|
5.8
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
44
|
5.9
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
44
|
5.10
|
Taxes
|
47
|
5.11
|
Real
Property.
|
49
|
5.12
|
Title
to Tangible Personal Property; Liens
|
49
|
5.13
|
Proprietary
Rights
|
50
|
5.14
|
Contracts
|
51
|
5.15
|
Employee
Benefits
|
52
|
5.16
|
Labor
Matters; Employees.
|
54
|
5.17
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
55
|
5.18
|
Compliance
with Law
|
56
|
5.19
|
Permits
|
56
|
5.20
|
Environmental
Matters
|
56
|
5.21
|
Insurance
|
57
|
5.22
|
Purchase
Commitments and Outstanding Bids
|
57
|
5.23
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
57
|
5.24
|
No
Brokers
|
58
|
5.25
|
No
Other Agreements
|
58
|
5.26
|
Banking
Relationships
|
58
|
5.27
|
No
Liabilities; No Indebtedness
|
58
|
5.28
|
No
Other Representations or Warranties.
|
58
|
ARTICLE
VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
|
59
|
|
6.1
|
Authorization
|
59
|
6.2
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
59
|
6.3
|
Title
to Shares of Company Capital Stock
|
60
|
6.4
|
No
Brokers
|
60
|
ARTICLE
VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT, MERGER SUB AND SECOND MERGER
SUB
|
60
|
|
7.1
|
Organization
|
60
|
7.2
|
Authorization
|
60
|
7.3
|
Capitalization
|
61
|
7.4
|
Merger
Sub
|
61
|
7.5
|
Second
Merger Sub
|
61
|
7.6
|
Conflicts;
Third-Party Consents
|
61
|
ii
7.7
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
61
|
7.8
|
No
Brokers
|
62
|
7.9
|
Valid
Issuance of Common Stock
|
62
|
7.10
|
SEC
Documents
|
62
|
7.11
|
Taxes
|
63
|
ARTICLE
VIII COVENANTS
|
63
|
|
8.1
|
Further
Assurances
|
63
|
8.2
|
Notification
of Certain Matters.
|
64
|
8.3
|
Conduct
of Business
|
64
|
8.4
|
Investigation
by Parent
|
65
|
8.5
|
Exclusivity
|
65
|
8.6
|
Books
and Records
|
65
|
8.7
|
Tax
Matters
|
66
|
8.8
|
Resale
of Shares
|
70
|
8.9
|
Closing
Consideration Schedule
|
71
|
8.10
|
Stockholder
Approval
|
71
|
8.11
|
Stockholder
Joinder
|
71
|
8.12
|
Conversion
of Company Preferred Stock and Certain Liabilities
|
72
|
8.13
|
Restrictions
on Transfer
|
72
|
ARTICLE
IX CONDITIONS TO COMPANY’S OBLIGATIONS
|
72
|
|
9.1
|
Representations,
Warranties and Covenants
|
72
|
9.2
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
72
|
9.3
|
Deliveries
|
72
|
ARTICLE
X CONDITIONS TO PARENT’S, MERGER SUB’S AND SECOND MERGER SUB’S
OBLIGATIONS
|
73
|
|
10.1
|
Representations,
Warranties and Covenants
|
73
|
10.2
|
Consents
|
73
|
10.3
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
73
|
10.4
|
No
Material Adverse Change
|
73
|
10.5
|
Deliveries
|
73
|
10.6
|
No
Prohibition
|
73
|
10.7
|
Stockholder
Approval
|
73
|
10.8
|
Dissenting
Stockholders
|
74
|
10.9
|
Cash
Consideration Cap
|
74
|
10.10
|
Securities
Law Compliance
|
74
|
10.11
|
Distribution
of Membership Interests in SAGE LLC and Big Stakes LLC
|
74
|
10.12
|
Termination
of Employment Agreements
|
74
|
iii
ARTICLE
XI COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
|
74
|
|
11.1
|
Covenant
Not to Compete
|
74
|
ARTICLE
XII INDEMNIFICATION
|
76
|
|
12.1
|
Survival
of Representations
|
76
|
12.2
|
Indemnification
of Parent Indemnified Parties by the Stockholders
|
76
|
12.3
|
Indemnification
of Stockholder Indemnified Parties by Parent
|
80
|
12.4
|
Special
Rule for Fraud and Intentional Misrepresentation
|
81
|
12.5
|
Notice
and Defense of Third-Party Claims
|
81
|
12.6
|
Notice
of Non-Third-Party Claims
|
82
|
12.7
|
Escrow
Amount; Manner of Payment
|
83
|
12.8
|
Determination
of Loss Amount
|
83
|
12.9
|
Right
of Offset
|
84
|
12.10
|
Additional
Indemnification Obligations of the Principal Stockholder
|
84
|
12.11
|
Exclusive
Remedy
|
85
|
12.12
|
No
Duplication
|
85
|
|
||
ARTICLE
XIII TERMINATION
|
85
|
|
13.1
|
Termination
Events
|
85
|
13.2
|
Procedure
for Termination
|
86
|
13.3
|
Effect
of Termination
|
87
|
|
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ARTICLE
XIV MISCELLANEOUS
|
87
|
|
14.1
|
Publicity
|
87
|
14.2
|
Confidential
Information
|
87
|
14.3
|
Expenses
|
87
|
14.4
|
Specific
Performance
|
87
|
14.5
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
|
88
|
14.6
|
Waiver
of Trial by Jury
|
88
|
14.7
|
Entire
Agreement; Amendments and Waivers
|
89
|
14.8
|
Governing
Law
|
89
|
14.9
|
Headings
|
89
|
14.10
|
Notices
|
89
|
14.11
|
Severability
|
91
|
14.12
|
Binding
Effect; Assignment
|
91
|
14.13
|
Attorneys’
Fees and Costs
|
91
|
14.14
|
Counterparts
|
91
|
iv
Exhibits
Exhibit
A Stockholder
List
Exhibit
B Escrow
Agreement
Exhibit
C Certificate
of Merger
Exhibit
D Stockholder
Transmittal Letter
Exhibit
E Performance
Criteria
Exhibit
F Investor
Certification
Exhibit
G Purchaser
Questionnaire
Exhibit
H Xxxxxx
Employment Agreement
Exhibit
I Weeks
Employment Agreement
Exhibit
J Written
Consent
v
This
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as
of June 23, 2009, is by and among Rentech, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“Parent”), RTK
Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent (“Merger
Sub”), RTK Acquisition Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Second Merger Sub”),
SilvaGas Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, as Stockholder Representative (“Stockholder
Representative”), Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (the “Principal
Stockholder”) and each of the stockholders of Company set forth on Exhibit A hereto
(including the Stockholder Representative and the Principal Stockholder, each a
“Stockholder”
and collectively the “Stockholders”) who
becomes a signatory to this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.11.
RECITALS
A. Each
of Parent’s, Merger Sub’s and Company’s board of directors believes it is in its
and its stockholders’ best interests that Parent acquire Company through the
merger of Merger Sub with and into Company (the “First Step Merger” or
“Merger”).
B. The
parties intend that immediately following the Effective Time (as defined below),
Company shall be the Initial Surviving Corporation of the Merger, all pursuant
to the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth and in
accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
C. The
boards of directors of Parent, Merger Sub and Company have determined that the
Merger is advisable and in the best interests of their respective companies and
stockholders, have approved this Agreement and, accordingly, have agreed to
effect the Merger provided for herein upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth.
D. Immediately
following the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Initial Surviving
Corporation to merge with and into the Second Merger Sub (the “Second Step
Merger”). Immediately following the Second Step Merger, the
Second Merger Sub shall be the surviving entity of the Second Step Merger, all
pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth and in
accordance with the DGCL and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the
“DLLCA”).
E. For
U.S. federal income tax purposes, the parties intend that the First Step Merger
and the Second Step Merger shall be treated as a single integrated transaction
(together, the “Transaction”) and
shall qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A)
of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
F. Parent,
Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub, Company and the Stockholders desire to make
certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with
the Transaction and to prescribe various conditions to the
Transaction.
1
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained in
this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined
Terms. As
used in this Agreement, the terms below shall have the following
meanings. Any such term, unless the context otherwise requires, may
be used in the singular or plural, depending upon the reference.
“Accounting
Principles” means the accounting principles, methods, practices,
estimates, judgments and assumptions applied in the preparation of the Financial
Statements, consistently applied.
“Affiliate” has the
meaning set forth in the Exchange Act.
“Ancillary Agreements”
means the Escrow Agreement, the Xxxxxx Agreement, the Weeks Agreement, the
Confidentiality Agreement and the Stockholder Transmittal Letters.
“Balance Sheet Date”
means May 31, 2009.
“Big Stakes LLC” means
Big Stakes Match Play, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company.
“Big Stakes Match Play
Notes” means those promissory notes listed on Schedule
1.1(a).
“Bloomberg” means
Bloomberg Financial Markets or a comparable reporting service of national
reputation selected by Parent if Bloomberg Financial Markets is not then
reporting sales prices of the Parent Common Stock.
“Books and Records”
means (a) all records and lists of Company and each of its Subsidiaries, (b) all
records and lists pertaining to the Business or the customers, suppliers or
personnel of, in each case, Company and each of its Subsidiaries, (c) all
product, business and marketing plans of Company and each of its Subsidiaries
and (d) all books, ledgers, files, reports, plans, drawings and operating
records of every kind maintained by Company and each of its
Subsidiaries.
“Business” means any
historical, current or planned business or business activities of Company and
its Subsidiaries.
2
“Business Day” means
any day of the year on which national banking institutions in Los Angeles,
California are open to the public for conducting business and are not required
or authorized to close.
“Cap” means
$4,500,000.
“Closing Date” means
the third (3rd)
Business Day following the satisfaction of all conditions to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or such other date as Parent
and Company shall mutually agree upon in writing.
“Closing Price” means
VWAP of the Common Stock determined as of May 16, 2009.
“Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Company Capital
Stock” means the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred
Stock.
“Company Common Stock”
means the common stock, $0.01 par value, of Company.
“Company Preferred
Stock” means the 5% Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, of
Company.
“Confidential
Information” shall mean any and all trade secrets, confidential business
or technical information, and proprietary information and materials, whether or
not stored in any medium, relating to Company, its Subsidiaries or the Business,
including, but not limited to, business information, technology, technical
documentation, product or service specifications or strategies, marketing plans,
research and development, designs, formulae, computer programs, pricing
information, financial information, information relating to existing, previous
and potential suppliers, customers, contracts and other know-how.
“Confidentiality
Agreement” means that certain confidentiality agreement, dated January
12, 2009, entered into by Parent and Company.
“Consent” means any
approval, consent, ratification, waiver or other authorization (including any
Permit).
“Contract” means any
agreement, contract, obligation, promise or undertaking (whether written or oral
and whether express or implied).
“Contract Rights”
means all of the rights and obligations of Company and its Subsidiaries under
the Company Contracts.
“Corporate Holdings
Note” means that certain promissory note, dated as of July 26, 2005,
executed by Company in favor of Corporate Holdings, LLC.
3
“Disclosure Schedule”
means the schedule executed and delivered by Company to Parent on the date
hereof, as such schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 14.7 or
supplemented pursuant to Section 8.2, setting
forth the exceptions to the representations and warranties contained in Article V and certain
other information called for by this Agreement. Unless otherwise
specified, each reference in this Agreement to any numbered schedule is a
reference to the corresponding numbered schedule which is included in the
Disclosure Schedule.
“Employee Benefit
Plan” means each “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA and each other plan, policy, program, agreement, understanding and
arrangement (whether written or oral) providing compensation or other benefits
to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant (or to any
dependent or beneficiary thereof) of Company or any of its Subsidiaries which is
now or has been maintained, sponsored, entered into or contributed to by Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or under the terms of which Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has or is reasonably likely to have any obligation or liability,
whether actual or contingent, including, without limitation, all employment,
consulting, severance, termination, incentive, bonus, deferred compensation,
retention, retirement, pension, savings, profit sharing, retention, change in
control, vacation, holiday, cafeteria, medical, health, dependent care,
disability, life, accident, fringe benefit, welfare and stock-based or
stock-linked compensation plans, policies, programs, agreements, understandings
or arrangements.
“Environmental Law”
means any applicable Law relating to the protection of human health and safety,
pollution or the environment, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.), the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. App. §1801 et seq.), the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (42 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.), the Clean Water Act
(33 U.S.C. § 1251 et
seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.) the Toxic Substances
Control Act (15 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.), the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.), and the
Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. §651 et seq.), in each case as
amended and including the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate”
means any entity (whether or not incorporated) that is required to be treated as
a single employer with Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“Escrow Agent” means
SunTrust Bank, a Georgia banking corporation.
“Escrow Agreement”
means that certain escrow agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit B,
to be entered into at Closing by Parent, Stockholder Representative (on behalf
of the Stockholders) and the Escrow Agent.
“Escrow Participants”
shall mean each Stockholder other than any Unqualified Stockholder or Dissenting
Stockholder.
“Estimated Stockholder
Transfer Tax Amount” means one-half the amount of Transfer Taxes
estimated by Parent and Stockholder Representative in good faith to be incurred
in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.
4
“Exchange Act” means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Facilities” shall
mean any real property, leaseholds or other interest currently owned, held,
occupied or operated by Company or its Subsidiaries and any buildings,
structures or equipment (including motor vehicles) currently owned or operated
by Company or its Subsidiaries.
“Feasibility Study”
means a project development study performed in order to determine the technical
and economic feasibility of the Rentech Project.
“Future Innovations”
means any improvement or modification (including any and all new innovations,
improvements, discoveries, inventions, processes, techniques, products and/or
devices) to the Licensed SGC Technology. Future Innovations do not
include processes, techniques, products and devices which are not directly
related to the use and practice of the Licensed SGC Technology.
“GAAP” means generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States as of the date hereof,
consistently applied.
“Governmental Body”
means any government or governmental or regulatory body thereof, whether
federal, state, local or foreign, or any governmental department, commission,
board, agency, or similar authority, or any court of competent
jurisdiction.
“Hazardous Material”
means any substance, material or waste which is regulated by the United States,
the foreign jurisdictions in which Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts
the Business, or any state or local Governmental Body including, without
limitation, petroleum and its by-products, asbestos, and any material or
substance which is defined as a “hazardous waste”, “hazardous substance”,
“hazardous material”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “industrial waste”, “solid
waste”, “contaminant”, “pollutant”, “toxic waste” or “toxic substance” under any
provision of any Environmental Law.
“Indebtedness” means,
at any specified time, any of the following indebtedness of any Person (whether
or not contingent and including, without limitation, any and all principal,
accrued and unpaid interest, prepayment premiums or penalties, related expenses,
commitment and other fees, sale or liquidity participation amounts,
reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts which would be payable in
connection therewith): (a) any obligations of such Person for borrowed money or
in respect of loans or advances (whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes, or other similar instruments or debt securities); (b) any obligations of
such Person as lessee under any lease or similar arrangement required to be
recorded as a capital lease in accordance with GAAP; (c) all liabilities of such
Person under or in connection with letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances,
performance bonds, sureties or similar obligations that have been drawn down, in
each case, to the extent of such draw; (d) any obligations of such Person to pay
the deferred purchase price of property, goods or services; (e) all liabilities
of such Person arising from cash/book overdrafts; (f) all liabilities of such
Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements; (g) all
obligations of such Person with respect to vendor advances or any other advances
made to such person; (h) all liabilities of such Person arising out of interest
rate and currency swap arrangements and any other arrangements designed to
provide protection against fluctuations in interest or currency rates; (i) any
liability or obligation of others guaranteed by, or secured by any Lien on the
assets of, such Person; and (j) with respect to Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, the net amount of any obligation or liability of
Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any Stockholder or Affiliate
of any Stockholder (except for compensation payable to any such Stockholder in
the ordinary course of business for such Stockholder’s services as an employee
of Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries).
5
“IRS” means the
Internal Revenue Service.
“Key Employees” means
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Sim Weeks.
“Knowledge of Company”
or words of similar import means, with respect to a particular fact or other
matter, the knowledge of each of Key Employees, the Principal Stockholder, Xxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx and of each other current officer or director of
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case after the making by such Person
of a reasonable investigation of the circumstances related thereto in light of
the facts known to such Person, including by such Person making due inquiry of
other Persons who should be aware of such facts or matters.
“Law” means any
federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational or other
administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common law,
regulation, statute or treaty.
“Leased Real Property”
shall mean all leased property described in the Real Property
Leases.
“Legal Proceeding”
means any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit
(whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) commenced, brought,
conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Body
or arbitrator.
“Liabilities” means
any liability, indebtedness, obligation, commitment, responsibility, expense,
claim, deficiency, guaranty or endorsement of or by any Person of any type,
whether known or unknown, accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured or
other.
“Licensed SGC
Technology” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Rialto
License Agreement.
“Lien” means any
charge, claim, community property interest, condition, equitable interest, lien,
license, option, pledge, security interest, charge, right of first refusal,
easement, restriction, reservation, servitude, proxy, voting trust or agreement,
transfer restriction under any shareholder or similar agreement, or encumbrance
or adverse claims or rights of any nature whatsoever.
“Lock-up Period” means
the period of 180 days following the Closing Date.
6
“Loss” means any loss,
liability, action, cause of action, cost, damages or expenses, whether or not
arising from or in connection with any Third-Party Claims (including, without
limitation, interest, penalties, reasonable attorneys’, consultants’ and
experts’ fees and expenses and all amounts paid in investigation, defense or
settlement of any of the foregoing).
“Material Adverse
Effect” or “Material Adverse
Change” means any event or circumstance having or causing a significant
and substantial adverse effect or change in the condition (financial or other),
results of operations, business, Liabilities or properties of Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or on the ability of Company or any Stockholder
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
“Most Recent Balance
Sheet” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Company and its
Subsidiaries at May 31, 2009.
“Net Working Capital”
means the result of (i) all cash of Company and its Subsidiaries minus (ii) all
current liabilities (excluding the Payoff Amount) of Company and its
Subsidiaries, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting
Principles.
“Net Working Capital
Amount” means the Net Working Capital of Company and its Subsidiaries as
of 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the day immediately preceding the Closing
Date.
“NYSE” means the New
York Stock Exchange.
“Order” means any
award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena or verdict
entered, issued, made or rendered by any court, administrative agency or other
Governmental Body or by any arbitrator.
“Organizational
Documents” means (a) the articles or certificate of incorporation, all
certificates of determination and designation, and the bylaws of a corporation;
(b) the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership of a general
partnership; (c) the limited partnership agreement and the certificate or
articles of limited partnership of a limited partnership; (d) the operating
agreement, limited liability company agreement and the certificate or articles
of organization or formation of a limited liability company; (e) any charter or
similar document adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or
organization of any other Person; and (f) any amendment to any of the
foregoing.
“Parent Common Stock”
means the common stock, $0.01 par value, of Parent.
“Payee Pro Rata
Portion” means, with respect to each Payee, a percentage equal to the
quotient of (A) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock receivable by such
Payee pursuant to Section 4.2(c) in
respect of aggregate portion of the Payoff Amount payable to such Payee divided by (B) the
total number of shares of Parent Common Stock receivable by all Payees pursuant
to Section
4.2(c) hereof in respect of the Payoff Amount.
“Payees” or “Payee” means each of
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (on behalf of himself and Corporate Holdings, LLC), Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP.
7
“Payoff Amount” means
the amount set forth on the Closing Payment Certificate required to pay and
satisfy in full all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness owing by Company
and its Subsidiaries under the Xxxxxxxx Note, the Corporate Holdings Note, the
Xxxxxxxxxxx Notes and the fees due for services provided by Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
to Company and its Subsidiaries as set forth on the Closing Payment
Certificate.
“Permit” means any
approval, consent, license, permit, waiver or other authorization issued,
granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any
Governmental Body or any other Person or pursuant to any Law necessary or
desirable for the present conduct of, or relating to, the operation of the
Business.
“Person” means any
individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general or
limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust,
association, organization, labor union or other entity or Governmental
Body.
“Pre-Closing Tax
Period” means (a) any Tax period ending on or before the Closing
Date and (b) with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such
period ending on the Closing Date.
“Proprietary Rights”
means (a) all inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not
reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent
applications and patent disclosures, together with all provisionals,
reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, revisions,
extensions and reexaminations thereof; (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade
dress, logos, brand names, trade names, domain names and corporate names,
together with all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations
thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, and all applications,
registrations and renewals in connection therewith; (c) all copyrightable works,
all copyrights, any and all website content, and all applications, registrations
and renewals in connection therewith; (d) all trade secrets and confidential
business information (including ideas, research and development, know-how,
formulae, compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques,
technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, research records, records of
inventions, test information, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost
information, and business and marketing plans and proposals); (e) all source
code and object versions of computer software (including data and related
documentation); (f) all other proprietary rights; and (g) all copies and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium), and any claims or
causes of actions (pending or filed) arising out of or related to any
infringement or misappropriation of any of the foregoing.
“Pro Rata Portion”
means, with respect to each Stockholder, a percentage equal to the quotient of
(A) the aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock receivable
by such Stockholder pursuant to Section 2.5(a) in
respect of the shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Stockholder as of
the Effective Time divided by (B) the
total number of shares of Parent Common Stock receivable by all Stockholders
pursuant to Section
2.5(a) hereof in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock owned by
all Stockholders as of the Effective Time; provided however, that in the
event that any Dissenting Shares are not deposited in the Escrow Account, such
shares shall be excluded from clause (B) of the foregoing calculation with
respect to any calculation of “Pro Rata Portion” of the Escrow
Account.
8
“Purchaser
Representative” means Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx.
“Qualified
Stockholder” means each Stockholder that (a) has delivered a Stockholder
Transmittal Letter in accordance with Section 2.7, (b) has
delivered an Investor Certification in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(xi),
and (c) is not a Dissenting Stockholder.
“Release” means any
release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal,
discharge, dispersal or leaching into the environment.
“Remedial Action”
means all actions to (a) clean up, remove, treat or in any other way
address any Hazardous Material; (b) prevent the Release of any Hazardous
Material so it does not endanger or threaten to endanger public health or the
environment; or (c) perform post-remedial monitoring and care.
“Rentech Project”
means Parent’s project in Rialto, California or another facility other than
Parent’s project at Rialto, California, designated by Parent in its sole
discretion.
“Representative” means
any managing member, general partner, officer, director, principal, attorney,
agent, employee or other representative.
“Requisite
Stockholders” means the approval (by vote or written consent, as
permitted by law) of (a) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock (on an as converted to Company Common Stock
basis) and (b) the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of
Company Preferred Stock.
“Restricted
Stockholder” means each Qualified Stockholder other than Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
LLP.
“Rialto License
Agreement” means that certain Technology License Agreement, dated as of
March 29, 2009, by and between Parent and Company.
“SAGE LLC” means
SilvaGas Allied Green Energy LLC, a Georgia limited liability
company.
“SEC” means the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means
the Securities Act of 1933, as it may be amended from time to time, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“SilvaGas Design”
means the design of the SilvaGas Gasifier at the Vermont Project.
“Xxxxxxxxxxx Notes”
means those promissory notes set forth on Schedule
1.1(b).
9
“Straddle Period”
shall mean any Tax period beginning before or on the Closing Date and ending
after the Closing Date.
“Subsidiaries” shall
mean (a) any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with
Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the
unbroken chain then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such
chain, (b) any partnership in which Company is a general partner, or (c) any
partnership in which Company possesses a 50% or greater interest in the total
capital or total income of such partnership. For purposes of this Agreement,
each of Big Stakes LLC and SAGE LLC shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary of
Company.
“Tangible Personal
Property” means all machinery, equipment, tools, furniture, office
equipment, computer hardware, supplies, materials, vehicles and other items of
tangible personal property of every kind owned or leased by Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (wherever located and whether or not carried on its books),
together with any express or implied warranty by the manufacturers or sellers or
lessors of any item or component part thereof and all maintenance records and
documents related thereto.
“Target Net Working Capital
Amount” means $0.
“Tax Authority” means
any Governmental Body having or purporting to exercise jurisdiction with respect
to any Tax.
“Tax Return” means all
returns, declarations, reports, estimates, information returns and statements
required to be filed in respect of any Taxes, and any amendments to any of the
foregoing.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any
income, gross receipts, branch profits, license, payroll, employment, excise,
severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, escheat, environmental,
customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security,
unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use,
transfer, registration, ad valorem, value added, alternative or add-on minimum
or estimated tax or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest,
penalty or addition thereto, imposed by or on behalf of any Governmental Body,
whether disputed or not and including any obligation to indemnify or otherwise
assume or succeed to the Tax liability of any other Person by Law, by Contract
or otherwise.
“Total Consideration”
means the sum of the Adjusted Initial Stock Consideration, the Cash
Consideration, the Earn-Out Payment, if any, and the portion of the Excess
Licensing Fees payable to the Stockholders in accordance with Section 2.14, if
any.
“Unqualified
Stockholder” means each Stockholder that is not a Qualified
Stockholder.
“Unrestricted
Stockholder” means each Stockholder that is not a Restricted
Stockholder.
10
“Vermont Project”
means the project conducted by SilvaGas Corporation (as successor in interest to
FERCO Enterprises, Inc.) and the U.S. Department of Energy that resulted in the
engineering, procurement, construction, and operation of a greater than 100 Tons
Per Day SilvaGas Gasifier in Burlington, VT and that ceased operation in
2002.
“VWAP” means (a) the
volume-weighted average sales price for the Parent Common Stock on the NYSE or
other trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately
preceding (but not including) the applicable determination date, or (b) if the
foregoing does not apply, the volume-weighted average sales price of the Parent
Common Stock during the same period in the over-the-counter market on the pink
sheets or bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or if no
sales price is so reported for the Parent Common Stock, the last bid price of
the Parent Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg or (c) if none of the foregoing
applies, the fair market value shall be determined by the Board of Directors of
Parent in the exercise of its good faith judgment.
