by and between FUSHI INTERNATIONAL, INC., and DAVID S. JONES Dated as of September 25, 2007
EXECUTION
COPY
by
and
between
FUSHI
INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
and
XXXXX
X. XXXXX
Dated
as
of September 25, 2007
This
LLC
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”),
dated
as of September 25, 2007, is made by and between FUSHI
INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
a
Nevada corporation (“Purchaser”)
and
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx (“Seller”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
Seller
is the legal and beneficial owner of all of the limited liability company
membership interests in (i) Copperweld Holdings, LLC, a North Carolina limited
liability company (the “Company”)
and
(ii) International Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers, LLC, a North Carolina
limited liability company (“XXXX”)
(collectively, the “LLC
Interests”);
WHEREAS,
the
Company and the Subsidiaries currently conduct the Business;
WHEREAS,
Seller
desires to sell and assign, with full title guarantee and free from any Lien
to
Purchaser (or its designated Affiliate or Affiliates), and Purchaser
desires to (or to cause its designated Affiliate or Affiliates to) acquire
and
accept assignment from Seller the LLC Interests, with all rights attached
thereto and thereby acquire directly 100% legal and beneficial ownership of
(i)
the Company and, as a result, direct or indirect legal and beneficial ownership
of the Subsidiaries, and (ii) XXXX, as more specifically provided herein; and
WHEREAS,
certain
terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1.1;
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain
Definitions.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
specified in this Section 1.1:
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such Person, and the term “control”
(including the terms “controlled
by”
and
“under
common control with”)
means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Assets”
means
all of the Intellectual Property, Company Property and Tangible Personal
Property of the Group Companies.
“Business”
means
all of the business of the Group Companies, including, without limitation,
the
copper bimetallic wire manufacturing and strand production business and all
design, production, distribution, logistics, supply and sales and marketing
services of the Group Companies related thereto.
“Business
Day”
means
any day of the year which is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
national banking institutions in Delaware, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee,
and New York in the United States and in China are open to the public for
conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.
“CFIUS”
means
the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States.
“Closing
Indebtedness”
means
(a) the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the close of
business on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date, including, without
limitation, the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule
3.1(a)
hereto,
and (b) the obligations set forth on Schedule
3.1(b)
hereto.
“Code”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Contract”
means
any legally binding contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, loan,
instrument, lease, license, commitment or other arrangement, understanding
or
undertaking, commitment or obligation, whether written or oral.
“Environment”
means
surface waters, ground waters, soil, land surface, subsurface, strata and
air.
“Environmental
Costs and Liabilities”
and
“Environmental
Costs or Liabilities”
mean,
as applicable, with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations,
responsibilities, Remedial Actions, losses, damages, costs and expenses
(including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts
and consultants and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines,
penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand
by
any other Person or in response to any violation of Environmental Law, whether
known or unknown, accrued or contingent, whether based in contract, tort,
implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, to
the
extent based upon, related to, or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental
Law, Environmental Permit, order or agreement with any Governmental Body or
other Person, which relates to the Environment, violation of Environmental
Law
or a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental
Law”
means
any Law as now in effect relating to the Environment or Hazardous Materials,
including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.),
the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. App. § 1801
et seq.),
the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.),
the
Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.),
the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.),
the
Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.),
and
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. § 136
et seq.),
as
each has been amended and the regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto.
2
“Environmental
Permit”
means
any Permit required by Environmental Laws for the operation of the Group
Companies.
“ERISA”
means
the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Escrow
Agent”
means
such party serving as the escrow agent to Purchaser and Seller for the purposes
set forth in Article
III
and
Article
X
of this
Agreement.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as of the date
hereof.
“Governmental
Body”
means
any government or governmental or regulatory body thereof, or political
subdivision thereof, whether foreign, federal, state, or local, or any agency,
instrumentality or authority thereof, or any court or arbitrator (public or
private).
“Group
Companies”
means
the Company, the Subsidiaries and XXXX. All references to “Group Company” is a
reference to any one of the foregoing.
“Hazardous
Material”
means
any substance, material or waste that is regulated, classified, or otherwise
characterized under or pursuant to any Environmental Law as “hazardous,”
“toxic,” “pollutant,” “contaminant,” “radioactive,” or words of similar meaning
or effect, including petroleum and its by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls, radon, mold or other fungi and urea formaldehyde
insulation.
“Indebtedness”
of
any
Person means, without duplication, (i) the principal, accreted value,
accrued and unpaid interest, prepayment and redemption premiums or penalties
(if
any), unpaid fees or expenses and other monetary obligations in respect of
(A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and
(B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar
instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;
(ii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person
and
all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but
excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities arising
in the Ordinary Course of Business); (iii) all obligations of such Person
under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP; (iv) all
obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter
of
credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction; (v) all
obligations of such Person under interest rate or currency swap transactions
(valued at the termination value thereof); (vi) the liquidation value, accrued
and unpaid dividends and prepayment or redemption premiums and penalties (if
any), unpaid fees or expenses and other monetary obligations in respect of
any
and all redeemable preferred stock of such Person; (vii) all obligations of
the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of any Persons for the
payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly,
as obligor, guarantor, surety or otherwise, including guarantees of such
obligations; and (viii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses
(i) through (vii) of other Persons secured by (or for which the holder of such
obligations has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by)
any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation
is assumed by such Person).
3
“Indemnity
Escrow Account”
means
the escrow account established by the Escrow Agreement, in which the Indemnity
Escrow Amount will be held pending application as provided in the Escrow
Agreement and this Agreement.
“Indemnity
Escrow Amount”
means
an amount initially equal to $2,250,000, subject to reduction (to an amount
not
less than $1,550,000) pursuant to Section
3.3(a)(ii)
or
Section
3.3(b)(iv)
and
subject to subsequent increase (to an amount not greater than $2,250,000)
pursuant to Section
3.3(b)(iv).
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all intellectual property rights owned or used by the Group Companies arising
from or in respect of the following, whether protected, created or arising
under
the laws of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction,
and
whether registered or unregistered and including applications for the grant
of
any such rights, titles and interests and any and all forms of protection having
equivalent or similar effect, including: (i) all patents and applications
therefor, including continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part or
reissued patent applications and reissued patents, and all similar rights
arising under the Laws of any jurisdiction (collectively, “Patents”);
(ii) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, brand
names, trade dress rights, logos, Internet domain names and corporate names,
and
general intangibles of a like nature, together with the goodwill associated
with
any of the foregoing, and all applications, registrations and renewals thereof
(collectively, “Marks”);
(iii)
all copyrights and registrations and applications therefor, database rights,
works of authorship, moral rights and mask work rights (collectively,
“Copyrights”);
(iv)
discoveries, concepts, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulae,
inventions, compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques,
technical data, procedures, designs, drawings, specifications, databases, and
other proprietary and confidential information, including customer lists,
supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans
and proposals of the Group Companies, in each case excluding any rights in
respect of any of the foregoing that comprise or are protected by Copyrights
or
Patents (collectively, “Trade
Secrets”),
(v)
rights in designs and registered designs (collectively “Designs”),
(vi)
all Software and Technology owned or used by the Group Companies.
“Intellectual
Property Licenses”
means
(i) any grant to a third Person of any right to use any of the Intellectual
Property and (ii) any grant to the Company or any Subsidiary of a right to
use a
third Person’s intellectual property rights included in the Intellectual
Property.
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service and, to the extent relevant, the
United States Department of Treasury.
“Knowledge
of Seller”
means
the knowledge, after due inquiry, of any of Seller, Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx and/or
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx.
“Law”
means
any United States or foreign federal, state or local law (including common
law),
statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, Order or other
requirement.
“Legal
Proceeding”
means
any judicial, administrative or arbitral actions, suits, mediations,
investigations, inquiries, proceedings or claims (including counterclaims)
by or
before a Governmental Body.
4
“Liability”
means
any debt, loss, damage, adverse claim, fines, penalties, liability or obligation
(whether direct or indirect, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute
or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured, determined or
determinable, disputed or undisputed, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or
to
become due, and whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise),
and
including all costs and expenses relating thereto (including all fees,
disbursements and expenses of legal counsel, experts, engineers and consultants
and costs of investigation).
“Lien”
means
any lien, encumbrance, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest,
claim, lease, charge, option, right of first refusal, easement, servitude,
proxy, voting trust or agreement, transfer restriction under any shareholder
or
similar agreement, encumbrance or any other restriction or limitation
whatsoever.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, properties, results of
operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and/or the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (b) the ability of Seller or Purchaser to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their
obligations under this Agreement, other than an effect arising from an Excluded
Matter. “Excluded
Matter”
means
any one or more of the following: (i) the effect of any change in the economies
of the United States of America, the European Union or the People's Republic
of
China or in the securities, syndicated loan, credit or financial markets of
the
United States of America, the European Union or the People's Republic of China
that does not have a disproportionate impact on the Company, the Subsidiaries
or
their Business; (ii) the effect of any general deterioration in the economy
or
change in financial or market conditions generally affecting the industries
in
which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate that does not have a
disproportionate impact on the Company, the Subsidiaries or their Business,
(iii) any effect resulting from the announcement or pendancy of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) any effect arising from any act of
terrorism, declaration of war or other global unrest or international
hostilities that does not have a disproportionate impact on the Company, the
Subsidiaries or their Business or result in any material loss or damage to
any
of the Assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (v) compliance with
the
terms of, or the taking of any action expressly required by, this Agreement,
or
(vi) actions or omissions of the Company, any Subsidiary or Seller that are
taken or made with the express prior written consent or at the express prior
written request or direction of Purchaser or any of its representatives or
Affiliates.
“Order”
means
any order, injunction, judgment, doctrine, decree, ruling, writ, assessment
or
arbitration award of a Governmental Body.
“Ordinary
Course of Business”
means
the ordinary and usual course of normal day-to-day operations of the Business,
as conducted by the Group Companies, through the date hereof consistent with
past practice.
“Permits”
means
any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits or certificates
of a
Governmental Body.
5
“Permitted
Exceptions”
means
(i) exceptions, restrictions, easements, rights of way and similar
encumbrances to title to real property which do not materially affect the value
or current use of the real property affected thereby; (ii) statutory liens
for current Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet delinquent
or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings, provided
an
appropriate reserve has been established therefore in the Financial Statements
in accordance with GAAP; (iii) mechanics’, carriers’ and workers’ Liens arising
by operation of Law and incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business for amounts
not overdue that in the aggregate are not material to the business, operations
and financial condition of the Company Property so encumbered and that are
not
resulting from a breach, default or violation by the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries of any Contract or Law; (iv) Liens of owners of consigned inventory
held by the Company and reflected as consigned (not owned) on the Balance Sheet;
(v) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers compensation laws
or
similar legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations, and
(vi) zoning, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations
by any Governmental Body, provided that
such
regulations have not been violated.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, firm,
joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Body or other entity.
“Release”
means
any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, deposit,
dumping, emptying, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into
the indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any property.
“Remedial
Action”
means
all actions including any capital expenditures undertaken to (i) clean up,
remove, treat or in any other way address any Hazardous Material;
(ii) prevent the Release or threat of Release, or minimize the further
Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to
endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment;
(iii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial
monitoring and care; or (iv) to correct a condition of noncompliance with
Environmental Laws.
“Seller
Transaction Expenses”
means
the fees and expenses of the brokers, counsel, accountants, investment banks
and
other advisors incurred on behalf of Seller and the Company in connection with,
or in contemplation of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
representing all fees and expenses due to such brokers, counsel, accountants,
investment banks and other advisors through the Closing Date.
“Software”
means
any and all (i) computer programs, including any and all software
implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source
code
or object code; (ii) databases and compilations, including any and all data
and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise;
(iii) descriptions, flow-charts and other work product used to design,
plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, screens, user interfaces,
report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and
icons; and (iv) all documentation, including user manuals and other
training documentation related to any of the foregoing.
“Subsidiaries”
means
Copperweld Bimetallics LLC, Copperweld Bimetallics International Holdings LLC
and Copperweld Bimetallics (UK) Limited. All references to “Subsidiary”
is
a
reference to each one of the Subsidiaries.
6
“Tax”
or
“Taxes”
means
(i) any and all United States federal, state, local or foreign (whether
United Kingdom or elsewhere) taxes, charges, duties, fees, imposts, levies
or
other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income, gross
receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise,
profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment,
social security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property
and estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and charges of any kind
whatsoever; (ii) all interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or
additional amounts imposed by any Taxing Authority in connection with any item
described in clause (i); and (iii) any liability in respect of any items
described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) payable by reason of Contract,
assumption, transferee liability, operation of Law, Treasury Regulation section
1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof or any analogous or similar
provision under Law) or otherwise.
“Taxing
Authority”
means
the IRS and any other Governmental Body responsible for the administration
of
any Tax.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return, report or statement required to be filed with respect to any Tax
(including any elections, declarations, schedules or attachments thereto, and
any amendment thereof), including any information return, claim for refund,
amended return or declaration of estimated Tax, and including, where permitted
or required, combined, consolidated or unitary returns for any group of
entities.
“Technology”
means,
collectively, all Software, information, designs, formulae, algorithms,
procedures, methods, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development,
technical data, programs, subroutines, tools, materials, specifications,
processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not
reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship
and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports,
analyses, and other writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing,
in any form whether or not specifically listed herein, and all related
technology, that are used in, incorporated in, embodied in, displayed by or
relate to, or are used by the Company or any Subsidiary.
“WARN”
means
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended,
and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.2 Terms
Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have meanings set forth in
the
sections indicated:
Term
|
Section
|
|
AAA
|
12.3(a)
|
|
Agreed
Principles
|
3.3(a)(i)
|
|
Agreement
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
|
Asset
Acquisition Statement
|
2.2
|
|
Balance
Sheet
|
5.4(a)
|
|
Balance
Sheet Date
|
5.4(a)
|
|
Basket
|
10.4(a)
|
7
Term
|
Section
|
|
Cap
|
10.4(b)
|
|
CIT
|
4.4
|
|
Closing
|
4.1
|
|
Closing
Balance Sheet
|
3.3(b)(ii)
|
|
Closing
Date
|
4.1
|
|
Closing
Working Capital
|
3.3(b)(i)
|
|
Closing
Working Capital Statement
|
3.3(b)(ii)
|
|
Company
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
|
Company
Marks
|
7.10
|
|
Company
Property and Company Properties
|
5.9(a)
|
|
Confidential
Information
|
7.7(c)
|
|
Debt
Determination Date
|
7.16
|
|
DeMinimus
|
10.4(a)
|
|
Disclosure
Schedule
|
Introductory
Paragraph to Article V
|
|
Dispute
|
12.3
|
|
Disregarded
Subsidiaries
|
2.2
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
5.13(a)
|
|
equity
interests
|
5.1(a)
|
|
ERISA
Affiliate
|
5.13(a)
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
10.5(a)
|
|
Estimated
Closing Balance Sheet
|
3.3(a)(i)
|
|
Estimated
Closing Working Capital
|
3.3(a)(i)
|
|
Estimated
Working Capital Shortfall
|
3.3(a)(ii)
|
|
Estimated
Working Capital Surplus
|
3.3(a)(ii)
|
|
Financial
Statements
|
5.4(a)
|
|
Financing
|
6.4
|
|
Financing
Arrangements
|
6.4
|
|
GAAP
consistently applied
|
3.3(a)(i)
|
|
XXXX
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
|
Included
Current Assets
|
3.3(b)(i)
|
|
Included
Current Liabilities
|
3.3(b)(i)
|
|
Independent
Accountant
|
3.3(b)(iii)
|
|
LLC
Interests
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
|
Loss
and Losses
|
10.2(a)
|
|
Material
Contracts
|
5.12(a)
|
|
Multiemployer
Plans
|
5.13(a)
|
|
Multiple
Employer Plans
|
5.13(a)
|
|
Non-US
Plan
|
5.13(m)
|
|
Personal
Property Leases
|
5.10(b)
|
|
PSA
1993
|
5.13(a)
|
|
Purchase
Price
|
3.1
|
|
Purchaser
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
|
Purchaser
Documents
|
6.2
|
|
Purchaser
Indemnified Parties
|
10.2(a)
|
|
Purchaser’s
Environmental Assessment
|
7.11
|
8
Term
|
Section
|
|
Qualified
Plans
|
5.13(c)
|
|
Real
Property Lease and Real Property Leases
|
5.9(a)
|
|
Related
Persons
|
5.21
|
|
Restricted
Business
|
7.7(a)
|
|
Revised
Statements
|
2.2
|
|
Seller
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
|
Seller
Documents
|
5.2
|
|
Seller
Indemnified Parties
|
10.2(b)
|
|
Seller
Permits
|
5.16(b)
|
|
Survival
Period
|
10.1
|
|
Tangible
Personal Property
|
5.10(a)
|
|
Target
Working Capital
|
3.3(a)(ii)
|
|
Termination
Date
|
4.2(a)
|
|
Third
Party Claim
|
10.3(b)
|
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
11.1
|
|
Unresolved
Claims
|
10.5(a)
|
|
Updated
Disclosure Schedule
|
7.15
|
1.3 Other
Definitional and Interpretive Matters.
(a) Unless
otherwise expressly provided, for purposes of this Agreement, the following
rules of interpretation shall apply:
Calculation
of Time Period.
When
calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which,
any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that
is
the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. If the last
day
of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the
next succeeding Business Day.
Dollars.
Any
reference in this Agreement to $ shall mean U.S. dollars.
Exhibits/Schedules.
The
Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement are hereby incorporated and made a
part
hereof and are an integral part of this Agreement.
Headings.
Headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
Herein.
The
words such as “herein,”
“hereinafter,”
“hereof,”
and
“hereunder”
refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such
words
appear unless the context otherwise requires.
Including.
The
word “including”
or
any
variation thereof means “including,
without limitation”
and
shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the
specific or similar items or matters immediately following it.
9
(b) The
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of
this
Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation
arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties
hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring
any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF LLC INTERESTS
2.1 Purchase
and Sale of LLC Interests.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, at the Closing, Seller
agrees to sell, assign, transfer and deliver to Purchaser (or its designated
Affiliate or Affiliates), free from any Lien, and Purchaser agrees to (or cause
its designated Affiliate or Affiliates to) purchase, accept and acquire from
Seller, the LLC Interests.
2.2 Purchase
Price Allocation.
Not
later than sixty (60) days after the Closing Working Capital (as defined below)
has been determined, Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to Seller a copy of
Form 8594 and any required exhibits thereto (the “Asset
Acquisition Statement”)
allocating the Purchase Price and any additional amounts required to be taken
into account for income tax purposes among the assets of the Group Companies
that are treated as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income Tax purposes
(the “Disregarded
Subsidiaries”).
Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to Seller from time to time revised copies
of the Asset Acquisition Statement (the “Revised
Statements”)
so as
to report any matters on the Asset Acquisition Statement that need updating
(including purchase price adjustments, if any). The Purchase Price and any
such
additional amounts shall be allocated in accordance with the Asset Acquisition
Statement or, if applicable, the last Revised Statements, provided by Purchaser
to Seller, and, unless otherwise required by Law, all income Tax Returns and
reports filed by Purchaser and Seller shall be prepared consistently with such
allocation. If the Asset Acquisition Statement or if applicable, the Revised
Statements, is disputed by any Governmental Body, the party receiving notice
of
the dispute will promptly notify the other party hereto, and the parties will
discuss the dispute prior to any resolution thereof. For purposes of this
Section
2.2,
the
assets of the Company and the Disregarded Subsidiaries include the covenant
not
to compete as set forth in Section
7.7,
and any
allocation of the Purchase Price to such covenant not to compete shall be
mutually agreed upon by Purchaser and Seller.
ARTICLE
III
PURCHASE
PRICE
3.1 Purchase
Price.
The
aggregate purchase price to be paid by Purchaser (or its designated Affiliate
or
Affiliates) for the LLC Interests shall be an amount in cash equal to
$22,500,000 less the amount of the Closing Indebtedness (the “Purchase
Price”)
and
subject to adjustment as provided in Section
3.3
hereof.
3.2 Payment
of Purchase Price.
On the
Closing Date, Purchaser shall (or cause its designated Affiliate or Affiliates
to) pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds into the account
designated in writing by Seller not less than two (2) Business Days prior to
the
Closing Date: (a) the Purchase Price, less the Indemnity Escrow Amount and
the
Seller Transaction Expenses set forth on Schedule
3.2
hereto,
to Seller; (b) the Indemnity Escrow Amount to the Escrow Agent in accordance
with Section
10.5
hereof;
and (c) the Seller Transaction Expenses to the parties set forth on Schedule
3.2
hereto.
10
3.3 Purchase
Price Adjustment.
(a) Closing
Date Purchase Price Adjustment.
(i) Not
later
than three (3) days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall provide Purchaser
with an estimated balance sheet of the Company
and the Subsidiaries
as of
the open of business on the Closing Date (the “Estimated
Closing Balance Sheet”)
and a
statement of the estimated Closing Working Capital (as defined in Section
3.3(b)(i)
below),
derived from the Estimated Closing Balance Sheet (“Estimated
Closing Working Capital”).
The
Estimated Closing Balance Sheet and Estimated Closing Working Capital shall
be
prepared by Seller
in
accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices,
principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments
and valuation and estimation and accrual methodologies that were used in the
preparation of the Company’s audited Financial Statements for the most recent
fiscal year end as if such Estimated Closing Balance Sheet and Estimated Closing
Working Capital were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end
(“GAAP
consistently applied”),
subject to the accounting principles set forth on Schedule
3.3(a)(i)
(the
“Agreed
Principles”).
(ii) If
Estimated Closing Working Capital exceeds Target Working Capital by more than
$300,000, the Purchase Price payable at Closing will be increased by the amount
by which (A) the difference between Estimated Closing Working Capital and Target
Working Capital (the “Estimated
Working Capital Surplus”)
exceeds (B) $300,000. The amount of any such increase shall be included in
the
Purchase Price payable by Purchaser at Closing. If Target Working Capital
exceeds Estimated Closing Working Capital by more than $300,000, the Purchase
Price payable at the Closing will be decreased by the amount by which (C) the
difference between Estimated Closing Working Capital and Target Working Capital
(the “Estimated
Working Capital Shortfall”)
exceeds
(D) $300,000. In the event of any such decrease, the total amount payable at
Closing by Purchaser shall be correspondingly decreased, and the Indemnity
Escrow Amount shall be decreased dollar for dollar for the first $700,000 of
any
such decrease; provided
that in
no event shall the Indemnity Escrow Amount be reduced below $1,550,000 (that
is,
there shall be no corresponding decrease in the Indemnity Escrow Amount to
the
extent that a decrease in the Purchase Price exceeds $700,000). There shall
be
no adjustment to the Purchase Price at Closing pursuant to this Section
3.3(a)(ii)
unless
the Estimated Working Capital Shortfall or the Estimated Working Capital
Surplus, as applicable, exceeds $300,000; provided,
however,
that,
following the Closing, and notwithstanding the fact that the Estimated Working
Capital Shortfall or the Estimated Working Capital Surplus, as applicable,
may
not have exceeded $300,000 at the Closing, the Purchase Price shall remain
subject to the adjustment provisions set forth in Section
3.3(b)
below,
to the extent it is finally determined that the Closing Working Capital exceeded
the Target Working Capital by more than $300,000 or that Target Working Capital
exceeded Closing Working Capital by more than $300,000. “Target
Working Capital”
shall
mean $11,383,310.
11
(b) Post-Closing
Date Purchase Price Adjustment.
(i) Following
the Closing, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted as provided herein to reflect
the difference between Closing Working Capital and Estimated Closing Working
Capital. “Closing
Working Capital”
means
(A) the consolidated Included Current Assets of the Company
and the Subsidiaries, less (B) the consolidated Included Current Liabilities
of
the Company
and the Subsidiaries, determined as of the closing of business on the day
immediately preceding the Closing Date. “Included
Current Assets”
means
cash,
accounts receivable, inventory, deposits and prepaid expenses, but excluding
deferred Tax assets and receivables from any of the Company’s Affiliates,
directors, employees, officers or equity interest holders and any of their
Affiliates,
determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to the Agreed
Principles. “Included
Current Liabilities”
means
accounts
payable, other current liabilities, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but
excluding (A) deferred tax liabilities, (B) payables to any of the Company’s
Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or equity interest holders and any
of
their Affiliates and (C) the current portion of long term debt,
determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to the Agreed
Principles.
(ii) As
soon
as reasonably practicable, but in any event within sixty (60) days following
the
Closing Date, Purchaser shall deliver to Seller
a
balance sheet of the Company
and the Subsidiaries
as of
the open of business on the Closing Date (the “Closing
Balance Sheet”)
and a
statement of Closing Working Capital derived from the Closing Balance Sheet
(the
“Closing
Working Capital Statement”).
The
Closing Balance Sheet and the Closing Working Capital Statement shall be
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to the Agreed
Principles. The Purchaser shall grant to Seller and his representatives such
access to the Business, at reasonable times and on reasonable conditions, as
shall be reasonably necessary to verify the Closing Balance Sheet and the
Closing Working Capital Statement, including reasonable access to Purchaser’s
financial personnel, work papers, worksheets and other documents used in such
calculations.
(iii) Acceptance
of Statements; Dispute Procedures.
The
Closing Balance Sheet and the Closing Working Capital Statement (and the
computation of Closing Working Capital indicated thereon) delivered by Purchaser
to Seller
shall be
conclusive and binding upon the parties unless Seller, within twenty (20) days
after delivery to Seller thereof, notifies Purchaser in writing that
Seller
disputes any
of
the amounts set forth therein, specifying the nature of the dispute and the
basis therefor. The parties shall in good faith attempt to resolve any dispute,
in which event the Closing Balance Sheet and the Closing Working Capital
Statement (and the computation of Closing Working Capital indicated thereon),
as
amended to the extent necessary to reflect the resolution of the dispute, shall
be conclusive and binding on the parties. If the parties do not reach agreement
in resolving the dispute within twenty (20) days after notice is given by
Seller
to
Purchaser
pursuant to the second preceding sentence, the parties shall submit the dispute
to a mutually satisfactory partner in the New
York
office of the accounting firm of KPMG
or,
if such partner will not act, to a mutually satisfactory partner at such other
nationally recognized independent accounting firm which is mutually agreeable
to
the parties (the “Independent
Accountant”)
for
resolution. If the parties cannot agree on the selection of such a partner
to
act as Independent Accountant, the parties shall request the American
Arbitration Association to appoint such a partner, and such appointment shall
be
conclusive and binding on the parties. Within twenty (20) days after acceptance
of appointment, the Independent Accountant shall determine (functioning as
an
expert and not as an arbitrator), based solely on written submissions by
Purchaser and Seller,
and not
by independent review, only those issues in dispute and shall render a written
report as to the resolution of the dispute and the resulting computation of
the
Closing Working Capital which shall be conclusive and binding on the parties.
All proceedings conducted by the Independent Accountant shall take place in
the
city of New York. In resolving any disputed item, the Independent Accountant
(x)
shall be bound by the provisions of this Section
3.3
and (y)
may not assign a value to any item greater than the greatest value for such
items claimed by either party or less than the smallest value for such items
claimed by either party. The fees, costs and expenses of the Independent
Accountant’s review and report shall be borne equally by Purchaser and
Seller.
12
(iv) Payment.
Upon
final determination of the Closing Working Capital, as provided in Section
3.3(b)(iii) above:
(A) if
Closing Working Capital exceeds Target Working Capital by more than $300,000,
then the Purchase Price shall be increased by an amount equal to (1) the excess
of the Closing Working Capital over Target Working Capital, less
(2)
$300,000, less
(3) the
amount of any previous increase in the Purchase Price pursuant Section
3.3(a)(ii),
plus
(4) the
amount of any previous decrease in the Purchase Price pursuant to Section
3.3(a)(ii).
The net
amount payable under this Section 3.3(b)(iv)(A)
shall be
paid by Purchaser in accordance with Section 3.3(b)(iv)(D)
within
five (5) Business Days after the final determination contemplated by this
Section
3.3(b).
(B) if
Target
Working Capital exceeds Closing Working Capital by more than $300,000, then
the
Purchase Price shall be decreased by an amount equal to (1) the excess of the
Target Working Capital over Closing Working Capital, less
(2)
$300,000, less
(3) the
amount of any previous decrease in the Purchase Price pursuant Section
3.3(a)(ii),
plus
(4) the
amount of any previous increase in the Purchase Price pursuant to Section
3.3(a)(ii).
Any
amount described in clause
(4)
of this
Section 3.3(b)(iv)(B)
shall be
paid to Purchaser by Seller within five (5) Business Days after the final
determination contemplated by this Section
3.3(b).
The
remaining amount payable under this Section 3.3(b)(iv)(B)
shall be
paid to Purchaser from the Indemnity Escrow Account, until the balance of the
Indemnity Escrow Account has been reduced to $1,550,000. Thereafter, any
remaining portion of the amount payable under this Section 3.3(b)(iv)(B) shall
be paid to Purchaser by Seller within five (5) Business Days after the final
determination contemplated by this Section
3.3(b).
(C) if
the
difference between Closing Working Capital and Target Working Capital is
$300,000 or less, there shall be no adjustment of the Purchase Price and any
adjustment previously made to the Purchase Price at Closing under Section
3.3(a)(ii)
shall be
reversed. In such event, if there has previously been an increase in the
Purchase Price pursuant to Section
3.3(a)(ii),
such
increase shall be reversed and Seller shall pay the amount thereof to Purchaser
within five (5) Business Days after such final determination. If there has
previously been a decrease in the Purchase Price pursuant to Section
3.3(a)(ii),
then
such decrease shall be reversed and within five (5) Business Days after such
final determination Purchaser shall pay the amount thereof as provided in
Section
3.3(b)(iv)(D)
below.
13
(D) if
any
adjustment of the Purchase Price at Closing pursuant to Section
3.3(a)(ii)
has
resulted in a reduction of the Indemnity Escrow Amount below $2,250,000, then
any amounts payable by Purchaser under this Section
3.3(b)(iv)
shall
first be applied to increase the Indemnity Escrow Amount to $2,250,000, and
any
amounts so applied shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to be held pursuant
to
the Escrow Agreement. Any remaining portion of an amount payable by Purchaser
pursuant to this Section
3.3(b)(iv)
shall be
paid to Seller within five (5) Business Days after the final determination
contemplated by this Section
3.3(b)(iv).
(v) Interest.
All
payments to be made under this Section
3.3(b)
shall be
made by wire transfer of immediately available funds, together with interest
at
the rate of 7% per annum, which interest shall begin to accrue on (and
including) the Closing Date and shall continue to accrue until (but not
including) the date on which full payment is made to Purchaser or Seller, as
the
case may be.
ARTICLE
IV
CLOSING
AND TERMINATION
4.1 Closing
Date.
The
consummation of the purchase and sale of the LLC Interests provided for in
Article II
hereof
(the “Closing”)
shall
take place at the offices of Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP located at New York,
the United States (or at such other place as the parties may designate in
writing) at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on a date to be specified by the parties
(the “Closing
Date”),
which
date shall be no later than the third Business Day after satisfaction or waiver
of the conditions set forth in Article
IX
(other
than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at Closing, but subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at such time), unless another
time, date or place is agreed in writing by the parties hereto.
4.2 Termination
of Agreement.
This
Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as follows:
(a) At
the
election of Seller or Purchaser on or after October 25, 2007 (such date, as
it
may be extended under the provisos below, the “Termination
Date”),
if
the Closing shall not have occurred by the close of business on such date,
provided
that the
terminating party is not in material default of any of its obligations
hereunder; and provided further
that the
right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section
4.2(a)
shall
not be available to any party whose breach of any provision of this Agreement
has been the cause of, or has resulted, directly or indirectly, in the failure
of the Closing to take place by the Termination Date;
14
(b) by
mutual
written consent of Seller and Purchaser;
(c) by
written notice from Purchaser to Seller that there has been an event, change,
occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate with any
such
events, changes, occurrences or circumstances has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) by
Seller
or Purchaser 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;
provided,
however,
that
the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
4.2(d)
shall
not be available to a party if such Order was primarily due to the failure
of
such party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement;
(e) by
Purchaser, if Seller shall have breached or failed to perform any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of Seller shall have become
untrue, such that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1(a)
or
9.1(b)
would
not be satisfied and such breach is incapable of being cured or if capable
of
being cured, shall not have been cured within ten (10) days following receipt
by
Seller of notice of such breach from Purchaser; or
(f) by
Seller, if Purchaser shall have breached or failed to perform any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of Purchaser shall have become
untrue, such that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.2(a)
or
9.2(b)
would
not be satisfied and such breach is incapable of being cured or if capable
of
being cured, shall not have been cured within ten (10) days following receipt
by
Purchaser of notice of such breach from Seller.
4.3 Procedure
Upon Termination.
In the
event of termination
pursuant
to Section 4.2
hereof,
written notice thereof shall
forthwith be given to the other party or parties, and this Agreement shall
terminate
and the
purchase of the LLC Interests hereunder shall be abandoned.
4.4 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event that this Agreement is validly terminated as provided herein, then each
of
the parties shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under
this
Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be
without liability to Purchaser or Seller; provided,
however,
that
(a) the obligations of the parties set forth in this Section
4.4
and
Articles
XI
and
XII
hereof
shall survive any such termination and shall be enforceable hereunder; and
(b)
nothing in this Section
4.4
shall
relieve Purchaser or Seller of any liability for a breach of this Agreement
prior to the effective date of termination.
For
avoidance of doubt and without limiting any right of Purchaser to terminate
this
Agreement as provided in Section
4.2,
if,
between the date hereof and the Closing, (x) Seller complies with its
obligations pursuant to Section
7.2(a)(ii),
(y) the
Company does not otherwise breach its obligations under the existing loan
agreement between the Company and CIT Group/Commercial Services, Inc.
(“CIT”)
and
(z) CIT fails to perform any of its obligations under such loan agreement or
CIT
fails to satisfy the working capital needs of the Company by increasing the
reserve in the absence of a declared default, then in such event, Seller shall
not be deemed to be in breach of Section
7.2(a)(ii)
or
otherwise under this Agreement based upon CIT's failure to perform any of its
obligations under such loan agreement.