“Xxxxxxxx Note” means
that certain Master Promissory Note, dated as of January 1, 2007, executed by
Company in favor of Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx.
1.2 Other Defined
Terms. The
following terms shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Sections
set forth below:
Term
|
Section
|
Adjusted
Initial Stock Consideration
|
2.10(c)(iii)
|
Adjustment
Amount
|
2.10(c)(iii)
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
BG&E
|
4.2(a)(xvi)
|
ByLaws
|
5.5
|
Cap
Amount
|
2.14(d)(i)
|
Cash
Consideration
|
2.5(b)(i)
|
Certificate
of Incorporation
|
5.5
|
Closing
|
4.1
|
Closing
Consideration Schedule
|
8.9
|
Closing
Payment Certificate
|
2.8
|
Closing
Per Share Stock Consideration
|
2.5(b)(iii)
|
Closing
Statement
|
2.10(a)
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
Company
Change Objection
|
2.13(b)
|
Company
Change Objection Statement
|
2.13(b)
|
11
Term | Section |
Company
Review Representative
|
2.13(b)
|
DGCL
|
Recitals
|
Dispute
Notice
|
2.14(b)
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
2.6(a)
|
Dissenting
Stockholder
|
2.6(d)
|
DLLCA
|
Recitals
|
Domain
Names
|
5.13(b)
|
Earn-Out
Determination Date
|
2.14(d)(ii)
|
Earn-Out
Expiration Date
|
2.13(g)
|
Earn-Out
Payment
|
2.13(a)
|
Effective
Time
|
2.2
|
ERISA
|
5.15(a)
|
Escrow
Account
|
2.9
|
Escrow
Amount
|
2.9
|
Escrow
Shares
|
2.9
|
Estimated
Net Working Capital Amount
|
2.8
|
Excess
Dissenting Share Payments
|
2.6(c)
|
Excess
Licensing Fees
|
2.14(d)(iii)
|
Excess
Licensing Fees Statement
|
2.14(b)
|
Xxxxxx
Employment Agreement
|
4.2(a)(xiv)
|
Feasibility
Completion Date
|
2.13(c)
|
Final
Performance Criteria
|
2.13(c)
|
Financial
Statements
|
5.7
|
First
Step Merger
|
Recitals
|
Fundamental
Representations
|
12.2(c)(ii)
|
Fundamental
Transaction
|
2.17
|
Incremental
Startup Investment
|
2.13(k)(i)
|
Indemnified
Party
|
12.5(a)
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
12.5(a)
|
Indemnity
Payouts
|
2.14(d)(iv)
|
Independent
Auditor
|
2.10(b)
|
Independent
Engineer
|
2.13(a)
|
Initial
Stock Consideration
|
2.5(b)(ii)
|
12
Term | Section |
Initial
Surviving Corporation
|
2.1
|
Licensing
Fees
|
2.14(d)(v)
|
Maximum
Earn-Out Payment
|
2.13(k)(ii)
|
Merger
|
Recitals
|
Merger
Sub
|
Preamble
|
Objections
Statement
|
2.10(b)
|
Outstanding
Common Stock Number
|
2.5(b)(iv)
|
Parent
|
Preamble
|
Parent
Documents
|
7.2
|
Parent
Fundamental Representations
|
12.3(b)(i)
|
Parent
Indemnified Parties
|
12.2(a)
|
Parent
Proposed Change
|
2.13(b)
|
Parent
Proposed Change Statement
|
2.13(b)
|
Parent
Registration Statement
|
2.11(a)
|
Parent
SEC Documents
|
7.10
|
Performance
Criteria
|
2.13(a)
|
Performance
Criteria Percentage
|
2.13(k)(iii)
|
Permitted
Objection
|
2.14(b)
|
Principal
Stockholder
|
Preamble
|
Proposed
Final Performance Criteria
|
2.13(c)
|
Proposed
Final Performance Criteria Statement
|
2.13(c)
|
Qualified
License Agreement
|
2.14(d)(vi)
|
Qualified
Licensing Fees
|
2.14(d)(vii)
|
Real
Property Lease
|
5.11(b)
|
Registrable
Payoff Amount Shares
|
2.11(a)
|
Registrable
Stock Consideration
|
2.11(a)
|
Restricted
Stockholders
|
11.1
|
Second
Step Certificate of Merger
|
2.12(c)
|
Second
Step Effective Time
|
2.12(c)
|
Second
Step Merger
|
Recitals
|
Second
Merger Sub
|
Preamble
|
Shares
|
2.5(b)(i)
|
SilvaGas
Gasifier
|
2.13(a)
|
13
Term | Section |
Stockholders
|
Preamble
|
Stockholder
Indemnified Parties
|
12.3(a)
|
Stockholder
Representative
|
Preamble
|
Stockholder
Transmittal Letter
|
2.7(a)
|
Stock
Certificates
|
2.7(a)
|
Survival
Date
|
12.1
|
Surviving
Company
|
2.12(a)
|
Tax
Claim
|
8.7(e)
|
Technical
Review Committee
|
2.13(b)
|
Third-Party
Claim
|
12.5(a)
|
Threshold
|
12.2(c)(ii)
|
Transaction
|
Recitals
|
Transfer
|
8.8(b)
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
8.7(i)
|
Voting
Debt
|
5.3(b)
|
Weeks
Employment Agreement
|
4.2(a)(xv)
|
Written
Consent
|
8.10
|
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
2.1 The
Merger. Pursuant
to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective
Time, Company and Merger Sub shall consummate the Merger in accordance with the
DGCL pursuant to which (a) Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Company and
the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease; (b)
Company shall be the successor or surviving corporation in the Merger and shall
continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware; (c) the separate
corporate existence of Company with all its rights, privileges, immunities,
powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger; and (d) Company
shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of Merger
Sub. The corporation surviving the Merger is sometimes hereinafter
referred to as the “Initial Surviving
Corporation.” The Merger shall have the effects set forth in
the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
2.2 Effective
Time. Concurrently
with the Closing, the parties shall file a Certificate of Merger in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Certificate of
Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL. The Merger shall
become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger or at such later
time as is agreed to by the parties hereto and specified in the Certificate of
Merger (the time at which the Merger becomes effective is herein referred to as
the “Effective
Time”).
14
2.3 Effects of the
Merger. At
the Effective Time, and without any further action on the part of Company or
Merger Sub:
(a) the
certificate of incorporation of Company, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be amended and restated in the Merger so as to be
identical in all respects to the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub as
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that the name of the
Initial Surviving Corporation shall be the name of Company as of immediately
prior to the Effective Time, and, as so amended and restated, such certificate
of incorporation shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Initial
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by
applicable law;
(b) the
bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time,
shall be the bylaws of the Initial Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended as provided therein or by applicable law except that the name of the
Initial Surviving Corporation shall be the name of Company as of immediately
prior to the Effective Time;
(c) the
directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the directors and officers of the Initial Surviving Corporation, from
and after the Effective Time until their respective successors shall have
been duly elected, designated or qualified, or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Initial Surviving Corporation’s
certificate of incorporation and bylaws; and
(d) the
Merger shall, from and after the Effective Time, have all of the effects
provided by the DGCL and applicable law. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, without
any further action on the part of Company or the Stockholders, all the
properties, rights, privileges and powers of Company and Merger Sub shall vest
in the Initial Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of
Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the
Initial Surviving Corporation.
2.4 Subsequent
Actions. If
at any time after the Effective Time the Initial Surviving Corporation shall
determine, in its sole discretion, or shall be advised, that any deeds, bills of
sale, instruments of conveyance, assignments, assurances or any other actions or
things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
otherwise in the Initial Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in,
to or under any of the rights, properties or assets of Company vested in the
Initial Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger
or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, then the officers and directors of the
Initial Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the
name and on behalf of Company, all such deeds, bills of sale, instruments of
conveyance, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on
behalf of Company or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may be
necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title or
interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Initial
Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
15
2.5 Conversion of
Securities.
(a) Effect on Capital
Stock. Prior to the Effective Time, all shares of Company
Preferred Stock shall be converted into Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 8.12. At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Merger Sub, Company or the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, each share
of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will be canceled and extinguished and will be converted
automatically into the right to receive upon surrender of the certificates
representing shares of Company Common Stock in a manner provided in
Section 2.7 hereof, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 2.5 and throughout
this Agreement, including the escrow provisions set forth in Sections 2.5(a) and 2.9 and Article XII hereof, the
consideration set forth below without interest (and, in the case of the Initial
Stock Consideration, rounded up to the nearest whole share of Parent Common
Stock after aggregating all shares of Company Common Stock held by a
Stockholder):
(i) (A) each
outstanding share of Company Common Stock (other than any Dissenting Shares)
held by a Qualified Stockholder will be converted automatically into the right
to receive a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to (1) the
Closing Per Share Stock Consideration, plus (2) on the
applicable dates set forth in Section 2.13, the portion of the
Earn-Out Payments to which a holder of each such share of Company Common Stock
would be entitled as set forth in, and calculated in accordance with, Section 2.13, plus (3) on the
applicable dates set forth in Section 2.14, the
portion of the Excess Licensing Fees to which a holder of each such share of
Company Common Stock would be entitled as set forth in, and calculated in
accordance with, Section 2.14; and (B)
and each outstanding share of Company Common Stock (other than any Dissenting
Shares) held by an Unqualified Stockholder will be converted automatically in
the right to receive the Cash Consideration; and
(ii) notwithstanding
the foregoing, a portion of the consideration payable to each Stockholder
pursuant to Section
2.5(a)(i)(A) with
respect to the shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Stockholder as of
the Effective Time shall be deposited into escrow in accordance with the escrow
provisions of Section
2.9 and Article XII hereof and shall
be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) For
purposes of this Section 2.5:
(i) “Cash Consideration”
means an amount in cash equal to $81.54 per share of Company Common
Stock.
(ii) “Initial Stock
Consideration” means that number of shares of Parent Common Stock (the
“Shares”)
having a value (calculated on the basis of the Closing Price) equal to (A)
$9,735,000 minus (B) the
Estimated Stockholder Transfer Tax Amount minus (C) the Payoff
Amount, plus
(D) the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Net Working Capital Amount
exceeds the Target Net Working Capital Amount, minus (E) the
amount, if any, by which the Target Net Working Capital Amount exceeds the
Estimated Net Working Capital Amount, minus (F) the
aggregate Cash Consideration, if any; provided that in no event shall
the number of Shares exceed 19,470,000 (subject to adjustment from time to time
for any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, reorganization,
reclassification or other similar event of Parent that occurs prior to the
Effective Time).
16
(iii) “Closing Per Share
Stock Consideration” means
a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the quotient of the Initial
Stock Consideration divided by the
Outstanding Common Stock Number.
(iv) “Outstanding Common Stock
Number” means the number of shares of Company Common Stock held by
Qualified Stockholders outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
(c) Cancellation of Certain
Shares. Each issued and outstanding share of Company Capital
Stock that is held in treasury of Company or owned by Company, Parent or Merger
Sub shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and
no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(d) Merger Sub Common
Stock. Each issued and outstanding share of the common stock,
par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub shall be converted into and become one
fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Initial Surviving
Corporation.
2.6 Appraisal
Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any shares of Company Common Stock
held by a holder who is entitled to demand and has properly demanded and not
effectively withdrawn or lost such holder’s appraisal rights for such shares
under Section 262 of the DGCL (collectively, the “Dissenting Shares”),
shall not be converted into or represent a right to receive a portion of the
consideration as set forth in Section 2.5 hereof, but the
holder thereof shall only be entitled to such rights as are provided by Section
262 of the DGCL. At the Effective Time, the Dissenting Shares shall
no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of Dissenting Shares shall cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except the right to receive the fair value of such shares in
accordance with the provisions of DGCL Section 262.
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 2.6(a) hereof, if any
holder of Dissenting Shares shall effectively withdraw or lose (through failure
to perfect or otherwise) such holder’s appraisal rights with respect to such
shares under the DGCL, if applicable, then, as of the later of the Effective
Time and the occurrence of such event, such shares shall automatically be
converted into and represent only the right to receive the consideration set
forth in and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, upon surrender of the
certificate(s) formerly representing such shares.
17
(c) Company
shall give Parent (A) prompt notice of any written demand for appraisal received
by Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL and (B) the
opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
such demands. Company shall not, except with the prior written
consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
voluntarily make any payment with respect to any such demands or offer to settle
or settle any such demands. Any communication to be made by Company
to any Stockholder with respect to such demands shall be submitted to Parent in
advance and shall not be presented to any Stockholder prior to Company receiving
Parent’s consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that Parent,
the Initial Surviving Corporation or Company (i) makes any payment or payments
in respect of any Dissenting Shares in excess of the consideration that
otherwise would have been payable in respect of such shares in accordance with
this Agreement or (ii) incurs any Losses (including reasonable attorneys’ and
consultants’ fees, costs and expenses and including any such reasonable fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending against
or settling any action or proceeding) in respect of any Dissenting Shares
(excluding payments for such shares) ((i) and (ii) together “Excess Dissenting Share
Payments”), Parent shall be entitled to recover the amount of such Excess
Dissenting Share Payments in accordance with the terms, and subject to the
limitations, of Article XII
hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding
any provision of Article II or Article XII hereof to the
contrary, in the event that there are any Dissenting Shares and the holder of
such Dissenting Shares is paid for such Dissenting Shares pursuant to Section
262 of the DGCL appraisal rights other than the consideration called for in
Section 2.5,
then (i)(A) any payment by Parent pursuant to Sections 2.5, 2.10, 2.13 and 2.14 that would
have been required to have been paid to such holder of Dissenting Shares (each a
“Dissenting
Stockholder”) (assuming, for this purpose, that such Dissenting
Stockholder had not exercised appraisal rights) shall be retained by Parent and
no Stockholder shall have any rights thereto and (B) such Dissenting Stockholder
shall not be considered an Escrow Participant hereunder.
2.7 Surrender and Payment of
Company Common
Stock.
(a) Surrender Procedures for
Company Common
Stock. At the Closing, Company shall deliver to Parent a
letter of transmittal, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto (the “Stockholder Transmittal
Letter”), duly executed by each Stockholder of Company other than any
Unqualified Stockholder and any Dissenting Stockholder, together with
accompanying share certificates representing Company Common Stock (the “Stock
Certificates”).
(b) Payments for Company Common
Stock.
(i) At or as
promptly as practicable after the Closing Date (but in no event later than five
(5) Business Days following the Closing Date), Parent shall deliver to each
Stockholder who surrendered, pursuant to Section 2.7(a), Stock
Certificate(s) evidencing shares of Company Common Stock owned by such
Stockholder, together with a duly completed and executed Stockholder Transmittal
Letter and such other documents and information as may reasonably be required by
Parent, the applicable consideration payable in respect of such shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.5(a) hereof and as
set forth on the Closing Consideration Schedule (less the amount of stock to be
deposited into the Escrow Account with respect to such Stockholder pursuant
to Section
2.5(a)(ii) and Section 2.9; provided that a statement of
such escrowed stock and the number of Escrow Shares attributable to such
Stockholder shall be delivered with such certificates). As promptly as
practicable following the delivery to Parent after the Closing Date by any
Unqualified Stockholder of share certificates representing such Unqualified
Stockholder’s shares of Company Common Stock and a letter of transmittal with
respect to such shares, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent,
Parent shall deliver to such Unqualified Stockholder the applicable
consideration payable in respect of such shares of Company Common Stock pursuant
to Section
2.5(a) hereof.
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(ii) If the
consideration payable to holders of Company Common Stock is to be paid to a
Person other than the Person in whose name the relevant Stock Certificate
surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition to the
payment of such amounts that the Stock Certificate so surrendered shall be
properly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers and otherwise be in
proper form for transfer, that such transfer otherwise be proper, that the
Person requesting such transfer pay to the Initial Surviving Corporation, any
transfer or other Taxes payable by reason of the foregoing or establish to the
satisfaction of the Initial Surviving Corporation that such Taxes have been paid
or are not required to be paid and that the transferee execute and deliver to
Parent a duly executed Investor Certification if such transferee is receiving
shares of Parent Common Stock.
(c) No Further Ownership Rights
in Company
Common Stock. At and after the Effective Time, each holder of
a Stock Certificate that represented issued and outstanding Company Common Stock
immediately prior to the date hereof shall cease to have any rights as a holder
of securities of Company, except for the right to surrender its, his or her
Stock Certificate(s) in exchange for the consideration payable in respect of
such Company Common Stock hereunder and such holder’s share of any distributions
from the Escrow Account pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof,
as applicable, or in the case of a Dissenting Stockholder, to perfect its, his
or her right to receive payment for Dissenting Shares pursuant to the DGCL, if
applicable. After the Closing Date, there shall be no further
registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Initial Surviving
Corporation of Company Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to
the Closing Date. If, after the date hereof, Stock Certificates are
presented to the Initial Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be
cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article II, except as
otherwise provided by law.
(d) No Fractional
Shares. No
certificates representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be
issued in connection with the Merger, no dividend or distribution with respect
to Parent Common Stock shall be payable on or with respect to any fractional
share and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to
any rights of a shareholder of Parent. Any consideration in the form of Parent
Common Stock payable to a Stockholder pursuant to Section 2.5(a) shall
be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock after
aggregating all shares of Company Common Stock held by such
Stockholder.
19
(e) Lost, Stolen or Damaged
Stock Certificates. In the event that any Stock Certificate
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of
that fact by the Person claiming such Stock Certificate to be lost, stolen or
destroyed and, if reasonably required by Parent, the delivery by such Person of
an indemnification agreement and post a bond in form and substance acceptable to
Parent, in Parent’s reasonable discretion, Parent will pay in exchange for such
lost, stolen or destroyed Stock Certificate the consideration to be paid with
respect thereto, subject to the terms and conditions in this Article II.
(f) Withholding
Taxes. Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold (or cause to be deducted and withheld) from the
consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement (including
consideration payable from the Escrow Account and any Earn-Out Payments) to any
Stockholder or other Person such amounts as may be required to be deducted and
withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or under any
provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that
amounts are so withheld and remitted over to the appropriate Taxing Authority,
such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as
having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and
withholding was made. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent any
amounts are required to be so withheld from any distributions from the Escrow
Account or from any Earn-Out Payments, such amounts required to be withheld
shall be distributed to Parent (or an entity designated by Parent) to enable
Parent (or any such designated entity) to comply with its withholding
obligations (including without limitation, any obligations of Company or the
Initial Surviving Corporation).
2.8 Delivery of Closing Payment
Certificate. At
least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Company shall deliver
to Parent a certificate (the “Closing Payment
Certificate”), including a consolidated balance sheet of Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, prepared in accordance with the Accounting
Principles which shall include (a) Company’s good faith estimate of the Net
Working Capital Amount (such estimate is referred to as the “Estimated Net Working
Capital Amount”) and (b) the Payoff Amount, including the delivery
instructions for each of the Payees with respect to the Payoff
Amount.
2.9 Escrow of
Consideration. In
order to at least partially satisfy and to establish a procedure for the
satisfaction of claims by Parent for payment by the Stockholders of any
post-Closing purchase price adjustments as set forth in Section 2.10 hereof
and claims by the Parent Indemnified Parties for indemnification pursuant to
Article XII
hereof, Parent, Stockholder Representative and the Escrow Agent shall enter into
the Escrow Agreement on the Closing Date, pursuant to which Parent shall deposit
with the Escrow Agent at the Closing, a portion of the Initial Stock
Consideration in the form of shares of Parent Common Stock (the “Escrow Shares”)
having a value, calculated on the basis of the Closing Price, equal to an
aggregate amount of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($4,500,000). Parent shall be deemed to have contributed (on behalf
of each Escrow Participant) each Escrow Participant’s Pro Rata Portion of the
Escrow Amount to the Escrow Account at such time, rounded to the nearest share
(and the consideration payable to each Escrow Participant pursuant to Section 2.5(a) shall
be reduced by such amount). As used in this Agreement, the term
“Escrow Amount”
means, as of any moment in time, the amount then in the Escrow Account. Pursuant
to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Escrow Agreement, the Escrow
Agent shall establish an escrow account into which the Escrow Agent shall
deposit the Escrow Amount (the “Escrow
Account”). The timing and methodology for the release of the
Escrow Amount shall be governed by the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. Subject to Section 2.6(d) and
Section 12.2(c)
hereof and the terms of the Escrow Agreement, in the event of a distribution of
any amounts from the Escrow Account to the Escrow Participants, each Escrow
Participant shall be entitled to receive a portion of such distribution equal to
such Escrow Participant’s Pro Rata Portion of such distribution.
20
2.10 Net Working Capital
Adjustment.
(a) Delivery of Closing
Statement. No later than ninety (90) days following the
Closing Date, Parent shall prepare and deliver to Stockholder Representative (i)
a consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries dated at the
Closing Date, which shall be prepared in accordance with the Accounting
Principles and (ii) a reasonably detailed statement (the “Closing Statement”)
setting forth Parent’s calculations of the Adjustment Amount and the Net Working
Capital Amount.
(b) Determination. If
Stockholder Representative has any objections to the Closing Statement or
Parent’s calculations of the Adjustment Amount and the Net Working Capital
Amount, Stockholder Representative shall deliver to Parent a statement setting
forth its objections thereto (an “Objections
Statement”), provided
that the only bases for objections shall be (i) non-compliance with the
standards set forth in Section 2.10(a) for
preparation of the Closing Statement or as set forth in the definition of Net
Working Capital and (ii) mathematical errors. If an Objections
Statement is not delivered to Parent within thirty (30) days after delivery of
the Closing Statement, the Closing Statement shall be final, binding and
non-appealable by the parties hereto. Stockholder Representative and
Parent shall negotiate in good faith to resolve any objections set forth in the
Objections Statement (and all such discussions related thereto shall, unless
otherwise agreed by Parent and Stockholder Representative, be governed by Rule
408 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (and any applicable similar state rule)),
but if they do not reach a final resolution within thirty (30) days after the
delivery of the Objections Statement, Stockholder Representative and Parent may
submit such dispute to one of the “Big Four” accounting firms other than Ernst
& Young LLP or PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or, in the event that any such
auditor is unable to accept such appointment, to any other nationally recognized
independent accounting firm mutually acceptable to Parent and Stockholder
Representative (the “Independent
Auditor”). Each party shall be afforded an opportunity to
present to the Independent Auditor material relating to the disputed issues and
to discuss the determination with the Independent Auditor. The
Independent Auditor shall act as an auditor and not as an arbitrator and shall
resolve matters in dispute and adjust and establish any disputed adjustment of
the Initial Stock Consideration amount to reflect such resolution, provided that the Independent
Auditor shall not assign a value to any item or amount in dispute greater than
the greatest value for such item or amount assigned by Stockholder
Representative, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, or less than the
smallest value for such item or amount assigned by Stockholder Representative,
on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand. It is the intent of
Parent and Stockholder Representative that the process set forth in this Section 2.10 and the
activities of the Independent Auditor in connection herewith are not intended to
be and, in fact, are not arbitration and that no formal arbitration rules shall
be followed (including rules with respect to procedures and
discovery). Stockholder Representative and Parent shall use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Independent Auditor to resolve all
such disagreements as promptly as practicable. The resolution of the
dispute by the Independent Auditor shall be final, binding and non-appealable on
the parties hereto. The Closing Statement shall be modified if
necessary to reflect such determination. The fees and expenses of the
Independent Auditor shall be allocated for payment by Parent on the one hand,
and/or Stockholder Representative, on the other hand, based upon the percentage
which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each party bears to the
amount actually contested by such party, as determined by the Independent
Auditor.
21
(c) Calculation of Net Working
Capital Adjustment; Distribution.
(i) Subject
to Section
2.6(d), if the Net Working Capital Amount as finally determined pursuant
to Section
2.10(b) above is greater
than the Estimated Net Working Capital Amount, then Parent shall promptly
distribute to each Stockholder its Pro Rata Portion of the number of Shares
(rounded to the nearest whole Share and calculated based on the Closing Price)
equal to the amount by which the Net Working Capital Amount exceeds the
Estimated Net Working Capital Amount.
(ii) Subject
to Section 2.6,
if the Net Working Capital Amount as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.10(b) above is less
than the Estimated Net Working Capital Amount, then Parent and Stockholder
Representative shall promptly execute and deliver joint written instructions to
the Escrow Agent, instructing the Escrow Agent to distribute to Parent the
number of Escrow Shares (rounded to the nearest whole Share and calculated based
on the Closing Price) equal to the amount by which the Estimated Net Working
Capital Amount exceeds the Net Working Capital Amount.
(iii) The net
amount (if any) owed by Parent to the Stockholders, on the one hand, or
Stockholders to Parent, on the other hand, pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) is referred
to as the “Adjustment
Amount.” The Adjustment Amount shall be calculated as an
adjustment to the Initial Stock Consideration and the Initial Stock
Consideration, as so adjusted, is referred to herein as the “Adjusted Initial
Stock
Consideration.”
2.11 Registration of Shares;
Facilitation of Sales Pursuant to Rule
144.
(a) Parent
shall as promptly as practicable after the Closing Date (but in no event later
than thirty (30) days thereafter), use its commercially reasonable efforts to
file with the SEC a completed registration statement on Form S-3 or any
comparable or successor form or
22
forms
(the “Parent Registration Statement”) for (i)
all of the Shares that constitute the Initial Stock Consideration (the “Registrable Stock
Consideration”) and (ii) a number of Shares issued pursuant to Section
4.2(c)(ii) (the “Registrable Payoff Amount
Shares”) equal to (x) Two Million One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand
Dollars ($2,125,000), divided by (y) the
Closing Price. In addition, Parent shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such Parent Registration Statement to become
effective as promptly as practicable after such filing. After Parent
Registration Statement is declared effective and subject to the procedures set
forth in Section
2.11(b), each Payee shall have the right to sell its Payee Pro Rata
Portion of the Registrable Payoff Amount Shares, and such Registrable
Payoff Amount Shares shall not be subject to the Lock-Up Period; provided that, on any day the
Payees shall be permitted to sell no more than an aggregate number of shares
equal to 15% of the average daily trading volume of the Parent Common Stock over
the preceding thirty (30) trading days. Parent shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Parent Registration Statement
effective for a period of one (1) year following the date the Parent
Registration Statement becomes effective. All expenses incurred by Parent in
effecting the registration of the Registrable Stock Consideration and
Registrable Payoff Amount Shares shall be borne by Parent. All expenses of
selling the Registrable Stock Consideration and Registrable Payoff Amount Shares
shall be borne by each applicable Stockholder or Payee.
(b) Prior to
selling any Registrable Payoff Amount Shares, each Payee shall provide written
notice to Stockholder Representative setting forth the number of Registrable
Payoff Amount Shares such Payee proposes to sell and the date upon which the
Payee intends to sell such Registrable Payoff Amount Shares. As soon as
practicable following receipt of such notice, Stockholder Representative shall
provide written instructions to such Payee, with a written copy to Company,
indicating the number of Registrable Payoff Amount Shares that such Payee may
sell and the dates upon which such Payee may sell them. Each Payee agrees on
behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates, that neither it nor any of its
Affiliates shall sell any Registrable Payoff Amount Shares without the prior
written consent of Stockholder Representative. In the event that any Payee
attempts to sell Registrable Payoff Amount Shares in contravention of
Stockholder Representative’s instructions or without providing written notice to
Stockholder Representative pursuant to this Section 2.11(b), the
Parent shall have the right to issue stop-transfer instructions to its transfer
agent with respect to any such sale and shall have the right not to recognize
any such attempted transfer.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Parent shall take such action as any Stockholder may reasonably
request, including, without limitation, removing or causing to be removed any
restrictive legend described in Section 8.8 and
issuing or causing to be issued share certificates without a restrictive legend
to a Stockholder or its designee, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such Stockholder to sell Parent Common Stock without registration
under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by
Rule 144 of the Exchange Act and subject to any applicable limitations otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement, provided however, that Parent
shall not be deemed to have breached this clause (c) solely because the
condition set forth in Rule 144(c) of the Exchange Act has not been
satisfied. Upon the request of any Stockholder in connection with
such Stockholder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Exchange Act, Parent shall
deliver to such Stockholder a written statement confirming its compliance with
such requirements.
23
2.12 The Second Step
Merger.
(a) The Second Step
Merger. Immediately
following the Merger, the Initial Surviving Corporation and Second Merger Sub
shall consummate the Second Step Merger in accordance with the DGCL and the
DLLCA pursuant to which (i) the Initial Surviving Corporation shall be merged
with and into Second Merger Sub and the separate corporate existence of the
Initial Surviving Corporation shall thereupon cease; (ii) Second Merger Sub
shall be the successor or surviving entity in the Second Step Merger and shall
continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware; (iii) the separate
corporate existence of Second Merger Sub with all its rights, privileges,
immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Second Step
Merger; and (iv) Second Merger Sub shall succeed to and assume all the rights
and obligations of the Initial Surviving Corporation. The corporation
surviving the Second Step Merger is sometimes hereinafter referred to as the
“Surviving
Company.” The Second Step Merger shall have the effects set
forth in the applicable provisions of the DGCL and the DLLCA.
(b) Conditions. There shall be
no conditions to the completion of the Second Step Merger other than the
completion of the Merger.
(c) Second Step Effective
Time. Immediately
following the Merger, Parent shall file a certificate of merger (the “Second Step Certificate of
Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and the
DLLCA. The Second Step Merger shall become effective upon the filing
of the Second Step Certificate of Merger (the “Second Step Effective
Time”)
(d) Effects of Second Step
Merger. At the Second Step Effective Time, and without any further action
on the part of Second Merger Sub or the Initial Surviving
Corporation:
(i) the
certificate of formation of Second Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to
the Second Step Effective Time, shall be the certificate of the Surviving
Company until thereafter amended or as provided therein or by applicable law
except that the name of the Surviving Company shall be the name of the Initial
Surviving Corporation as of immediately prior to the Second Step Effective
Time;
(ii) the
operating agreement of Second Step Merger Sub, as in effect immediately
prior to the Second Step Effective Time, shall be the operating agreement of the
Surviving Company until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable
law except that the name of the Surviving Company shall be “Rentech SilvaGas
LLC” as of immediately prior to the Second Step Effective Time;
(iii) the sole
member of Second Step Merger Sub immediately prior to the Second Step Effective
Time shall, from and after the Second Step Effective Time, be the sole member of
the Surviving Company; and
24
(iv) the
Second Step Merger shall, from and after the Second Step Effective Time, have
all of the effects provided by the DGCL, DLLCA and applicable
law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto, at the Second Step Effective Time, without further action on the part
of any Person, all the properties, rights, privileges and powers of the
Initial Surviving Corporation and Second Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving
Company, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Initial Surviving
Corporation and Second Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties
of the Surviving Company.
(e) Subsequent Actions. If at any time
after the Second Step Effective Time the Surviving Company shall determine, in
its sole discretion, or shall be advised, that any deeds, bills of sale,
instruments of conveyance, assignments, assurances or any other actions or
things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
otherwise in the Surviving Company its right, title or interest in, to or under
any of the rights, properties or assets of Initial Surviving Corporation vested
in the Surviving Company as a result of, or in connection with, the Second Step
Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, then the officers and directors
of the Surviving Company shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
and on behalf of the Initial Surviving Corporation, all such deeds, bills of
sale, instruments of conveyance, assignments and assurances and to take and do,
in the name and on behalf of the Initial Surviving Corporation or otherwise, all
such other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect
or confirm any and all right, title or interest in, to and under such rights,
properties or assets in the Surviving Company or otherwise to carry out this
Agreement.
(f) Effect on Capital
Stock. Each issued and outstanding share of the common stock,
par value $0.001 per share, of Initial Surviving Corporation shall be cancelled
and exchanged for an equivalent percentage of the membership interests of the
Surviving Company, and all of the membership interests of the Second Merger Sub
shall become all of the membership interests of the Surviving
Company.
2.13 Calculation of Earn-Out
Amounts.
(a) Subject
to the terms of this Section 2.13,
the Stockholders (other than Dissenting Stockholders) shall be entitled to
receive a payment (the “Earn-Out Payment”)
based upon the Performance Criteria Percentage achievement by the biomass
gasification unit implementing the Licensed SGC Technology (the “SilvaGas Gasifier”)
at the Rentech Project relative to the performance criteria set forth on Exhibit E attached
hereto (the “Performance
Criteria”) as shall be finalized following the Closing Date pursuant to
Section
2.13(c). All determinations regarding the Performance Criteria
Percentage relative to the Performance Criteria shall be made by the mutual
consent of Parent and the Company Review Representative. Company Review
Representative and Parent shall negotiate in good faith to resolve any disputes
regarding the Performance Criteria Percentage achieved relative to the
Performance Criteria, but if they do not reach a final resolution within forty
five (45) days following the commencement of the commercial operation of the
SilvaGas Gasifier at the Rentech Project, Company Review Representative and
Parent may submit such dispute to an independent engineer mutually
acceptable to Parent and Company Review Representative (any such mutually agreed upon independent
engineer, the “Independent
Engineer”) for resolution pursuant to this Section 2.13
25
and which
resolution shall be binding upon all parties. Each party shall be afforded an
opportunity to present to the Independent Engineer material relating to the
disputed issues and to discuss the determination with the Independent
Engineer. The Independent Engineer shall act as an auditor and not as
an arbitrator and shall resolve only those matters in dispute and adjust and
establish any disputed adjustment of the Performance Criteria Percentage to
reflect such resolution. In the event that the Independent Engineer is to
resolve any disputes regarding the Performance Criteria Percentage pursuant to
the foregoing sentence, no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days
following the commencement of the commercial operation of the SilvaGas Gasifier
at the Rentech Project, the Independent Engineer shall notify the Company Review
Representative and Parent of such resolutions. In determining the Performance
Criteria Percentage, Parent and the Company Review Representative, or the
Independent Engineer, as applicable, shall apply the percentage weights assigned
to each item of the Performance Criteria to construct the Performance Criteria
Percentage, which shall be used to evaluate the overall performance of the
SilvaGas Gasifier against the Performance Criteria and shall take into
consideration any Parent Proposed Changes that were incorporated into the final
design of the SilvaGas Gasifier against a Company Change Objection with respect
to that Parent Proposed Change. To the extent that Parent and the Company Review
Representative, or Independent Engineer, as applicable, determine in writing
that any failure in the performance of the SilvaGas Gasifier relative to the
Performance Criteria can reasonably be attributed to any Parent Proposed Changes
that were incorporated into the final design of the SilvaGas Gasifier against a
related Company Change Objection, then any such failure shall be disregarded for
purposes of calculating the Performance Criteria Percentage and the Earn-Out
Payment.
(b) In the
event that, prior to the commencement of the commercial operation of the
SilvaGas Gasifier at the Rentech Project, Parent proposes any material change to
the SilvaGas Design (“Parent Proposed
Change”), prior to effecting any such Parent Proposed Change, Parent
shall submit to Xxxxxx Xxxxxx or another person designated to Parent by Company
in writing (the “Company Review
Representative”), with a copy to Sim Weeks, a written statement (the
“Parent Proposed
Change Statement”) describing in reasonable detail such Parent Proposed
Change and the reasons for such change, as well as any documentation reasonably
necessary to support the implementation of such Parent Proposed Change. After
delivery of the Parent Proposed Change Statement, Company Review Representative
may make inquiries of Parent and its employees regarding questions concerning or
disagreements with the Parent Proposed Change Statement arising in the course of
its review thereof, and Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cause any such employees to cooperate with and respond to such
inquiries. If Company Review Representative has any substantive,
reasonable and good faith objections to the Parent Proposed Change Statement,
Company Review Representative shall deliver to Parent a written statement (a
“Company Change
Objection Statement”) setting forth its objections thereto in reasonable
detail (the “Company
Change Objection”), as well as any documentation reasonably necessary to
support such Company Change Objection no later than ten (10) Business Days
following the receipt of the Parent Proposed Change Statement. If a
Company Change Objection Statement is not delivered to Parent within ten (10)
Business Days after delivery of the Parent Proposed Change Statement, the Parent
Proposed Change shall be deemed approved by the Stockholders, no Company Change
Objection may be asserted and Parent shall have the right to make such Parent
Proposed Change incorporated into the SilvaGas
26
Design. If
any Company Change Objections Statement is delivered to Parent within ten (10)
Business Days after delivery of the Parent Proposed Change Statement, regardless
of whether, at that time, Parent considers the objection(s) set forth therein to
be substantive, reasonable and in good faith, Parent shall, within fifteen (15)
Business Days after the delivery of Company Change Objections Statement, convene
a review committee (the “Technical Review
Committee”), consisting of Parent’s Chief Technology Officer and Parent’s
Executive Vice President for Renewable Businesses, or another designee of
Parent’s Chief Technology Officer and the Company Review Representative, to
review the Parent Proposed Change and Company Change
Objection. Parent may not refuse the Technical Review Committee’s
review of (or refuse to submit for review) any timely Company Change Objection
provided in accordance with this Section
2.13(b). If any Parent Proposed Change or Company Change
Objection is submitted to the Technical Review Committee, each party will
furnish to the Technical Review Committee such work papers and other documents
and information relating to the Parent Proposed Change and Company Change
Objection, as applicable, as the Technical Review Committee may reasonably
request and are available to that party. The Technical Review Committee may make
inquiries of the Company Review Representative, Parent, and their respective
employees or consultants, if any, regarding questions concerning or
disagreements with the Parent Proposed Change or Company Change Objection
arising in the course of their review thereof and Parent and the Company Review
Representative shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such
employees or consultants to cooperate with and respond to such
inquiries. Company Review Representative and Parent shall use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Technical Review Committee to
resolve all such disagreements as promptly as practicable. The
approval of the Parent Proposed Change or the Company Change Objection by a
majority vote of the Technical Review Committee, with any such changes,
modifications or amendments as the Technical Review Committee shall deem
necessary, in its sole discretion, shall be final, binding and non-appealable on
the parties hereto.
(c) The
parties hereto agree that the Performance Criteria are not able to be finalized
until the date of completion of a Feasibility Study on the Rentech Project
(“Feasibility
Completion Date”) and may be updated, changed, amended, modified or
supplemented after the Closing Date by the Technical Review Committee without
any further approval of Parent or the Stockholders, or the Company Review
Representative pursuant to this Agreement. Within thirty (30) days following the
Feasibility Completion Date and delivery of the results of such study to Parent
and Company Review Representative, the Technical Review Committee shall convene
to establish final Performance Criteria (“Final Performance
Criteria”). In the event that the Technical Review Committee is not able
to unanimously agree on the Final Performance Criteria within sixty (60) days
following the Feasibility Completion Date, then the Technical Review Committee
shall promptly submit to an Independent Engineer a written statement (the “Proposed Final
Performance
Criteria Statement”)
describing in reasonable detail the proposed Final Performance Criteria (the
“Proposed Final
Performance Criteria”), the disagreements with respect to such Proposed
Final Performance Criteria and any documentation reasonably necessary to review
such Proposed Final Performance Criteria and the disagreements related thereto.
If the Proposed Final Performance Criteria is submitted to the Independent
Engineer, the Technical Review Committee will furnish to the Independent
Engineer such work papers, feasibility studies and other documents and
information relating to the Proposed Final
27
Performance
Criteria and the disagreements related thereto, as the Independent Engineer may
reasonably request and are available to that party. After delivery of the
Proposed Final Performance Criteria Statement, the Independent Engineer may make
inquiries of the Technical Review Committee, Parent, the Company Review
Representative and each of their respective employees and consultants regarding
questions concerning or disagreements with the Proposed Final Performance
Criteria arising in the course of its review thereof, and each such party shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such employees or
consultants to cooperate with and respond to such inquiries. The
Technical Review Committee shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cause the Independent Engineer to resolve all such disagreements as promptly as
practicable. The Independent Engineer shall resolve only those
matters in dispute and shall modify the Proposed Final Performance Criteria only
to reflect such resolution. The determination of the Independent Engineer with
respect to the approval or disapproval of the Proposed Final Performance
Criteria shall be final, binding and non-appealable on the parties
hereto.
(d) The fees,
costs and expenses incurred by the parties pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be allocated
as follows:
(i) the fees,
costs and expenses of, and incurred by, the Technical Review Committee shall be
borne by Parent;
(ii) the fees,
costs and expenses of, and incurred by, the Independent Engineer shall be
allocated equally between Parent and the Stockholders; provided that the liability
of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP and Xxxx Xxxxxxx (to the extent that Xxxx Xxxxxxx
delivers a Stockholder Letter of Transmittal to the Parent pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement) for such Independent Engineer’s costs and expenses shall be
limited to the portion of the Escrow Amount then attributed to such
Stockholder. Parent shall have the right to deduct from the Escrow
Amount any fees and expenses allocated to the Stockholders pursuant to
this Section
2.13(d); and
(iii) each of
Parent and the Company Review Representative shall pay their own respective
legal, accounting, advisory and other fees, and other out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with any actions taken by the
Independent Engineer or Technical Review Committee pursuant to this Section 2.13 and will not look
to the other party for any contribution toward such fees and
expenses.
(e) The
Company Review Representative shall have the authority and power to act on
behalf of each Stockholder with respect to the actions and decisions described
in Section
2.13. A decision, act, consent or instruction of the Company
Review Representative with respect to the actions and decisions described in
Section 2.13
shall constitute a decision of each Stockholder, and shall be final, binding and
conclusive upon each Stockholder, and Parent may rely upon any decision, act,
consent or instruction of the Company Review Representative as being the
decision, act, consent or instruction of each Stockholder. Notices or
communications to or from the Company Review Representative with respect to this
Section 2.13
shall constitute notice to or from each Stockholder. The Company
Review Representative agrees promptly to provide written notice to each
Stockholder of all notices and communications
28
given or
received in its capacity as the Company Review Representative under this
Agreement. In the event that the Company Review Representative dies, resigns, or becomes legally incapacitated, then
Sim Weeks shall be the replacement Company Review Representative. If
Sim Weeks shall at that point be unable to serve or refuse the appointment as
Company Review Representative or shall later die, resign, or become legally
incapacitated, then such Person as is appointed by the Stockholders who held a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the Company Review Representative; provided, however, that no change in
the Company Review Representative shall be effective prior to the delivery to
Parent of written notice thereof from the Stockholders who held a majority of
the outstanding shares of Company immediately prior the Effective
Time. The Company Review Representative may resign at any time; provided however, that it
must provide the Stockholders who held a majority of the outstanding shares of
Company immediately prior the Effective Time thirty (30) days’ prior written
notice of such decision to resign. In the event that no Person is serving as the
Company Review Representative, the Principal Stockholder shall be the Company
Review Representative.
(f) Subject
to Section
2.13(i) and (j), within thirty
(30) days of the final determination of performance of the SilvaGas Gasifier at
the Rentech Project relative to the Final Performance Criteria, Parent shall pay
to the Stockholders the Earn-Out Payment to be calculated as
follows:
(i) in the
event that Performance Criteria Percentage is equal to or greater than 100%,
then the Earn-Out Payment shall be an amount equal to (x) the Maximum
Earn-Out Payment minus (y) the
Incremental Startup Investment.
(ii) in the
event that Performance Criteria Percentage is less than 100% but greater than
80%, then the Earn-Out Payment shall equal (x) an amount equal to (A) the
Maximum Earn-Out Payment multiplied by (B) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the Performance Criteria Percentage less 80%, and the
denominator of which is 20%, minus (y) the
Incremental Startup Investment.
(iii) in the
event that Performance Criteria Percentage is less than 80%, then the Earn-Out
Payment shall be equal to zero.
(g) In the
event that the SilvaGas Gasifier fails to achieve commercial operation at the
Rentech Project on or prior to March 29, 2018 through no fault of the Licensed
SGC Technology, as determined by Parent in its reasonable discretion, then
Parent shall promptly pay to the Stockholders 25% of the Maximum Earn-Out
Payment. In the event Stockholder Representative disputes such
determination by Parent, Parent and Stockholder Representative shall use their
commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any such disputes within thirty (30)
days after Parent delivers written notice to Stockholder Representative of such
determination. If Parent and Stockholder Representative are unable to resolve
such dispute, then such dispute shall be submitted to an Independent Engineer
for resolution. The Independent Engineer shall have thirty (30) days
to resolve such dispute and such resolution shall be final and binding on all of
the parties hereto. In the event that the SilvaGas Gasifier achieves commercial
operation at the Rentech Project after March 29, 2018 but on or prior to March
29, 2022 (the “Earn-Out Expiration
Date”), then any amounts paid pursuant to this Section 2.13(g) shall be deducted
from any Earn-Out Payments payable to the Stockholders pursuant to Section 2.13(f).
29
(h) In the
event that no Earn-Out Payment has been made to the Stockholders by the Earn-Out
Expiration Date (including no payments pursuant to Section 2.13(g)), and
the SilvaGas Gasifier has failed to achieve commercial operation at the Rentech
Project by such time, then Parent shall promptly pay to Stockholders 25% of the
Maximum Earn-Out Payment, provided, however, that in the event
that Parent determines that the failure to achieve commercial operation of the
SilvaGas Gasifier at the Rentech Project is due to the failure of the Licensed
SGC Technology or any inadequacies or flaws in the SilvaGas Design, then no
Earn-Out Payment shall be made to the Stockholders. In the event Stockholder
Representative disputes such determination by Parent, Parent and Stockholder
Representative shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any
such disputes within thirty (30) days after Parent makes such determination. If
Parent and Stockholder Representative are unable to resolve such dispute, then
such dispute shall be submitted to the Independent Engineer for resolution. The
Independent Engineer shall have thirty (30) days to resolve such dispute and
such resolution shall be final and binding on all of the parties
hereto.
(i) In the
event that the SilvaGas Gasifier achieves commercial operation at the Rentech
Project at any time after the Earn-Out Expiration Date, then Parent shall be
under no obligation to make the Earn-Out Payment to the
Stockholders.
(j) Promptly
following the final determination of any Earn-Out Payment pursuant to this Section 2.13, Parent
shall deliver to each Stockholder (other than Dissenting Stockholders) a portion
of such Earn-Out Payment equal to its Pro Rata Portion of such Earn-Out Payment,
as may be adjusted pursuant to Section
12.9.
(k) For
purposes of this Section 2.13:
(i) “Incremental Startup
Investment” means the lesser of (A) $8,500,000 and (B) an amount equal to
(1) Parent’s total direct costs and expenses (including a reasonable attribution
of internal costs and expenses, including employee time, etc.) in connection
with the design, discovery and/or development of any Future Innovation made
solely or primarily by or on behalf of Parent in an effort to achieve the
Performance Criteria after the first unsuccessful Performance Criteria test of
the SilvaGas Gasifier at the Rentech Project and (2) Parent’s indirect costs and
expenses incurred as the result of delays in achieving the Performance Criteria;
provided that only
those indirect costs and expenses incurred after the 90th day following the date
of the first unsuccessful Performance Criteria test of the SilvaGas Gasifier at
the Rentech Project, as determined by the mutual consent of Parent and the
Company Review Representative, or, if they cannot agree, the Independent
Engineer in its sole discretion, shall be deemed part of the “Incremental
Startup Investment”, provided further that such
unsuccessful Performance Criteria test or delay was caused by the failure of the
SilvaGas Design, in each case, as determined by the mutual consent of Parent and
the Company Review Representative, or, if they cannot agree, the Independent
Engineer in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Incremental Startup Investment shall not include any indirect costs set forth in
clause (2) above that (x) occur on or before the 90th day following the date of
the first unsuccessful Performance Criteria test of the SilvaGas Gasifier at the
Rentech Project or (y) are in excess of $1,250,000. To the extent that Parent
and the Company Review Representative, or Independent Engineer, as applicable,
determine in writing that any such failure or inadequacy can reasonably be
attributed to any Parent Proposed Changes to which the Company Review
Representative timely delivered a Company Change Objection Statement, then any
such failure or inadequacy shall be disregarded for purposes of calculating
Incremental Startup Investment.
30
(ii) “Maximum Earn-Out
Payment” means (i) 6,250,000 shares of Parent Common Stock (subject to
adjustment from time to time for any stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, reorganization, reclassification or other similar event of Parent
following the date hereof), plus (ii) that number of shares of Parent Common
Stock equal to $5,500,000 divided by the VWAP of the Parent Common Stock as of
the date immediately preceding that date the Performance Criteria Percentage is
determined pursuant to Section
2.13(a) (not to exceed 11,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock
(subject to adjustment from time to time for any stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, reorganization, reclassification or other similar event
with respect to the Parent Common Stock following the date
hereof)).
(iii) “Performance Criteria
Percentage” means the weighted average of the ratings (between 0% and
100%) assigned by Parent and the Company Review Representative (or the
Independent Engineer, as applicable) to the Rentech Project with respect to each
of the Performance Criteria based upon the degree of achievement of such
Performance Criteria, all as determined in accordance with Exhibit E attached
hereto.
(l) In no
event may Parent issue more than 33,470,000 shares (subject to adjustment from
time to time for any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares,
reorganization, reclassification or other similar event of Parent following the
date hereof) to the Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement without obtaining
shareholder approval in compliance with NYSE rules. Parent shall have
no obligation to obtain such approval.
(m) By
executing this Agreement, Company and the Principal Stockholder (and, upon
execution of the Written Consent and/or the applicable Stockholder Transmittal
Letter, each other Stockholder) acknowledges and agrees that from and after the
Effective Time, control of all key business decisions of the Surviving Company
(including, without limitation, any and all decisions relating to the Rentech
Project) shall be conducted in accordance with the directions of Parent, as its
sole member, and Parent may direct the operation of the business of the
Surviving Company in the manner it deems appropriate, regardless of the impact
on the Earn-Out Payment.
2.14 Participation in Excess
Licensing Fees.
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(a) In
the event that Parent and the Company Review Representative (or the Independent
Engineer, as applicable) finally determine that the Performance Criteria
Percentage for the SilvaGas Gasifier is less than 80% and that the Stockholders
are not entitled to any payments under Section 2.13, the
Stockholders shall be permitted to receive the difference between (i) twenty
five percent (25%) of any Excess Licensing Fees earned by Parent from license of
the Licensed SilvaGas Technology and Future Innovations pursuant to Qualified
License Agreements less (ii) twenty five percent (25%) of any Indemnity Payouts
in accordance with the following provisions; provided, however, the total amount of
Excess Licensing Fees payable to the Stockholders hereunder shall be payable
solely in Parent Common Stock and shall not exceed the Cap
Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the
Stockholders be entitled to receive any payments under this Section 2.14, unless
Parent has actually received Excess Licensing Fees prior to the Earn-Out
Expiration Date.