15
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Subject
only to such exceptions as are specifically disclosed with respect to the
specific numbered sections and subsections of this Article
V
in the
disclosure schedule attached hereto as Exhibit
A
(the
“Disclosure
Schedule”),
Seller hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser that:
5.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
(a) Each
of
the Company and XXXX is a limited liability company duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of North Carolina
and
has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each
of the Company and XXXX is duly qualified or authorized to do business as a
foreign company and is in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction
in
which it owns or leases real property and each other jurisdiction in which
the
conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties requires such
qualification or authorization, except where the failure to be so qualified
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.1(a),
Seller
is the legal and beneficial owner of 100% of the limited liability company
membership interests of each of the Company and XXXX, free and clear of any
Liens. Except
for matters relating to (i) its direct or indirect ownership interests of the
equity interests of the Subsidiaries, (ii) its tax filing obligations, and
(iii)
its incorporation, organization and capitalization, the Company has not engaged
in any business or activity of any type or kind whatsoever and the Company
does
not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, equity securities or other
such equivalent interests (“equity
interests”)
in any
Person other than the Subsidiaries. Except for matters (i) set forth in
Schedule
5.1(a),
(ii)
its tax filing obligations, and (iii) its incorporation, organization and
capitalization, XXXX has not engaged in any business or activity of any type
or
kind whatsoever and XXXX does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity
interests in any Person. Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule
5.1(a),
there
is no existing option, warrant, call, right or Contract to which any Group
Company is a party requiring, and there are no securities of any Group Company
outstanding that upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance of
any
equity interest or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or
evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase any equity interests. The
Company is not a party to any voting trust or Contract with respect to the
issuance, voting, redemption, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Shares
or other equity interests or securities of the Company
(b) Each
of
the Subsidiaries is a limited liability company (or other equivalent corporate
entity) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of
the applicable jurisdiction and has all requisite limited liability or corporate
power, as the case may be, and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. Except
as
otherwise set forth on Schedule
5.1(b),
each
of
the Subsidiaries is duly qualified or authorized to do business as a foreign
company (or other equivalent corporate entity) and is in good standing under
the
Laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property and each
other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of
its
properties requires such qualification or authorization, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company
is the legal and beneficial owner of 100% of the equity interests of each of
the
Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Liens, except as set forth on Schedule
5.1(b).
16
(c) Schedule
5.1(c)
sets
forth, with respect to each of the Group Companies, its name, registered number,
date of incorporation, jurisdiction of incorporation, the jurisdictions, if
any,
in which it is qualified to do business, registered office, managers, members,
directors, officers, secretary, as well as the number of authorized
and outstanding number of equity interests and
the
names and addresses of all holders of such equity interests.
(d) Corporate
Records.
Seller
has delivered to Purchaser true and correct copies of the organizational
documents of each of the Group Companies since April 28, 2006. The statutory
books (including all registers and minute books) of each of the Group Companies
previously made available to Purchaser have been properly kept and contain
true
and correct records of all meetings and accurately reflect in all material
respects all other corporate action of the managers, members, directors,
officers, and equity interest holders (including committees thereof, if any)
of
the Group Companies which are required by the Laws of the applicable
jurisdiction.
5.2 Authorization
of Agreement.
Seller
has all requisite power, authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver
this Agreement. Seller and each of the Group Companies has all requisite power,
authority and legal capacity (a) to execute and deliver each other agreement,
document, or instrument or certificate contemplated by this Agreement or to
be
executed by such party in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the “Seller
Documents”);
(b)
to perform their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder; and (c) to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Seller Documents
and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been
duly authorized and approved by all requisite action on the part of each of
Seller and the Group Companies. This Agreement has been, and each of the Seller
Documents will be at or prior to the Closing, duly and validly executed and
delivered by each of Seller and each of the Group Companies (to the extent
a
party thereto). This Agreement constitutes, and each of the Seller Documents
when so executed and delivered will constitute, legal, valid and binding
obligations of and may be enforced against, as the case may be, Seller and
the
Group Companies, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally,
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including
principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless
of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
17
5.3 Conflicts;
Consents of Third Parties.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.3(a),
none of
the execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement or by Seller and the
Group Companies (to the extent a party thereto) of the Seller Documents, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or compliance
by Seller and the Group Companies with any of the provisions hereof or thereof
will conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or conflict with
or
default (whether with or without notice or lapse of time, or in any combination
thereof) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a material benefit under, or
give
rise to or increase any obligation of Seller or any of the Group Companies
to
make any payment under, or to the increased, additional, accelerated or
guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, or result in the creation
of any Liens upon any of the properties or assets of Seller or any of the Group
Companies under any provision of (i) the limited liability company
operating agreement or comparable organizational documents of any of the Group
Companies; (ii) any Contract or Permit to which any of Seller or any of the
Group Companies is a party or by which any of the properties or assets of Seller
or any of the Group Companies are bound; (iii) any Order applicable to Seller
or
any of the Group Companies or by which any of the properties or assets of Seller
or any of the Group Companies are bound; or (iv) any applicable
Law.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.3(b),
no
consent, waiver, approval, Permit or authorization of or filing with,
or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is required on the part
of Seller or any of the Group Companies in connection with (i) the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Seller Documents, the compliance
by Seller or any of the Group Companies with any of the provisions hereof and
thereof, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
or
the taking by Seller or any of the Group Companies of any other action
contemplated hereby or thereby, or (ii) the continuing validity and
effectiveness immediately following the Closing of any Contract entered into
by
or Permit of the Group Companies.
(a) Seller
has delivered to Purchaser copies of (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets
of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2006 and the related
audited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows of the Company
and
the Subsidiaries for the years then ended and (ii) the unaudited
consolidated balance sheets of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at August
31,
2007 and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the
Company and the Subsidiaries for the eight-month period then ended (such audited
and unaudited statements, including the related notes and schedules thereto,
are
referred to herein as the “Financial
Statements”).
Each
of the Financial Statements is complete and correct in all material respects,
has been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except, with
respect to the unaudited financial statements, for the lack of footnote
disclosures and for normal recurring year-end adjustments that, individually
or
in the aggregate, would not be material) without modification of the accounting
principles used in the preparation thereof throughout the periods presented
and
presents fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position,
results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiaries as
at
the dates and for the periods indicated. For the purposes hereof, the audited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at December
31, 2006 is referred to as the “Balance
Sheet”
and
December 31, 2006 is referred to as the “Balance
Sheet Date.”
18
(b) The
Company and the Subsidiaries make and keep books, records and accounts which,
in
reasonable detail and in all material respects, accurately and fairly reflect
the transactions and dispositions of their respective assets. To the Knowledge
of Seller, the Company and the Subsidiaries maintain systems of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain
accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and
(iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the actual
levels at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect
to
any differences.
(c) The
Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have
disclosed to the Company’s auditors any fraud, whether or not material, known to
such individuals that involves management or other employees who have a
significant role in the Company’s internal controls.
5.5 No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
None of
the Group Companies has any Indebtedness or Liabilities (whether or not required
under GAAP to be reflected on a balance sheet or the notes thereto) other than
those (i) specifically reflected in, fully reserved against or otherwise
described in the Balance Sheet or the notes thereto, (ii) incurred in the
Ordinary Course of Business since the Balance Sheet Date, or (iii) that are
immaterial the Group Companies.
5.6 Sufficiency
of Assets.
The
Assets reflected on the Balance Sheet constitute all of the assets and
properties used in or held for use in the Business and are sufficient for the
conduct of the Business in the Ordinary Course of Business, as it has been
conducted by the Company and the Subsidiaries.
5.7 Absence
of Certain Developments.
Except
as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 5.7,
since
the Balance Sheet Date, (a) the Company and the Subsidiaries have conducted
the
Business only in the Ordinary Course of Business and (b) there has not been
any
event, change, occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate
with any such events, changes, occurrences or circumstances, has had or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting
the
generality of the foregoing, since the Balance Sheet Date:
(i) there
has
not been any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance,
with respect to the Assets of any Group Company having a replacement cost of
more than $15,000 for any single loss or $75,000 for all such
losses;
(ii) there
has
not been any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution in respect of any equity interests in any Group Company or any
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by any Group Company of any
outstanding equity interests or other ownership interest in any other Group
Company;
19
(iii) none
of
the Group Companies has awarded or paid any bonuses to former employees or
employees of any Group Company with respect to the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006 or subsequent periods, except to the extent accrued on the Balance
Sheet or entered into any employment, deferred compensation, severance or
similar agreement (nor amended any such agreement) or agreed to increase the
compensation payable or to become payable by it to any Group Company’s
directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives or increased or agreed
to increase the coverage or benefits available under any severance pay,
termination pay, vacation pay, company awards, salary continuation for
disability, sick leave, deferred compensation, bonus or other incentive
compensation, insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or
arrangement made to, for or with such directors, officers, employees, agents
or
representatives;
(iv) there
has
not been any change by any Group Company in accounting or Tax reporting
principles, methods or policies;
(v) none
of
the Group Companies has made or rescinded any election relating to Taxes or
settled or compromised any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding,
arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes;
(vi) none
of
the Group Companies has failed to promptly pay and discharge current liabilities
except for liabilities not material in amount that are disputed in good faith
by
appropriate proceedings;
(vii) none
of
the Group Companies has made any capital investment in, any loan to, or any
acquisition of the securities or assets of, any other Person other than in
the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(viii) none
of
the Group Companies has mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any Lien any of
its
assets, or acquired any assets or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, leased
or otherwise disposed of any assets of any Group Company, except for assets
acquired or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed
of in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ix) none
of
the Group Companies has discharged or satisfied any Lien, or paid any obligation
or Liability, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(x) none
of
the Group Companies has canceled or compromised any debt or claim or amended,
modified, canceled, terminated, relinquished, waived or released any Contract
or
right except in the Ordinary Course of Business and which, in the aggregate,
would not be material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a
whole;
(xi) none
of
the Group Companies has issued, created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any
Indebtedness in an amount in excess of $75,000 in the aggregate;
20
(xii) none
of
the Group Companies has made or committed to make any capital expenditures
in
excess of $15,000 individually or $75,000 in the aggregate;
(xiii) none
of
the Group Companies has instituted or settled any material Legal Proceeding
resulting in a loss of revenue in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate;
(xiv) none
of
the Group Companies has granted any license or sublicense of any rights under
or
with respect to any Intellectual Property;
(xv) none
of
the Group Companies has made any loan to, or entered into any other transaction
with, any of its shareholders, Affiliates, officers, directors, partners or
employees, except for any advances made to Employees in the Ordinary Course
of
Business; and
(xvi) none
of
the Group Companies has agreed, committed, arranged or entered into any
understanding to do anything set forth in this Section 5.7.
5.8 Taxes.
(a) (i)
Except as set forth in Schedule
5.8(a),
all
income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf
of
each of the Group Companies and any Affiliated Group of which any Group Company
is or was a member have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Taxing
Authority in all jurisdictions in which such Tax Returns are required to be
filed or are under a valid extension of time to file, and all such Tax Returns
are true, complete and correct in all material respects; and (ii) all income
and
other material Taxes of the Group Companies (whether or not shown on a Tax
Return) have been fully and timely paid.
(b) All
deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of any examinations by
any
Taxing Authority of the Tax Returns of any Group Company have been fully paid,
and there are no audits or investigations by any Taxing Authority in progress,
nor has any Group Company received any notice from any Taxing Authority that
it
intends to conduct such an audit or investigation, in each case relating to
any
of the Group Companies.
(c) The
Company has delivered to Purchaser (i) complete copies of all income and other
material Tax Returns of each of the Group Companies for all Taxable periods
for
which the applicable statute of limitations has not yet expired and (ii) any
audit report or other correspondence issued within the last five (5) years
(or
otherwise with respect to any audit or proceeding in progress) relating to
Taxes
of the any of the Group Companies.
(d) Each
of
the Group Companies has complied in all material respects with all applicable
Laws relating to the withholding and payment of Taxes and has duly and timely
withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authorities all amounts
required to be so withheld and paid over under all applicable Laws.
(e) No
claim
has been made by a Taxing Authority in any jurisdiction in which any Group
Company does not currently file a Tax Return such that such Group Company is
or
may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
21
(f) Seller
is
not a “foreign person” within the meaning of section 1445 of the
Code.
(g) None
of
the Group Companies has executed or entered into any agreement with, or obtained
any consents or clearances from, any Taxing Authority, or has been subject
to
any ruling guidance specific to any of the Group Companies.
(h) No
agreement, waiver or other document or arrangement extending or having the
effect of extending the period for the filing of a Tax Return or for the
assessment or collection of Taxes (including, but not limited to, any applicable
statute of limitation) has been executed or filed with any Taxing Authority
by
or on behalf of any of the Group Companies.
(i) There
are
no Liens for Taxes upon the LLC Interests or Assets of the Group Companies,
except for Permitted Exceptions.
(j) No
issue
has been raised by written inquiry of any Governmental Body, which, by
application of the same principles, would reasonably be expected to affect
the
Tax treatment of the assets or properties of the Group Companies in any taxable
period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date.
(k) No
power
of attorney with respect to any Tax matter is currently in force with respect
to
the Group Companies that would, in any manner, bind, obligate or restrict
Purchaser.
(l) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.8(l),
none of
the Assets of the Group Companies is (i) property required to be treated as
being owned by another Person pursuant to the provisions of section 168(f)(8)
of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and in effect immediately prior
to
the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, (ii) "tax-exempt use property"
within the meaning of section 168(h)(1) of the Code, (iii) "tax-exempt bond
financed property" within the meaning of section 168(g) of the Code, (iv)
"limited use property" within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 2001-28, (v) subject
to
section 168(g)(1)(A) of the Code, or (vi) subject to any provision of state,
local or foreign Law comparable to any of the provisions listed
above.
(m) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.8(m),
none of
the Group Companies has ever been a member of any group of corporations with
which it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined, affiliated
or unitary Tax Returns nor has any Liability for the Taxes of any Person under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar or corresponding provision
of foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.
(n) None
of
the Group Companies is or has ever been a party to any transaction or agreement
that is in conflict with the Tax rules on transfer pricing in any relevant
jurisdiction. None of the Group Companies is bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax
sharing, Tax allocation or similar agreement or arrangement (whether or not
written).
(o) There
is
no taxable income of any Group Company that will be required under applicable
Tax Law to be reported by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, including any
of
the Group Companies, for a taxable period beginning after the Closing Date
which
taxable income was realized (and reflects economic income) arising prior to
the
Closing Date.
22
(p) None
of
the Group Companies (other than Copperweld Bimetallics UK Limited) has elected
in any jurisdiction to be classified as a corporation. The Group Companies
(other than Copperweld Bimetallics UK Limited) are and have always has been
treated as disregarded entities by all Taxing Authorities.
(q) Copperweld
Bimetallics UK Limited has not elected in any jurisdiction to be classified
as a
disregarded entity and is and always has been treated as a corporation by all
Taxing Authorities.
(r) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.8(r),
none of
the Group Companies is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in any
country other than the jurisdiction in which it is organized or has a branch,
office or fixed place of business or permanent establishment in any country
other than the jurisdiction in which it is organized. No Subsidiary has ever
been a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297
of
the Code.
(s) The
Group
Companies have disclosed on their Tax Returns all positions taken therein that
could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income tax within
the
meaning of Section 6662 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision
of foreign Law).
(t) None
of
the Group Companies has engaged in any “reportable transactions” as defined in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).
5.9 Company
Property.
(a) None
of
the Group Companies own any real property. Schedule
5.9(a)
sets
forth a complete list of all real property and interests in real property leased
by any of the Group Companies (individually, a “Real
Property Lease”
and
collectively, the “Real
Property Leases”
and
the
real property specified in such lease, being referred to herein individually
as
a “Company
Property”
and
collectively as the “Company
Properties”)
as
lessee or sublessee, including a description of each such Real Property Lease
(including the name of the third party lessor or sublessor and the date of
the
lease or sublease and all amendments thereto). The Company Properties constitute
all interests in real property currently used, occupied or held for use in
connection with the Business and which are necessary for the continued operation
of the Business as currently conducted. All of the Company Properties and
buildings, fixtures and improvements thereon owned or leased by the Group
Companies (i) are in good operating condition, wear and tear excepted, without
material structural defects, and all mechanical and other systems located
thereon are in good operating condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and
(ii) are suitable, sufficient and appropriate in all material respects for
their
current use. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.9,
none of
the improvements located on the Company Properties constitute a non-conforming
use or otherwise require any special dispensation, variance or special Permit
under any Laws. Each of the Group Companies has delivered to Purchaser true
and
correct copies of the Real Property Leases, together with all amendments,
modifications or supplements, if any, thereto.
23
(b) Each
Group Company, as applicable, has a valid, binding and enforceable leasehold
interest (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including
principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless
of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity)) under
each of the Real Property Leases under which it is a lessee or sublessee, free
and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Exceptions. Each of the Real
Property Leases is in full force and effect. None of the Group Companies is
in
default under any such Real Property Lease, and no event has occurred and no
circumstance exists which, if not remedied (whether with or without notice
or
the passage of time or in any combination thereof) would result in such a
default. None of the Group Companies has received or given any notice of any
default or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
a
default by the applicable Group Company under any of the Real Property Leases
and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no other party is in default thereof, and
none
of the Group Companies nor any other party to any Real Property Lease has
exercised any termination rights with respect thereto.