(b) Subject
to the foregoing, no later than sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal
year ending after the Earn-Out Determination Date during which Parent has
received Excess Licensing Fees, Parent shall prepare and deliver to Stockholder
Representative an unaudited statement (the “Excess Licensing Fees
Statement”), setting forth the amount of Excess Licensing Fees for such
year, the amount of Indemnity Payouts for such year and the amount payable to
the Stockholders in accordance with Section
2.14(a). If Stockholder Representative has any objections to
the Excess Licensing Fees Statement, he shall deliver to Parent a statement
setting forth his objections thereto (a “Dispute Notice”);
provided that the only
bases for objections shall be (i) non-compliance with the standards set forth in
Section 2.14
for preparation of the Excess Licensing Fees Statement or as set forth in the
definition of Excess Licensing Fees and (ii) mathematical errors (each a “Permitted
Objection”). If a Dispute Notice is not delivered to Parent
within thirty (30) days after delivery of the Excess Licensing Fees Statement,
such statement shall be final, binding and non-appealable by the parties
hereto. Stockholder Representative and Parent shall negotiate in good
faith to resolve any Permitted Objections set forth in the Dispute Notice (and
all such discussions related thereto shall, unless otherwise agreed by Parent
and Stockholder Representative, be governed by Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of
Evidence (and any applicable similar state rule)), but if they do not reach a
final resolution within thirty (30) days after the delivery of the Dispute
Notice, Stockholder Representative or Parent may submit such dispute to an
Independent Auditor. Each party shall be afforded an opportunity to
present to the Independent Auditor material relating to the disputed issues and
to discuss the determination with the Independent Auditor. The
Independent Auditor shall act as an auditor and not as an arbitrator and shall
resolve Permitted Objections in dispute and adjust and establish any disputed
adjustment of the Excess Licensing Fees to reflect such resolution, provided that the Independent
Auditor shall not assign a value to any item or amount in dispute greater than
the greatest value for such item or amount assigned by Stockholder
Representative, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, or less than the
smallest value for such item or amount assigned by Stockholder Representative,
on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand. It is the intent of
Parent and Stockholder Representative that the process set forth in this Section 2.14 and the
activities of the Independent Auditor in connection herewith are not intended to
be and, in fact, are not arbitration and that no formal arbitration rules shall
be followed (including rules with respect to procedures and
discovery). Stockholder Representative and Parent shall use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Independent Auditor to resolve all
such disagreements as promptly as practicable. The resolution of the
dispute by the Independent Auditor shall be final, binding and non-appealable on
the parties hereto. The Excess Licensing Fees Statement shall be
modified if necessary to reflect such determination. The fees and
expenses of the Independent Auditor shall be allocated for payment by Parent on
the one hand, and/or Stockholder Representative, on the other hand, based upon
the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each
party bears to the amount actually contested by such party, as determined by the
Independent Auditor.
32
(c) Within
five (5) Business Days following the finalization of the Excess Licensing
Fees Statement relating to each third (3rd) fiscal
year following the Earn-Out Determination Date, Parent shall pay to Stockholder
Representative (for distribution to the Stockholders) that number of shares of
Parent Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) twenty-five percent (25%) of
the Excess Licensing Fees, if any, received by Parent during such
three-year period as reflected on the relevant final Excess Licensing Fees
Statements during such period, divided by (ii) the VWAP as
of the date of the issuance of such shares.
(d) For
purposes of this Section
2.14:
(i) “Cap Amount” means an
amount that is the sum of $5,500,000 plus the product of (A) the Closing Price
times (B)
6,250,000.
(ii) “Earn-Out Determination
Date” means the date on which Parent and the Company Review
Representative (or the Independent Engineer, as applicable) finally determines
that the Performance Criteria Percentage is less than 80%.
(iii) “Excess Licensing
Fees” means, as of any date, the aggregate amount of all Qualified
Licensing Fees actually received by Parent as of such date, in excess of the sum
of (A) $9,735,000 and (B) the amount of the Incremental Startup Investment made
by Parent as of such date.
(iv) “Indemnity Payouts”
means, as of any date, the aggregate amount of all amounts Parent has actually
paid to a third party pursuant to an indemnity claim under a Qualified License
Agreement.
(v) “Licensing Fees” means
any fixed fee payments, whether or not paid in installments, and any royalties
provided however that
Licensing Fees shall not include any payments for equipment, services or
hardware or other amounts payable not related to fixed fee or royalty
payments.
(vi) “Qualified License
Agreement” means a license agreement between Parent and a non-affiliated
third party, pursuant to which Parent has licensed the Licensed SGC Technology
and Future Innovations to such third party in exchange for Licensing
Fees.
(vii) “Qualified Licensing
Fees” means all Licensing Fees actually received by Parent for the
license of the Licensed SGC Technology and Future Innovations pursuant to a
Qualified License Agreement. If a Qualified License Agreement
provides for the payment of Licensing Fees to Parent for the license of both the
Licensed SGC Technology, Future Innovations and any other intellectual property
but does not allocate such Licensing Fees between the licenses, such allocation
shall be made by Parent in good faith.
33
2.15 Securities Law
Compliance. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Parent shall not be required to
issue shares of Parent Common Stock to a Stockholder unless the issuance is made
in compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act and all other applicable federal and state securities
laws. In furtherance of the foregoing, as reasonably requested by
Parent, each Stockholder receiving shares of Parent Common Stock under this
Agreement agrees to execute and deliver to Parent of one or more documents
representing as to certain matters in support of the exemption and acknowledging
the restricted nature of such shares.
2.16 Tax
Consequences. It
is intended that the Merger and the Second Step Merger, taken together, shall
constitute an integrated transaction qualifying as a “reorganization” within the
meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder and as contemplated by IRS Revenue Ruling 2001-46, and that this
Agreement constitute a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and
361 of the Code.
2.17 Mergers, Consolidations,
etc. If
(a) Parent effects any merger or consolidation of Parent with or into another
entity, (b) Parent effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in
one or a series of related transactions, (c) any tender offer or exchange offer
(whether by Parent or another person or entity) is completed pursuant to which
holders of Parent Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares
for other securities, cash or property, or (d) Parent effects any
reclassification of the Parent Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange
pursuant to which the Parent Common Stock is effectively converted into or
exchanged for other securities, cash or property (each, a “Fundamental
Transaction”), then in lieu of any shares of Parent Common Stock each
Stockholder may be entitled to receive hereunder following the Fundamental
Transaction, such Stockholder shall have the right to receive (subject to the
conditions to the issuance of such Parent Common Stock hereunder) the same
amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled
to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been
the holder of such shares of Parent Common Stock immediately prior to the
Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
holders of Parent Common Stock in any such Fundamental Transaction are afforded
an election or are otherwise permitted or required to exchange such shares for
two or more alternate forms of consideration, then after such Fundamental
Transaction such Stockholder shall have the right to receive the same amount and
kind of securities, cash or property for which a holder of such shares Parent
Common Stock would have been entitled to receive if it failed to exercise such
rights of election (provided that if the amount and kind of securities, cash or
property receivable upon such Fundamental Transaction is not the same for each
share of Parent Common Stock in respect of which such rights of election shall
not have been exercised (a “non-electing share”), then for the purpose of this
Section 2.17,
the amount and kind of securities, cash or property receivable by such
Stockholder after such Fundamental Transaction shall be deemed to be the amount
and kind so receivable per share by a plurality of the holders of non-electing
shares).
34
ARTICLE
III
STOCKHOLDER
REPRESENTATIVE
3.1 Designation.
(a) By
executing this Agreement, Company and the Principal Stockholder (and, upon
execution of the Written Consent and/or the applicable Stockholder Transmittal
Letter, each other Stockholder) shall be deemed to have constituted and
appointed, effective from and after the date of such execution of this
Agreement, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx as Stockholder Representative and as its
attorney-in-fact and agent with respect to claims for indemnification under
Article XII,
and for taking any and all actions and making any and all decisions required or
permitted to be taken by any Stockholder, in its
capacity as and with respect to its status as a Stockholder, under this
Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, including, without limitation, the power
to: (i) take all actions required by, and exercise all rights granted
to, Stockholder Representative in this Agreement, (ii) receive all notices or
other documents given or to be given to the Stockholders by Parent, Merger Sub
or Second Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) receive and accept
service of legal process in connection with any claim or other proceeding
against the Stockholders arising under this Agreement, (iv) authorize or
object to the release or delivery to Parent of property from the Escrow Account
or otherwise in satisfaction of claims for indemnification by any Parent
Indemnified Party pursuant to Article XII, (v)
agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, demand
arbitration of, and comply with orders of courts and awards of arbitrators with
respect to, such claims for indemnification, (vi) litigate, resolve, settle or
compromise any claims for indemnification made pursuant to Article XII, and
(vii) take any other actions and make and deliver any certificate, notice,
consent, instruction or instrument required or permitted to be taken, made or
delivered by the Stockholders under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements,
or as Stockholder Representative may deem appropriate to carry out the intents
and purposes of this Agreement. Each Stockholder agrees that any
amendment of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or the waiver of any
right granted under, or breach of, this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement, signed or approved by Stockholder Representative shall be binding
upon and effective against the Stockholders whether or not they have signed or
agreed to such amendment or waiver; provided, however, that no such amendment or
waiver shall be binding upon or effective against an Unrestricted Stockholder
without his or its written approval if and to the extent such amendment or
waiver would result in any liability to such party not otherwise contemplated by
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
previous sentence, nothing in this Section 3.1 or otherwise in this Agreement shall be construed or
deemed to vest any authority in Stockholder Representative to act as
attorney-in-fact or otherwise for any Stockholder that is also a creditor of
Company with respect to such Stockholder’s claims due from, or obligations owed
by, Company not stemming solely from its Stockholder status.
35
(b) In the
event that Stockholder Representative dies, resigns or becomes legally
incapacitated, then Xxx Xxxxx shall be the replacement Stockholder
Representative. If Xxx Xxxxx shall at that point be unable to serve
or refuse the appointment as Stockholder Representative or shall later die,
resign, or become legally incapacitated, then such Person as is appointed by the
Stockholders who held a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company Common
Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be Stockholder
Representative; provided, however, that no change in
Stockholder Representative shall be effective prior to the delivery to Parent of
written notice thereof from the Stockholders who held a majority of the
outstanding shares of Company immediately prior the Effective
Time. The Stockholder Representative may resign at any time; provided however, that it
must provide the Stockholders who held a majority of the outstanding shares of
Company immediately prior the Effective Time thirty (30) days’ prior written
notice of such decision to resign. In the event that no Person is
serving as Stockholder Representative, the Principal Stockholder shall be
Stockholder Representative.
(c) Parent
agrees that any claim for indemnification made by any of the Parent Indemnified
Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be made exclusively through Stockholder
Representative acting on behalf of the Stockholders (and the Stockholders agree
that any such claim against the Stockholders by a Parent Indemnified Party may
be made by providing notice of such claim to Stockholder Representative), and
the Stockholders agree that any claim for indemnification made by any of the
Stockholder Indemnified Parties will be made exclusively through Stockholder
Representative; provided, that if there is no
Person serving as Stockholder Representative at the time a claim for
indemnification is made, such claim may be delivered to the Principal
Stockholder and shall be considered effective as if it had been delivered to
Stockholder Representative.
3.2 Authority. The
Stockholder Representative shall have the authority and power to act on behalf
of each Stockholder with respect to the actions and decisions described in Section
3.1. A decision, act, consent or instruction of Stockholder
Representative shall constitute a decision of each Stockholder, and shall be
final, binding and conclusive upon each Stockholder, and Parent and the Escrow
Agent may rely upon any decision, act, consent or instruction of Stockholder
Representative as being the decision, act, consent or instruction of each
Stockholder with respect to such
matter. Notices or communications to or from Stockholder
Representative with respect to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall
constitute notice to or from each Stockholder. The Stockholder
Representative agrees promptly to provide written notice to each Stockholder of
all notices and communications given or received in its capacity as Stockholder
Representative under this Agreement.
3.3 Costs. Any
out-of-pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred by Stockholder
Representative in connection with actions taken by Stockholder Representative
pursuant hereto (including the hiring of legal counsel and the incurring of
legal fees and costs) shall be paid by, and be a joint and several obligation
of, each Stockholder.
36
ARTICLE
IV
CLOSING
4.1 Closing
Date. Subject
to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Articles IX and X (or the waiver
thereof by the party entitled to waive that condition), the closing of the
Transaction (the “Closing”) shall take
place at 10:00 a.m. local time on the Closing Date at the offices of Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx LLP located at 000 X. Xxxxx Xxx., Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, 00000,
or at such other place and on such other date as Company and Parent may
mutually agree.
4.2 Conveyances at
Closing.
(a) Deliveries to
Parent. At the Closing, Company and the Stockholders, as
applicable, shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Parent, the
following:
(i) a
certificate executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
Company including (A) a true and complete copy of the Certificate of
Incorporation of Company, as amended through the Closing Date, certified as of a
recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (B) a true and
complete copy of the Bylaws of Company, (C) a true and complete copy of the
resolutions of the board of directors and Stockholders of Company authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and (D) incumbency matters;
(ii) a
certificate of good standing and/or subsistence of Company and each of its
Subsidiaries, dated as of a recent date prior to the Closing, issued by the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and all states in which Company is
qualified to do business;
(iii) a
certificate executed by the President of Company certifying as to the matters
set forth in Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.8 hereof as
of the Closing Date;
(iv) evidence
of receipt of all consents set forth on Schedule 5.6;
(v) any
clearance certificate or similar document(s) that may be required by any state
taxing authority to relieve Parent of any obligation to withhold any portion of
the amounts to be paid pursuant to this Agreement;
(vi) a duly
completed and executed certificate from each Stockholder as to the non-foreign
status of such Stockholder pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section
1.1445-2(b)(2);
(vii) duly
completed and executed Stockholder Transmittal Letters and accompanying Stock
Certificates pursuant to Section 2.7(a) hereof,
together with such other documents and information reasonably required by
Parent;
37
(viii) the
Escrow Agreement, executed by Stockholder Representative;
(ix) the
Closing Consideration Schedule in accordance with Section 8.9 hereof,
certified by the President of Company as being complete and correct as of the
Closing;
(x) such
other documents and instruments as in the opinion of counsel for Parent, Merger
Sub and Second Merger Sub may be reasonably required to effectuate
the terms of this Agreement and to comply with the terms hereof;
(xi) a
written certification in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (an “Investor
Certification”) from each Qualified Stockholder certifying that such
Stockholder (A) is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of
Regulation D, as presently in effect under the Securities Act, or (B) alone or
with his purchaser representative (as such term is defined in Rule 502(h) of
Regulation D, as presently in effect, under the Securities Act), meets the
requirements set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 506(b)(2)(ii)
of Regulation D, as presently in effect, under the Securities Act;
(xii) a written
and completed questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G from the
Purchaser Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Parent;
(xiii) evidence
of irrevocable election by holders of all shares of Company Preferred Stock to
convert such shares to shares of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the
Effective Time;
(xiv) an
employment agreement with Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, executed by Parent substantially in
form attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “Xxxxxx Employment
Agreement”), executed by Xxxxxx Xxxxxx;
(xv) an
employment agreement with Sim Weeks, executed by Parent substantially in form
attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Weeks Employment
Agreement”), executed by Sim Weeks;
(xvi) evidence
reasonably satisfactory to Parent, of the termination of the Technology License
Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2002, by and between SilvaGas Corporation (as
successor in interest to FERCO Enterprises, Inc.) and Biomass Gas and Electric,
LLC (“BG&E”), executed
by SilvaGas Corporation and BG&E; and
(xvii) the
original Xxxxxxxx Note, Corporate Holdings Note, the Xxxxxxxxxxx Notes and
such other documents and information reasonably required by Parent to evidence
the cancellation thereof upon consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein.
38
(b) Deliveries to
Company. At the Closing, Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Company, the following:
(i) a
certificate executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of
Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub including (A) a true and complete copy
of the certificate of incorporation of Parent and the certificate of
incorporation of Merger Sub and the certificate of formation of Second
Merger Sub, each certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware, (B) a true and complete copy of the Bylaws of each of Parent
and Merger Sub and the limited liability company agreement of Second Merger Sub,
(C) a true and complete copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or
managers, as applicable, of Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and (D) incumbency matters;
(ii) a
certificate of good standing and/or subsistence of each of Parent, Merger Sub
and Second Merger Sub, dated as of a recent date prior to the Closing, issued by
the Secretary of State of the State of Colorado or Delaware, as
applicable;
(iii) a
certificate executed by the President or Member of each of Parent, Merger Sub
and Second Merger Sub, as applicable, certifying as to the matters set forth in
Sections 9.1 hereof as of
the Closing Date;
(iv) the
Xxxxxx Employment Agreement executed by Parent;
(v) the Weeks
Employment Agreement executed by Parent; and
(vi) the
Escrow Agreement executed by Parent.
(c) Other Deliveries. At
or as promptly as practicable after the Closing Date (but in no event later than
five (5) Business Days following the Closing Date), Parent shall deliver, or
cause to be delivered:
(i) to the
Escrow Agent, the Escrow Amount; and
(ii) to each
Payee, share certificates representing the number of Shares (calculated on the
basis of the Closing Price) equal to the aggregate portion of the Payoff Amount
payable to such Payee (rounded up to the nearest whole share of Parent Common
Stock after aggregating each portion of the Payoff Amount payable to such
Payee).
39
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
COMPANY
Except as
otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, it being understood that any
information set forth in one section or subsection of the Disclosure Schedule
shall be deemed to apply to and qualify the section or subsection of this
Agreement to which it corresponds in number and each other section or subsection
of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on its face that
such information is relevant to such other section or subsection, Company hereby
represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:
5.1 Organization and Good
Standing.
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware with full corporate power and authority
to conduct its business as it is presently being conducted, to own and/or use
its properties and assets and to perform all its obligations under its
Contracts. Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 5.1, being
all the jurisdictions in which the character of its properties owned or leased
or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary, except where
the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. Copies of the Organizational Documents of Company,
and all amendments thereto, heretofore delivered to Parent are true, accurate
and complete as of the date hereof.
5.2 Authorization;
Enforceability. Company
has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has taken all corporate
action necessary, to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements to be executed and delivered by Company pursuant hereto, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to perform its
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by
Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party,
and the consummation by Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby have been duly approved by the board of directors and stockholders of
Company, and Parent has been provided with documentation of such board and
stockholder approvals. No other corporate proceedings on the part of
Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Company and is, and upon execution and delivery of the Ancillary Agreements to
which it is a party, each of such Ancillary Agreements will be, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and
thereto, legal, valid and binding obligations of Company enforceable against it
in accordance with their terms, in each case, except as such enforceability may
be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (b) the general
principles of equity, regardless of whether asserted in a proceeding in equity
or at law.
5.3 Capitalization
40
(a) Schedule 5.3(a) sets
forth the name of each Person holding any equity securities, or securities
convertible into any equity securities of Company. The authorized
capital stock of Company consists of (i) 1,000,000 shares of Company Common
Stock and (ii) 500,000 shares of preferred stock par value $0.01 per share, and
there are no other shares of other classes or series of capital stock of Company
authorized. As of the date hereof, 100,000 shares of Company Common
Stock are issued and outstanding and 16,087 shares of Company Preferred Stock
are issued and outstanding. As of the Closing Date, the number of
shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding will be as set forth on
the Closing Consideration Schedule, and no shares of Company Preferred Stock
will be issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of
Company Capital Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and none of such shares are subject to any preemptive right,
right of first refusal, right of first offer or right of
rescission. There are no accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on
any share of Company Capital Stock other than the shares of Company Preferred
Stock prior to conversion to Company Common Stock. No claim has been
made or threatened to Company asserting that any Person other than a Person
listed on Schedule
5.3(a) is the holder or beneficial owner of, or has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of, any securities (including options) of, or any other
voting, equity or ownership interest in Company.
(b) Except as
set forth in Schedule 5.3(a) hereof, (i) there
are no shares of capital or other stock of Company authorized, issued or
outstanding, (ii) there are no existing options, stock appreciation rights,
warrants, calls, restricted shares, phantom shares or similar rights, other
compensatory equity or equity-linked awards, preemptive or similar rights,
convertible securities, bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having
general voting rights or debt convertible into securities having such rights
(“Voting Debt”)
or subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any
character, relating to the issued or unissued Company Capital Stock obligating
Company to issue, transfer or sell or cause to be issued, transferred, sold or
repurchased any shares of capital stock of, or Voting Debt of, or other equity
or voting interest in, Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for such shares or equity interests, or obligating Company to grant, extend or
enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right,
agreement, arrangement or commitment and (iii) there are no outstanding
contractual obligations of Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any Company Capital Stock, or other capital or other stock of Company or to
provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital
contribution or otherwise) in any other Person.
(c) Except as
set forth in Schedule 5.3(a), there are no (i)
securities of Company reserved for issuance for any purpose, (ii) agreements
pursuant to which registration rights in the securities of Company have been
granted, (iii) stockholder agreements between Company and any current
stockholders of Company regarding the securities of Company or (iv) agreements
among stockholders of Company with respect to the voting or transfer of the
securities of Company or with respect to any other aspect of Company’s
affairs.
(d) Company
has not violated any Laws, including applicable federal or state securities
laws, in connection with the offer, sale or issuance of any Company Capital
Stock or any other securities, and such Company Capital Stock and other
securities have been issued and granted in compliance with all requirements set
forth in Company’s Organizational Documents. As a result of the
Merger, Parent will be the sole record and beneficial holder of all issued and
outstanding Company Capital Stock.
41
(e) The
Closing Consideration Schedule delivered to Parent pursuant to Section 8.9 shall accurately
reflect, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, all Stockholders and
their respective addresses and social security numbers or tax identification
number, if applicable, the number of shares of Company Common Stock held by
such Stockholders (including the respective certificate numbers of such Company
Common Stock held by such Stockholder), the Pro Rata Portion applicable to each
Stockholder, the aggregate consideration to be paid to each Stockholder, the
number of Shares to be deposited into the Escrow Account on behalf of each
Stockholder, if any, and such other information relevant thereto which Parent
may reasonably request.
5.4 Subsidiaries.
(a) Schedule 5.4(a) sets forth (i)
the legal name and jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary of Company
and (ii) the capitalization thereof and the current ownership of all
outstanding equity interests in each such Subsidiary. All issued and
outstanding equity interests in each Subsidiary are owned beneficially and of
record by Company or, one of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens or
any restrictions on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such equity
interest. Other than as identified on Schedule 5.4(a), neither Company
nor any Subsidiary of Company or one of its Subsidiaries has ever owned, of
record or beneficially, any direct or indirect equity interest or any right
(contingent or otherwise) to acquire such an equity interest in any Person nor
has Company or any of its Subsidiaries ever been a member, partner or
participant in any company, partnership or joint venture.
(b) Each of
Company’s Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization with full corporate power and
authority to conduct its business as it is presently being conducted, to own and
or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use, and to perform
all its obligations under its Contracts. Each of Company’s
Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 5.4(b),
being all the jurisdictions in which the character of its properties owned or
leased or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. Copies of the Organizational Documents of
each of Company’s Subsidiaries, and all amendments thereto, heretofore delivered
to Parent are true, accurate and complete as of the date hereof.
(c) All
ownership interests in each Subsidiary of Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in
violation of, and such ownership interests are not subject to, any purchase
option, call, right of first refusal, subscription, preemptive or similar rights
created by Law, the respective Organizational Documents of the Subsidiary of
Company issuing such interests, or any Contract to which each such Subsidiary is
a party or by which it is bound. There are no outstanding options,
warrants, calls, rights of conversion or exchange or other rights, Contracts,
agreements, arrangements or commitments of any kind or character, whether
written or oral, relating to the ownership interest
42
in any
Subsidiary of Company to which Company or any Subsidiary of Company is a party,
or by which any of them are bound, obligating Company, any Subsidiary of Company
or any Person to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, any ownership interest in any Subsidiary of Company. Except as
otherwise set forth on Section 5.4(c), there are
(i) no rights, Contracts, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any
kind or character, whether written or oral, relating to the ownership interest
in any Subsidiary of Company obligating Company or any Subsidiary of Company to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any ownership interest in a Subsidiary
of Company; (ii) no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom
stock, profit participation, or other similar rights with respect to any
Subsidiary of Company; (iii) no voting trusts or agreements, stockholder
agreements, proxies or other Contracts, agreements or understandings in effect
to which Company or any Subsidiary of Company is a party, or by which any of
them are bound with respect to the governance of any Subsidiary of Company or
the voting or transfer of any ownership interest in any Subsidiary of Company;
and (iv) no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness
obligations of any Subsidiary of Company.
(d) As of the
Closing Date, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall own or hold any
direct or indirect equity or other interest in either SAGE LLC or Big Stakes
LLC, or have any obligation or Liability with respect to either such entity,
including, without limitation, any obligation or Liability arising from the
transfer or distribution of the membership interests of such entity to a third
party as contemplated by Section
10.10.
5.5 Books and
Records.
Company has made and kept (and delivered or made available to Parent or its
representatives) Books and Records and accounts, which, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the activities of Company and each of its
Subsidiaries. Company has delivered to Parent true, correct and
complete copies of (a) the Certificate of Incorporation of Company (as certified
by the Secretary of State of Delaware, the “Certificate of
Incorporation”) and (b) the bylaws of Company (as certified by the
secretary, assistant secretary or other appropriate officer of Company, the
“Bylaws”), in
each case as currently in effect. Company has delivered to Parent
true, correct and complete copies of (i) the articles or certificate of
incorporation or organization of each of its Subsidiaries (as certified by the
applicable authorized Governmental Body of its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) and (ii) the bylaws or operating agreement of
each of its Subsidiaries (as certified by its respective secretary, assistant
secretary or other appropriate officer), in each case as currently in
effect. The minute books of Company and each of its Subsidiaries, all
of which have been delivered to Parent (either in original form or copies
thereof), contain complete records of all meetings of and all actions taken by
the shareholders and board of directors (including any committees thereof) of
Company and each such Subsidiary. No material actions have been taken
by Company or any of its Subsidiaries which are not reflected in its respective
minutes.
5.6 Conflicts; Third-Party
Consents.
Except as set forth on Schedule 5.6, neither
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or Ancillary
Agreements, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
will (a) conflict with, or result in the breach of, any provision of the
Organizational Documents of any Subsidiary; (b) conflict with, violate,
result in the breach or termination of, or constitute a default under any
43
Indebtedness,
instrument, obligation, Contract or Permit to which Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which Company or any of its Subsidiaries are
bound; (c) violate any Law or any Order of any Governmental Body by which
Company or any of its Subsidiaries are bound or affected other than as would not be material to Company
and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole); or
(d) result in the creation of any Lien upon the assets of Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.6, no
Order of, Consent or Permit from, or declaration or filing with, or notification
to, any Person, including, without limitation, any Governmental Body, is
required to be made or obtained by Company or any of its Affiliates in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or
Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby.
5.7 Financial
Statements.
Parent has received true, correct and complete copies of the unaudited
consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of Company and its Subsidiaries
at May 31, 2009 and the related statement of equity interests in Company (such
unaudited statements, including the related notes and schedules thereto, are
referred to herein as the “Financial
Statements”). The Financial Statements have been prepared from the
Books and Records, include a detailed list of all of Company’s and its
Subsidiaries’ rights and Liabilities, include a detailed list of the shareholder
interests in Company, and fairly reflect in all material respects the financial
position of Company and its Subsidiaries as of May 31, 2009 as well as all
shareholders’ equity interests in Company.
5.8 Undisclosed
Liabilities. Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities or obligations of any
nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except (a) as
reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements and (b) for
Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since the Balance Sheet
Date.
5.9 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. Except
as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 5.9, since
the Balance Sheet Date:
(a) there has
not been any change in Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s authorized or issued
capital stock; grant of any stock option or right to purchase shares of capital
stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries; issuance of, or commitment to
issue, any shares of capital stock or any security convertible into or
exchangeable for such capital stock; or grant of any registration rights;
purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition by Company of any shares
of any such capital stock;
(b) there has not been any amendment to the Organizational Documents
of Company;
(c) there has
not been any Material Adverse Change nor has there occurred any event which is
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change;
(d) there has
not been any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance,
with respect to the Business or the assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries
having a replacement cost of more than $5,000 for any single loss or $25,000 for
all such losses;
44
(e) there has
not been any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution in respect of any equity interests or any repurchase, redemption or
other acquisition by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any outstanding
securities of, or other ownership interest in, Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(f) there has
not been adoption of or change by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any Tax
or other accounting methods, principles or practices or change in any annual Tax
accounting period; new or change in any Tax election; settlement or compromise
of any claim, notice, audit or assessment in respect of Taxes; filing of any
amended Tax Return or any other Tax Return; or surrender of any right to claim a
Tax refund; in each case by or with respect to Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(g) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has revalued any of the assets, including,
without limitation, by writing off promissory notes or accounts
receivable;
(h) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into, renewed, amended,
modified, cancelled or terminated any Contract, Real Property Lease or Permit to
which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, including, without
limitation, any employment, consulting, joint venture, credit or similar
agreement or any Contract or transaction involving a total remaining commitment
by or to Company of at least $5,000;
(i) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has failed to use reasonable efforts to
preserve the Business intact, to keep available to Parent the services of its
employees, to maintain the Books and Records in the ordinary course of business
and to preserve for Parent the assets of Company and its Subsidiaries, the
Business and the goodwill of the suppliers, consultants customers and others
having business relations with it;
(j) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has failed to pay and discharge when due
current Liabilities, except where disputed in good faith;
(k) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any Person or paid any fees or expenses to
Company, the Stockholders or any of its or their Affiliates;
(l) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any
Lien any of its assets, or acquired any of its assets or sold, assigned,
transferred, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed of any of its assets other
than in the ordinary course of business;
(m) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has discharged or satisfied any Lien, or
paid any obligation or Liability, except in accordance with its terms or in the
ordinary course of business and to the extent such discharge, satisfaction or
payment, individually or in the aggregate, would not be material to Company, any
of its Subsidiaries, or the Business;
45
(n) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has canceled or compromised any Indebtedness
or Third-Party Claim related to the Business or its assets or amended, canceled,
terminated, relinquished, waived or released any Contract or right related to
the Business or its assets except in the ordinary course of business and except
to the extent such cancellation, compromise, amendment, termination,
relinquishment, waiver or release, individually or in the aggregate, would not
be material to Company, any of its Subsidiaries, the Business or any of their
respective assets;
(o) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made or committed to make any capital
expenditures or capital additions or betterments in excess of $5,000
individually or $5,000 in the aggregate;
(p) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has instituted or settled any Legal
Proceeding;
(q) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any Indebtedness or entered
into any commitment with respect thereto;
(r) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any Liability in an amount
greater than $5,000 individually or $25,000 in the aggregate, except in the
ordinary course of business, or increased or changed any assumptions underlying
or methods of calculating any bad debt, contingency or other
reserves;
(s) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has failed to expend funds for budgeted
capital expenditures or commitments with respect to the Business;
(t) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into, renewed, modified or
revised any agreement or transaction with any of its Affiliates relating to the
Business;
(u) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any agreement licensing any
Proprietary Rights to any Person;
(v) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) hired any employee or independent
contractor earning total annual compensation in excess of $100,000 (ii)
paid or announced any material increase in any compensation or benefits,
including without limitation, any increase or change pursuant to any Employee
Benefit Plan (except as required by any Law or, with respect to non-executive
employees only, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice), or (iii) entered into, adopted or amended any Employee Benefit Plan
(except as required by any Law);
(w) there has
not been any material adverse change in employee relations affecting Company or
any of its Subsidiaries; and
46
(x) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, nor have Parent or the
Stockholders on behalf of Company, agreed to do anything set forth in
subsections (a) through (w) of this Section 5.9.
5.10 Taxes.
(a) Except as
set forth on Schedule
5.10, each of Company and its Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed or
caused to be timely filed (taking into account any applicable extensions) with
the appropriate Tax Authority all material Tax Returns required to be filed by,
or with respect to, such entity, on or prior to the date hereof (or on or prior
to the Closing Date for purposes of Section 10.1). All such Tax
Returns are true, complete and accurate in all material
respects. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.10,
neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of
any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. No claim
has ever been made by a Tax Authority in a jurisdiction where Company or
any of its Subsidiaries does not file a Tax Return that Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction in
respect of Taxes that would be covered by or the subject of such Tax
Return. All material Taxes due and owing by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Returns) have been timely
paid.
(b) No
deficiencies for Taxes with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries
have been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing by any Tax Authority that
have not been finally resolved and paid. There are no pending or
threatened audits, assessments or other actions for or relating to any liability
in respect of Taxes of Company or its Subsidiaries. No
issues relating to Taxes of Company were raised by the relevant Tax Authority in
any completed audit or examination that would reasonably be expected to result
in a material amount of Taxes in a later taxable period.
(c) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor thereof) has waived
any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension
of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, nor has any request been
made in writing for any such extension or waiver.
(d) There are
no Liens upon any assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Taxes other
than statutory Liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable.
(e) Each of
Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has neither agreed, nor is required, to
make any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in
accounting method or otherwise; and (ii) has not elected at any time to be
treated as an S corporation within the meaning of Sections 1361 or 1362 of the
Code. Each of SAGE LLC and Big Stakes LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, and no entity classification election pursuant to
Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3 (or any corresponding provision of state
or local Tax law) has been filed with respect to it.
(f) Each of
Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has not been a shareholder of a “controlled
foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign law); (ii) has not been a “personal holding
company” as defined in Section 542 of the Code (or any similar provision of
state, local or foreign law); (iii) has not been a shareholder of a “passive
foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code; and
(iv) has not engaged in a trade or business, had a permanent establishment
(within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty), or otherwise become subject to
Tax jurisdiction in a country other than the country of its
formation.
47
(g) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any item of
income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any period
(or any portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any
installment sale or other transaction on or prior to the Closing Date, any
accounting method change or agreement with any Taxing Authority, any prepaid
amount received on or prior to the Closing or any intercompany transaction or
excess loss account described in Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding
provision of state, local or foreign Tax law).
(h) None of
the outstanding indebtedness of Company or its Subsidiaries constitutes
indebtedness with respect to which any interest deductions may be disallowed
under Sections 163(i) or 163(l) or 279 of the Code or under any other provision
of applicable law.
(i) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, a party to or bound by
any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement, Tax allocation agreement or
similar Contract.
(j) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to a transaction that
is or is substantially similar to a “reportable transaction,” as such term is
defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(1), or any other transaction
requiring disclosure under analogous provisions of state, local or foreign Tax
law.
(k) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) has been a member of a group filing
a consolidated, affiliated, combined or unitary Tax Return (other than a group
the common parent of which is Company) or any similar group for state, local or
foreign Tax purposes or (B) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other
than Company or any of its Subsidiaries) (i) under Treasury Regulation Section
1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), (ii) as a
transferee or successor, (iii) by Contract or (iv) otherwise.
(l) Company
and its Subsidiaries have withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been
withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, and stockholders of Company or other
Person.
(m) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their Affiliates or predecessors
by merger or consolidation, has, within the past two years, or otherwise as part
of a plan (or series of related transactions) (within the meaning of Section
355(e) of the Code) of which the Transaction is a part, distributed stock of
another entity or had its stock distributed by another entity in a transaction
that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Code
Sections 355 or 361.
48
(n) Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of Company, any of its
Affiliates, has taken any action or knows of any fact, agreement or plan that
could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transaction from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
5.11 Real
Property.
(a) There is
no real property or interests in real property owned in fee by Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(b) Schedule 5.11(b) sets forth a
complete list (including street address and legal description) of all real
property and interests in real property leased (whether as lessee or lessor) by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and used in connection with the Business
(individually, a “Real
Property Lease” and collectively, the “Real Property
Leases”). Except for Real Property Leases listed on Schedule 5.11(b),
there are no leases, subleases, licenses, occupancy agreements, options, rights,
concessions or other agreements or arrangements, written or oral, granting to
any person the right to purchase, use or occupy any real property or any portion
thereof or interest in any such real property.
(c) Real Property Leases. With
respect to each Real Property Lease, Company or one of its Subsidiaries has
good and valid title to a leasehold estate in
the Leased Real Property, other than Liens which do not materially
interfere with, or otherwise affect the present use and enjoyment of the
Facilities subject thereto or affected thereby. Company or one of its
Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession of all the Leased Real
Property. Company has delivered a copy or summary of all Real Property Leases
and other instruments by which Company or any of its Subsidiaries has acquired
such property and interests to Parent.
(d) No Special
Assessment. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received notice of any special assessment relating to any Facility or any
portion thereof and there is no pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened
special assessment.
5.12 Title to Tangible Personal
Property; Liens. Schedule 5.12 sets
forth a complete and accurate list of all individual items of Tangible Personal
Property, leaseholds or other interests therein owned by Company with a value in
excess of $5,000. Company or one of its Subsidiaries has good and
marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all the Tangible Personal
Property used by it located on its premises or shown on the Financial Statements
or acquired thereafter free and clear of all Liens, except for properties and
assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business since May 31,
2009. The items of Tangible Personal Property of Company and its
Subsidiaries are in good operating condition in all material respects and are
fit for use in the ordinary course of business. Company and its
Subsidiaries own, or have a valid leasehold or other interest in, and after the
Closing Date, Company and its Subsidiaries will continue to own, or have a valid
leasehold or other interest in, all assets necessary for the conduct of the
Business as presently conducted by Company and its Subsidiaries and to permit
Parent (through Company and its Subsidiaries) to continue to conduct the
Business in all respects in substantially the same manner as the Business has
been conducted through the date hereof.
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5.13 Proprietary
Rights.
(a) Schedule 5.13 contains a
true, correct and complete list and description of all Proprietary Rights owned
or used in the Business by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as well as each
license or other agreement relating thereto. Except as set forth on
Schedule 5.13, either Company
or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive owner of each Proprietary
Right used in the Business, free and clear of all Liens, and the Proprietary
Rights used in the Business are in good standing and not the subject of any
challenge, and no license fees, royalties or other payments by Company or any of
its Subsidiaries are required in connection with use in the Business of the
Proprietary Rights by Company and its Subsidiaries. None of the
Stockholders, Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice or otherwise
knows or has reason to believe, that any of the foregoing is invalid or
conflicts with the asserted rights of others. None of the Proprietary
Rights used in the Business has been held or stipulated to be invalid in any
litigation of which Company has Knowledge and which has been concluded, and the
validity of none of the Proprietary Rights used in the Business has been
challenged by any third party or questioned in any Legal Proceeding currently
pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened. Company and each of
its Subsidiaries possess all Proprietary Rights necessary for the conduct of the
Business as it is presently conducted, and the use of such Proprietary Rights by
Company and each of its Subsidiaries is not subject to any restrictions and is
without any known conflict with the rights of others, and neither Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has forfeited or otherwise relinquished any such
Proprietary Rights. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement will not impair the right of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
use, possess, sell or license any of the Proprietary Rights owned or used in
connection with the conduct of the Business as it is presently
conducted. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.13, neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is under any obligation to pay any license
fees, royalties or other payments or similar payments in connection with the
Proprietary Rights owned or used by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. No current or former employee, officer, director,
consultant, independent contractor or service provider of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has any right, license or property or ownership interest whatsoever
in or with respect to any Proprietary Rights owned or used in the Business by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The operations of Company and
each of its Subsidiaries do not infringe upon the Proprietary Rights of third
parties and, to the Knowledge of Company, no third party has misappropriated or
infringed upon or is misappropriating or infringing upon any of the Proprietary
Rights owned or used in the Business by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(b) Schedule 5.13 lists all
domain names (including the party in whose name such domain name is registered)
used by Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are material to Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or to the conduct of the Business as it is presently
conducted (collectively, the “Domain Names”). All
registrations for the Domain Names are in full force and effect, neither Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of any such registrations, and Company
and each of its Subsidiaries has made all payments and otherwise taken all
actions required to be taken under all such registrations. Company or one of its
Subsidiaries owns all right, title and interest in and to each trademark (and
the associated goodwill) that corresponds to any of the Domain Names and no
third party owns any rights in or to any trademarks that may reasonably form the
basis of any infringement or dilution claim or otherwise seeking the assignment
or cancellation of any registration covering any Domain Name.
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5.14 Contracts.
Schedule 5.14
sets forth all of the following Contracts to which Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound:
(a) Contracts
for the sale of any assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(b) joint
venture, partnership or similar Contracts (including any Contract involving a
sharing of profits, losses, costs or Liabilities by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with any other Person);
(c) sales,
distribution, manufacturing, technical or engineering assistance, commission or
similar Contracts;
(d) Contracts
containing covenants restricting Company or any of its Subsidiaries from
competing in any line of business or with any Person in any geographical area or
covenants of any other Person not to compete with Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in any line of business or in any geographical area;
(e) Contracts
relating to the acquisition by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any
operating business or the capital stock of any other Person;
(f) Contracts
relating to Indebtedness;
(g) Contracts
for employment and severance or change in control agreements with any employee,
consultant, executive officer, director or other service provider of Company
pursuant to which Company has any obligation (absolute or
contingent);
(h) licensing
agreements or other Contracts with respect to Proprietary Rights, including
agreements with current or former employees, consultants, or contractors
regarding the disposition, appropriation or the nondisclosure of any of the
Proprietary Rights;
(i) Contracts
involving future expenditures or Liabilities, actual or potential, in excess of
$50,000 annually, and more than $100,000 in the aggregate or otherwise material
to the assets of Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the Business;
(j) Contracts
involving performance of services or delivery of products by Company, actual or
potential, in excess of $25,000 or otherwise material to the Business or
Company;
(k) Contracts
involving receipts, actual or potential, in excess of $25,000 or otherwise
material to the Business or Company;
(l) any
Contract with the United States, state or local government or any agency or
department thereof; and
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(m) Leases of
personal or real property not cancelable (without Liability) within 30 calendar
days.
True,
complete and correct copies of all of the Contracts set forth on Schedule 5.14 have
been made available to Parent and/or Parent’s Affiliates or
Representatives. Each of the contracts set forth on Schedule 5.14 is
valid and binding on Company or the Subsidiary of Company party thereto and, to
the Knowledge of Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and
effect, except for such failures to be valid and binding or to be in full force
and effect that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to be material
to Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. There is not
default under any such contract by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the
Knowledge of Company, by any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that
with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a
default thereunder by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of
Company, by any other party thereto, in each case except as have not had and
would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate,
material to Company or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
5.15 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Schedule 5.15(a) sets
forth a complete and accurate list of each Employee Benefit
Plan. Neither Company, its Subsidiaries, nor any ERISA Affiliate has
any liability, whether absolute or contingent, with respect to any, and no
Employee Benefit Plan is a: (i) “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section
3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, “ERISA”), (ii) other
pension plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Part 3 of Title I of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code, (iii) “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section
413(c) of the Code) or (iv) multiple employer welfare arrangement (within the
meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA). No Employee Benefit Plan is subject to the
laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States or provides compensation
or benefits to any employee or former employee of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (or any dependent thereof) that are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction outside of the United States.
(b) With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, a complete copy has
been made available to Parent by
Company of: (i) all documents
constituting such Employee Benefit Plan (including without limitation, plan
documents, adoption agreements, service agreements and written descriptions of
any unwritten Employee Benefit Plans); (ii) the two
most recent Annual Report (Form 5500 Series) documents and schedules and
amendments thereto, if any; (iii) the current summary
plan description and any material modifications thereto, if any; (iv) the two most recent annual financial and/or actuarial
reports, if any; (v) each trust agreement, group annuity contract, insurance
contract and other funding vehicle relating to any Employee Benefit Plan, and
(vi) the most recent determination letter from the
IRS, if applicable.
(c) Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to
be a “qualified plan” within the meaning of Section 401(a)
of the Code and the trust forming part thereof has received
a favorable determination letter from the IRS as to its
qualification under the Code, and to the Knowledge of
Company, there are no existing circumstances or events that could reasonably be
expected to result in the revocation of such qualification. Neither Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries maintains any plan, program or arrangement, nor is
either such entity a party to any agreement, that provides any compensation to
any current or former employee, director or consultant in, based on or measured
by the value of, any equity security of, or interest in, any such
entity.
52
(d) With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan:
(i) such Employee Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in
material compliance with its terms and all applicable Law (including but not
limited to ERISA and the Code); (ii) there are no pending or, to the
Knowledge of Company, threatened claims against, by or on behalf of any Employee
Benefit Plan or the assets, fiduciaries or administrators thereof (other
than claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business); (iii) no
breaches of fiduciary duty or other failures to act or comply in connection with
the administration or investment of the assets of such Employee Benefit
Plan in connection with which Company or its Subsidiaries or a fiduciary of any
such plan could reasonably be expected to incur a material liability have
occurred; (iv) neither Company, its Subsidiaries, any officer of any such
entity, any Employee Benefit Plans which are subject to ERISA, any trust created
thereunder or, to the Knowledge of Company, any fiduciary or administrator
thereof, has engaged in a “prohibited transaction” (as such term is defined in
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) that could subject Company,
any of its Subsidiaries, or any officer of any such entity to any material tax
or penalty imposed by the Code, ERISA or other applicable Law;
(v) no Employee Benefit Plans that are “employee pension benefit plans” (as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) or trusts associated therewith have been
terminated during the past six years, nor, to the Knowledge of Company, is there
any intention or expectation to terminate any such Employee Benefit Plans or
trusts; and (vi) no Employee Benefit Plans or trusts are the
subject of any proceeding by any Person, including any Governmental Body, that
could reasonably be expected to result in a termination of any Employee Benefit
Plan or trust. There are no pending or, to the Knowledge of Company,
threatened claims by or on behalf of any participant in any of the Employee
Benefit Plans, or otherwise involving any such Employee Benefit Plan or its
assets, other than routine claims for benefits. No audit or investigation
of an Employee Benefit Plan by the IRS, the U.S. Department of Labor, the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other Governmental Body has occurred
in the past three years and there are no audits or investigations pending or, to
the Knowledge of Company, threatened with respect to any Employee Benefit
Plan. Neither Company nor its Subsidiaries has made any filing in respect
of any Employee Benefit Plan under the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution
System or the Department of Labor Delinquent Filer Program.
(e) All contributions required to be made by Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to any Employee Benefit Plan by applicable Law, any plan
document or other contractual undertaking, and all premiums due or payable by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to insurance policies
funding any Employee Benefit Plan, for any period through the date hereof have
been timely made or paid in full or, to the extent not required to be made or
paid on or before the date hereof, have been properly reflected in the Financial
Statements.
(f) Except as
required by applicable Law, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
obligation, whether absolute or contingent and whether under an Employee Benefit
Plan or otherwise, to provide any of the following retiree or post-employment
benefits to any person: medical, prescription, dental, disability or life
insurance benefits. Company and each of its Subsidiaries and their ERISA
Affiliates are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of (i) Section 4980B of the Code and Part 6 of Title I of ERISA and
the applicable regulations thereunder and (ii) the applicable requirements of
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and
the regulations (including proposed regulations) thereunder. No
indebtedness in excess of $10,000 is owed by any current or former
employee, consultant or director of either of Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
53
(g) None of
the assets of Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates is, or
could reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under
ERISA or the Code. There are no liens arising under ERISA or the Code
with respect to the operation, termination, restoration or funding of any
Employee Benefit Plan or arising in connection with any excise tax or penalty
tax with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.
(h) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, either alone or in combination with another
event (whether contingent or otherwise), including without limitation any
termination of employment, will: (i) entitle any current or former employee,
consultant or director of Company or its Subsidiaries to any payment; (ii)
increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any such employee,
consultant or director; (iii) accelerate the vesting, funding or time of payment
of any compensation, equity award or other benefit; or (iv) result in any
“excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code.
(i) Each
Employee Benefit Plan that provides for “nonqualified deferred compensation”
within the meaning of Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code, and any award thereunder,
in each case, that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, (i) has been operated
in compliance in all material respects with Section 409A of the Code since
January 1, 2005, based upon a good faith, reasonable interpretation of Section
409A of the Code and the final Treasury Regulations issued thereunder and all
subsequent IRS Notices and other interim guidance on Section 409A of the Code
and (ii) has been maintained in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the
final Treasury Regulations issued thereunder and all subsequent IRS Notices and
other interim guidance on Section 409A of the Code since January 1,
2009.
5.16 Labor Matters;
Employees.
(a) General. Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining or
other labor Contract. There has not been, there is not presently
pending or existing, and, to the Knowledge of Company, there is not threatened
(i) any strike, slowdown, picketing, work stoppage or employee grievance process
against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Business; (ii) any Legal
Proceeding against or affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the
Business relating to the alleged violation of any Law or Order pertaining to
labor relations or employment matters, including any charge or complaint filed
by an employee or union with the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission or any comparable Governmental Body,
organizational activity, or other labor or employment dispute against or
affecting the Business or Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) any
application for certification of a collective bargaining agent. No
event has occurred or circumstance exists that could provide the basis for any
work stoppage or other labor dispute. There is no lockout of any
employees by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no such action is
contemplated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Company and each
of its Subsidiaries have complied with all material Laws relating to employment,
equal employment opportunity, nondiscrimination, immigration, wages, hours,
benefits, collective bargaining, the payment of social security and similar
Taxes, occupational health and safety, and plant closing. Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is liable for the payment of any
compensation, damages, Taxes, fines, penalties or other amounts, however
designated, for failure to comply with any of the foregoing Laws.
54
(b) Company
has made available to Parent and/or its advisors a list of all current employees
of Company and each Subsidiary. All such employees are terminable at
will without continuing obligation to Company or any Subsidiary other than with
respect to any securities of Company owned by such employee or any benefit plans
in which such employee participates. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.16, to the
best of Company’s Knowledge, no full time employee of Company has any
affiliation with or obligation to any other employer. To the best of
Company’s knowledge, no current employee of Company is in violation of any term
of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, non competition
agreement or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant
relating to the relationship of any such employee to Company or any former
employer because of the nature of the consolidated business conducted or
contemplated to be conducted by Company or the use of trade secrets or
proprietary information of others. There is neither pending nor, to
Company’s Knowledge, threatened, any action, suit, proceeding or claim, or to
Company’s Knowledge, any basis therefor, with respect to any contract,
agreement, covenant or obligation with a current or former employee of
Company.
5.17 Legal
Proceedings. Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.17, there
is no, and during the past three (3) years there have not been any, Legal
Proceedings or Orders (a) pending or, to the Knowledge of Company, threatened
against or affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Business or any of
their respective assets (or to the Knowledge of Company, pending or threatened,
against any of the officers, directors or Key Employees of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with respect to their business activities on behalf of Company or
any of its Subsidiaries); (b) that challenges or that may have the effect of
preventing, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (c) related to the Business or
the assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To the Knowledge of
Company, there is or was no reasonable basis for any such Legal Proceeding or
Order. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.17,
neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor the Business or any of the
respective assets is subject to any Order of any Governmental Body and neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any Legal Proceeding to
recover monies due it or for damages sustained by it. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be
material to Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, none of Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
or has been in default with respect to any Order, and there are no unsatisfied
judgments against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Business or any of
the respective assets. There is not a reasonable likelihood of an
adverse determination of any pending Legal Proceedings which would, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
55
5.18 Compliance with
Law. Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.18, and except as would
not reasonably be expected to be
material to Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and at
all times during the past three (3) years has been in compliance with all Laws
applicable to them or to the conduct and operations of the Business or relating
to or affecting any of the assets. Neither Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received any notice to the effect that, or otherwise been
advised that, it is, or within the past three years was, not in compliance with
any such Laws, and none of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to
anticipate that any existing circumstances are likely to result in violations of
any such Laws. None of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, nor
have any of its or their Representatives, directly or indirectly, paid or
delivered any payment, whether in money, property, goods, services or otherwise,
to any Governmental Body or other Person in the United States or any other
country which is in any matter related to the Business, the assets or the
operations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries which was, is or may be with
the passage of time or discovery, illegal under any Laws, including, without
limitation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (15 U.S.C.
§78dd-1 et
seq.).