(c) The
Group
Companies have all material certificates of occupancy and Permits of any
Governmental Body required for the current use and operation of each Company
Property, and the Group Companies have complied with all material conditions
of
the Permits applicable to them. No default or violation, or event that, with
the
lapse of time or giving of notice or both, would become a material default
or
violation, has occurred in the due observance of any Permit.
(d) There
does not exist any actual or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened or
contemplated condemnation or eminent domain proceedings that affect any Company
Property or any part thereof, and none of Seller or any Group Company has
received any notice, oral or written, of the intention of any Governmental
Body
or other Person to take or use all or any part thereof.
(e) None
of
the Group Companies has received any notice from any insurance company that
has
issued a policy with respect to any Company Property requiring performance
of
any structural or other repairs or alterations to such Company
Property.
(f) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.9(f),
none of
the Group Companies owns, holds, is obligated under or is a party to, any
option, right of first refusal or other contractual right to purchase, acquire,
sell, assign or dispose of any real estate or any portion thereof or interest
therein.
5.10 Tangible
Personal Property.
(a) The
Group
Companies have good and marketable title to all of the items of tangible
personal property (other than leased property) used in the Business by the
Group
Companies (except as sold or disposed of subsequent to the date thereof in
the
Ordinary Course of Business and not in violation of this Agreement) (the
“Tangible
Personal Property”),
free
and clear of any and all Liens, other than Permitted Exceptions. All such items
of tangible personal property which, individually or in the aggregate, are
material to the operation of the Business are in good condition and in a state
of good maintenance and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are
suitable for the purposes for which such items are currently used.
24
(b) Schedule
5.10(b)
sets
forth all leases of personal property involving annual payments in excess of
$15,000 relating to personal property used by any of the Group Companies in
the
Business or to which any of the Group Companies is a party or by which the
assets or properties of any of the Group Companies is bound (“Personal
Property Leases”).
All
of the items of personal property under the Personal Property Leases are in
good
condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are suitable for
the
purposes used, and such property is in all material respects in the condition
required of such property by the terms of the lease applicable thereto during
the term of the lease. The Group Companies have delivered to Purchaser true
and
correct copies of the Personal Property Leases, together with all amendments,
modifications or supplements thereto.
(c) The
Group
Companies have a valid, binding and enforceable leasehold interest (subject
to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of
commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity)) under each of the
Personal Property Leases under which it is a lessee. Each of the Personal
Property Leases is in full force and effect and none of the Group Companies
has
received or given any notice of any default or event that with notice or lapse
of time, or both, would constitute a default by any Group Company under any
of
the Personal Property Leases and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no other
party is in default thereof, and none of the Group Companies nor any other
party
to the Personal Property Leases has exercised any termination rights with
respect thereto.
5.11 Intellectual
Property and Technology.
(a) Schedule
5.11(a)
sets
forth an accurate and complete list of all Patents, registered Marks, pending
applications for registration of Marks, registered Copyrights, and pending
applications for registration of Copyrights owned by any of the Group Companies,
including (i) the owner of each such item of Intellectual Property and
Technology, (ii) the jurisdictions in which each such item of Intellectual
Property has been issued or registered or in which any such application for
issuance or registration has been filed, and (iii) the registration or
application date, as applicable.
(b) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
5.11(b),
the
Company or other Group Company, as applicable, is the sole and exclusive owner
of all right, title and interest in and to all of the Intellectual Property
and
Technology listed on Schedule
5.11(a).
The
Company or other Group Company, as applicable, is the sole and exclusive owner
of, or has valid and continuing rights to use, sell, license and commercially
exploit, as the case may be, all other Intellectual Property and Technology
as
the same is used, sold, licensed and commercially exploited in the Business
as
currently conducted, free and clear of all Liens or obligations to others
(except for the Intellectual Property Licenses included in Schedule
5.11(e)).
25
(c) The
Intellectual Property, the Technology, the development, manufacturing,
licensing, marketing, importation, offer for sale, sale or use of any products
and services owned by or licensed to any of the Group Companies in connection
with the Business as currently conducted, and the current business practices,
methods and operations of the Group Companies do not infringe, constitute an
unauthorized use of, misappropriation or violate any Intellectual Property,
Technology or other right of any Person (including pursuant to any
non-disclosure agreements or obligations to which any of the Group Companies
or
any of their employees or former employees is a party). The Intellectual
Property and Technology owned by or licensed to the Group Companies under the
Intellectual Property Licenses include all of the Intellectual Property and
Technology necessary and sufficient to enable the Group Companies to conduct
the
Business in the manner in which such Business is currently being
conducted.
(d) Except
with respect to licenses of commercial off-the-shelf Software available on
reasonable terms for a license fee of no more than $15,000, and except pursuant
to the Intellectual Property Licenses listed in Schedule
5.11(e),
none of
the Group Companies is required, obligated, or under any liability whatsoever,
to make any payments by way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner,
licensor of, or other claimant to, any Intellectual Property or Technology
owned
by or licensed to any of the Group Companies under any of the Intellectual
Property Licenses, or any other Person, with respect to the use thereof or
in
connection with the conduct of the Business as currently conducted.
(e) Schedule
5.11(e)
sets
forth a complete and accurate list of all Contracts (i) to which any Group
Company is a party (A) granting any Intellectual Property License, (B)
containing a covenant not to compete or otherwise limiting its ability to (x)
exploit fully any of the Intellectual Property or (y) conduct the Business
in
any market or geographical area or with any Person or (ii) to which any Group
Company is a party containing an agreement to indemnify any other Person against
any claim of infringement, unauthorized use, misappropriation, dilution or
violation of Intellectual Property.
(f) Each
of
the Intellectual Property Licenses is in full force and effect and is the legal,
valid and binding obligation of, as applicable, the Company and the other Group
Companies, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of
commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). None of the Group
Companies is in default under any Intellectual Property License, nor, to the
Knowledge of Seller, is any other party to any Intellectual Property License
in
default thereunder, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or
the
giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder. Except as set
forth on Schedule
5.11(f),
no
party to any of the Intellectual Property Licenses has exercised any termination
rights with respect thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.11(f),
the
Group Companies have good and valid title to the Intellectual Property Licenses,
free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Exceptions. The Group Companies
have delivered or otherwise made available to Purchaser true and correct copies
of all of the Intellectual Property Licenses, together with all amendments,
modifications or supplements thereto.
26
(g) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.11(g),
no
Trade Secret material to the Business as currently conducted has been authorized
to be disclosed or has been actually disclosed by any of the Group Companies
to
any of their former employees, employees or any third Person other than pursuant
to a non-disclosure agreement restricting the disclosure and use of such
Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.11(g),
the
Group Companies have taken adequate security measures to protect the secrecy,
confidentiality and value of all Intellectual Property and any other material,
non-public, proprietary information, which measures are reasonable in the
industry in which the Business operates.
(h) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.11(h),
as of
the date hereof, none of the Group Companies (i) is the subject of any pending
or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened Legal Proceedings which involve
a
claim of infringement, unauthorized use, misappropriation or dilution by any
Person against Seller, the Company or any of the other Group Companies or
challenging the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of any Intellectual
Property or (ii) has received written (including by electronic mail) notice
of
any such threatened claim and, to the Knowledge of Seller, there are no facts
or
circumstances that would form the basis for any such claim or challenge. Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.11(h),
all of
the Company’s and/or the other Group Companies’ rights in and to the owned or
licensed Intellectual Property, are valid and enforceable.
(i) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.11(i),
to the
Knowledge of Seller, no Person is infringing, violating, misusing or
misappropriating any Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to any of the
Group Companies, and no such claims have been made against any Person by Seller,
the Company or any of the other Group Companies with respect thereto.
(j) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.11(j),
all
necessary registration, maintenance, renewal and other relevant filing fees
in
connection with any of the Intellectual Property that has been issued or
registered or is the subject of a pending application have been timely paid,
and
all necessary documents, certificates and other relevant filings in connection
with such Intellectual Property have been timely filed with the relevant
Governmental Authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as
the
case may be, for the purpose of maintaining such Intellectual Property and
all
issuances, registrations and applications therefor.
(k) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.11(k),
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the
loss
or impairment of the respective rights of the Company or any of the other Group
Companies to own or use any of the Intellectual Property or any of the
Intellectual Property pursuant to the Intellectual Property
Licenses.
(l) No
employee or former employee of any of the Group Companies has any right, title
or interest, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in any material
Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of Seller, no employee or former
employee of any of the Group Companies engaged in the Business is, as a result
of or in the course of such employee’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s
engagement, in default or breach of any material term of any employment
agreement, non-disclosure agreement, assignment of invention agreement or
similar agreement.
27
(m) Schedule
5.11(m)
sets
forth a complete and accurate list of (i) all Software included in the
Technology owned exclusively by the Company or any of the other Group Companies
that is material to the operation of the Business and (ii) all other Software
used in the Business that is not exclusively owned by the Company or the other
Group Companies, excluding commercial-off-the-shelf Software available on
reasonable terms for a license fee of no more than $15,000.
5.12 Material
Contracts.
(a) Schedule
5.12(a)
sets
forth, by reference to the applicable subsection of this Section
5.12(a),
all of
the following Contracts to which the Company or any of the other Group Companies
is a party or by which any of them or their respective assets or properties
are
bound (collectively, the “Material
Contracts”):
(i) Contracts
with any current or former officer, director, manager or Affiliate of the
Company or any of the other Group Companies;
(ii) Contracts
for the sale of any of the Assets of the Company or any of the other Group
Companies (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business);
(iii) Contracts
for the grant to any Person of any preferential rights to purchase any of the
Assets of the Company or any of the other Group Companies;
(iv) Contracts
for joint ventures, strategic alliances, partnerships, licensing arrangements,
or sharing of profits or proprietary information;
(v) Contracts
containing covenants of the Company or any of the other Group Companies not
to
compete in any line of business or with any Person in any geographical area
or
not to solicit or hire any Person with respect to employment or covenants of
any
other Person not to compete with the Company or any of the other Group Companies
in any line of business or in any geographical area or not to solicit or hire
any Person with respect to employment;
(vi) Contracts
relating to the acquisition (by merger, purchase of stock or assets or
otherwise) by the Company or any of the other Group Companies of any operating
business or material assets or the capital stock or other equity interests
of
any other Person;
(vii) Contracts
relating to the incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any Indebtedness or
imposing a Lien on any of the Assets of the Company or any other Group
Company;
(viii) purchase
Contracts giving rise to Liabilities of the Company or any of the other Group
Companies in excess of $15,000;
(ix) all
Contracts providing for payments by or to the Company or any of the other Group
Companies in excess of $15,000 in any fiscal year or $75,000 in the aggregate
during the term thereof;
28
(x) all
Contracts obligating the Company or any of the other Group Companies to provide
or obtain products or services for a period of one (1) year or more or requiring
the Company or any other Group Company to purchase or sell a stated portion
of
its requirements or outputs providing for payments in excess of $15,000 in
any
fiscal year or $75,000 in the aggregate during the term thereof;
(xi) Contracts
under which the Company or any of the other Group Companies has made advances
or
loans to any other Person;
(xii) Contracts
providing for severance, retention, change in control or other similar
payments;
(xiii) Contracts
for the employment of any individual on a full-time, part-time or consulting
or
other basis providing annual compensation in excess of $100,000;
(xiv) material
management Contracts and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants
(or similar arrangements) that are not cancelable without penalty or further
payment and without more than 30 days’ notice;
(xv) outstanding
Contracts of guaranty, surety or indemnification, direct or indirect, by the
Company or any of the other Group Companies; and
(xvi) Contracts
that are otherwise material to the Company and the other Group
Companies.
(b) Except
as
otherwise stated in Schedule
5.12(b),
(i)
each of the Material Contracts is in full force and effect and is the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company, or any other Group Company which
is
a party thereto, and, to the Knowledge of Seller, of the other parties thereto,
enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of
commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall, continue
in full force and effect without penalty or other adverse consequence; (ii)
none
of the Group Companies is in default under any Material Contract, nor, to the
Knowledge of Seller, is any other party to any Material Contract in material
breach of or default thereunder, and no event has occurred that with the lapse
of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a material breach
or
default by any Group Company or any other party thereunder; (iii) no party
to
any of the Material Contracts has exercised any termination rights with respect
thereto, and no such party has given notice of any significant dispute with
respect to any Material Contract; (iv) the Group Companies have good and valid
title to the Material Contracts, free and clear of all Liens other than
Permitted Exceptions. The Group Companies have delivered to Purchaser true
and
correct copies of all of the Material Contracts, together with all amendments,
modifications or supplements thereto.
29
5.13 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Schedule
5.13(a)
sets
forth a true and complete list, separately identified for each country in which
current or former employees, consultants or directors of the Company and any
of
the other Group Companies are based, of (i) all “employee benefit plans” (as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), (ii) any employment, individual consulting,
separation, retention, severance or change in control agreement, and (iii)
any
other plans, agreements or arrangements (including contracts of insurance and
contracts with current service providers) relating to pension, welfare benefits,
severance, retention, vacation, leaves of absence, company awards, supplemental
unemployment, salary continuation, deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonus
or other incentive compensation, equity and equity-based compensation, stock
purchase, life insurance, business travel, personal accident insurance, and
educational assistance plans, policies, or agreements to which the Company
or
any of the other Group Companies has any obligation or liability, contingent
or
otherwise, in respect of current or former employees, individual consultants
or
directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Employee
Benefit Plans”).
Except as set forth on Schedule
5.13(a),
neither
the Company nor any of its Affiliates and any trade or business (whether or
not
incorporated) which is or has ever been under common control, or which is or
has
ever been treated as a single employer, with any of them under Section 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code (“ERISA
Affiliate”)
has in
the last six years sponsored, maintained, contributed or been obligated to
contribute to any “employee pension plans”, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA,
subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, including any
multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA (“Multiemployer
Plan”),
or is
or has been subject to Sections 4063 or 4064 of ERISA (“Multiple
Employer Plans”).
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has at any time since
27
April 2004 been connected with or an associate of (as those terms are used
in
the UK Pensions Act 2004) an employer in relation to an occupational pension
scheme (as defined in Section 1 of the UK Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxx 0000
(“PSA
1993”))
established in the United Kingdom which is not a money purchase scheme (as
defined in section 181 of PSA 1993).
(b) True
and
complete copies of the following documents, in respect of each of the Employee
Benefit Plans have been delivered to Purchaser: (A) except where form agreements
substantially representative of the actual agreements have been provided, copies
of all employment, individual consulting, separation, retention, severance
or
change in control agreements with current or former employees, consultants
or
directors of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any plans and related
trust documents and all amendments thereto, or written summaries of all
unwritten Employee Benefit Plans, (C) the most recent Forms 5500 and schedules
thereto, (D) the most recent financial statements (if applicable), (E) the
most
recent IRS determination or opinion letter, (F) the most recent summary plan
descriptions (including letters or other documents updating such descriptions),
and (G) written descriptions of all non-written agreements relating to the
Employee Benefit Plans.
(c) Each
of
the Employee Benefit Plans intended to qualify under Section 401 of the
Code (“Qualified
Plans”)
so
qualify and the trusts maintained thereto are exempt from federal income
taxation under section 501 of the Code, and, except as disclosed on
Schedule 5.13(c),
nothing
has occurred with respect to the operation of any such plan which could cause
the loss of such qualification or exemption or the imposition of any liability,
penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code.
30
(d) All
contributions and premiums required by Law or by the terms of any Employee
Benefit Plan or any agreement relating thereto have been timely made (without
regard to any waivers granted with respect thereto) to any funds or trusts
established thereunder or in connection therewith, and all contributions for
any
period ending on or before the Closing Date which are not yet due will have
been
paid or accrued on the balance sheet on or prior to the Closing
Date.
(e) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.13(e),
none of
the Employee Benefit Plans which are “welfare benefit plans” within the meaning
of Section 3(1) of ERISA provide for continuing benefits or coverage for
any participant or any beneficiary of a participant post-termination of
employment except as may be required under COBRA and at the expense of the
participant or the participant’s beneficiary. Each of the Group Companies which
maintains a “group health plan” within the meaning of section 5000(b)(1) of
the Code has complied in all material respects with the notice and continuation
requirements of section 4980B of the Code, COBRA, Part 6 of
Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.
(f) There
are
no pending Legal Proceedings which have been asserted or instituted against
any
of the Employee Benefit Plans, the assets of any such plans or any of the Group
Companies, or the plan administrator or any fiduciary of the Employee Benefit
Plans with respect to the operation of such plans (other than routine,
uncontested benefit claims), and to the Knowledge of Seller, there are no facts
or circumstances which could form the basis for any such Legal
Proceeding.
(g) Each
of
the Employee Benefit Plans has been maintained, in all material respects, in
accordance with its terms and all provisions of applicable Law. All amendments
and actions required to bring each of the Employee Benefit Plans into conformity
in all material respects with all of the applicable provisions of ERISA and
other applicable Laws have been made or taken except to the extent that such
amendments or actions are not required by Law to be made or taken until a date
after the Closing Date and are disclosed on Schedule
5.13(g).