5.19 Permits. Schedule 5.19 sets
forth a complete list of all material Permits held by Company and each of its
Subsidiaries or used in the conduct of the Business. The Permits set
forth on Schedule
5.19 collectively constitute all of the material Permits necessary for
Company and each of its Subsidiaries to lawfully conduct and operate the
Business as it is presently conducted and to permit Company and each of its
Subsidiaries to own and use the assets of Company and its Subsidiaries in the
manner in which they are presently owned and used. Except as set
forth on Schedule
5.19 and as would not otherwise reasonably
be expected to be material to Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and at all times has been in
compliance with all Permits applicable to them or to the conduct and operations
of the Business or relating to or affecting these assets. Neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice to the effect that,
or otherwise been advised that, it is not in compliance with any such Permits,
and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to anticipate
that any existing circumstances are likely to result in violations of any such
Permits. All applications for or renewals of all Permits have been
timely filed and made and no Permit will expire or be terminated as a result of
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
5.20 Environmental
Matters. Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.20:
(a) Company
and each of its Subsidiaries are now and always have been in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(b) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written communication
alleging that Company is in violation of, or has any liability under, any
Environmental Law nor, to the Knowledge of Company, are there any facts or
circumstances which could form the basis of such a communication;
56
(c) each of
Company and its Subsidiaries validly possesses and is in compliance with all
material Permits required under Environmental Laws to conduct its business as
presently conducted, and all such Permits are valid and in good
standing;
(d) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the subject of any outstanding or
threatened Order, Legal Proceeding or Contract with any Governmental Body or
Person respecting (i) Environmental Laws, (ii) Remedial Action or (iii) any
Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material;
(e) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any current contingent Liability in
connection with any Release of any Hazardous Material into the indoor or outdoor
environment (whether on-site or off-site); and
(f) Company
has provided to Parent all environmentally related audits, studies, reports,
analyses, and results of investigations that have been performed with respect to
the currently or previously owned, leased or operated properties of Company and
each of its Subsidiaries that are in the possession, custody or direct control
of the Stockholders, Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
5.21 Insurance.
Schedule 5.21
sets forth a complete and accurate list (showing as to each policy or binder the
carrier, policy number, coverage limits, expiration dates, annual premiums and a
general description of the type of coverage provided) of all policies or binders
of insurance of any kind or nature covering Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
any of its or their employees, properties or assets, including, without
limitation, policies of life, disability, fire, theft, workers compensation,
employee fidelity and other casualty and liability insurance. All
such policies are in full force and effect and are sufficient for compliance
with all applicable Laws and of all Contracts to which Company or any Subsidiary
is a party. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default
under any of such policies or binders, and neither Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has failed to give any notice or to present any claim under any
such policy or binder in a due and timely fashion. There are no facts upon which
an insurer might be justified in reducing coverage or increasing premiums on
existing policies or binders. There are no outstanding unpaid claims under
any such policies or binders. Such policies and binders provide sufficient
coverage for the risks insured against, are in full force and effect as of the
date hereof and shall be kept in full force and effect by Company and each of
its Subsidiaries through the Closing Date.
5.22 Purchase Commitments and
Outstanding Bids.
No outstanding purchase or outstanding lease commitment of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries presently is in excess of the normal, ordinary and usual
requirements of the Business or was made at any price in excess of the now
current market price or contains terms and conditions more onerous than those in
the ordinary course of business. There is no outstanding bid, proposal,
Contract or unfilled order of Company or any of its Subsidiaries which will or
would, if accepted, result in a loss or otherwise have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.23 Related Party
Transactions. Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.23, none
of Company, Company’s Affiliates, the Stockholders, the Stockholders’
Affiliates, nor the
57
Stockholders’
relatives has, within the past three (3) years, borrowed any moneys from or has
any outstanding Indebtedness or other similar obligations to Company or any of
its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.23, none
of the Stockholders, the Stockholders’ Affiliates, the Stockholders’ relatives,
Company, Company’s Affiliates, any Subsidiary, any Subsidiary’s Affiliates, nor
any officer or Key Employee of any such Persons (a) owns any direct or indirect
interest of any kind in (except for ownership of less than 5% of any public
company, provided, that such owner’s role is that solely of a passive investor),
or controls or is a director, officer, employee or partner of, consultant to,
lender to or borrower from, or has the right to participate in the profits of,
any Person which is (i) a competitor, supplier, customer, landlord, tenant,
creditor or debtor of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) engaged in a
business related to the Business or (iii) a participant in any transaction to
which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or (b) is a party to any
Contract with Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth
on Schedule
5.23, Company has no Contract or understanding with any officer,
director, consultant, or Key Employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
any of Parent or the Stockholders with respect to the subject matter
of this Agreement, the consideration payable hereunder or any other
matter.
5.24 No
Brokers.
None of the Stockholders, Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of the
Affiliates or Representatives of the Stockholders, Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has entered into or will enter into any Contract, agreement,
arrangement or understanding with any broker, finder or similar agent or Person
which will result in the obligation of Parent to pay any finder’s fee, brokerage
commission or similar payment in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
5.25 No Other
Agreements.
None of the Stockholders, Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates has
any legal obligation, absolute or contingent, to any other Person to sell or
transfer all or substantially all of the assets of, to sell any capital stock of
or other equity interest in Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to effect any
merger, consolidation or other reorganization of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or to enter into any agreement with respect thereto.
5.26 Banking
Relationships.
Schedule 5.26
sets forth a complete and accurate description of all arrangements that Company
and its Subsidiaries has with any banks, savings and loan associations or other
financial institutions providing for checking accounts, safe deposit boxes,
borrowing arrangements, and certificates of deposit or otherwise, indicating in
each case account numbers, if applicable, and the person or persons authorized
to act or sign on behalf of Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of any of
the foregoing.
5.27 No Liabilities; No
Indebtedness. As
of the Closing Date, Company shall have paid off or satisfied and extinguished
all of its Liabilities and Indebtedness.
5.28 No Other Representations or
Warranties. Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this Article V, Article VI, or in any
certificates delivered by Company in connection with the Closing, each of
Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub acknowledges that neither Company nor
any person on behalf of Company makes any other express or implied
representation or warranty with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries
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or with
respect to any other information provided or made available to any parent,
Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub in connection with the Transaction contemplated
by this Agreement. Neither Company nor any other person will have or
be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to any of Parent,
Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub or any other person resulting from the
distribution or use of, any such information, including any information,
documents, projections, forecasts or other material made available to Parent,
Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub unless and then only to the extent that any
such information is expressly included in a representation or warranty contained
in this Article
V, Article
VI, or in a certificate delivered by Company in connection with the
Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this
Agreement or otherwise, nothing herein shall relieve Company or any other person
from liability for fraud.
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
STOCKHOLDERS
The
Principal Stockholder (and, upon execution of the Written Consent and/or the
applicable Stockholder Transmittal Letter, each of the other Stockholders)
hereby represents and warrants (but severally, not jointly, and only as and to
the extent that such representations and warranties apply to such individual
Stockholder) to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:
6.1 Authorization. Stockholder
has all requisite power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to be executed
and delivered by Stockholder pursuant hereto, to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and to perform its obligations hereunder and
thereunder. No other proceedings on the part of Stockholder are
necessary to authorize this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which
Stockholder is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Stockholder and is, and upon execution and delivery of the Ancillary Agreements
to which Stockholder is a party, each of such Ancillary Agreements will be,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other
parties hereto and thereto, legal, valid and binding obligations of Stockholder
enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with their terms, in each case,
except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally and (b) the general principles of equity, regardless of whether
asserted in a proceeding in equity or at law.
6.2 Consents and
Approvals. No
notice to, declaration, filing or registration with, or authorization, consent
or approval of, or Permit from, any Person is required to be made or obtained by
Stockholder or any Affiliate of Stockholder in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which
Stockholder is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby by Stockholder.
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6.3 Title to Shares of
Company Capital
Stock. Stockholder
is the sole record and beneficial owner of the number of shares of Company
Capital Stock set forth opposite its name on Schedule
6.3(a). Each share of Company Capital Stock owned by
Stockholder is owned free and clear of, and none of such Company Capital Stock
is subject to, any Liens (other than any restrictions imposed by securities Laws
applicable to unregistered securities generally).
6.4 No
Brokers. Neither
Stockholder nor any of its respective Representatives or Affiliates has employed
or made any agreement with any broker, finder or similar agent or any person or
firm which will result in the obligation of Stockholder, Company, Parent or any
of their respective Affiliates to pay any finder’s fee, brokerage fees or
commission or similar payment in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.
ARTICLE
VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT,
MERGER SUB AND SECOND MERGER SUB
Parent,
Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and
warrant to Company and the Principal Stockholder (and, upon execution of the
Written Consent and/or the applicable Stockholder Transmittal Letter, each of
the Stockholders) as follows:
7.1 Organization. Parent
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Colorado. Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Second Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
7.2 Authorization. Parent,
Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub have full corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and each other agreement, document,
instrument or certificate contemplated by this Agreement or to be executed by
Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby (such other agreements, documents,
instruments and certificates being hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the
“Parent
Documents”), and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Parent, Merger
Sub and Second Merger Sub of this Agreement and each of the Parent Documents
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of Parent,
Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub, as applicable. This Agreement has
been, and each of the Parent Documents will be at or prior to the Closing,
duly executed and delivered by Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub, as
applicable and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the
other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes, and each of the
Parent Documents when so executed and delivered will constitute, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and
thereto, valid and legally binding
obligations of Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub, as applicable,
enforceable against Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub, as applicable, in
accordance with their respective terms.
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7.3 Capitalization. The
authorized capital of Parent on May 26, 2009 consisted of 350,000,000 shares of
Parent Common Stock of which 166,988,785 are issued and outstanding, 22,020,516
shares of Parent Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to (i) all
stock plans, (ii) warrants, options and restricted stock units and (iii) any
other outstanding rights to purchase Parent Common Stock and 14,332,002 shares
of Parent Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding
convertible notes.
7.4 Merger
Sub. The
authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares of common stock,
$.001 par value per share, of which 100 shares are issued and
outstanding. Parent is the sole stockholder of Merger Sub and is the
record and beneficial owner of all 100 issued and outstanding
shares. Merger Sub was formed solely for purposes of effecting the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub does not hold, nor has it held, any
material assets or incurred any material liabilities nor has Merger Sub carried
on any business activities other than in connection with the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of Merger Sub have been duly authorized and validly
issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive
rights.
7.5 Second Merger
Sub. Parent
is the sole member of Second Merger Sub and is the record and beneficial owner
of 100% of the membership interests of Second Merger Sub. Second
Merger Sub was formed solely for purposes of effecting the Second Step Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement, Second Merger Sub does not hold, nor has it
held, any material assets or incurred any material liabilities nor has Second
Merger Sub carried on any business activities other than in connection with the
Second Step Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
7.6 Conflicts; Third-Party
Consents. Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Parent Documents nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, nor compliance
by Parent and Merger Sub with any of the provisions hereof or thereof, will (a)
conflict with, or result in the breach of, any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of Parent or Merger Sub, (b) conflict with, violate,
result in the breach or termination of, or constitute a default under any
Indebtedness, instrument, obligation or Contract to which Parent or Merger Sub
is a party or by which Parent or Merger Sub or their respective properties or
assets are bound or (c) violate any Law or any Order of any Governmental Body by
which Parent or Merger Sub or their respective properties or assets are
bound. No Order of, Consent or Permit from or declaration or filing
with, or notification to, any Person, including, without limitation, any
Governmental Body, is required to be made or obtained by Parent or Merger Sub in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
Parent Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby.
7.7 Legal
Proceedings. There
are no Legal Proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of Parent or Merger Sub,
threatened that are reasonably likely to prohibit or restrain the ability of
Parent or Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement or consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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7.8 No
Brokers. Neither
Parent, Merger Sub nor any of its Affiliates or Representatives has entered into
or will enter into any Contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with
any broker, finder or similar agent or Person which will result in the
obligation of Company to pay any finder’s fee, brokerage commission or similar
payment in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.
7.9 Valid Issuance of Common
Stock. The
Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and in consideration for the consummation of the Transactions, will be
duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Based in part
upon the representations of Company in this Agreement, the Shares will be issued
in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities
laws.
7.10 SEC
Documents. Parent
has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required
to be filed by Parent with the SEC since December 15, 2008, pursuant to Sections
13(a), 14(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (the “Parent SEC
Documents”). As of its respective filing date, each Parent SEC Document
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such
Parent SEC Document, and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. Except to the extent that information contained
in any Parent SEC Document has been revised or superseded by a later filed
Parent SEC Document, none of the Parent SEC Documents contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of
this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Parent, none of the SEC Documents is the
subject of any ongoing review by the SEC. The audited consolidated
financial statements and the unaudited quarterly financial statements
(including, in each case, the notes thereto) of the Parent included in the SEC
Documents when filed complied as to form in all material respects with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been
prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case
of unaudited quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other
rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly
present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the period then ended (subject,
in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end
adjustments). Except for matters reflected or reserved against in the
audited consolidated balance sheet of Company as of September 30, 2008 (or the
notes thereto) included in the Parent SEC Documents, neither Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued,
contingent, fixed or otherwise) of any nature that would be required under GAAP,
as in effect on the date of this Agreement, to be reflected on a consolidated
balance sheet of Company (including the notes thereto) except liabilities and
obligations that (i) were incurred since September 30, 2008 in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) are incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (iii) have
not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a material adverse effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
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7.11 Taxes.
(a) Subject
to such exceptions as would not have a material adverse effect on Parent and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole: (i) Parent and its Subsidiaries
have, or have caused to be, timely (taking into account applicable
extensions) filed
all Tax Returns required to be filed by them, which Tax Returns are correct in
all material respects; (ii) all Taxes shown as due and owing on such Tax Returns
have been timely paid; and (iii) to the knowledge of Parent, there are no
audits, assessments or other actions pending in respect of any Tax liability of
Parent or its Subsidiaries.
(b) No entity
classification election pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3 (or
any corresponding provision of state or local Tax law) has been filed with
respect to Second Merger Sub, and Parent has no intention to cause such an
election to be filed.
(c) Neither
Parent, Merger Sub nor Second Merger Sub has taken any action or knows of any
fact, agreement or plan that could reasonably be expected to prevent the
Transaction from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE
VIII
COVENANTS
Parent,
Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub, Company, the Principal Stockholder, (and, upon
execution of the Written Consent and/or the applicable Stockholder Transmittal
Letter, each of the Stockholders) and Stockholder Representative each covenant
with the other as follows:
8.1 Further
Assurances. Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement, the parties
agree, both before and after the Closing, (a) to use all reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable to satisfy the conditions hereto and to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements, (b) to execute any documents, instruments or
conveyances of any kind which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to carry
out any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder and (c) to
cooperate with each other in connection with the foregoing. As
promptly as practicable after the date hereof, Company and each of its
Subsidiaries will make any filings required by Law to be made by them in order
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, will obtain all other
required Consents and Permits and will apply for any new Permits necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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8.2 Notification of Certain
Matters.
(a) From the
date hereof to the Closing Date, Company shall give prompt notice to Parent of
(i) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event which occurrence or
failure would be likely to cause any representation or warranty contained in
this Agreement or in any exhibit or schedule hereto to be untrue or inaccurate
in any respect had such representation or warranty been made as of the time of
occurrence or discovery of such fact or condition; and (ii) any failure of the
Principal Stockholder, any of the Stockholders, Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives, to comply
with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by such Person under this Agreement or any exhibit or schedule hereto;
provided, however, that such disclosure
shall not be deemed to cure any breach of a representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement or to satisfy any condition. Should any such fact or
condition require any change in the Disclosure Schedule if the Disclosure
Schedule were dated the date of the occurrence or discovery of any such fact or
condition, Company will promptly deliver to Parent a supplement to the
Disclosure Schedule specifying such change. Company shall promptly
notify Parent of any default, the threat or commencement of any Legal
Proceeding, or any development that occurs before the Closing that would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. In
addition, during such period, Company and each of its Subsidiaries will confer
with Parent concerning operational matters of a material nature and otherwise
report periodically to Parent concerning the status of the
Business.
(b) From the
date hereof to the Closing Date, Parent shall give prompt notice to Company and
the Stockholders of (i) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event which
occurrence or failure would be likely to cause any representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement or in any exhibit or schedule hereto to be untrue or
inaccurate in any respect had such representation or warranty been made as of
the time of occurrence or discovery of such fact or condition; and (ii) any
failure of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
Affiliates or Representatives, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition
or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by such Person under this
Agreement or any exhibit or schedule hereto, in each case, in any material
respect; provided,
however, that such
disclosure shall not be deemed to cure any breach of a representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement or to satisfy any condition. Should any such
fact or condition require any change in the Disclosure Schedule if the
Disclosure Schedule were dated the date of the occurrence or discovery of any
such fact or condition, Parent will promptly deliver to Company and the
Stockholders a supplement to the Disclosure Schedule specifying such
change. Parent shall promptly notify Company and the Stockholders of
any default, the threat or commencement of any Legal Proceeding, or any
development that occurs before the Closing that would reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
8.3 Conduct of
Business. Between
the date hereof and the Closing Date and except as specifically required hereby,
Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause each of their
respective Affiliates to, conduct the Business only in the ordinary course of
64
business
and not take any action inconsistent with this Agreement or with the
consummation of the Closing. Except as otherwise expressly
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, in Section 8.12),
Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall use its and their commercially
reasonable efforts to (a) preserve intact the current business organization of
Company and each of its Subsidiaries, keep available the services of the current
officers, employees and agents of Company and each of its Subsidiaries and
maintain good relations and goodwill with suppliers, customers, landlords,
creditors, employees, agents and others having business relationships with
Company and each of its Subsidiaries and (b) maintain the property and assets of
Company and its Subsidiaries in a state of repair and condition that complies
with Laws and is consistent with the requirements of the Business as it is
presently conducted. In addition and not by way of limitation, except
as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement (including, without
limitation, in Section
8.12), between the date hereof and the Closing Date, Company and each of
its Subsidiaries will not, and shall cause their Affiliates not to, without the
prior consent of Parent, take any affirmative action, or fail to take any
reasonable action within their control, in each case which would reasonably be
expected to result in the occurrence of any of the changes or events listed in
Section
5.9.
8.4 Investigation by
Parent.
Subject
to the Confidentiality Agreement, from the date hereof to the Closing Date,
Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause each of their
respective Representatives to, afford Parent and its Representatives reasonable
access during normal business hours to Company and each of its Subsidiaries for
the purpose of inspecting the same, including for the purpose of conducting
environmental site assessments and compliance audits and to the Representatives,
Books and Records and Contracts of Company and each of its Subsidiaries, and
shall furnish Parent and its Representatives all financial, operating and other
data and information as Parent, through its Representatives, may reasonably
request.
8.5 Exclusivity. From
and after the date hereof, none of the Stockholders, Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates will, directly or indirectly, solicit any inquiries
or proposals or enter into or continue any discussions, negotiations or
agreements relating to the sale or exchange of its capital stock or other equity
interest, the merger of Company or any of its Subsidiaries with, or the direct
or indirect disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, of Company or
any of its subsidiaries to, any Person other than Parent or its Affiliates or
provide any assistance or any information to or otherwise cooperate with any
Person in connection with any such inquiry, proposal or
transaction. In the event that any of the Stockholders or Company or
any of its Subsidiaries receives an unsolicited offer for such a transaction or
obtains information that such an offer is likely to be made, Company will
provide Parent with notice thereof as soon as practical after receipt, including
the identity of the prospective purchaser or soliciting party.
8.6 Books and
Records. Each
party hereto agrees that it will cooperate with and make available to the other
party, during normal business hours, all Books and Records, information and
employees (without substantial disruption of employment) retained and remaining
in existence after the Closing which are necessary or useful in connection with
any Tax inquiry, audit, investigation or dispute, any litigation or
investigation or any other matter requiring any such Books and Records,
information or employees for any reasonable business purpose. The
party requesting any such Books and Records, information or employees shall bear
all of the out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys’ fees, but excluding reimbursement for salaries and employee benefits)
reasonably incurred in connection with providing such Books and Records,
information or employees. All information received pursuant to this
Section 8.6
shall be kept confidential by the party obtaining such information, subject to
any disclosure that is required to be made by such party in order to comply with
applicable Laws or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange upon
which its securities are traded.
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8.7 Tax
Matters.
(a) Stockholder
Representative shall prepare or cause to be prepared all Tax Returns of Company
and SilvaGas Corporation for any taxable periods ending on or before the Closing
Date that are required to be filed after the Closing Date and shall deliver a
draft of each such Tax Return to Parent at least 30 days before the date such
returns are required to be filed (taking into account any applicable
extensions); provided, however, that Stockholder Representative shall deliver a
draft of any such Tax Returns relating to payroll Taxes as promptly as
practicable in advance to the date such returns are required to be
filed. Unless otherwise required by Law, all such Tax Returns shall
be prepared consistently with past practice to the extent such past practice is
reasonable. Stockholder Representative shall permit Parent to review each
such Tax Return prior to filing and shall reflect all reasonable comments made
by Parent in good faith on such Tax Return, which such comments are received by
Stockholder Representative no fewer than five (5) days prior to the date such
return is required to be filed (taking into account any applicable extensions);
provided, however, that to the extent the positions taken on such Tax Return
could reasonably be expected to have an adverse impact on Parent, its
Subsidiaries or its Affiliates for any period or portion thereof beginning after
the Closing Date, such Tax Return shall not be filed without Parent’s approval
(for purposes of this Section 8.7(a), an “adverse impact
on Parent, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates” shall not include a reduction in the
availability or amount of losses or loss carryforwards of Company or its
Subsidiaries arising in a Pre-Closing Tax Period that would otherwise have
carried over to Parent, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates as a result of the
Transaction), such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. Parent shall
timely file or cause to be filed such Tax Returns. Parent shall timely pay
or cause to be paid all Taxes with respect to Tax Returns which Stockholder
Representative is obligated to prepare and file or cause to be prepared and
filed pursuant to this
Section 8.7(a); provided, however, that
Parent shall be entitled to be reimbursed out of the Escrow Account, within
fifteen (15) days after the date on which such Taxes are paid, an amount equal
to such Taxes paid by Parent (excluding any amounts indemnifiable pursuant
to Section 12.10 and
excluding any interest or penalties incurred as a result of a delay in filing
such Tax Return that is not caused by Stockholder Representative, Company or its
Subsidiaries); and provided, further, that
Parent shall be entitled to recover from the Principal Stockholder the amount of
any such Taxes indemnifiable pursuant to Section 12.10, in
which case the Principal Stockholder shall reimburse Parent for such Taxes
within fifteen (15) days after the date on which such Taxes are
paid.
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(b) Parent
shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed all Tax
Returns of Company and SilvaGas Corporation for any Straddle Periods required to
be filed after the Closing Date and shall deliver a draft of each such Tax
Return to Stockholder Representative at least 30 days before the date such
returns are required to be filed (taking into account any applicable
extensions); provided, however, that Parent shall deliver a draft of any such
Tax Returns relating to payroll Taxes as promptly as practicable in advance to
the date such returns are required to be filed. Unless otherwise
required by Law, all such Tax Returns shall be prepared and filed in a manner
substantially consistent with past practice to the extent such past practice is
reasonable. Parent shall permit Stockholder Representative to review
each such Tax Return prior to filing and shall reflect all reasonable comments
made by Stockholder Representative in good faith on such Tax Return, which such
comments are received by Parent no fewer than five (5) days prior to the date
such return is required to be filed (taking into account any applicable
extensions); provided, however, that to the extent the positions taken on such
Tax Return could reasonably be expected to have an adverse impact on the
Stockholders for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, such Tax Return shall not be filed
without Stockholder Representative’s approval (for purposes of this Section 8.7(b), an “adverse impact
on the Stockholders” shall include a reduction in the availability or amount of
losses or loss carryforwards of Company or its Subsidiaries arising in a
Pre-Closing Tax Period), such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld. Parent shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes with respect
to Tax Returns which Parent is obligated to prepare and file or cause to be
prepared and filed pursuant to this Section 8.7(b); provided, however, that
Parent shall be entitled to be reimbursed out of the Escrow Account, within
fifteen (15) days after the date on which such Taxes are paid, an amount equal
to the portion of such Taxes (as determined in accordance with Section 12.2(a)(v) of this Agreement)
relating to Company and its Subsidiaries for the Pre-Closing Tax Period
(excluding any amounts indemnifiable pursuant to Section 12.10 and
excluding any interest or penalties incurred as a result of a delay in filing
such Tax Return that is not caused by Stockholder Representative, Company or its
Subsidiaries); and provided, further, that
Parent shall be entitled to recover from the Principal Stockholder the amount of
any such Taxes indemnifiable pursuant to Section 12.10, in
which case the Principal Stockholder shall reimburse Parent for such Taxes
within fifteen (15) days after the date on which such Taxes are
paid.
(c) Parent
shall pay to the Stockholders the amount of any refund actually received or
credit actually realized by Parent or its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date of
Taxes of Company and its Subsidiaries for a Pre-Closing Tax Period (including
refunds and credits arising by reason of amended Tax Returns filed after the
Closing Date or otherwise but excluding any refunds or credits resulting from
the carryback or utilization of any Tax attribute arising after the Closing
Date) relating to Taxes with respect to any Pre-Closing Tax Period, except to
the extent such refund or credit was reflected as an asset in the calculation of
the Net Working Capital Amount as finally determined pursuant to Section
2.10(b). Parent shall be entitled to retain, or receive prompt
payment from the Stockholders of, any refund or credit arising with respect to
any of Parent, Company and its Subsidiaries (including, refunds and credits
arising by reason of amended Tax Returns filed after the Closing Date or
otherwise) relating to Taxes with respect to any taxable year or period or
portion thereof that begins after the Closing Date. Parent and the Stockholders
shall equitably apportion any refund or credit with
67
respect
to Taxes with respect to any Straddle Period consistent with the provisions of
Section
12.2(a)(v). The amount of any payment that Parent, on the one
hand, or the Stockholders, on the other hand, is required to make to the other
party pursuant to this Section 8.7(c) shall
be reduced to take account of any Taxes incurred by the paying party upon the
receipt or realization of such refund or credit. If a refund or
credit in respect of which amounts were paid by one party by the other pursuant
to this Section
8.7(c) is later disallowed, the recipient party shall return such amounts
to the paying party, together with any interest and penalties imposed by the
applicable Tax Authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing references to
the Stockholders in this Section 8.7(c), to
the extent any refund or credit described in the first sentence of this Section 8.7(c)
relates to Taxes of Company and its Subsidiaries for a Pre-Closing Tax Period
which Taxes were paid by the Principal Stockholder pursuant to Section 12.10 or the
final proviso of Section 8.7(a) or 8.7(b), the Principal
Stockholder alone, and not the Stockholders collectively, shall be entitled to
the receipt of the corresponding payment from Parent under this Section
8.7(c).
(d) Parent,
Company and Stockholder Representative and the Stockholders agree to
furnish or cause to be furnished to the other, upon request, as promptly as
practicable, such information and assistance relating to Taxes, including,
without limitation, access to books and records, as is reasonably necessary for
the filing of Tax Returns, the making of any election relating to Taxes, the
preparation for any audit by any taxing authority and the prosecution or defense
of any claim, suit or proceeding relating to any Tax.
(e) If,
subsequent to the Closing, any of Parent and the Surviving Corporation, on the
one hand, or Stockholder Representative, on the other hand, receives notice of a
claim by any Tax Authority that, if successful, might result in an indemnity
payment hereunder (a “Tax Claim”), then
within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice, Parent, Company or
Stockholder Representative, as the case may be, shall give written notice of
such Tax Claim to the other party. Any failure to so notify the other
party of any Tax Matter shall not relieve such other party of any liability with
respect to such Tax Matters except to the extent such party was actually
prejudiced as a result thereof. Subject to the following sentence,
Parent shall have the right to control the conduct and resolution of any Tax
Claim relating to Taxes of Parent, the Surviving Corporation, Company or any of
their Subsidiaries; provided, however, that Parent shall keep Stockholder
Representative reasonably informed of all developments on a timely basis and
Parent shall not resolve such Tax Claim in a manner that could reasonably be
expected to have an adverse impact on the Stockholders’ indemnification
obligations under this Agreement without Stockholder Representative’s written
consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Stockholder
Representative shall have the right to control the conduct and resolution of any
Tax Claim relating to Taxes of Company or its Subsidiaries for any taxable
period ending on or before the Closing Date; provided, however, that Parent may
elect to participate in the conduct of such Tax Claim with separate counsel, at
its own expense, if such Tax Claim could reasonably be expected to have an
adverse impact on Parent, and provided, further, that regardless of whether
Parent so elects, Stockholder Representative shall keep Parent reasonably
informed of all developments on a timely basis and shall not, without Parent’s
written consent, resolve such Tax Claim in a manner that could reasonably be
expected to have an adverse impact on Parent (for purposes of this Section 8.7(e), an
“adverse impact on Parent” shall not include a reduction in the availability or
amount of losses or loss carryforwards of Company or its Subsidiaries arising in
a Pre-Closing Tax Period that would otherwise have carried over to Parent, its
Subsidiaries or its Affiliates as a result of the Transaction), which such
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This Section 8.7(e), and not the
procedures of Section
12.5, shall govern Tax Claims.
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(f) It is
intended by the parties hereto that the Merger and the Second Step Merger, taken
together, shall be treated as a single integrated transaction and shall
constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the
Code. However, no party makes any representation or warranty to the
other or to any Stockholder regarding the Tax treatment of the Transaction or
whether the Transaction will qualify as a “reorganization” under the
Code. Each party acknowledges that it is relying on its own advisors
in connection with the Tax treatment of the Transaction and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(g) Each
party agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take any and all action
necessary for the Merger and the Second Step Merger to be treated as a single
integrated transaction that constitutes a “reorganization” within the meaning of
Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code. Each party agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to refrain from taking any and all action that is
reasonably likely to prevent the Merger and the Second Step Merger as being
treated as a single integrated transaction that constitutes a “reorganization”
within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.
(h) In the
event that the Merger and the Second Step Merger are not treated as a single
integrated transaction that constitutes a “reorganization” within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code, Parent shall not make any election under Section 338
of the Code with respect to the Merger.
(i) Parent
shall pay all transfer, stamp, documentary, sales, use, registration,
value-added and other similar Taxes (including all applicable real estate
transfer Taxes, collectively the “Transfer Taxes”)
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, provided, that
(A) to the extent one-half of such Transfer Taxes exceeds the Estimated
Stockholder Transfer Tax Amount, then Parent and Stockholder Representative
shall promptly execute and deliver joint written instructions to the Escrow
Agent, instructing the Escrow Agent to distribute to Parent the number of
Escrow Shares (rounded to the nearest whole Share and calculated based on the
Closing Price) equal to the amount by which one-half of such Transfer Taxes
exceeds the Estimated Stockholder Transfer Tax Amount and (B) to the extent the
Estimated Stockholder Transfer Tax Amount exceeds one-half of such Transfer
Taxes, Parent shall promptly distribute to each Stockholder a cash amount equal
to its Pro Rata Portion of the amount by which the Estimated Stockholder
Transfer Tax Amount exceeds one-half of such Transfer Taxes. Parent and
Stockholder Representative shall jointly prepare and file all Tax Returns with
respect to such Transfer Taxes.
(j) Any
payments made to a party pursuant to the indemnification provisions of Article XII shall
constitute an adjustment of the consideration paid hereunder for Tax purposes
and shall be treated as such by the parties on their Tax Returns to the extent
permitted by applicable Law.
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8.8 Resale of
Shares.
(a) Except as
otherwise provided in Section 2.11, each of the
Stockholders agrees that it shall not sell or otherwise transfer, make any short
sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or
similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, of any of its
Shares included as part of the Initial Stock Consideration during the Lock-up
Period. Parent may impose stop-transfer instructions and may stamp
each certificate with the following legend with respect to such Shares (for the
avoidance of doubt, other than certificates representing the Registrable Payoff
Amount Shares, which are not included in the Initial Stock Consideration) until
the end of the Lock-up Period:
“THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE, INCLUDING A LOCK-UP PERIOD OF UP TO 180 DAYS FROM
THE DATE OF ISSUANCE, AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, A COPY OF
WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF COMPANY.”
(b) If a
Stockholder should decide to dispose of any of such Shares, Stockholder
understands and agrees that it may do so only after such Shares have been
registered under the Securities Act and qualified under applicable state and
foreign securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration and
qualification requirements is available and, except as otherwise provided in
Section 2.11,
after the expiration of the Lock-up Period. In connection with any
offer, resale, pledge, distribution or other transfer (individually and
collectively, a “Transfer”) of any
such Shares other than pursuant to an effective registration statement, Parent
may require that Stockholder provide, at the expense of Stockholder, Parent with
an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent to
the effect that such Transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in
a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and the qualification requirements of any applicable state or foreign
securities laws. Stockholder agrees to the imprinting, so long as
appropriate, of substantially the following legend on certificates representing
the Shares:
“THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY
NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING
SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL
NOT OFFER, RESELL, PLEDGE, DISTRIBUTE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER (INDIVIDUALLY AND
COLLECTIVELY, A “TRANSFER”) THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY, EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO
AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (B) PURSUANT TO
AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. IF THE
PROPOSED TRANSFER IS TO BE MADE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (B) ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST,
PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH
CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY
REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION
FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OR ANY STATE OR FOREIGN SECURITIES LAWS.”
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The legend set forth above may be
removed if and when the Shares represented by such certificate are disposed of
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or the
opinion of counsel referred to above has been provided to Parent. The
certificates representing the Shares shall also bear any additional legends
required by applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws, which legends
may be removed when, in the opinion of counsel to Parent, they are no longer
required under the applicable requirements of such securities
laws. Stockholder agrees that, in connection with any Transfer of
Shares by it pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, it will comply with all prospectus delivery and other
requirements of the Securities Act applicable to
Stockholder. Stockholder acknowledges that Parent makes no
representation, warranty or agreement as to the availability of any exemption
from registration under the Securities Act with respect to any resale of any of
the Shares.
8.9 Closing Consideration
Schedule. Company
shall deliver to Parent not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the
Closing Date the “Closing Consideration
Schedule” in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent, which schedule shall
be certified as complete and correct by Company’s President and which shall
accurately set forth, as of Closing, all Stockholders and their respective
addresses and social security number or tax identification number, if
applicable, the number and type of shares of Company Common Stock held by such
Stockholders (including the respective certificate numbers), the Pro Rata
Portion applicable to each Stockholder, the aggregate consideration to be paid
to each Stockholder, the number of Shares to be deposited into the Escrow
Account on behalf of each Stockholder and such other information relevant
thereto which Parent may reasonably request.
8.10 Stockholder
Approval. No later than one
(1) day following the execution of this Agreement, Company shall deliver to
Parent certified resolutions adopted by written consent of the Requisite
Stockholders in the form of Exhibit J, evidencing
the adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby by written consent in accordance with the DGCL
and Company’s Organizational Documents (the “Written Consent”).
Parent may terminate this Agreement if Company fails to deliver to Parent the
Written Consent within one (1) day following the execution of this Agreement
and, in the event of such termination, neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall have
any further liabilities or obligations under this Agreement.
8.11 Stockholder
Joinder. Upon
the execution and delivery of a Stockholder Transmittal Letter, the
representations and warranties, set forth in
Article
VI and the covenants,
agreements and obligations of such Stockholder made as of the date of this
Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to be made by such Stockholder as of
the date of this Agreement (notwithstanding the actual date of execution and
delivery). Prior to such joinder, Company and the Principal
Stockholder shall be liable for any deemed breach of any covenant hereunder by
any Stockholder who has not yet delivered its Stockholder Transmittal Letter and
shall take all reasonable actions to prevent any such deemed
breach.
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8.12 Conversion of Company
Preferred Stock and Certain Liabilities. Promptly
following the date of this Agreement but in no event later than one (1) day
prior to the Effective Time, Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to
Parent evidence of the irrevocable election by holders of all shares of Company
Preferred Stock to convert such shares to shares of Company Common Stock
immediately prior to the Effective Time. In addition, prior to the
Closing, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP will convert into Company Common Stock any
outstanding fees owed to it by the Company or its Subsidiaries for services
rendered that are in excess of $300,000.00.
8.13 Restrictions on
Transfer. After
the date hereof, each of the Stockholders agrees not to transfer any shares of
Company Capital Stock to any person without the written consent of the Parent.
Each Stockholder further agrees that any attempt by a Stockholder to transfer
any shares of Company Capital Stock in violation of this Section 8.13 shall be
void and Company agrees it will not effect such a transfer nor will it treat any
alleged transferee as the holder of such shares without the written consent of
the Parent.
ARTICLE
IX
CONDITIONS TO COMPANY’S
OBLIGATIONS
The
obligation of Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are subject, in the discretion of Company, to the satisfaction, on or
prior to the Closing Date, of the conditions contained in this Article IX, any of
which may be waived by Company in whole or in part to the extent permitted by
applicable Laws.
9.1 Representations, Warranties
and Covenants. All
representations and warranties of Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
at and as of the date hereof and at and as of the Closing
Date. Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall have performed
and satisfied in all material respects all agreements and covenants required
hereby to be performed by it prior to or on the Closing Date.
9.2 Legal
Proceedings. No
Legal Proceedings shall have been instituted and no Third-Party Claim shall have
been made against Parent, Merger Sub, the Stockholders or Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or
otherwise prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
9.3 Deliveries. Company
shall have received the documents, instruments and certificates set forth in
Section
4.2(b).
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ARTICLE
X
CONDITIONS TO PARENT’S, MERGER
SUB’S AND SECOND MERGER SUB’S
OBLIGATIONS
The
obligation of Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject, in the discretion of
Parent and Merger Sub, to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of
the conditions contained in this Article X, any of
which may be waived by Parent, Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub in whole or in
part to the extent permitted by applicable Laws.
10.1 Representations, Warranties
and Covenants. All
representations and warranties of Company and the Stockholders contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the
date hereof and at and as of the Closing Date, provided however that the
representations and warranties of Company contained in Section 5.27 shall be
true and correct in all respects at and as of the Closing
Date. Company and the Stockholders shall have performed and satisfied
in all material respects all agreements and covenants required hereby to be
performed by it or them prior to or on the Closing Date.
10.2 Consents. All
Consents from, and filings and notifications with, Governmental Bodies and other
Persons (including, without limitation, the Consents, filings and notifications
set forth on Schedule
5.6) necessary for the valid consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been obtained or made.
10.3 Legal
Proceedings. No
Legal Proceedings shall have been instituted and no Third-Party Claim shall have
been made against Parent, Merger Sub, the Stockholders or Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which seeks to restrain, enjoin, obtain substantial damages,
prevent the consummation of or otherwise prohibit the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or the ability of Stockholders to transfer Company Common
Stock free and clear of any Liens.
10.4 No Material Adverse
Change. There
shall not have been or occurred any Material Adverse Change since the date of
the Most Recent Balance Sheet.
10.5 Deliveries. Parent
shall have received the documents, instruments and certificates set forth in
Sections 2.8,
4.2(a) and
8.9.
10.6 No
Prohibition. Neither
the consummation nor the performance of any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of
time), materially contravene, or conflict with, or result in a material
violation of, or cause Parent or any of Parent’s Affiliates to suffer any
material adverse consequence under, any applicable Law or Order (or any Law or
Order which has been published, introduced or otherwise proposed by or before
any Governmental Body).
10.7 Stockholder
Approval. This
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall, in
accordance with the DGCL and Company’s Organizational Documents, have been
approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders holding Company Capital Stock
representing the requisite number of Company Capital Stock necessary to approve
this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby under
the DGCL and Company’s Organizational Documents, including the affirmative vote
of the Requisite Stockholders.
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10.8 Dissenting
Stockholders. Stockholders holding no
more than 5% of the outstanding Company Capital Stock shall have exercised
appraisal rights in accordance with the DGCL.
10.9 Cash Consideration
Cap. Stockholders holding no more than 2% of
the outstanding Company Capital Stock shall be Unqualified Stockholders
(provided that in no event shall the amount of Cash Consideration to be paid
hereunder exceed $165,000).
10.10 Securities Law
Compliance. Parent
shall be satisfied, in its sole discretion, that the offer and sale of the
Parent Common Stock to the Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement shall be
exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 506 of
Regulation D, as presently in effect, under the Securities Act and all
applicable state securities laws.
10.11 Distribution of Membership
Interests in
SAGE LLC and Big Stakes LLC. Prior
to the Closing Date, Company shall have caused all of the membership interests
of SAGE LLC and Big Stakes LLC to be distributed or transferred to a person
other than Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to one or more agreements or
other instruments in form and substance satisfactory to Parent.
10.12 Termination of Employment
Agreements. Prior
to the Closing Date, Company shall have terminated all existing employment
agreements to which it is a party pursuant to one or more termination agreements
in form and substance satisfactory to the Parent.
ARTICLE
XI
COVENANT NOT TO
COMPETE
11.1 Covenant Not to
Compete. Each
Restricted Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that the Business is conducted
nationwide in the United States and on a global basis and that the reputation
and goodwill of the Business and of Company and its Subsidiaries are an integral
part of the success of the Business throughout the areas where it is
conducted. If Parent is deprived of any of the goodwill of the
Business or of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or if the Restricted
Stockholders or Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any manner utilize such
reputation and goodwill in competition with Parent in its conduct of the
Business after Closing, Parent will be deprived of the benefits it has bargained
for pursuant to this Agreement. This Section 11.1 is
necessary to effectively transfer the reputation and goodwill of the Business
and of Company and each of its Subsidiaries to Parent. The Restricted
Stockholders agree and acknowledge that, as beneficiaries of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, they will receive significant benefits as
a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Accordingly, as an inducement for Parent to enter into
this Agreement:
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(a) each of
the Restricted Stockholders agrees that, until December 31, 2014, he, she or it
(as applicable) shall not, without Parent’s prior written consent, directly or
indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership,
management, operation or control of, or be connected as a director,
officer, employee, partner, consultant or otherwise with, any profit or
non-profit business or organization in any county, state or territory of the
United States or anywhere else in the world, which, directly or indirectly,
competes with the Business, provided that the ownership
of less than 5% of the outstanding equity interests in a publicly traded entity
or the ownership of less than 10% of the outstanding equity interest in a
private entity shall not constitute a violation of this Section 11.1 so long as such
Restricted Stockholder does not have any active participation in the business of
such entity.
(b) each of
the Restricted Stockholders agrees to maintain in confidence, and not to
disclose to any third party, any ideas, methods, developments, inventions,
improvements and business plans and information which are the confidential
information of Company or any of its Subsidiaries. In the event that
the agreement in this Section 11.1 shall be
determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason
of its extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical
area or by reason of its being too extensive in any other respect, it shall be
interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be
enforceable, and/or over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be
enforceable and/or to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it
may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action.
(c) Until
December 31, 2014, no Restricted Stockholder shall, directly or indirectly, hire
or offer employment to or seek to hire or offer employment to any employee with
whom such Restricted Stockholder had material contact in the two (2) years
preceding the Closing Date of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, including the
Surviving Company, or any of their Affiliates, in each case which is engaged in
the Business as presently conducted or any similar business of Parent, in each
case unless the employment of such employee its first terminated by Parent or
Parent gives its written consent to such employment or offer of
employment.
(d) each of
the Restricted Stockholders acknowledges that a breach of any of the covenants
contained in this Section 11.1 will
cause irreparable damage to Parent, the Surviving Company and the Business, the
exact amount of which will be difficult to ascertain, and that the remedies at
law for any such breach will be inadequate. Accordingly, Company and
each Restricted Stockholder agrees that, if any Restricted Stockholder breaches
any of the covenants contained in this Section 11.1, in
addition to any other remedy which may be available at law or in equity,
Parent shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive relief, without
posting bond or other security.
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ARTICLE
XII
INDEMNIFICATION
12.1 Survival of
Representations. Subject
to the limitations contained in this Article XII, all
representations, warranties covenants and agreements contained herein or in any
Ancillary Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or any such Ancillary Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any party hereto or its Affiliates or the knowledge of any such
party’s (or its Affiliates’) officers, directors, stockholders, managers,
members, partners, employees or agents. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, the Stockholders will not be liable with respect to any
claim for the breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty pursuant to
Section 12.2(a)(i)
or Section
12.2(b)(i), and Parent will not be liable with respect to any claim for
the breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty pursuant to Section 12.3(a)(i),
unless written notice of a claim thereof is delivered to Stockholder
Representative or Parent, as the case may be, prior to the Survival Date and in
accordance with Sections 12.5 and
12.6. For
purposes of this Agreement, subject to Section 12.4,
the term “Survival
Date” shall mean such date which is 24 months after the Closing; provided that (a) with
respect to the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 5.10
(Taxes), 5.20
(Environmental Matters) and 7.11 (Taxes), the
Survival Date shall be the 30th day
after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (including any
extensions thereto to the extent that such statute of limitations may be tolled)
and (b) with respect to the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 5.1
(Organization and Good Standing), 5.2 (Authorization;
Enforceability), 5.3 (Capitalization),
5.4
(Subsidiaries), 5.24 (No Brokers),
6.1
(Authorization), 6.2 (Consents and
Approvals), 6.3
(Title to Shares of Company Capital Stock), 6.4 (No Brokers),
7.1
(Organization), 7.2 (Authorization),
7.3
(Capitalization) and 7.8 (No Brokers),
there shall be no Survival Date and such representations and warranties shall
survive the Closing indefinitely. Parent and the Stockholders agree
that so long as written notice is given on or prior to the Survival Date with
respect to such claim and in accordance with Sections 12.5 and
12.6, the
representations and warranties with respect to such breach shall continue to
survive until such matter is finally resolved. For the avoidance of
doubt, any covenant, agreement or obligation set forth in this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, shall survive the Closing until the date that such
covenant, agreement or obligation has been fully performed or earlier terminated
in accordance with its terms.
12.2 Indemnification of Parent
Indemnified Parties by the
Stockholders.
(a) Restricted Stockholder Obligations. The Restricted
Stockholders hereby agree to indemnify Parent and its Affiliates and each of
their respective officers, directors, stockholders, managers, members, partners,
employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the
“Parent Indemnified
Parties”), from and hold each of them harmless against and pay on behalf
of or reimburse any such Parent Indemnified Party in respect of the entirety of
any Loss which such Parent Indemnified Party may suffer, sustain or become
subject to, relating to or in connection with, arising out of, resulting from or
incident to:
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(i) subject
to the limitations in this Article XII, the
breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of Company or the
Restricted Stockholders contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement (or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto by or on behalf
of Company or the Restricted Stockholders to Parent with respect thereto), in
each case, without giving effect to any limitation or qualification as to
“materiality,” “material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifiers set
forth in such representation or warranty for purposes of determining the Losses
resulting from, arising out of or relating to such breach or
inaccuracy;
(ii) the
breach, non-compliance or non-performance of any covenant, agreement or
obligation of the Restricted Stockholders, Company or any of its Subsidiaries
contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;
(iii) any
portion of the costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Engineer allocated to
the Restricted Stockholders pursuant to Section 2.13(d)
hereof;
(iv) any
Excess Dissenting Share Payments; and
(v) (I) any
Taxes of Company or of its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period
(other than U.S. federal and state corporate income Taxes resulting solely from
the failure of the Transaction to qualify as a “reorganization” within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code), other than Taxes indemnifiable pursuant
to Section
12.10, and (II) the unpaid Taxes of any Person (other than Company and
its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by
Contract or otherwise. With respect to Taxes for any Straddle Period,
the portion of such Tax that relates to the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall
(A) in the case of any real property, personal property or similar ad
valorem Taxes, be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire Straddle
Period multiplied by a
fraction (1) the numerator of which is the number of days in the Straddle Period
ending on the Closing Date and (2) the denominator of which is the number of
days in the entire Straddle Period, and (B) in the case of any other Tax,
be deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the relevant Straddle
Period had ended on the Closing Date.
(b) Unrestricted Stockholder
Obligations. Each Unrestricted
Stockholder, severally and not jointly and only as and to the extent that any
representation or warranty contained in Article VI or any
other covenant, agreement or obligation applies to and is specific to such
Stockholder, hereby agrees to indemnify the Parent Indemnified Parties from and
hold each of them harmless against and pay on behalf of or reimburse any such
Parent Indemnified Party in respect of the entirety of any Loss which such
Parent Indemnified Party may suffer, sustain or become subject to, relating to
or in connection with, arising out of, resulting from or incident
to:
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(i) subject
to the limitations in this Article XII, the
breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of such Stockholder
contained in Article
VI of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or in any certificate
delivered pursuant hereto by or on behalf of such Stockholder to Parent with
respect thereto) (but only as and to the extent that any representation or
warranty contained in Article VI or any
other covenant, agreement or obligation applies to and is specific to such
Stockholder), in each case, without giving effect to any limitation or
qualification as to “materiality,” “material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or
similar qualifiers set forth in such representation or warranty for purposes of
determining the Losses resulting from, arising out of or relating to such breach
or inaccuracy;
(ii) the
breach, non-compliance or non-performance of any covenant, agreement or
obligation of such Stockholder (but only as and to the extent that any such
covenant, agreement or obligation applies to and is specific to such
Stockholder); and
(iii) any
portion of the costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Engineer allocated to
the Unrestricted Stockholders pursuant to, and as limited by, Section 2.13(d)
hereof.
(c) Limitations.