(h) Neither
the Company nor any “party in interest” or “disqualified person” with respect to
the Employee Benefit Plans has engaged in a non-exempt “prohibited transaction”
within the meaning of section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of
ERISA.
(i) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.13(i),
neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment becoming
due to any employee of any of the Group Companies; (ii) increase any
benefits otherwise payable under any Employee Benefit Plan; or (iii) result
in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting or funding of any such
benefits.
(j) None
of
the Group Companies has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments,
or
is a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement, or plan that could obligate
Purchaser to make any payments, that are or could be, separately or in the
aggregate, “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Code (without regard to Section 280G(b)(4) and 280G(b)(5) thereof).
31
(k) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.13(k),
none of
the Group Companies is a party to any contract, plan or commitment, whether
legally binding or not, to create any additional Employee Benefit Plan, or
to
modify any existing Employee Benefit Plan.
(l) The
Company and the other Group Companies have reasonably and correctly classified
for all purposes (including without limitation for all Tax purposes and for
purposes of determining eligibility and benefits under any Employee Benefit
Plan) all employees, leased employees, consultants and independent contractors,
and has made all required filings in connection with services provided by such
persons.
(m) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, except as set forth on Schedule
5.13(m),
each
Employee Benefit Plan subject to the Laws of a jurisdiction other than those
of
the U.S. or any local jurisdiction thereof (“Non-US
Plan”),
is
fully funded, fully insured, or the liabilities thereunder are correctly
reflected in the financial statements of the Company or the other Group
Companies. None of the Non-US Plans is or has been classified as a defined
benefit pension plans.
5.14 Labor.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.14(a),
(i)
none of the Group Companies is a party to any labor or collective bargaining
agreement, (ii) there are no labor or collective bargaining agreements which
pertain to employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, and (iii) no
employees are represented by any labor organization. No labor organization
or
group of employees of the Company or the Subsidiaries has made a pending demand
for recognition, and there are no representation proceedings or petitions
seeking a representation proceeding currently pending or, to the Knowledge
of
Seller, threatened to be brought or filed, with the National Labor Relations
Board or other labor relations tribunal. There is no organizing activity
involving the Company or any of the other Group Companies pending or, to the
Knowledge of Seller, threatened by any labor organization or group of
employees.
(b) There
are
no (i) strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts or arbitrations or
(ii) material grievances or other labor disputes pending or, to the
Knowledge of Seller, threatened against or involving the Company or any of
the
other Group Companies involving any employee. There are no unfair labor practice
charges, grievances or complaints pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller,
threatened by or on behalf of any employee or former employee.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.14(c),
there
are no complaints, charges or claims against the Company or the other Group
Companies pending or, to Knowledge of Seller, threatened that could be brought
or filed, with any Governmental Body or based on, arising out of, in connection
with or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment or
failure to employ by the Company or any of the other Group Companies, of any
individual. Each of the Company and the other Group Companies is in compliance
in all material respects with all Laws relating to the employment of labor,
including all such Laws relating to wages, hours, WARN and any similar state
or
local “mass layoff” or “plant closing” Law, collective bargaining,
discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation and the
collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes and any
similar tax except for immaterial non-compliance. There has been no “mass
layoff” or “plant closing” (as defined by WARN) with respect to the Company or
any of the other Group Companies within the six months prior to
Closing.
32
5.15 Litigation.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 5.15,
there is
no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against
the Company or any of the other Group Companies (or, to the Knowledge of Seller,
pending or threatened, against any of the officers, directors or key Employees
of the Company or any of the other Group Companies with respect to the Business
or any other activities conducted on behalf of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries), or to which the Company or any of the other Group Companies
is
otherwise a party, before any Governmental Body; nor, to the Knowledge of
Seller, is there any reasonable basis for any such Legal Proceeding. None of
the
Group Companies is subject to any Order, and none of the Group Companies is
in
breach or violation of any Order. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.15,
none of
the Group Companies is engaged in any legal action to recover monies due it
or
for damages sustained by it. There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to
the
Knowledge of Seller, threatened against the Company or any of the other Group
Companies or to which the Company or any of the other Group Companies is
otherwise a party relating to this Agreement or any Seller Document or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
5.16 Compliance
with Laws; Permits.
(a) The
Company and the other Group Companies are in compliance in all material respects
with all Laws applicable to their respective operations or Assets or the
Business. None of the Group Companies has received any written or other notice
of or been charged with the violation of any Laws. To the Knowledge of Seller,
none of the Group Companies is under investigation with respect to the violation
of any Laws and there are no facts or circumstances which could form the basis
for any such violation, other than any violation that would not impose any
Liability on Purchaser or result in a Lien on any of the Assets following the
Closing.
(b) Schedule 5.16(b)
contains
a list of all Permits which are required for the operation of the Business
as
currently conducted (“Seller
Permits”),
other
than those the failure of which to possess is immaterial. The Company and the
other Group Companies currently have all Permits which are required for the
operation of the Business as currently conducted, other than those the failure
of which to possess is immaterial. None of the Group Companies is in default
or
violation, and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time
or
both, would constitute a default or violation, in any material respect of any
term, condition or provision of any Seller Permit and, to the Knowledge of
Seller, there are no facts or circumstances which could reasonably be expected
to form the basis for any such default or violation. There are no Legal
Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened, relating to
the
suspension, revocation or modification of any of the Seller Permits. None of
the
Seller Permits will be impaired by the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
5.17 Environmental
Matters.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.17
hereto:
(a) the
operations of the Company and each of the other Group Companies, with respect
to
the Business, are and have been in compliance in all material respects with
all
applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining
in good standing and complying with all Environmental Permits necessary to
operate the Business and no action or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge
of Seller threatened to revoke, modify or terminate any such Environmental
Permit, and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no facts, circumstances or conditions
currently exist that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect such
continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits or
require currently unbudgeted capital expenditures to achieve or maintain such
continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits;
33
(b) with
respect to the Business, none of the Group Companies is the subject of any
outstanding written order 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;
(c) no
claim
has been made or is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against
the Company or any of the other Group Companies, alleging, with respect to
the
Business, that any or all of the Company and the other Group Companies may
be in
violation of any Environmental Law or any Environmental Permit or may have
any
liability under any Environmental Law;
(d) to
the
Knowledge of Seller, no facts, circumstances or conditions exist with respect
to
the Business or any property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased
by
the Company or any of the other Group Companies or any property to which the
Company or any of the other Group Companies arranged for the disposal or
treatment of Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to result
in
the Business incurring unbudgeted Environmental Costs or
Liabilities;
(e) to
the
Knowledge of Seller, there are no investigations of the Business, or currently
or previously owned, operated or leased property of the Company or any of the
other Group Companies pending or threatened which could lead to the imposition
of any Environmental Costs or Liabilities or Liens under Environmental Law;
and
(f) there
is
not located at any of Company Properties, any (i) underground storage
tanks, (ii) landfill, (iii) surface impoundment,
(iv) asbestos-containing material or (v) equipment containing
polychlorinated biphenyls (except those that are in compliance with
Environmental Laws).
5.18 Insurance.
The
Company and the other Group Companies have insurance policies in full force
and
effect (a) for such amounts as are sufficient for all requirements of Law and
all agreements to which the Company or any of the other Group Companies is
a
party or by which it is bound and (b) which are in such amounts, with such
deductibles and against such risks and losses, as are reasonable for the
Business and Assets of the Company and the other Group Companies. Set forth
in
Schedule
5.18
is a
list of all insurance policies and all fidelity bonds held by or applicable
to
the Company and the other Group Companies setting forth the policy names, policy
numbers, carrier, term, type and amount of coverage, excess, deductibles and
annual premium. Excluding insurance policies that have expired and been replaced
in the Ordinary Course of Business, no insurance policy has been cancelled
within the last two (2) years and, to the Knowledge of Seller no threat has
been
made to cancel any insurance policy of the Company or any of the other Group
Companies during such period. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.18,
all
such insurance will remain in full force and effect following the Closing.
To
the Knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred, including the failure by the
Company or any of the other Group Companies to give full and accurate
information, which limits or impairs the rights of the Company or any of the
other Group Companies under any such insurance policies.
34
5.19 Inventories.
The
inventories of the Company and the other Group Companies are in good and
marketable condition, and are saleable in the Ordinary Course of Business.
The
inventories of the Company and the other Group Companies set forth in the
Balance Sheet were valued at the lower of cost (on a FIFO/LIFO basis) or market
and were properly stated therein in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
Adequate reserves have been reflected in the Balance Sheet for obsolete, excess,
damaged, slow-moving or otherwise unusable inventory, which reserves were
calculated in a manner consistent with past practice and in accordance with
GAAP
consistently applied. The inventories of the Company and the other Group
Companies constitute sufficient quantities for the normal operation of the
Business in accordance with past practice.
5.20 Accounts
and Notes Receivable and Payable.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.20(a),
(i) all
accounts and notes receivable of the Company and the other Group Companies
have
arisen from bona fide transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent
with past practice and are payable on ordinary trade terms; (ii) to the
Knowledge of Seller, all accounts and notes receivable of the Company and the
other Group Companies reflected on the Balance Sheet are good and collectible
at
the aggregate recorded amounts thereof, net of any applicable reserve for
returns or doubtful accounts reflected thereon, which reserves are adequate
and
were calculated in a manner consistent with past practice and in accordance
with
GAAP consistently applied; (iii) to the Knowledge of Seller, all accounts and
notes receivable arising after the Balance Sheet Date are good and collectible
at the aggregate recorded amounts thereof, net of any applicable reserve for
returns or doubtful accounts, which reserves are adequate and were calculated
in
a manner consistent with past practice and in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied; and (iv) none of the accounts or the notes receivable of the Company
and the other Group Companies (A) are subject to any setoffs or counterclaims
or
(B) represent obligations for goods sold on consignment, on approval or on
sale-or-return basis or subject to any other repurchase or return
arrangement.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.20(b),
all
accounts payable of the Company and the other Group Companies reflected in
the
Balance Sheet or arising after the date thereof are the result of bona fide
transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business and have been paid or are not
yet due and payable.
35
5.21 Related
Party Transactions.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.21,
no
Employee, officer, director, equity interest holder, partner, manager or member
of the Company or any of the other Group Companies, any member of his or her
immediate family or any of their respective Affiliates (“Related
Persons”)
(i)
owes any amount to the Company or any of the other Group Companies nor does
the
Company or any of the other Group Companies owe any amount to, or has the
Company or any of the other Group Companies committed to make any loan or extend
or guarantee credit to or for the benefit of, any Related Person, (ii) is
involved in any business arrangement or other relationship with the Company
or
any of the other Group Companies (whether written or oral), (iii) owns any
property or right, tangible or intangible, that is used by the Company or any
of
the other Group Companies, (iv) has any claim or cause of action against the
Company or any of the other Group Companies or (v) owns any direct or indirect
interest of any kind in, or controls or is a director, officer, employee or
partner of, or consultant to, or lender to or borrower from or has the right
to
participate in the profits of, any Person which is a competitor, supplier,
customer, landlord, tenant, creditor or debtor of the Company or any other
Group
Company. None of Group Companies owes any amount to, nor has the Company nor
any
of the other Group Companies committed to make any loan or extend or guarantee
credit to or for the benefit of, any Related Person, that in any case could
become a liability of Purchaser or result in a Lien on any Assets following
the
Closing.
5.22 Customers
and Suppliers.
(a) Schedule
5.22
sets
forth a list of the ten (10) largest customers and the ten (10) largest
suppliers of the Company and the other Group Companies, as measured by the
dollar amount of purchases therefrom or thereby, during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006, showing the approximate total sales by the Company and the
other Group Companies to each such customer and the approximate total purchases
by the Company and the other Group Companies from each such supplier, during
such period.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.22,
(i)
since the Balance Sheet Date, no customer or supplier listed on Schedule
5.22
has
terminated its relationship with the Company or any of the other Group Companies
or materially reduced or changed the pricing or other terms of its business
with
the Company or any of the other Group Companies; and (ii) to the Knowledge
of
Seller, no customer or supplier listed on Schedule
5.22
has
notified Seller, the Company or any of the other Group Companies that it intends
to terminate or materially reduce or change the pricing or other terms of its
business with the Company or any of the other Group Companies.
5.23 Product
Warranty; Product Liability.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.23,
each
product manufactured, sold or delivered by the Company or any of the other
Group
Companies in conducting the Business has been in conformity in all material
respects with all product specifications and all express and implied warranties
and, to the Knowledge of Seller, all applicable Laws. None of the Group
Companies has any liability for replacement or repair of any such products
or
other damages in connection therewith or any other customer or product
obligations not reserved against on the Balance Sheet. None of the Group
Companies has sold any products or delivered any services that included a
warranty for a period of longer than one (1) year.
36
(b) None
of
the Group Companies has material liability arising out of any injury to
individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession, or use of
any
product designed, manufactured, assembled, repaired, maintained, delivered,
sold
or installed, or services rendered, by or on behalf of the Company or any of
the
Subsidiaries. None of the Group Companies has committed any act or failed to
commit any act which would result in, and there has been no occurrence which
would give rise to or form the basis of, any product liability or liability
for
breach of warranty (whether covered by insurance or not) on the part of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to products designed,
manufactured, assembled, repaired, maintained, delivered, sold or installed
or
services rendered by or on behalf of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries.
5.24 Banks.
Schedule
5.24
contains
a complete and correct list of (a) the names and locations of all banks in which
the Company or any other Group Company has accounts or safe deposit boxes,
(b)
the account numbers of all such accounts and (c) the names of all persons
authorized to draw thereon or to have access thereto. Except as set forth on
Schedule
5.24,
no
person holds a power of attorney to act on behalf of Seller, the Company or
any
other Group Company.
5.25 Health
and Safety.
Each of
the Group Companies are in material compliance with all applicable Laws relating
to occupational safety and health. None of the Group Companies has received
any
notice of or been charged with the violation of any Laws relating to
occupational safety and health nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, has any such
complaint been threatened.
5.26 Full
Disclosure.
No
representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement or any of
the
Seller Documents and no written statement made by or on behalf of Seller, the
Company and the Subsidiaries to Purchaser (or any of its designated Affiliate
or
Affiliates) pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Seller Documents contains
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
5.27 Financial
Advisors.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
3.2,
no
Person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or financial
advisor for or of Seller, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement who will be entitled to
any
fee or commission or like payment in respect thereof.
All fees
to the Persons listed on Schedule
3.2
shall be
paid solely by Seller, and Purchaser shall have no liability or obligation
for,
in respect of, any such fees following the Closing.
37
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser
hereby represents and warrants to Seller that:
6.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Nevada.
6.2 Authorization
of Agreement.
Purchaser has 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 Purchaser in connection
with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (the
“Purchaser
Documents”),
and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution,
delivery and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement and each Purchaser
Document have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf
of Purchaser. This Agreement has been, and each Purchaser Document will be
at or
prior to the Closing, duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and
(assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties
hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes, and each Purchaser Document
when
so executed and delivered will constitute, the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and
subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including
principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless
of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
6.3 Conflicts;
Consents of Third Parties.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
6.3
hereto,
none of the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and of the
Purchaser Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
or
thereby, or the compliance by Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof or
thereof will conflict with, or result in violation of or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of
termination or cancellation under any provision of (i) the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws or comparable organizational documents of such
Purchaser; (ii) any Contract, or Permit to which Purchaser is a party or by
which any of the assets or properties of Purchaser are bound; (iii) any Order
of
any Governmental Body applicable to Purchaser or by which any of the properties
or assets of Purchaser are bound; or (iv) any applicable Law.
(b) No
consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration
or
filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is required
on
the part of Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the Purchaser Documents or the compliance by Purchaser with any
of
the provisions hereof or thereof, except for (i) compliance with the applicable
requirements of the CFIUS and (ii) such other consents, waivers, approvals,
Orders, Permits, authorizations, declarations, filings or notifications that,
if
not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a
material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
38
6.4 Financing.
Purchaser has obtained written term sheets from financially responsible
institutions (the “Financing
Arrangements”)
for
the proposed financing to be used in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby (the “Financing”).
The
amount of the Financing, if obtained, will provide sufficient funds for
Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
6.5 Investment
Representations.
(a) The
LLC
Interests are being acquired by Purchaser solely for Purchaser’s own account,
for investment purposes only and with no present intention of distributing,
selling or otherwise disposing of them in connection with a distribution in
violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").
(b) Purchaser
has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that
Purchaser is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the proposed
investment in the LLC Interests;
provided,
that
the foregoing shall not limit or impair any representation or warranty made
by
Seller in this Agreement or the ability of Purchaser to rely
thereon.
(c) Purchaser
understands that the LLC Interests may not be sold, transferred or otherwise
disposed of by it without registration under the Securities Act and any
applicable state securities laws, or an exemption therefrom, and that in the
absence of an effective registration statement covering such LLC Interests
or an
available exemption from registration, such LLC Interests may be required to
be
held indefinitely.
6.6 Litigation.
There
is no Legal Proceeding against Purchaser pending or, to the knowledge of
Purchaser, threatened against Purchaser, which could reasonably be expected,
if
adversely determined, to delay, prevent or hinder the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6.7 Financial
Advisors.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
6.7,
no
Person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or financial
advisor for or of Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement who will be entitled to any fee or commission or like payment
in
respect thereof. All fees to the Persons listed on Schedule
6.7
shall be
paid solely by Purchaser (or, following the Closing, the Company and/or the
Subsidiaries), and Seller shall not have any liability or obligation for, in
respect of, any such fees following the Closing.
6.8 Seller
Representations and Warranties.
Purchaser acknowledges that Seller has not made any representations or
warranties concerning the Company or the other Group Companies or the Business
other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this
Agreement and in the certificates and other documents to be delivered by Seller
and the Group Companies pursuant hereto.
39
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
7.1 Access
to Information.
Seller
shall, and Seller shall cause the Group Companies to, afford to Purchaser and
its accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives, and
to
prospective lenders, placement agents and other financing sources and each
of
their respective representatives, full access, during normal business hours
upon
reasonable notice throughout the period prior to the Closing, to their
respective properties and facilities (including all real property and the
buildings, structures, fixtures, appurtenances and improvements erected,
attached or located thereon), books, financial information (including working
papers and data in the possession of the Company or any of the other Group
Companies or their respective independent public accountants, internal audit
reports, and “management letters” from such accountants with respect to the
Company’s or the other Group Companies’ systems of internal control), Contracts,
commitments and records and, during such period, shall furnish promptly such
information concerning its businesses, properties and personnel of the Company
and the other Group Companies as Purchaser shall reasonably request;
provided,
however,
such
investigation shall not unreasonably disrupt the operations of the Company
and
the other Group Companies. Prior to the Closing, Seller shall, and Seller shall
cause the Group Companies to, generally keep Purchaser informed as to all
material matters involving the operations and businesses of the Company and
each
of the other Group Companies. Seller shall, and Seller shall cause the Group
Companies to, authorize and direct the appropriate directors, managers and
employees of the Company and each of the other Group Companies, as the case
may
be, to discuss matters involving the operations and business of the Company
and
such Group Company with representatives of Purchaser and its prospective lenders
or placement agents and other financial sources. All nonpublic information
provided to, or obtained by, Purchaser in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be “Confidential Information” for purposes of the
Nondisclosure Agreement dated May 31, 2007 among Purchaser and Seller, the
terms
of which shall continue in force until the Closing; provided that Purchaser
and
Seller may disclose such information as may be necessary in connection with
seeking necessary consents and approvals as contemplated hereby and the
Financing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller, the Company and the other
Group Companies shall not be required to disclose any information if such
disclosure would contravene any applicable Law. No information provided to
or
obtained by Purchaser pursuant to this Section
7.1
shall
limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to Purchaser
(including, but not limited to, Purchaser’s right to seek indemnification
pursuant to Article
X),
or the
representations or warranties of, or the conditions to the obligations of,
the
parties hereto.
7.2 Conduct
of the Business Pending the Closing.
(a) Except
as
otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement or with the prior written consent
of Purchaser, between the date hereof and the Closing, Seller shall, and Seller
shall cause the Group Companies to:
(i) conduct
the Business only in the Ordinary Course of Business;
40
(ii) use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to (A) preserve the present business operations,
organization and goodwill of the Company and the other Group Companies and
(B)
preserve the present relationships with Persons having business dealings with
the Company and the other Group Companies (including customers and
suppliers);
(iii) maintain
(A) all of the assets and properties of, or used by, the Company and the other
Group Companies in their current condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted,
and
(B) insurance upon all of the assets and properties of, or used by, the
Company and the other Group Companies in such amounts and of such kinds
comparable to that in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(iv) (A)
maintain the books, accounts and records of the Company and the other Group
Companies in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) continue to collect
accounts receivable and pay accounts payable utilizing normal procedures and
without discounting or accelerating payment of such accounts, and
(C) comply with all contractual and other obligations of the Company and
the other Group Companies;
(v) comply
with the capital expenditure plan of the Company and the other Group Companies
for 2007, including making such capital expenditures in the amounts and at
the
times set forth in such plan;
(vi) comply
in
all material respects with all applicable Laws; and
(vii) pay
all
filing, maintenance and similar fees and take all other appropriate actions
as
necessary to prevent the abandonment, loss or impairment of all Intellectual
Property owned by or licensed to the Company and the other Group Companies.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as otherwise expressly provided
by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Purchaser, Seller (with
respect to Subsection
(iii)
hereof
and solely with respect to the Business) shall not, and Seller shall not permit
the Group Companies to:
(i) except
as
may be required by the terms of any employment or consulting arrangement
referred to in the Disclosure Schedule and furnished to Purchaser, (A) increase
the salary or other compensation of any director or employee of the Company
or
any of the other Group Companies, (B) grant any bonus, benefit or other direct
or indirect compensation to any employee or director, (C) increase the coverage
or benefits available under any (or create any new) severance pay, termination
pay, vacation pay, company awards, salary continuation for disability, sick
leave, deferred compensation, bonus or other incentive compensation, insurance,
pension or other employee benefit plan or arrangement made to, for, or with
any
of the directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives of the Company
or any of the other Group Companies or otherwise modify or amend or terminate
any such plan or arrangement or (D) enter into any employment, deferred
compensation, severance, special pay, consulting, non-competition or similar
agreement or arrangement with any directors or officers of the Company or any
of
the other Group Companies (or amend any such agreement) to which the Company
or
any of the other Group Companies is a party;
41
(ii) create,
incur, assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible
with
respect to (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any Indebtedness;
(a) except in the Ordinary Course of Business, pay, repay, discharge,
purchase, repurchase or satisfy any Indebtedness issued or guaranteed by the
Company or any of the other Group Companies; (b) modify the terms of any
Indebtedness or other Liability; or (c) make any loans, advances of capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (other than to the
Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business);
(iii) (a)
make,
change or revoke any material Tax election, settle or compromise any material
Tax claim or liability or enter into a settlement or compromise, or change
(or
make a request to any taxing authority to change) any material aspect of its
method of accounting for Tax purposes, or (b) prepare or file any Tax Return
(or
any amendment thereof) unless such Tax Return shall have been prepared in a
manner consistent with past practice and the Company shall have provided
Purchaser a copy thereof (together with supporting papers) at least three (3)
Business Days prior to the due date thereof for Purchaser to review and approve
(such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed);
(iv) subject
to any Lien or otherwise encumber or, except for Permitted Exceptions, permit,
allow or suffer to be encumbered, any of the properties or assets (whether
tangible or intangible) of the Company or any of the other Group
Companies;
(v) acquire
any material properties or assets or sell, assign, license, transfer, convey,
lease or otherwise dispose of any of the material properties or assets, whether
tangible or intangible (except for fair consideration in the Ordinary Course
of
Business) of the Company and the other Group Companies;
(vi) enter
into or agree to enter into any merger or consolidation with, any corporation
or
other entity, and not engage in any new business or invest in, make a loan,
advance or capital contribution to, or otherwise acquire the securities of
any
other Person;
(vii) declare,
set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution in respect of the
capital stock of the Company or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
outstanding shares of the capital stock or other securities of, or interests
in,
the Company or any of the other Group Companies;
(viii) cancel
or
compromise any debt or claim or waive or release any material right of the
Company or any of the other Group Companies except in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(ix) enter
into any commitment for capital expenditures in excess of $15,000 for any
individual commitment and $75,000 for all commitments in the
aggregate;
42
(x) enter
into, modify or terminate any labor or collective bargaining agreement or,
through negotiation or otherwise, make any commitment or incur any liability
to
any labor organization with respect to any Employee;
(xi) introduce
any material change with respect to the operation of the Business, including
any
material change in the types, nature, composition or quality of products or
services, or, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, make any change
in
product specifications or prices or terms of distributions of such products;
(xii) enter
into any transaction or enter into, modify or renew any Contract which by reason
of its size or otherwise is not in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xiii) enter
into any Contract, understanding or commitment that restrains, restricts, limits
or impedes the ability of the Business, or the ability of the Company or any
of
the other Group Companies, to compete with or conduct any business or line
of
business in any geographic area or solicit the employment of any
persons;
(xiv) terminate,
amend, restate, supplement or waive any rights under any (A) Material
Contract, Real Property Lease, Personal Property Lease or Intellectual Property
License, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business or
(B) Permit;
(xv) settle
or
compromise any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding or any claim or claims
for, or that would result in a loss of revenue of, an amount that could,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be greater than
$50,000;
(xvi) change
or
modify its credit, collection or payment policies, procedures or practices,
including acceleration of collections or receivables (whether or not past due)
or fail to pay or delay payment of payables or other liabilities;
(xvii) take
any
action which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the ability of
the
parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(xviii) amend
the
limited liability company operating agreement or comparable organization
document of any Group Company; or
(xix) agree
to
do anything (A) prohibited by this Section 7.2,
(B)
which would make any of the representations and warranties of Seller in this
Agreement or any of the Seller Documents untrue or incorrect in any material
respect or could result in any of the conditions to the Closing not being
satisfied or (C) that would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
7.3 Consents.
Subject
to Section
7.4
with
respect to matters relating to applicable regulatory approvals, each of
Purchaser and Seller shall use, and Seller shall cause each of the Group
Companies to use, its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain at the earliest
practicable date all consents, waivers, approvals and notices that are required
to be obtained by such party in order to consummate, or in connection with,
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, in the case of Seller
and the other Group Companies, the consents, waivers, approvals and notices
referred to in Section 5.3(b)
hereof.
All such consents, waivers, approvals and notices to be obtained by Seller
or
any other Group Company shall be in writing and in form and substance
satisfactory to Purchaser, and executed counterparts of such consents, waivers
and approvals shall be delivered to Purchaser promptly after receipt thereof.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) neither
Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates shall be required to pay any amounts in
connection with the obtaining of any consent, waiver or approval by the Seller
or any of the other Group Companies pursuant to this Section
7.3,
and
(ii) neither Seller nor any of its Affiliates shall be required to pay any
amounts in connection with the obtaining of any consent, waiver or approval
by
Purchaser pursuant to this Section
7.3.
43
7.4 Regulatory
Approvals.
Each of
Purchaser and Seller shall use, and Seller shall cause the Group Companies
to
use, their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (i) make or cause
to be
made all filings required of each of them or any of their respective
subsidiaries or Affiliates under applicable Laws with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable, (ii) comply at
the
earliest practicable date with any request under applicable Laws for additional
information, documents, or other materials received by each of them or any
of
their respective Affiliates from the relevant Governmental Body in respect
of
such filings or such transactions, and (iii) cooperate with each other in
connection with resolving any investigation or other inquiry of any Governmental
Body with respect to any such filing. Purchaser and Seller have mutually agreed
that no voluntary CFIUS filing shall be made. No party hereto shall
independently participate in any formal meeting with any Governmental Body
in
respect of any such filings, investigation, or other inquiry without giving
the
other parties hereto prior notice of the meeting and, to the extent permitted
by
such Governmental Body, the opportunity to attend and/or participate. Each
of
Purchaser and Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve such
objections, if any, as may be asserted by any Governmental Body with respect
to
granting regulatory approval for the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
7.5 Further
Assurances.
Subject
to, and not in limitation of, Section
7.4,
each of
Seller and Purchaser shall use, and Seller shall cause each of the Group
Companies to use, its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) take, or cause
to
be taken, all actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) cause the fulfillment at the earliest
practicable date of all of the conditions to their respective obligations to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.6 No
Shop.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement through the Closing or the earlier
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article
IV,
Seller
shall not, and Seller shall not permit
any of the Group Companies nor
any of
their Affiliates nor their respective officers, employees, representatives
or
agents to, directly or indirectly, solicit, encourage, initiate or engage in
discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, or otherwise
cooperate in any manner with, any Person (other than Purchaser and Purchaser’s
representatives) concerning any purchase of the Business or any of the equity
interests of any of the
Company or
the
other
Group Companies,
any
merger involving or affecting the Business, the
Company or
any of
the other
Group Companies,
any
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Business, the
Company or
any of
the other
Group Companies (in
one
transaction or a series of related transactions) (other than assets sold in
the
Ordinary Course of Business).
44
7.7 Non-Competition;
Non-Solicitation; Confidentiality.
(a) For
a
period from the date hereof until the third anniversary of the Closing Date,
Seller shall not and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly,
own, manage, operate, control or participate in the ownership, management,
operation or control of any business, whether in corporate, proprietorship
or
partnership form or otherwise, engaged in any activity similar to or that
otherwise competes with the Business (a “Restricted
Business”).
(b) For
a
period from the date hereof to the third anniversary of the Closing Date, Seller
shall not and shall cause its Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees
and agents of such Affiliates not to: (i) cause, solicit, induce or
encourage any employees of the Company or the Subsidiaries to leave such
employment or hire, employ or otherwise engage any such individual; or
(ii) cause, induce or encourage any material actual or prospective client,
customer, supplier or licensor of the Business (including any existing or former
customer of the Company or the Subsidiaries and any Person that becomes a client
or customer of the Business after the Closing) or any other Person who has
a
material business relationship with the Business, to terminate or modify any
such actual or prospective relationship.
(c) From
and
after the date hereof, Seller shall not and shall cause its Affiliates and
their
respective officers, directors employees and agents not to, directly or
indirectly, disclose, reveal, divulge or communicate to any Person other than
authorized officers, directors and employees of Purchaser or use or otherwise
exploit for its own benefit or for the benefit of anyone other than Purchaser,
any Confidential Information (as defined below). Seller and its Affiliates
and
their respective officers, directors, employees and agents shall not have any
obligation to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the
extent disclosure thereof is specifically required by Law; provided,
however,
that in
the event disclosure is required by applicable Law, they shall, to the extent
reasonably possible, provide Purchaser with prompt notice of such requirement
prior to making any disclosure so that Purchaser may seek an appropriate
protective order. For purposes of this Section
7.7(c),
“Confidential
Information”
means
any information with respect to the Business, including methods of operation,
customers, customer lists, products, prices, fees, costs, Technology,
inventions, Trade Secrets, know-how, Software, marketing methods, plans,
personnel, suppliers, competitors, markets or other specialized information
or
proprietary matters. Confidential Information does not include, and there shall
be no obligation hereunder with respect to, information that (i) is generally
available to the public on the date of this Agreement or (ii) becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure not otherwise
permissible thereunder.
(d) The
covenants and undertakings contained in this Section 7.7
relate
to matters which are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and a
violation of any of the terms of this Section 7.7
will
cause irreparable injury to Purchaser, the amount of which will be impossible
to
estimate or determine and which cannot be adequately compensated. Accordingly,
the remedy at Law for any breach of this Section
7.7
will be
inadequate. Therefore, Purchaser will be entitled to an injunction, restraining
order or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in
the
event of any breach of this Section 7.7
without
the necessity of first proving actual damages. The rights and remedies provided
by this Section 7.7
are
cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies which Purchaser
may
have hereunder or at law or in equity.
45
(e) The
parties hereto agree that, if any court of competent jurisdiction in a final
nonappealable judgment determines that a specified time period, a specified
geographical area, a specified business limitation or any other relevant feature
of this Section 7.7
is
unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, then a lesser time period,
geographical area, business limitation or other relevant feature which is
determined by such court to be reasonable, not arbitrary and not against public
policy may be enforced against the applicable party.
7.8 Preservation
of Records.
Seller
and Purchaser agree that each of them shall preserve and keep the records held
by such party or its Affiliates relating to the Business for a period of three
years from the Closing Date and shall make such records and personnel available
to the other as may be reasonably required by such party in connection with,
among other things, any insurance claims by, legal proceedings against or
governmental investigations of Seller or Purchaser or any of their Affiliates
or
in order to enable Seller or Purchaser to comply with their respective
obligations under this Agreement and each other agreement, document or
instrument contemplated hereby or thereby. In the event Seller or Purchaser
wishes to destroy (or permit to be destroyed) such records after that time,
such
party shall first give ninety days prior written notice to the other and such
other party shall have the right at its option and expense, upon prior written
notice given to such party within that ninety-day period, to take possession
of
the records within 180 days after the date of such notice.
7.9 Publicity.
None
of
Seller or Purchaser shall (and Seller shall not permit any of the Group
Companies to) issue any press release or public announcement concerning this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without obtaining the prior
written approval of the other party hereto, which approval will not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, unless, in the sole judgment of Purchaser
or
Seller, as applicable, disclosure is otherwise required by applicable Law or
by
the applicable rules of any stock exchange on which Purchaser or Seller lists
securities. Each of Purchaser and Seller agrees that the terms of this Agreement
shall not be disclosed or otherwise made available to the public and that copies
of this Agreement shall not be publicly filed or otherwise made available to
the
public, except where and only to the extent that such disclosure, availability
or filing is required by applicable Law and permitted by the Nondisclosure
Agreement, dated May 31, 2007, between Seller and Purchaser.
7.10 Use
of
Name.
Except
as otherwise set forth on Schedule
5.7(xiv)
or
Schedule
5.11(b),
Seller
hereby agrees that the Company has, and upon the Closing, the Company and/or
the
Subsidiaries shall have the sole right to the use of the names “Copperweld” and
“Copperweld Bimetallic”, and any service marks, trademarks, trade names, d/b/a
names, fictitious names, identifying symbols, logos, emblems or signs and
containing or comprising the foregoing, or otherwise used in the Business,
including any name or xxxx confusingly similar thereto and the Marks set forth
on Schedule
5.11(a)
(collectively, the “Company
Marks”).
Seller acknowledges that he has no interest in any of the Company Marks, and
agrees that he shall not, and shall not permit any Affiliate to, use any of
the
Company Marks or any variation or simulation thereof.
46
7.11 Environmental
Matters.
Seller
shall permit Purchaser and Purchaser’s environmental consultants to conduct such
investigations of the environmental conditions of the Company Properties and
the
operations thereat as Purchaser, in its sole discretion, shall deem necessary
or
prudent (“Purchaser’s
Environmental Assessment”).
Purchaser’s Environmental Assessment, if any, shall be in conducted at
Purchaser’s sole cost and expense, in compliance with applicable Laws and in a
manner that minimizes the disruption of the operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries. Seller shall (and Seller shall cause the Company to) promptly
file
all materials required by Environmental Laws as a result of or in furtherance
of
the transactions contemplated hereunder, and all requests required or necessary
for the transfer or re-issuance of Environmental Permits required to conduct
the
Business after the Closing Date.
7.12 Cooperation
with Financing.
In
order to assist with obtaining the Financing, Seller shall, and shall cause
the
Group Companies to, provide such assistance and cooperation as Purchaser and
its
Affiliates may reasonably request, including (i) cooperating with prospective
lenders or other proposed financing sources, underwriters, placement agents
or
initial purchasers in performing their due diligence, and (ii) providing any
reasonably requested certificates or documents, including a customary
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company with respect to
solvency matters and estoppel certificates.
7.13 Monthly
Financial Statements.
As soon
as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than 30 days after the end
of
each calendar month during the period from the date hereof to the Closing,
Seller shall (and Seller shall cause the Company to) provide Purchaser with
(i)
unaudited consolidated monthly financial statements and (ii) operating or
management reports (such reports to be in the form prepared by the Company
in
the Ordinary Course of Business) of the Company for such preceding
month.
7.14 Notification
of Certain Matters.
Seller
shall give notice to Purchaser and Purchaser shall give notice to Seller, as
promptly as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of (a) any fact, change,
condition, circumstance, event, occurrence or non-occurrence that has caused
or
is reasonably likely to cause any representation or warranty in this Agreement
made by it to be untrue or inaccurate in any respect at any time after the
date
hereof and prior to the Closing, (b) any material failure on its part to comply
with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by it hereunder or (c) the institution of or the threat of institution
of any Legal Proceeding against Seller, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided
that
the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section
7.14
shall
not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party
receiving such notice, or the representations or warranties of, or the
conditions to the obligations of, the parties hereto.
7.15 Updated
Disclosure Schedule.
(a) No
later
than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall have the
right to provide Purchaser with supplements to, and amendments of, the
Disclosure Schedule (the “Updated
Disclosure Schedule”)
solely
with respect to matters arising after the date hereof which, if existing as
of
or prior to the date hereof, would have been required to have been set forth
in
the Disclosure Schedule. Seller’s liability for breach of any representation or
warranty shall be determined by reference to the Updated Disclosure Schedules
if
the Closing does not occur; provided,
however,
that
notwithstanding the foregoing, the Updated Disclosure Schedule shall have no
affect for the purpose of (i) determining the satisfaction or fulfillment of
the
conditions set forth in Section
9.1(a),
or (ii)
Purchaser’s rights to indemnification pursuant to Section
10.2(a)
hereof
if the Closing shall occur.
47
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if (x) each of the conditions set forth in Section
9.1
(other
than the conditions set forth in Section
9.1(h)
with
respect to certain employment matters, Section
9.1(i)
with
respect to the Financing, Section
9.1(j)
with
respect to certain Environmental matters, and Section
9.1(r)
with
respect to customary closing documents reasonably requested by Purchaser) have
been satisfied or fulfilled prior to October 25, 2007, and (y) the Closing
does
not occur by the close of business on October 25, 2007, then any matter arising
after such date which is properly and accurately disclosed in the Updated
Disclosure Schedule pursuant to this Section
7.15
shall
not form the basis for a claim for breach of any representation or warranty
if
the Closing shall occur.
7.16 Debt.
Not
later than three (3) days prior to the Closing Date (the “Debt
Determination Date”),
Seller shall, and Seller shall cause the Company to, provide Purchaser with
customary payoff letters from all holders of indebtedness set forth on
Schedule
7.16
to be
repaid as of the Closing, and make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to
Purchaser for such holders to provide to Purchaser recordable form mortgage
and
lien releases, canceled notes and other documents reasonably requested by
Purchaser prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE
VIII
8.1 [Reserved]
ARTICLE
IX
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
9.1 Conditions
Precedent to Obligations of Purchaser.
The
obligation of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of
each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by Purchaser
in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a) the
representations and warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement qualified
as to materiality shall be true and correct, and those not so qualified shall
be
true and correct in all material respects, as of the date of this Agreement
and
as of the Closing as though made at and as of the Closing, except to the extent
such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in
which case such representations and warranties qualified as to materiality
shall
be true and correct, and those not so qualified shall be true and correct in
all
material respects, on and as of such earlier date);
(b) Seller
shall have performed and complied in all respects with all obligations and
agreements required in this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
on
or prior to the Closing Date, and Purchaser shall have received copies of such
corporate resolutions and other documents evidencing the performance thereof
as
Purchaser may reasonably request;
48
(c) there
shall not have been or occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance
that, individually or in the aggregate with any such events, changes,
occurrences or circumstances, has had or which could reasonably be expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect since the Balance Sheet Date;
(d) Purchaser
shall have received certificates signed by Seller, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
that
each of the conditions specified above in Sections
9.1(a)-(c)
have
been satisfied in all respects;
(e) no
Legal
Proceedings shall have been instituted or threatened or claim or demand made
against Purchaser, Seller, or the Company seeking to restrain or prohibit,
or to
obtain substantial damages with respect to, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and there shall not be in effect any Order by a
Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby;
(f) Seller
and the Company shall have obtained any consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Body required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the performance of the transactions contemplated
herein;
(g) the
parties shall have received all required consents and approvals for the
assignment and transfer of the LLC Interests, including those consents, waivers
and approvals referred to in Section
5.3(b),
hereof
in a form satisfactory to Purchaser, in its reasonable discretion;
(h) each
of
the key employees set forth on Schedule
9.1(h)
hereto
shall have either (i) entered into an amended or restated employment agreement
with the Company satisfactory to Purchaser in its reasonable discretion or
(ii)
otherwise agreed to continue his employment with the Company following the
Closing on such terms as may be mutually acceptable to Purchaser and such key
employees;
(i) Purchaser
shall have received the funds contemplated by the Financing
Arrangements;
(j) Purchaser’s
Environmental Assessment (if any) at the Company Properties shall not have
revealed any circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in
(1)
the criminal prosecution of Seller, the Company, any Subsidiary or any director,
officer or employee or agent thereof under Environmental Laws, (2) any
suspension or closure of operations at Company Properties or the revocation
or
termination of any Environmental Permits or (3) any Environmental Costs and
Liabilities which, individually or in the aggregate, will or could reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(k) the
Company shall have obtained the issuance, reissuance or transfer of all Permits
(including Environmental Permits) required under Environmental Laws for
Purchaser to conduct the operations of Business as of the Closing Date, and
Seller and the Company, as applicable, shall have satisfied all property
transfer requirements arising under Law, including Environmental
Laws;
49
(l) Seller
shall have executed and delivered a release and resignation letter, in the
form
of Schedule
9.1(l),
pursuant to which that Seller and his Affiliates have irrevocably and
unconditionally released the Company and the Subsidiaries from any and all
Liabilities and obligations to Seller and his Affiliates;
(m) [Reserved]
(n) Seller
shall have delivered to Purchaser (i) certificates representing the LLC
Interests, accompanied by assignment powers and any Tax stamps required for
such
LLC Interests to be assigned and transferred to Purchaser under the applicable
Laws; (ii) certificates for all issued and outstanding equity interests of
the
Subsidiaries in which the Company is interested; and (iii) any duly executed
transfers and declarations of trust in respect of any such equity interests
which are beneficially owned by but not registered in the name of the Company;
(o) Seller
shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Purchaser duly executed
Seller Documents, including the Escrow Agreement;
(p) Company
shall have delivered, and shall have caused the Subsidiaries to deliver, to
Purchaser the resignations of their respective managers and directors who are
set forth on Schedule
9.1(p)
confirming that they have no existing or future claim, as applicable, against
the Company and the Subsidiaries;
(q) Seller
shall have provided Purchaser with affidavits of non-foreign status that comply
with Section 1445 of the Code; and
(r) Seller
shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Purchaser such other
customary closing documents as Purchaser may reasonably request (including,
without limitation, certificates of good standing for the Group Companies and
evidence of release of Liens on the LLC Interests).
9.2 Conditions
Precedent to Obligations of Seller.
The
obligations of Seller and the Company to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, prior to or
on
the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions (any or all of which
may
be waived by Seller and the Company in whole or in part to the extent permitted
by applicable Law):
(a) the
representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement
qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct, and those not so
qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of the date
of
this Agreement and as of the Closing as though made at and as of the Closing,
except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to
an
earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties qualified as
to
materiality shall be true and correct, and those not so qualified shall be
true
and correct in all material respects, on and as of such earlier
date);
(b) Purchaser
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all obligations
and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with
by
Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date;
50
(c) there
shall not be in effect any Order by a Governmental Body of competent
jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby;
(d) Seller
shall have received certificates signed by Purchaser, each in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Seller, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that
each of the conditions specified above in Sections
9.2(a) to (c)
have
been satisfied in all respects;
(e) Purchaser
shall have obtained or made all consents, approvals, orders or authorizations
of, or registrations, declarations or filings with, any Governmental Body
required to be obtained or made by it in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby;
(f) Purchasers
shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Seller evidence of the
wire
transfers referred to in Section 3.2
hereof;
and
(g) Purchaser
shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Seller duly executed
Purchaser Documents, including the Escrow Agreement.
ARTICLE
X
INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the parties contained in this Agreement,
any
certificate delivered pursuant hereto or any Seller Document or Purchaser
Document shall survive the Closing through and including the second anniversary
of the Closing Date; provided,
however,
that
the representations and warranties (a) of Seller set forth in Sections
5.1
(organization and good standing), 5.2
(authorization of agreement), and 5.27
(financial advisors) shall survive the Closing indefinitely, (b) of Seller
set
forth in Sections
5.8
(taxes)
shall survive the Closing until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date,
and
(c) of Purchaser set forth in Sections
6.1
(organization), 6.2
(authorization of agreement) and 6.7
(financial advisors) shall survive the Closing indefinitely (in each case,
the
“Survival
Period”);
provided,
however,
that
any obligations under Sections 10.2(a)(i)
and
10.2(b)(i)
shall
not terminate with respect to any Losses as to which the Person to be
indemnified shall have given notice to the indemnifying party in accordance
with
Section
10.3(a)
before
the termination of the applicable Survival Period.
10.2 Indemnification.
(a) Subject
to Sections 10.1,
10.4
and
10.5
hereof,
Seller, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Purchaser and its Affiliates and
their respective directors, officers, employees, equity interest holders,
members, managers, partners, agents, attorneys, representatives, successors
and
assigns (collectively, the “Purchaser
Indemnified Parties”)
harmless from and against, and pay to the applicable Purchaser Indemnified
Parties the amount of, any and all losses, liabilities, claims, obligations,
deficiencies, demands, judgments, damages, interest, fines, penalties, claims,
suits, actions, causes of action, assessments, awards, costs and expenses
(including reasonable costs of investigation and defense and reasonable
attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees), whether or not involving a third
party claim (individually, a “Loss”
and,
collectively, “Losses”):
(i) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any of the
representations or warranties made by Seller in this Agreement or in any Seller
Document to be true and correct in all respects at and as of the Closing
Date;
51
(ii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any covenant or other
agreement on the part of Seller under this Agreement or in any Seller Document;
and
(iii) arising
out of any Liability for (A) Taxes of Seller or (B) Taxes of the Company or
any
Subsidiary with respect to any Taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on
or
before the Closing Date, including Taxes for the portion of any Taxable period
that includes, but does not end on, the Closing Date, in each case determined
on
the basis of an interim closing of the books at the close of business on the
Closing Date.
(iv) arising
out of, in connection with or otherwise relating to the Seller Transaction
Expenses.
(v) arising
out of, in connection with or otherwise relating to matters set forth on
Schedule
10.2(a)(v).
(b) Subject
to Section 10.1
and
10.4,
Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Seller and its Affiliates and
their respective equity interest holders, directors, officers, employees,
members, managers, partners, agents, attorneys, representatives, successors
and
permitted assigns (collectively, the “Seller
Indemnified Parties”)
harmless from and against, and pay to the applicable Seller Indemnified Parties
the amount of, any and all Losses:
(i) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any of the
representations or warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement or in any
Purchaser Document to be true and correct in all respects at and as of the
Closing Date; and
(ii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any covenant or other
agreement on the part of Purchaser under this Agreement or any Purchaser
Document.
(c) NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE LIABLE TO OR OTHERWISE RESPONSIBLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY
AFFILIATE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR PUNITIVE
DAMAGES OR FOR DIMINUTION IN VALUE OR LOST PROFITS THAT ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE
TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE PERFORMANCE
OR
BREACH OF OR ANY LIABILITY RETAINED OR ASSUMED HEREUNDER, OTHER THAN ANY SUCH
DAMAGES THAT SUCH PARTY MAY BE OBLIGATED TO PAY TO A THIRD PARTY BY REASON
OF
ANY MATTER THAT IS SUBJECT TO INDEMNIFICATION HEREUNDER.
52
(d) The
right
to indemnification or any other remedy based on representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements in this Agreement, any Seller Document or Purchaser
Document shall not be affected by any investigation conducted with at any time,
or any knowledge acquired (or capable of being acquired) at any time, whether
before or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing
Date, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any
such
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement. The waiver of any condition
based on the accuracy of any representation or warranty, or on the performance
of or compliance with any such covenant or agreements, will not affect the
right
to indemnification or any other remedy based on such representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements.
10.3 Indemnification
Procedures.
(a) A
claim
for indemnification for any matter not involving a Third Party Claim will be
asserted by giving the indemnifying party reasonably prompt written notice
thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the facts that are the basis for
a
claim for indemnification pursuant to Section
10.2,
together with the amount of the claim requested to be paid by the indemnifying
party; provided,
however,
that a
delay in notification shall not preclude the indemnified party from any
indemnification which it may claim in accordance with this Article X, so long
as
written notice is given prior to the expiration of the applicable Survival
Period, except to the extent that the indemnifying party can demonstrate actual
loss and prejudice as a result of such failure. In the event of any claim for
indemnification pursuant to this Section
10.2(a),
the
indemnified party shall be entitled to full indemnification in the amount
claimed, unless within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice of
a
claim for indemnification, the indemnifying party delivers to the indemnified
party a written objection notice setting forth in reasonable detail the basis
for such objection. If the parties are unable to resolve the objection within
30
days, the claim for indemnification shall be submitted to arbitration in the
manner set forth in Section
12.3
hereof.
(b) In
the
event that any Legal Proceedings shall be instituted or that any claim or demand
shall be asserted by any third party in respect of which indemnification may
be
sought under Section 10.2
hereof
(regardless of the limitations set forth in Section
10.4)
(“Third
Party Claim”),
the
indemnified party shall promptly cause written notice of the assertion of any
Third Party Claim of which it has knowledge which is covered by this indemnity
to be forwarded to the indemnifying party. So long as written notice is given
prior to the expiration of the applicable Survival Period, the failure of the
indemnified party to give reasonably prompt notice of any Third Party Claim
shall not release, waive or otherwise affect the indemnifying party’s
obligations with respect thereto except to the extent that the indemnifying
party can demonstrate actual loss and prejudice as a result of such failure.
Subject to the provisions of this Section
10.3,
the
indemnifying party shall have the right, at its sole expense, to be represented
by counsel of its choice, which must be reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party, and to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal
with any Third Party Claim which relates to any Losses indemnified against
by it
hereunder; provided that
the
indemnifying party shall have acknowledged in writing to the indemnified party
its unqualified obligation to indemnify the indemnified party as provided
hereunder. If the indemnifying party elects to defend against, negotiate, settle
or otherwise deal with any Third Party Claim which relates to any Losses
indemnified against by it hereunder, it shall within five (5) days of the
indemnified party’s written notice of the assertion of such Third Party Claim
(or sooner, if the nature of the Third Party Claim so requires) notify the
indemnified party of its intent to do so; provided that
the
indemnifying party must conduct its defense of the Third Party Claim actively
and diligently thereafter in order to preserve its rights in this regard. If
the
indemnifying party elects not to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise
deal with any Third Party Claim which relates to any Losses indemnified against
by it hereunder, fails to notify the indemnified party of its election as herein
provided or contests its obligation to indemnify the indemnified party for
such
Losses under this Agreement, the indemnified party may defend against,
negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with such Third Party Claim. If the
indemnified party defends any Third Party Claim, then the indemnifying party
shall reimburse the indemnified party for the reasonable expenses of defending
such Third Party Claim upon submission of periodic bills. If the indemnifying
party shall assume the defense of any Third Party Claim, the indemnified party
may participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such Third Party Claim;
provided,
however,
that
such indemnified party shall be entitled to participate in any such defense
with
separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party if (i) so requested
by
the indemnifying party to participate or (ii) in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to the indemnified party a conflict or potential conflict exists between
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party that would make such separate
representation advisable; and provided,
further,
that
the indemnifying party shall not be required to pay the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one such counsel (plus any appropriate local counsel)
for
all indemnified parties in connection with any Third Party Claim. Each party
hereto agrees to provide reasonable access to each other party to such documents
and information as may reasonably by requested in connection with the defense,
negotiation or settlement of any such Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding
anything in this Section
10.3
to the
contrary, (i) neither the indemnifying party nor the indemnified party shall,
without the consent of the other party, settle or compromise any Third Party
claim in respect of Taxes and (ii) neither the indemnifying party nor the
indemnified party shall, without the written consent of the other party, settle
or compromise any other Third Party Claim or permit a default or consent to
entry of any judgment unless the claimant (or claimants) and such party provide
to such other party an unqualified release from all liability in respect of
the
Third Party Claim. If the indemnifying party makes any payment on any Third
Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated, to the extent of such
payment, to all rights and remedies of the indemnified party to any insurance
benefits or other claims of the indemnified party with respect to such Third
Party Claim.
53
(c) After
any
final decision, judgment or award shall have been rendered by a Governmental
Body of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of the time in which to appeal
therefrom, or a settlement shall have been consummated, or the indemnified
party
and the indemnifying party shall have arrived at a mutually binding agreement,
in each case with respect to an Third Party Claim hereunder, the indemnified
party shall forward to the indemnifying party notice of any sums due and owing
by the indemnifying party pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such matter
and the indemnifying party shall pay all of such remaining sums so due and
owing
to the indemnified party by wire transfer of immediately available funds within
five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice.
54
10.4 Limitations
on Indemnification for Breaches of Representations and
Warranties.
(a) An
indemnifying party shall not have any liability under Section 10.2(a)(i)
or
Section 10.2(b)(i)
hereof
(i) for any individual item where the Losses related thereto is less than
$25,000 (the “DeMinimus”)
and
(ii) in respect to each individual item where the Losses relating thereto is
equal to or greater than the DeMinimus, unless the aggregate amount of Losses
incurred by the indemnified parties and indemnifiable thereunder based upon,
attributable to or resulting from the failure of any of the representations
or
warranties to be true and correct exceeds $250,000 (the “Basket”)
and,
in such event, the indemnifying party shall be required to pay the entire amount
of all such Losses (but excluding the initial $100,000 of Losses incurred by
the
indemnified parties); provided that
the
DeMinimus and the Basket limitation shall not apply to Losses related to the
failure to be true and correct of any of the representations and warranties
set
forth in Sections 5.1
(organization and good standing), 5.2
(authorization of agreement), 5.8
(taxes)
and 5.27
(financial advisors) and 6.1
(organization), 6.2
(authorization of agreement) and 6.7
(financial advisors) of this Agreement.
(b) Neither
Seller nor Purchaser shall be required to indemnify any Person under
Section 10.2(a)(i),
10.2(a)(v)
or
10.2(b)(i)
for an
aggregate amount of Losses exceeding the Indemnity Escrow Amount (as finally
determined following the adjustments contemplated by Section
3.3, the
“Cap”)
in
connection with Losses related to (i) the failure to be true and correct of
any
of the representations or warranties of Seller or Purchaser, respectively,
or
(ii) the matters set forth in Schedule
10.2(a)(v);
provided,
that
there shall be no Cap with respect to Losses related to the failure to be true
and correct of any of the representations or warranties contained in
Sections
5.1
(organization and good standing), 5.2
(authorization of agreement), 5.8
(taxes)
and 5.27
(financial advisors) and 6.1
(organization), 6.2
(authorization of agreement) and 6.7
(financial advisors) of this Agreement.
(c) For
purposes of determining the failure of any representations or warranties to
be
true and correct, the breach of any covenants or agreements, and calculating
Losses hereunder any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications
in
the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements shall be disregarded
and, subject to the terms and conditions of Section
7.15(b),
any
matters disclosed in the Updated Disclosure Schedule shall be
disregarded.
10.5 Indemnity
Escrow.
(a) On
the
Closing Date, Purchaser shall, on behalf of Seller, pay the Indemnity Escrow
Amount to Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the
escrow agreement, which will be executed at the Closing, by and among Purchaser,
Seller and the Escrow Agent, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
B,
together with such changes as the Escrow Agent may reasonably request (the
“Escrow
Agreement”).
(b) Subject
to Section
10.5(c),
any
payment Seller is obligated to make to any Purchaser Indemnified Parties
pursuant to this Article
X
shall be
paid, so long as the Indemnity Escrow Account is in effect, solely from the
Indemnity Escrow Account, by release of funds to the Purchaser Indemnified
Parties from the Indemnity Escrow Account by the Escrow Agent within five (5)
Business Days after the date notice of any sums due and owing is given to Seller
(with a copy to the Escrow Agent) by the applicable Purchaser Indemnified Party
and shall accordingly reduce the Indemnity Escrow Amount. On the first
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Escrow Agent shall release up to 50% of
the
Indemnity Escrow Amount (as actually adjusted following the final determination
of the Closing Working Capital pursuant to Section
3.3
and to
the extent not utilized to pay Purchaser for any indemnification claim). On
the
second anniversary of the Closing Date, the Escrow Agent shall release up to
the
remaining balance of the Indemnity Escrow Amount (to the extent not (i) utilized
to pay Purchaser for any indemnification claim or (ii) subject to Unresolved
Claims (as defined below)) to Seller, except that the Escrow Agent shall retain
an amount (up to the total amount then held by the Escrow Agent) equal to the
amount of claims for indemnification under this Article
X
asserted
prior to, as applicable, such first anniversary or second anniversary but not
yet resolved (“Unresolved
Claims”).
The
Indemnity Escrow Amount retained for Unresolved Claims shall be released by
the
Escrow Agent (to the extent not utilized to pay Purchaser for any such claims
resolved in favor of Purchaser) upon their resolution in accordance with this
Article
X
and the
Escrow Agreement.
55
(c) Notwithstanding
Section
10.5(a)
above,
(i) any payment Seller is obligated to make to any Purchaser Indemnified Parties
pursuant to this Article
X
with
respect to any Losses that are not subject to the Cap, shall be paid first,
to
the extent there are sufficient funds in the Indemnity Escrow Account, by
release of funds to the Purchaser Indemnified Parties from the Indemnity Escrow
Account as provided above, and, second, to the extent the Indemnity Escrow
Amount has been released to Seller or is insufficient to pay any remaining
sums
due, then Seller shall be required to pay all of such additional sums due and
owing to the Purchaser Indemnified Parties by wire transfer of immediately
available funds within five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice,
and
(ii) in the case of any payment Seller is obligated to make to any Purchaser
Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Article
X
with
respect to any Losses that are subject to the Cap but are properly claimed
after
the remaining balance of the Indemnity Escrow Account has been released to
Seller, Seller shall be required to pay all of such additional sums due and
owing to the Purchaser Indemnified Parties by wire transfer of immediately
available funds within five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice
(provided,
that
the aggregate amount of all payments by Seller described in this clause (ii),
plus all payments made from the Indemnity Escrow Account with respect to Losses
that are subject to the Cap, shall not exceed the Cap).
10.6 Computation
of Losses.
The
amount of any Losses for which indemnification is provided under this
Article
X
shall be
computed to take into account: (i) any insurance proceeds actually recovered
by
the indemnified party under insurance policies with respect to such Losses
(net
of any Tax or expenses or premium increase incurred in connection with such
recovery), (ii) the actual receipt of any Tax refunds for any periods prior
to
the Closing Date relating to Losses for which Indemnification is sought (other
than refunds described in Section
11.5),
or
(iii) without duplication, any prior or subsequent recovery in respect of part
or all of a matter which is the subject of a Loss by any indemnified party,
whether by payment, discount, credit, offset or otherwise.
10.7 Exclusive
Remedy; Limitation of Liability.
Except
for remedies that cannot be waived as a matter of law, claims based upon fraud,
and any equitable remedies (including injunctive relief), notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Article
X
shall be
the sole and exclusive recourse and remedy, and no claim other than under this
Article
X
shall be
made by Purchaser or any Person claiming by, through or under Purchaser
(including the Company and the Subsidiaries) against Seller for breaches of
this
Agreement (including any covenant, obligation, representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this
Agreement) or otherwise in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby
or
thereby.
56
10.8 Tax
Treatment of Indemnity Payments.
Seller
and Purchaser agree to treat any indemnity payment made pursuant to this
Article
X
as an
adjustment to the Purchase Price for all income tax purposes.
ARTICLE
XI
TAXES
11.1 Transfer
Taxes.
Seller
shall (i) be responsible for any and all sales, use, stamp, documentary, filing,
recording, transfer, real estate transfer, stock transfer, gross receipts,
registration, duty, securities transactions or similar fees or taxes or
governmental charges (together with any interest or penalty, addition to tax
or
additional amount imposed) as levied by any Taxing Authority in connection
with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, “Transfer
Taxes”),
regardless of the Person liable for such Transfer Taxes under applicable Law
and
(ii) timely file or caused to be filed all necessary documents (including all
Tax Returns) with respect to Transfer Taxes.
11.2 [Reserved].
11.3 Cooperation
on Tax Matters.
Purchaser and Seller shall furnish or cause to be furnished to each other,
as
promptly as practicable, such information and assistance relating to the Company
and the other Group Companies as is reasonably necessary for the preparation
and
filing of any Tax Return, claim for refund or other filings relating to Tax
matters, for the preparation for any Tax audit, for the preparation for any
Tax
protest, for the prosecution or defense of any suit or other proceeding relating
to Tax matters.
11.4 The
Purchaser may, in its sole discretion, make an election under Section 338(g)
of
the Code (and under any similar provision of any state, local or foreign Law)
with respect to the purchase of any
Subsidiary that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
11.5 The
parties agree that (i) the Company or XXXX, as the case may be, shall prepare,
at Seller’s Expense, in a manner consistent with past practice, and timely file
(or cause to be timely filed) all Tax Returns of the Company and the
Subsidiaries or XXXX, respectively, with respect to any taxable period ending
on
or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) Seller shall pay any Taxes owed with respect
thereto, and (iii) the Company or XXXX, as the case may be, shall provide
Purchaser with a copy of any such Tax Returns filed with respect to the
Business, the Company and the Subsidiaries and XXXX, respectively, promptly
after filing.
11.6 The
Purchaser shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) and timely file (or cause
to
be timely filed) all Tax Returns of the
Company and the Subsidiaries or XXXX, as the case may be, for any taxable period
that includes, but does not end on, the Closing Date. Subject to Section
11.7
below,
Purchaser shall pay (or cause to be paid) any Taxes with respect thereto.
57
11.7 Not
later
than five (5) days prior to the due date for the payment of Taxes on any Tax
Returns described in Section
11.6,
Seller
shall pay to Purchaser the amount of Taxes allocable to Seller under
Section
10.2(vi)
as
reasonably determined by Purchaser. No payment pursuant to this Section
11.7
shall
excuse Seller from its indemnification obligations pursuant to Article
X
if the
amount of Taxes as ultimately determined (on audit or otherwise) for the periods
covered by such Tax Returns exceeds the amount of Seller’s payment under this
Section
11.7.
11.8 In
the
event that any of the Group Companies receives a refund or other amount in
repayment following the Closing Date on account of Taxes paid for periods on
or
before the Closing Date, the parties agree that any such refund or repayment
shall be held for the account of Seller and will be treated as an adjustment
to
the Purchase Price in favor of Seller, and will be promptly remitted to
Seller.
ARTICLE
XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Expenses.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each of Seller and Purchaser shall
bear
its own expenses 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; provided,
that if
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are unable to be consummated
solely by reason of an Order arising from, or circumstances otherwise related
to
approvals by or the filing fees paid to a Governmental Body shall be split
evenly by Purchaser and Seller.
12.2 Specific
Performance.
Seller
acknowledges and agrees that the breach of this Agreement would cause
irreparable damage to Purchaser and that Purchaser will not have an adequate
remedy at law. Therefore, the obligations of Seller under this Agreement,
including Seller’s obligation to sell the LLC Interests to Purchaser, 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.
12.3 Dispute
Resolution. In
the
event that any dispute, claim, question or difference arises with respect to
this Agreement or its performance, enforcement, breach, termination or validity
(a “Dispute”),
the
parties will use their reasonable efforts to attempt to settle such Dispute.
Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, if the parties do not resolve
the Dispute within a period of 15 Business Days following the first notice
of
the Dispute by one party to the other, then upon written notice by one party
to
the other, the Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration in accordance
with the following procedures:
(a) The
Dispute shall be resolved by mandatory arbitration in New York City, New York
by
an arbitrator selected by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”)
and in
accordance with the then-prevailing International Arbitration Rules of the
AAA.
Each party shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with arbitration
and the fees and expenses of the arbitrators shall be shared equally by the
parties involved in the Dispute and advanced by them from time to time as
required. The arbitrator shall base his or her award on applicable law and
judicial precedent and, unless all parties agree otherwise, shall include in
such award the findings of fact and conclusions of law upon which the award
is
based.
58
(b) The
award
of the arbitrator will be final and binding as to all parties to the claim,
dispute, or controversy and will not be subject to appeal, review or
re-examination by a court or the arbitrator, except for fraud, perjury, manifest
clerical error, or evident partiality or misconduct by the arbitrator that
prejudices the rights of a party to the arbitration. The award of the arbitrator
may include an award of any damages other than treble, special, punitive,
exemplary or consequential damages, and, pursuant to the pleading of any party
to the Dispute, any court having jurisdiction may enter a judgment on any award
rendered in the arbitration. The arbitrator shall award to the prevailing party
in the arbitration, if any, as determined by the arbitrator, all costs incurred
by it in connection with the arbitration. Except as otherwise required by law,
the arbitrator and the parties to the arbitration shall treat the arbitration
proceeding as strictly confidential and shall not disclose the existence,
content, or results of the arbitration without the advance written consent
of
every party to the arbitration.
(c) If
any
party fails to proceed with arbitration as provided herein or unsuccessfully
seeks to stay such arbitration, or fails to comply with any arbitration award,
the other party shall be entitled to be awarded costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, paid or incurred by such other party in successfully compelling
such arbitration or defending against the attempt to stay, vacate or modify
such
arbitration award.
12.4 Entire
Agreement; Amendments and Waivers.
This
Agreement (including the schedules and exhibits hereto) represents the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement 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.
12.5 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of New York applicable to contracts made and performed in such
State.
59
12.6 Notices.
All
notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally by hand (with written
confirmation of receipt), (ii) when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation
of transmission) or (iii) one business day following the day sent by overnight
courier (with written confirmation of receipt), in each case at the following
addresses and facsimile numbers (or to such other address or facsimile number
as
a party may have specified by notice given to the other party pursuant to this
provision):
If
to Seller, to:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
c/o
Copperweld Bimetallic, LLC
000
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000, XXX
Facsimile:
x0 000 000-0000
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|
With
a copy to:
(which
shall not constitute notice)
|
Wall,
Esleeck Babock LLLP
0000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx,
XX 00000, XXX
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
x0 000 000 0000
and
Xxxxx,
Xxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000, XXX
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
x0 000 000 0000
|
|
If
to Purchaser, to:
|
Fushi
International, Inc.
0
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx 000000, XX Xxxxx
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile:
x00 000 0000 0000
|
|
With
a copy to
(which
shall not constitute notice):
|
Weil,
Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
00/x
Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 00
0000
Xxx Xxxx Road West
Shanghai
200040, PR China
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
x00 00 0000 0000
|
12.7 Severability.
If any
term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable
of
being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms or provisions of
this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as
the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination
that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being
enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent
possible.
60
12.8 Binding
Effect; Assignment.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement
shall create or be deemed to create any third party beneficiary rights in any
person or entity 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 either Seller or Purchaser (by operation of law or otherwise) without
the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any attempted
assignment without the required consents shall be void; provided,
however,
that
Purchaser may assign this Agreement and any or all rights or obligations
hereunder (including, without limitation, Purchaser’s rights to purchase the LLC
Interests and to seek indemnification hereunder) to any Affiliate of Purchaser,
any Person from which it has borrowed money or any Person to which Purchaser
or
any of its Affiliates proposes to sell all or substantially all of the assets
relating to the Business. Upon any such permitted assignment, the references
in
this Agreement to Purchaser shall also apply to any such assignee unless the
context otherwise requires.
12.9 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken
together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
61
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
their respective duly authorized officers, as of the date first written
above.
SELLER:
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||
|
|
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
||
XXXXX
X. XXXXX
|
PURCHASER:
FUSHI
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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By: | /s/ Li Fu | |
Name: Li Fu |
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Title: CEO
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