(i) The
obligations of the Stockholders to indemnify the Parent Indemnified Parties
pursuant to this Article XII shall be
several and not joint with respect to any Loss indemnified thereunder such that
each Stockholder’s obligation with respect to any such Loss indemnifiable by
such Stockholder pursuant to this Article XII shall be
based on its Pro Rata Portion (except for any such Loss that results from a
breach of a representation, warranty or covenant that applies to and is specific
to such Stockholder, which shall be the sole and separate responsibility of such
Stockholder); provided,
however, that any such obligations of any Stockholder shall be joint and
several obligations of the Principal Stockholder with such Stockholder
notwithstanding any Liability therefor otherwise;
(ii) No amount
shall be payable to the Parent Indemnified Parties in satisfaction of claims for
indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i) or
Section
12.2(b)(i) unless and until the aggregate amount of all Losses of the
Parent Indemnified Parties arising therefrom exceeds $100,000 (the “Threshold”), at which
time the Stockholders shall indemnify Parent for the full amount of all such
Losses from and including the first dollar of all such Losses up to an amount
equal to the Cap; provided
that (A) the Threshold shall not apply with respect to any Losses
resulting from, arising out of or relating to breaches of representations and
warranties contained in Sections 5.1
(Organization and Good Standing), 5.2 (Authorization;
Enforceability), 5.3 (Capitalization;
Subsidiaries), 5.10 (Taxes), 5.13 (Proprietary
Rights) and 5.24 (No Brokers), 6.1 (Authorization),
6.2 (Consents
and Approvals), 6.3 (Title to Shares
of Company Capital Stock), 6.4 (No Brokers),
(collectively, the “Fundamental
Representations”) and (B) none of such Losses shall count towards the
satisfaction of the Threshold;
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(iii) The
aggregate amount of all payments made by the Principal Stockholder in
satisfaction of claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i)
shall not exceed (A) his Pro Rata Portion of the Escrow Amount and (B) the portion of the Earn-Out Payment or Excess Licensing
Fees, as applicable, actually earned and received (or due) to the Principal
Stockholder; provided that no payments
made by the Principal Stockholder with respect to Losses resulting from, arising
out of or relating to breaches of any of the Fundamental Representations shall
count towards the Cap, including for the avoidance of doubt, any payments made
pursuant to Section
12.10 and (B) except as set forth in Section 12.10, in no
event shall the aggregate amount of all payments made by the Principal
Stockholder in satisfaction of claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i)
exceed the Cap;
(iv) The
aggregate amount of all payments made by the Restricted Stockholders other than
the Principal Stockholder in satisfaction of claims for indemnification pursuant
to Section
12.2(a) (other than with respect to claims arising from the breach,
non-compliance or non-performance of any covenant, agreement or obligation of
such Stockholder (but only as and to the extent that any such covenant,
agreement or obligation applies to and is specific to such Stockholder)) shall not exceed the (A) portion of the Initial Stock
Consideration actually received by such Stockholder from Parent or the Escrow
Agent, as applicable, and (B) the portion of the Earn-Out Payment or Excess
Licensing Fees, as applicable, actually earned and received (or due) to such
Stockholder, if any; provided that Parent’s sole recourse for recovery of such
indemnification payments shall be to offset such amounts against the applicable
Stockholder’s portion of the Escrow Amount and Earn-Out Payment or Excess
Licensing Fees, as applicable, actually earned and received (or
due);
(v) The
aggregate amount of all payments made by Unrestricted Stockholders in
satisfaction of claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(b)(i) shall not exceed the (A) portion of the Initial
Stock Consideration actually received by
such Stockholder from Parent or the Escrow Agent, as applicable, and (B) the
portion of the Earn-Out Payment or Excess Licensing Fees, as applicable,
actually earned and received (or due) to such Stockholder, if any; provided that Parent’s sole recourse for recovery of such
indemnification payments shall be to offset such amounts against the applicable
Stockholder’s portion of the Escrow Amount and Earn-Out Payment or Excess
Licensing Fees, as applicable, actually earned and received (or
due);
(vi) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, no Stockholder shall be liable to the Parent
Indemnified Parties for any reduction in the amount or availability of losses or
loss carryforwards of Company or its Subsidiaries arising in a Pre-Closing Tax
Period that would otherwise have carried over to Parent, its Subsidiaries or its
Affiliates as a result of the Transaction; and
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(vii) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, no Stockholder shall be liable to the
Parent Indemnified Parties for Losses under Section 12.2 that
constitute consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages (in each case,
except to the extent constituting Third Party
Claims) claimed by such other party or parties, as the case may be,
resulting from such first party’s breach of its representations, warranties or
covenants hereunder.
12.3 Indemnification of
Stockholder Indemnified Parties by Parent.
(a) Obligations. Parent
agrees to indemnify the Stockholders, their respective Affiliates and each of
their respective officers, directors, stockholders, managers, members, partners,
employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the
“Stockholder
Indemnified Parties”) from and hold each of them harmless against and pay
on behalf of or reimburse any such Stockholder Indemnified Party in respect of
the entirety of any Loss which such Stockholder Indemnified Party may suffer,
sustain or become subject to, relating to or in connection with, arising out of,
resulting from or incident to:
(i) subject
to the limitations in this Article XII, the
breach or inaccuracy by Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub of any
representation or warranty made by Parent in this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement (or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto by Parent to Company
with respect thereto); or
(ii) the
breach, non-compliance or non-performance of any covenant, agreement or
obligation of Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub contained in this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
(b) Limitations.
(i) No amount
shall be payable to the Stockholders in satisfaction of claims for
indemnification pursuant to Section 12.3(a)(i) unless
and until the aggregate amount of all Losses of the Stockholders arising
therefrom exceeds the Threshold, at which time Parent shall indemnify the
Stockholders for the full amount of all such Losses from and including the first
dollar of all such Losses up to an amount equal to the Cap; provided that (A) the
Threshold shall not apply with respect to any Losses resulting from, arising out
of or relating to breaches of representations and warranties contained in Sections 7.1 (Organization),
7.2 (Authorization),
7.3 (Capitalization)
or 7.8 (No Brokers)
(collectively, the “Parent Fundamental
Representations”), and (B) none of such Losses shall count towards the
satisfaction of the Threshold.
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(ii) The
aggregate amount of all payments made by Parent in satisfaction of claims for
indemnification pursuant to Section 12.3(a)(i)
shall not exceed the Cap; provided that (A) no payments
made by Parent with respect to Losses resulting from, arising out of or relating
to breaches of any of the Parent Fundamental Representations shall count towards
the Cap and (B) in no event shall the aggregate amount of all payments made by
Parent in satisfaction of claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 12.3(a)(i)
exceed the Cap.
(iii) Following
the Closing, no Stockholder Indemnified Party shall have any right to seek
contribution from the Surviving Company (or any Affiliate thereof) with respect
to any indemnification claim of a Parent Indemnified Party against any
Stockholder Indemnified Party hereunder.
(iv) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, Parent shall not be liable to the
Stockholder Indemnified Parties for Losses under Section 12.3 that constitute
consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages (in each case, except to the extent constituting Third Party
Claims) claimed by such other party or parties, as the case may be,
resulting from such first party’s breach of its representations, warranties or
covenants hereunder.
12.4 Special Rule for
Fraud and
Intentional
Misrepresentation. Notwithstanding
anything in this Article XII to the
contrary, in the event of any breach of a representation or warranty by any
party hereto that results from intentional misrepresentation or constitutes
knowing and intentional fraud, by or on behalf of the Stockholders, Company
(including, without limitation, any intentional misrepresentation or fraudulent
act committed by any officer, director, employee or agent of Company or any of
its Subsidiaries in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement), on the one hand, or Parent or Merger Sub, on
the other hand, then (a) such representation or warranty will survive the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and will continue in full force and effect for
the period of the applicable statute of limitations with regard to any survival
period set forth in Section 12.1, (b) the
limitations set forth in Section 12.2(c) or
Section 12.3(b)
(as the case may be) shall not apply to any Loss that the Parent Indemnified
Parties or Company Indemnified Parties, respectively, may suffer, sustain or
become subject to, as a result of, arising out of, relating to or in connection
with any such breach, and (c) none of such Losses shall count towards the
satisfaction of the Threshold or the Cap.
12.5 Notice and Defense of
Third-Party Claims.
(a) If a
party hereto seeks indemnification under this Article XII with
respect to any action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation or other claim brought
against it by a third party (a “Third-Party Claim”),
such party (the “Indemnified Party”)
shall promptly give written notice to the other party (the “Indemnifying Party”)
after receiving written notice of such Third-Party Claim, describing the
Third-Party Claim, the amount thereof (if known and quantifiable), and the basis
thereof; provided that
any failure to so notify or any delay in notifying the Indemnifying Party shall
not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its or his obligations hereunder except to
the extent that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such failure or
delay. With respect to any Third-Party Claim which, if adversely
determined, could reasonably be expected to entitle the
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Indemnified
Party to indemnification pursuant to this Article XII, the
Indemnifying Party shall be entitled (i) to participate in the defense of such
Third-Party Claim giving rise to the Indemnified Party’s claim for
indemnification or (ii) at its option (subject to the limitations set forth
below), to assume control and appoint lead counsel of such defense
with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party; provided that, as a condition
precedent to the Indemnifying Party’s right to assume control of such defense,
it must first notify the Indemnified Party in writing within ten (10) days after
the Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third-Party Claim that the
Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against the
entirety of any Losses (without any limitations or reservation of rights) the
Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the
nature of, or caused by the Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume control of such
defense, and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel retained by
the Indemnified Party, if the Third-Party Claim which the Indemnifying Party
seeks to assume control, (w) seeks non-monetary relief, (x) involves
criminal or quasi-criminal allegations, (y) involves a claim which, if
adversely, determined, would be reasonably expected, in the good faith judgment
of the Indemnified Party, to establish a precedent, custom or practice
materially adverse to the continuing business interests or prospects of the
Indemnified Party or the Business or (z) involves a claim that, in the
good faith judgment of the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party failed or
is failing to vigorously prosecute or defend.
(b) In the
event that either the Indemnifying Party does not elect to assume the control of
the defense of any Third-Party Claim pursuant to Section 12.5(a)
or any of the conditions in Section 12.5(a)
is or becomes unsatisfied, the Indemnified Party may defend against, and consent
to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to, the
Third-Party Claim in any manner it may deem appropriate (and the Indemnified
Party need not consult with, or obtain any consent from, any Indemnifying Party
in connection therewith).
(c) If the
Indemnifying Party is controlling the defense of any Third-Party Claim in
accordance with Section 12.5(a), (i)
the Indemnified Party shall nonetheless have the right to participate in the
defense of such Third-Party Claim giving rise to the Indemnified Party’s claim
for indemnification at the Indemnified Party’s sole cost and expense, (ii) the
Indemnifying Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into
any settlement with respect to or cease to defend such Third-Party Claim without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that the Indemnified
Party shall have no obligation of any kind to consent to the entrance of any
judgment or into any settlement unless such judgment or settlement (A) is for
only money damages, the full amount of which shall be paid by the Indemnifying
Party, (B) includes, as a condition thereof, an express, unconditional release
of the Indemnified Party from any liability or obligation with respect to such
Third-Party Claim and (C) does not contain any equitable order, judgment or term
that in any manner affects, restrains or interferes with the Business or the
operations of the Indemnified Party or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates.
12.6 Notice of Non-Third-Party
Claims. If
an Indemnified Party seeks indemnification under this Article XII with
respect to any matter which does not involve a Third-Party Claim, the
Indemnified Party shall give written notice to the Indemnifying Party promptly
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after
discovering the liability, obligation or facts giving rise to such claim for
indemnification, describing the nature of the claim in reasonable detail, the
amount thereof (if known and quantifiable), and the basis thereof; provided that any failure to
so notify or any delay in notifying the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its or his obligations hereunder except to the extent that
the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such failure or delay. If the
Indemnifying Party does not notify the Indemnified Party in writing within
thirty (30) days from its receipt of the indemnity notice that the Indemnifying
Party disputes such claim, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have
accepted and agreed to indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against the
entirety of any Losses described in the indemnity notice. If the
Indemnifying Party has delivered indemnity dispute notice to the Indemnified
Party, the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall proceed in good
faith to negotiate a resolution to such dispute.
12.7 Escrow Amount; Manner of
Payment.
(a) Any
indemnification pursuant to this Article XII shall be
effected by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account
designated by Stockholder Representative or Parent, as the case may be, within
three (3) Business Days after the determination of the amount thereof,
whether pursuant to a final judgment, settlement or agreement among the parties
hereto, provided that,
to the extent that all or any portion of any indemnification payment to be made
to any Parent Indemnified Party is to be satisfied through the release of Escrow
Shares that remain deposited in the Escrow Account, Stockholder Representative
and Parent shall, within three (3) Business Days after the determination of the
amount of the indemnification payment, deliver a joint written instruction to
the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow Agent to release the appropriate number
of Escrow Shares to Parent equal to the value of the indemnification payment.
For purposes of satisfying any claims for indemnification under this Agreement,
all Escrow Shares shall be deemed to have a value equal to the VWAP of the
Parent Common Stock on the day immediately preceding the date they are
distributed from the Escrow Account.
(b) Any such
indemnification payments shall include interest at the lesser of (i) seven
percent (7%) per annum and (ii) the maximum rate per annum permitted by
applicable usury Laws, from the date any such Loss is suffered or sustained to
the date of payment thereof. Interest on such unpaid amount shall be
compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable
on demand. All indemnification payments to or for the benefit of the
Parent Indemnified Parties under this Article XII shall be
deemed adjustments to the Total Consideration for Tax purposes.
12.8 Determination of Loss
Amount.
(a) The
amount of Losses subject to indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2, shall
be reduced by any insurance proceeds previously received by the Indemnified
Party with respect to such Losses (net of any deductible or
co-payment) If any insurance proceeds are subsequently recovered by
the Indemnified Party from an insurance carrier after payment has been made by
the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party in accordance with this Article XII with
respect to the Losses to which such insurance recoveries relate, then the
Indemnified Party shall promptly remit to the Indemnifying Party such insurance
recoveries (net of any deductible or co-payment and all out of pocket costs
related to such recovery); provided that in no event
shall Indemnified Party have any obligation hereunder (i) to remit to the
Indemnifying Party any portion of such insurance recoveries in excess of the
indemnification payment or payments actually received from the Stockholders with
respect to such Losses or (ii) to make, any insurance claim or to pursue any
recovery from any insurance carrier or third party with respect
thereto.
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(b) The right
to indemnification and the payment of Losses of any Parent Indemnified Party
pursuant to this Article XII or the
availability of any other remedies contemplated hereby or otherwise available to
the Parent Indemnified Parties at law or in equity, based upon any
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation of Company or the
Stockholders contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement will not be
affected by any investigation made by or on behalf of any Parent Indemnified
Party or its Affiliates, or the knowledge of any such Parent Indemnified Party’s
(or its Affiliates’) officers, directors, stockholders, managers, members,
partners, employees or agents, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of, or
compliance or non-compliance with, any such representation, warranty, covenant,
agreement or obligation at any time prior to or following the party’s entrance
into this Agreement.
12.9 Right of
Offset. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, Parent may withhold and set off
against (i) the Escrow Amount attributable to the applicable Stockholder(s) and
(ii) any other amounts otherwise due the applicable Stockholder(s) any amount as
to which such Stockholder is obligated to indemnify the Parent Indemnified
Parties pursuant to any provision of this Article
XII.
12.10 Additional Indemnification
Obligations of the Principal Stockholder.
(a) Without
limiting the obligations of the Restricted Stockholders set forth in Section 12.2(a)
above, the Principal Stockholder hereby agrees to indemnify the Parent
Indemnified Parties from and hold each of them harmless against and pay on
behalf of or reimburse any such Parent Indemnified Party in respect of the
entirety of (i) any Loss which such Parent Indemnified Party may suffer, sustain
or become subject to, as a result of, arising out of, relating to or in
connection with, resulting from or incident to Company’s ownership of membership
interests in Big Stakes LLC and the Big Stakes Match Play Notes, including
without limitation, any Taxes or reduction in Tax attributes (including but not
limited to losses, deductions, credits and carryforwards) of Parent, its
Subsidiaries or its Affiliates (but excluding any reduction in the availability
of losses or loss carryforwards of Company or its Subsidiaries arising in a
Pre-Closing Tax Period that would otherwise have carried over to Parent, its
Subsidiaries or its Affiliates as a result of the Transaction) arising from or
related to the actual or deemed transfer, exchange, disposition, cancellation,
liquidation or termination of Company’s membership interests in Big Stakes
LLC or the Big Stakes Match Play Notes; and (ii) Taxes attributable to any
restructuring, disposition or reorganization undertaken by the Stockholders,
Company, any of its Subsidiaries and Big Stakes LLC prior to the
Closing. The amount of any reduction in Tax attribute shall be
calculated based on the assumption that such Tax attribute would otherwise have
been fully utilized in the same Tax period and using an assumed tax rate equal
to the highest marginal combined federal, state and local tax rate in effect for
such period.
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(b) The
aggregate amount of all payments made by the Principal Stockholder in
satisfaction of claims for indemnification pursuant to this Section 12.10 shall not be
subject to the Cap and no payments made by the Principal Stockholder pursuant to
this Section
12.10 shall count towards the Threshold or the Cap. In the
event of any claim for indemnification under this Section 12.10, the
Parent Indemnified Parties shall be entitled, but not obligated to, proceed
against the Principal Stockholder’s Pro Rata Portion of the Escrow Amount and
the portion of the Earn-Out Payment actually
earned and received (or due) to the Principal Stockholder to satisfy any
such claims and may pursue any course of action it deems necessary or desirable
to recover any Losses related to such claims.
12.11 Exclusive
Remedy. The
parties hereto hereby agree that, from and after the Closing Date, the
indemnification provisions set forth in this Article XII are the
exclusive provisions in this Agreement with respect to the liability of Company,
the Stockholders, Parent, Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub for the breach,
inaccuracy or nonfulfillment of any representation or warranty or any
pre-Closing covenants, agreements or other pre-Closing obligations contained in
this Agreement and the sole remedy of the Parent Indemnified Parties and Company
Indemnified Parties for any claims for breach of representation or warranty or
pre-Closing covenants, agreements or other pre-Closing obligations arising out
of this Agreement or any law or legal theory applicable thereto; provided that nothing herein
shall preclude any party from (a) seeking any remedy based upon fraud,
intentional misrepresentation or willful or criminal misconduct by any other
party hereto (including, without limitation, any fraud, intentional
misrepresentation or willful or criminal misconduct committed by any officer,
director, employee or agent of Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) or (b)
enforcing its right to specific performance of post-Closing covenants,
agreements or other post-Closing obligations pursuant to Sections 11.2 and
11.3.
12.12 No
Duplication. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (a) in calculating amounts payable
to an Indemnified Party hereunder, the amount of any indemnified Loss shall be
determined without duplication of the same Loss otherwise indemnified hereunder,
and (b) Parent shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Article XII for any
Losses if and to the extent that such Losses were taken into account (such as
being applied as a reduction in current assets or an increase in current
liabilities), in the determination of the Adjustment Amount.
ARTICLE
XIII
TERMINATION
13.1 Termination Events. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by the
mutual written agreement of Parent and Company;
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(b) by Parent
or Company:
(i) on or
after July 20, 2009, if the Closing shall not have occurred by the close of
business on such date, provided that the terminating
party is not in default of any of its obligations hereunder; or
(ii) if there
shall be in effect a final nonappealable Order of a Governmental Body of
competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; it being agreed that the
parties hereto shall promptly appeal any adverse determination which is
appealable (and pursue such appeal with reasonable diligence).
(c) by Parent
if there is a material breach of any representation or warranty set forth in
Article V or
Article VI or
any covenant or agreement to be complied with or performed by the Stockholders
or Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the failure of a condition
set forth in Article
X to be satisfied (and such condition is not waived in writing by Parent)
on or prior to the Closing Date, or the occurrence of any event which results or
would result in the failure of a condition set forth in Article X to be
satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date, provided that Parent may not
terminate this Agreement prior to the Closing if Company has cured such failure
within five (5) days of the delivery of written notice of such failure by Parent
to Company;
(d) by
Parent, if, within one (1) day after the date of this Agreement, Company has not
obtained and delivered to Parent the written consent and approval of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by the Requisite
Stockholders; or
(e) by
Company if there is a material breach of any representation or warranty set
forth in Article
VII or
of any covenant or agreement to be complied with or performed by Parent, Merger
Sub pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the failure of a condition set
forth in Article IX
to be satisfied (and such condition is not waived in writing by Company)
on or prior to the Closing Date, or the occurrence of any event which results or
would result in the failure of a condition set forth in Article IX to be
satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date; provided that Company may not
terminate this Agreement prior to the Closing Date if Parent has cured such
failure within five (5) days of the delivery of written notice of such failure
by Company to Parent.
13.2 Procedure for
Termination. Upon
the occurrence of any termination event set forth in Section 13.1, Parent
and/or Company, as applicable, shall deliver written notice to the
non-terminating party. Upon delivery of such notice, this Agreement
shall terminate and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to have
been abandoned without further action by Parent or Company. Upon such
termination, Parent shall deliver or destroy all confidential information
regarding Company and the Stockholders in accordance with the Confidentiality
Agreement and the Stockholders, Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall
deliver or destroy all confidential information related to Parent to which
Company or any of its Subsidiaries had access in connection with the negotiation
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
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13.3 Effect of
Termination. In
the event that this Agreement is validly terminated as provided in this Article XIII, then
each of the parties shall be relieved of their respective duties and obligations
arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such
termination shall be without Liability to Parent, the Stockholders, Company or
any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 13.3
shall relieve Parent, Company or the Stockholders of any Liability for any
willful breach of this Agreement occurring prior to the proper termination of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement, the
provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect and the Stockholders, Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall continue
to keep confidential any information related to Parent to which Company or any
of its Subsidiaries had access in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement and preparation for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
ARTICLE
XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
14.1 Publicity. No
party to this Agreement shall issue any press release or make any public
announcement regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without
the prior written approval of the other parties; provided, however, that Parent may
issue any press release or make any public announcement it believes in good
faith is required by applicable Laws or any listing or trading agreement
concerning its publicly-traded securities.
14.2 Confidential
Information. The
parties acknowledge that the transaction described in this Agreement is of a
confidential nature and shall not be disclosed except to Representatives and
Affiliates, or as required by Law, until such time as the parties make a public
announcement regarding the transaction as provided in Section
14.1. No party shall make any public disclosure of the
specific terms of this Agreement, except as required by Law. In
connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and preparation for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, each party acknowledges
that it will have access to confidential information relating to the other
party. Such confidential information shall be, in the case of Parent,
subject to the Confidentiality Agreement and, in the case of the Stockholders,
Company and each of its Subsidiaries, be kept confidential.
14.3 Expenses. Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Company and the Stockholders, on the
one hand, and Parent Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall
each bear its or their own expenses, including attorneys’, accountants’ and
other professionals’ fees, incurred in connection with the negotiation and
execution of this Agreement and each other agreement, document and instrument
contemplated by this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.
14.4 Specific
Performance. The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the breach of this Agreement by a
party would cause irreparable damage to the other and that the non-breaching
party will not have an adequate remedy at law. Therefore, the
obligations of each party and Parent under this Agreement shall be enforceable
by a decree of specific performance issued by any court of competent
jurisdiction, and appropriate injunctive relief may be applied for and granted
in connection therewith. Such remedies shall, however, be cumulative
and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies which any party
may have under this Agreement or otherwise.
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14.5 Submission to Jurisdiction;
Consent to Service of Process.
Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court, or Federal
court of the United States of America, sitting in New York and any appellate
court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to the Ancillary Agreements delivered in connection therewith or the
transactions contemplated thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any
judgment relating thereto, and each party hereto hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally (a) agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding
except in such courts; (b) agrees that any claim in respect of any such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court
or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court; (c) waives, to
the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it
may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action or
proceeding in any such New York State or Federal court; and (d) waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such New York State or Federal
court. Each party hereto agrees that this Agreement involves at least
$250,000. Each party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each
party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided
for notices in Section 14.11. Nothing
in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law.
14.6 Waiver of Trial by
Jury. EACH
PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE
AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS
AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS; (C) IT MAKES SUCH
WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT
BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 14.6.
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14.7 Entire Agreement; Amendments
and Waivers. This
Agreement, including the schedules and exhibits hereto and together with the
Confidentiality Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, represents the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and can be amended, supplemented or changed, and any
provision hereof can be waived, only by written instrument making specific
reference to this Agreement signed by the party against whom enforcement of any
such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver is sought. No
action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation, any
investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a
waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein. The waiver by any
party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or
be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of
any other or subsequent breach. No failure on the part of any party
to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. All
remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies
provided by law. No supplement, modification or waiver of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound
thereby.
14.8 Governing
Law. This
Agreement (and any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this
Agreement) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic
Laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of
law provision or rule that would cause the application of the Laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
14.9 Headings. The
titles, captions or headings of the Articles and Sections herein are for
convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect
or restrict the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
14.10 Notices. All
notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications which are required
or may be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when received if personally delivered; when transmitted if
transmitted by facsimile (with written confirmation of transmission); when
transmitted if transmitted by electronic mail; the Business Day after it is
sent, if sent for next day delivery to a domestic address by recognized
overnight delivery service (e.g., FedEx); and five business days after the date
mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, if sent by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested. In each case notice shall
be sent to:
If
to Company, Stockholder Representative or Company Review
Representative:
SilvaGas
Holdings Corporation
One
Xxxxxxx Park
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
89
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
If
to the Principal Stockholder:
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
c/o
Corporate Holdings, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Phone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
c/o
Corporate Holdings, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Phone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
If
to Parent or the Surviving Company:
Rentech,
Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General
Counsel
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Any party
hereto may send any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any
other means, but no such notice, request, demand, claim or other communication
shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received
by the intended recipient. Any party hereto may change the address or
facsimile number to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving each other party notice
in the manner herein set forth.
90
14.11 Severability. In
the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or
in any other instrument referred to herein, shall, for any reason, be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then to the maximum extent
permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other such
instrument.
14.12 Binding Effect;
Assignment. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs and personal
representatives. Nothing in this Agreement shall create or be deemed
to create any rights as third-party beneficiaries to this Agreement in any
Person not a party to this Agreement, except as provided below. No
assignment of this Agreement or of any rights or obligations hereunder may be
made by any of Parent, Company, or the Stockholders without the prior written
consent of Parent and any attempted assignment without the required consents
shall be void.
14.13 Attorneys’ Fees and
Costs. In
the event of any action at law or in equity between the parties hereto to
enforce any of the provisions hereof, the unsuccessful party or parties to such
litigation shall pay to the successful party or parties all costs and expenses,
including actual attorneys’ fees, incurred therein by such successful party or
parties; and if such successful party or parties shall recover judgment in any
such action or proceeding, such costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees may be
included in and as part of such judgment. The successful party shall be
the party who is entitled to recover his costs of suit, whether or not the suit
proceeds to final judgment. A party not entitled to recover its or his
costs shall not recover attorneys’ fees.
14.14 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
[signature page
follows]
91
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Agreement, or has
caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its respective behalf by its
respective officer(s) thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first
above written.
PARENT
RENTECH,
INC.
By: /s/ X.
Xxxx Ramsbottom
Name: X.
Xxxx Ramsbottom
Title: President
MERGER
SUB
RTK
ACQUISITION SUB, INC.
By: /s/ X.
Xxxx Ramsbottom
Name: X.
Xxxx Ramsbottom
Title: President
SECOND
MERGER SUB
RTK
ACQUISITION SUB, LLC
BY: RENTECH,
INC., its sole member
By: /s/ X.
Xxxx Ramsbottom
Name: X.
Xxxx Ramsbottom
Title: President
COMPANY
SILVAGAS
HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Title: President
PRINCIPAL
STOCKHOLDER
/s/ Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
STOCKHOLDER
REPRESENTATIVE
/s/ Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx