ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Exhibit
2.1
THIS
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”)
is
made as of the 12th
day of
September, 2005 (the “Closing
Date”)
by and
among TURBOCHEF TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”),
GLOBAL APPLIANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”),
and
the stockholders of Seller whose names are set forth under the heading
“Stockholders” on the signature pages hereto (the “Stockholders”).
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
Seller
is engaged in the business of inventing, researching, designing, developing,
licensing, marketing and selling various heat transfer technologies, cooking
methods, products and services for use by manufacturers of commercial and
residential foodservice equipment (collectively, the “Business”);
WHEREAS,
Buyer
wishes to purchase from Seller, and Seller is willing to sell to Buyer, the
Acquired Assets (as defined below) upon the terms and conditions set forth
in
this Agreement (the “Acquisition”);
and
WHEREAS,
the
Stockholders own all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Seller (the
“Seller
Stock”)
and
will benefit from the Acquisition;
NOW,
THEREFORE,
for and
in consideration of the Purchase Price and the mutual covenants, agreements
and
warranties herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS;
CONSTRUCTION
1.1
Definitions.
The
terms defined in this Section
1.1
shall,
for all purposes of this Agreement, have the meanings herein
specified:
“Acquisition
Share Amount”
means
the sum of One Million and 00/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00).
“Acquisition
Shares”
means
60,838 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Buyer (such number
of shares of common stock being equal to (a) the Acquisition Share Amount
divided by (b) the Share Determination Price (rounded up to the nearest whole
number).
“Affiliate”
means,
as to any specified Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries or otherwise, controls, is controlled by,
or
is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition,
“control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person (whether
through ownership of securities of that Person, by contract, or
otherwise).
“Xxxxxx”
means
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, a Stockholder and individual resident of the State of
Texas.
-1-
“Closing
Cash Amount”
means
the sum of Five Million and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000,000.00).
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Contract”
means
any contract, license agreement, lease, lease option, commitment, purchase
order, equipment lease, mortgage, note, bond or other agreement relating to
the
Business including, without limitation, any agreements for the purchase of
goods, agreements with suppliers, security agreements, joint venture,
partnership or similar agreements, advertising agreements, franchise agreements
and broker or distributorship agreements.
“Duke”
means
Duke Manufacturing Co., a Missouri corporation.
“Duke
Agreements”
means:
(a) that certain License Agreement, dated September 15, 2004, as amended,
between Seller and Duke; (b) that certain Technical Services Agreement, dated
September 15, 2004, as amended, between Seller and Duke; and (c) that certain
Settlement Agreement and Mutual General Release, effective as of September
15,
2004, between Seller and Duke.
“Encumbrance”
means
any mortgage, deed of trust, title defect or restriction, lien or objection,
pledge, security interest, hypothecation, restriction, covenant, transfer
restriction, right of first refusal, adverse claim, conditional sales contract,
easement, right-of-way, encumbrance, claim or charge of any kind or nature
whatsoever.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any Person (whether incorporated or unincorporated), that together with Seller
would be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the
Code.
“ERISA
Affiliate Plan”
means
each “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA
and each “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA
sponsored or maintained or required to be sponsored or maintained at any time
by
any ERISA Affiliate, or to which such ERISA Affiliate makes or has made, or
has
or has had an obligation to make, contributions at any time.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
the government of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof,
or any foreign government, or any entity exercising executive, representative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to
government.
“Installment
Payment Amount”
means
the sum of Eight Million and 00/100 Dollars ($8,000,000.00), to be paid in
annual installments to Seller in accordance with the terms of Section
3.3
hereof.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all United States and non-United States: (a) patents and patent applications,
whether or not patents are issued on such patent applications and whether or
not
such patents or applications are modified, withdrawn or resubmitted; (b)
registered and unregistered trade names, trade dress, trademarks, service marks
and service names (and all applications for registration of the same) and all
goodwill associated therewith; (c) designs and design rights, whether or not
such designs or design rights are the subject of any patents or patent or other
applications for registration; (d) copyrights and copyright registrations (and
all applications for registration of the same) and works of authorship (whether
or not copyrighted or copyrightable); (e) trade secrets, know-how, formulae,
patterns,
-2-
compilations,
devices, methods, techniques or processes, and confidential or proprietary
information; (f) inventions, processes and designs (whether or not patentable
or
reduced to practice); (g) any software owned by or licensed to Seller; (h)
domain names or uniform resource locators used in connection with any global
computer or electronic network, together with all translations, adaptations,
derivations and combinations thereof, and including all goodwill associated
therewith, all applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith,
and all source code, object code, data and documentation relating thereto;
and
(i) all other intellectual property rights and assets.
“Law”
means
any federal, state, local or other law, statute, ordinance, regulation, rule,
order, judgment, consent decree, permit, settlement agreement, judicial or
administrative decision or injunction applicable to or binding on Buyer, Seller,
the Business, or any of the Acquired Assets.
“Losses”
means
all liabilities, equitable remedies, losses, costs, fines, damages of any
nature, judgments, penalties, diminution of value, or expenses (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of
litigation).
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means:
(a) with respect to Seller any state of facts, change, event, development,
effect or occurrence (when taken together with all other states of fact,
changes, events, effects, developments or occurrences) that is or is reasonably
expected to be materially adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, properties, assets (tangible or intangible, including Intellectual
Property), or liabilities (accrued, contingent or otherwise) of Seller, the
Business or the Acquired Assets, taken as a whole, including, but not limited
to, the ability to use, own, market, sell or commercialize any existing patents,
patents resulting from existing patent applications, or other Intellectual
Property of Seller; and (b) with respect to a Person, any state of facts,
change, event or occurrence that shall have occurred or been threatened that
(when taken together with all other states of facts, changes, events, effects
or
occurrences that have occurred or been threatened) is or would be reasonably
likely to prevent or materially delay performance of such Person to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
“XxXxxxxx”
means
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, a Stockholder and individual resident of the State of
Massachusetts.
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means:
(a) liens for taxes not yet due and payable; (b) statutory liens of
landlords; (c) liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and
repairmen incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and not yet delinquent; and (d) the security interests or other
encumbrances described on Schedule 1.1(a).
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
association, trust, Governmental Authority or other legal entity or
organization.
“Pro
Rata Share”
means,
for a Stockholder, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of
which is the number of shares of common stock of Seller owned by that
Stockholder as of the time of Closing, and the denominator of which is the
total
number of shares of common stock of Seller outstanding as of the time of
Closing, which is set forth on Schedule
4.3(a);
provided,
that
for purposes of determining a Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share, all holders of
preferred stock of Seller shall be treated as having converted all such shares
into shares of common stock immediately prior to the time of Closing, and the
Pro Rata Share of Southern California Gas Company shall be fourteen and one
quarter percent (14.25%).
“Purchase
Price”
means
the sum of the Closing Cash Amount, the Acquisition Share Amount, the
Restrictive Covenant Amount and the Installment Payment Amount.
-3-
“Restrictive
Covenant Amount”
means
the sum of Six Million and 00/100 Dollars ($6,000,000.00), to be paid in
installments to XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx pursuant to the terms hereof and of the
Restrictive Covenant Agreements to be entered into by Messrs. XxXxxxxx and
Xxxxxx.
“Seller
Benefit Plan”
means
with respect to Seller each written or verbal plan, fund, program, Contract
or
scheme, in each case, that is currently or in the past was, sponsored or
maintained or required to be sponsored or maintained by Seller or to which
Seller makes or has in the past made, or has or has had in the past an
obligation to make, contributions providing for employee benefits or for the
remuneration, direct or indirect, of the employees, former employees, officers,
contingent workers or leased employees of Seller or the dependents of any of
them, including each written or verbal deferred compensation, bonus, incentive
compensation, pension, retirement, stock purchase, stock option and other equity
compensation plan, “welfare plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
ERISA,
determined without regard to whether such plan is subject to ERISA); each
“pension plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA, determined without
regard to whether such plan is subject to ERISA); each severance plan or
Contract; and each health, vacation, summer hours, supplemental unemployment
benefit, hospitalization insurance, medical, dental, legal program, agreement
or
arrangement.
“Share
Determination Price”
means
Sixteen and 44/100 Dollars ($16.44)
(such amount being equal to the average of the per share closing price for
Buyer’s common stock as quoted on NASDAQ (or such other exchange or automated
quotation system on which Buyer’s common stock may at the time be listed or
quoted, as applicable) for the 60-day period prior to the Closing
Date).
“Taxes”
means
all federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, windfall profits,
severance, property, production, sales, use, license, excise, franchise,
employment, premium, recording, documentary, documentary stamps, real estate
transfer, transfer, back-up withholding or similar taxes imposed on the income,
properties or operations of Seller, together with any interest, additions,
or
penalties with respect thereto and with respect to any information reporting
requirements imposed by the Code or any similar provision of foreign, state
or
local law, together with any interest in respect of such additions or
penalties.
“Tax
Return”
means
all reports and returns with respect to Taxes that are required to be filed
with
any taxing authority or retained by Seller, including without limitation
consolidated federal income tax returns of Seller that are includible
therein.
“Transaction
Documents”
means
this Agreement and the other written agreements, documents, instruments, and
certificates executed pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, all
as
amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time.
1.2
Other
Definitions.
In
addition to the terms defined in Section 1.1,
certain
other terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement, and, whenever such terms
are used in this Agreement, they shall have their respective defined meanings,
unless the context expressly or by necessary implication otherwise
requires.
1.3
Captions.
Captions to Articles, Sections (and subsections thereof), and Schedules and
Exhibits to, this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only,
and
such captions shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other
purpose or in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of
this Agreement.
-4-
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE
2.1
Acquired
Assets.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Seller hereby sells,
conveys, assigns, transfers and delivers to Buyer, and Buyer hereby accepts,
purchases, acquires and takes assignment and delivery of, free and clear of
all
Encumbrances (except for Permitted Encumbrances), all right, title and interest
in, to and under all of the assets of Seller used, or held for use, in the
Business, wherever located, and whether or not reflected on the books of Seller,
excepting only the Excluded Assets (collectively, the “Acquired
Assets”),
including, without limitation, all of Seller’s right, title and interest in and
to the following:
(a)
|
all
Intellectual Property owned by, or licensed to, or used in the Business
of, Seller;
|
(b)
|
all
furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery, computers, vehicles and
other
tangible personal property used or useable in the operation of the
Business as listed on Schedule
2.1(b);
|
(c)
|
all
confidential information (including electronic information), operational
data, marketing information, sales records, customer lists, customer
files
(including customer credit and collection information), historical
and
financial records and files relating to the Business (including,
without
limitation, all files, documents and correspondence relating to the
Duke
Agreements and Seller’s relationship with
Duke);
|
(d)
|
all
rights under the Contracts;
|
(e)
|
to
the extent legally transferable, all permits, licenses, consents,
approvals, certificates, variances or other authorizations required
in
connection with the operation of the Business under any Law or Contract
(the “Permits”);
|
(f)
|
all
prepaid expenses and deposits;
|
(g)
|
all
warranties, claims, causes of action, choses in action, covenants
and
other similar claims and interests, whether known or unknown, matured
or
unmatured, accrued or contingent, by Seller against third parties
relating
to the Acquired Assets;
|
(h)
|
all
goodwill related to, arising from or used in connection with the
Business,
including all rights to use the name “Global Appliance Technologies” and
any derivatives thereof, in connection with the
Business;
|
(i)
|
all
records and documents in any medium, including without limitation
research
files and computer files;
|
(j)
|
any
other tangible or intangible personal property of Seller as of the
Closing
Date that is not an Excluded Asset and that is used in, or arises
from,
the Business; and
|
-5-
(k)
|
any
other asset or contract listed on Schedule
2.1(k).
|
2.2
Excluded
Assets.
The
following assets of Seller and/or the Stockholders (collectively, the
“Excluded Assets”)
are
being retained by Seller and/or the Stockholders, and are not being sold or
assigned, and will not be deemed to have been sold or assigned, to Buyer
hereunder:
(a)
|
all
cash and cash equivalents of Seller possessed at the Closing Date,
including without limitation, all bank accounts, deposits, cash,
securities, investments of Seller in mutual funds, treasury funds,
money
market funds, certificates of deposit and other similar investment
instruments (whether negotiable or
non-negotiable);
|
(b)
|
all
accounts, trade receivables and notes receivable and other receivables
of
Seller relating to the Business and arising on or before the Closing
Date;
|
(c)
|
all
ownership and other rights with respect to any Seller Benefit
Plan;
|
(d)
|
all
taxpayer and other identification numbers, and minute books, stock
transfer books and other documents relating to the organization,
maintenance, and existence of Seller as a
corporation;
|
(e)
|
the
rights to Seller’s claims for any federal, state, local or foreign Tax
refunds relating to time periods prior to the Closing
Date;
|
(f)
|
any
Permits that are not transferable under applicable
Law;
|
(g)
|
Seller’s
Insurance Policies and rights
thereunder;
|
(h)
|
Seller’s
and the Stockholders’ rights under this Agreement and the agreements to be
executed by Seller and the Stockholders’ in connection
herewith;
|
(i)
|
Seller’s
leasehold, ownership or other interest in any real property used
or held
for use in the Business, and all improvements with respect
thereto;
|
(j)
|
Seller’s
records and documents relating to the negotiation of the Acquisition;
and
|
(k)
|
such
other assets of Seller specifically listed on Schedule
2.2(k)
attached hereto.
|
2.3
Assumed
Liabilities.
Buyer
hereby assumes and agrees to pay, perform, fulfill and discharge, from and
after
the Closing Date (all of the following collectively being referred to as the
“Assumed Liabilities”):
(a)
|
all
liabilities and obligations of Seller under the Acquired Assets which
are
required to be performed and which accrue subsequent to the Closing
Date;
|
(b)
|
in
accordance with their terms, the obligations of Seller under those
Contracts listed on Schedule 2.3(b)
hereof, in each case, arising and to be performed only after the
Closing,
and excluding any obligations thereunder arising or to be performed
prior
to the Closing; provided,
however,
that Buyer will not assume any obligation or liability resulting
from or
arising out of any default, breach, performance or non-performance
by
Seller under or with respect to any of such Contracts;
and
|
-6-
(c)
|
all
obligations of Seller under or otherwise relating to the Duke Agreements,
whether arising or to be performed before or after the Closing;
provided,
however,
that Buyer will not assume any obligation or liability resulting
from or
arising out of any fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence
of Seller
or any Stockholder under or with respect to any of the Duke Agreements
(other than those liabilities that arise from or relate to Buyer’s
acquisition of the Acquired Assets pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement).
|
2.4
No
Other Liabilities Assumed.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, other than as
specifically set forth in Section
2.3,
neither
Buyer nor any of its Affiliates shall assume, and in no event shall be deemed
to
have assumed, any debt, claim, obligation or other liability of Seller, any
Stockholder, or any of their respective Affiliates whatsoever (all such debts,
claims, obligations and other liabilities that are not expressly assumed by
Buyer or its Affiliates hereunder are collectively referred to herein as the
“Retained
Liabilities”),
and
Seller and Stockholders shall remain solely responsible for the payment,
performance and discharge of their respective Retained Liabilities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the respective
obligations of Seller and Stockholders pursuant to this Section
2.4
shall
survive the Closing and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
2.5
Waiver
of Bulk Sales Compliance.
Buyer
and Seller hereby waive compliance with the bulk sales laws of any applicable
jurisdiction, and Seller hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer
from
and against any claims arising out of or due to the failure to comply with
such
bulk sales laws.
ARTICLE
III
CLOSING;
INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS
3.1
Closing.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated hereunder (the “Closing”)
shall
be deemed to have taken place at the offices of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, 0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, on the Closing Date.
The
parties hereto agree that for purposes of this Agreement, the Closing shall
be
deemed to have occurred at 9:00 a.m. on the Closing Date.
The
parties may, in accordance with Section
10.8
hereof,
exchange signatures to all Transaction Documents necessary to effectuate the
Closing by facsimile, and need not be present in person in order to effectuate
the Closing.
3.2
Actions
at Closing. (a)
Concurrently with the execution hereof, Buyer shall:
(i)
|
pay
or cause to be paid to Seller an amount equal to the Closing Cash
Amount;
provided,
that One Million Seven Hundred Eighteen Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty
and
00/100 Dollars ($1,718,750.00) of the Closing Cash Amount will be
paid by
Buyer directly to Southern California Gas Company in accordance with
Section
3.6
hereof;
|
(ii)
|
issue,
or cause to be issued, to Seller the Acquisition
Shares;
|
(iii)
|
pay,
or cause to be paid, to each of XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx, the initial
installment of the Restrictive Covenant Amount, in accordance with
the
terms of the Restrictive Covenant Agreements;
and
|
-7-
(iv)
|
deliver
or cause to be delivered to Seller and the Stockholders all documents,
certificates, agreements or instruments required to be delivered
to Seller
and the Stockholders by Buyer at the Closing pursuant the provisions
hereof, duly executed by Buyer.
|
(b)
|
Concurrently
with the execution hereof, Seller and each Stockholder (severally
and not
jointly) shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer all documents,
certificates, agreements or instruments required to be delivered
to Buyer
by Seller or such Stockholder at the Closing pursuant the provisions
hereof, duly executed by Seller or such Stockholder, as
applicable.
|
3.3
Installment
Payments. (a)
Subject
to forfeiture pursuant to the terms of Section
3.3(c),
and
subject to offset pursuant to the terms of Schedule
3.3(a),
Section
9.2(f),
Section
9.6
and
Schedule
9.6 hereof,
the Installment Payment Amount shall be paid to Seller in three annual
installments following the Closing Date (each such installment being referred
to
herein as an “Installment
Payment”),
with
the first Installment Payment of Two Million Six Hundred Sixty-Seven Thousand
Five Hundred and 00/100 Dollars ($2,667,500.00) being due and payable on the
first anniversary of the Closing Date; the second Installment Payment of Two
Million Six Hundred Sixty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred and 00/100 Dollars
($2,667,500.00) being due and payable on the second anniversary of the Closing
Date; and the third and final Installment Payment of Two Million Six Hundred
Sixty-Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($2,665,000.00) being due and payable
on
the third anniversary of the Closing Date. Each such Installment Payment due
to
Seller under this Section
3.3(a)
shall be
made thirty-eight percent (38%) in cash and sixty-two percent (62%) in shares
of
common stock, $.01 par value per share, of Buyer (the per share value of such
common stock to be equal to the average of the closing price of such common
stock as quoted on NASDAQ (or such other exchange or automated quotation system
on which Buyer’s common stock may at the time be listed or quoted, as
applicable) for the sixty (60) day period preceding the due date of such
Installment Payment).
The
shares of Buyer’s common stock included in such Installment Payments are
referred to herein as the “Installment
Shares”.
(b)
Seller
and the Stockholders acknowledge that, in addition to the conditions specified
in this Section
3.3,
Seller
and each Stockholder may, as a condition to the receipt of any portion of any
Installment Payment to be made in common stock of Buyer, be required by Buyer
to
re-make to Buyer those representations and warranties set forth in Section
4.26
and
Section
5.1
hereof,
respectively, as of the date such portion of such Installment Payment becomes
due and payable to Seller and the Stockholders.
(c)
Seller
and the Stockholders acknowledge that the Services Agreements to be entered
into
by each of XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx in connection with the Closing (as described
in
Section 8.2(b)
hereof)
provide that XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx are required to deliver certain patent
applications for utility patents for process, machine, manufacture or
composition of matter on technologies within the business of Buyer in one or
more of the general technology areas set forth therein (all as described in
further detail on Exhibit A to each such Services Agreement). Seller
and the Stockholders hereby agree that any then-unpaid Installment Payments
shall be irrevocably forfeited by Seller (and the Stockholders) if: (i) any
or all of such patent applications are not delivered by either or both of
XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx; or (ii) prior to the earlier of the eighteen (18)
month anniversary of the Closing Date or the date of completion of delivery
of
all such patent applications, both of the Services Agreements are terminated
by
Buyer for
material breaches of Section 9 or breach of Section 10 thereof by XxXxxxxx
and
Xxxxxx.
Seller
(and the Stockholders) shall have no further right to demand or receive any
Installment Payment forfeited in accordance with the preceding
sentence.
-8-
3.4
Method
of Cash Payments.
The
cash payments being made from one party to another under this Agreement are
being made by wire transfer of immediately available federal funds in United
States dollars to an account previously designated in writing by the party
to
receive such payment.
3.5
Allocation
of Purchase Price.
The
Purchase Price is being allocated among the Acquired Assets by the parties
as
set forth on Schedule
3.5.
Such
allocation is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 1060 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Seller and Buyer shall file Form
8594
with their respective Tax Returns consistently with such allocation. The parties
shall treat and report the transaction contemplated by this Agreement in all
respects consistently for purposes of any Federal, state or local Tax,
including, without limitation, the calculation of gain, loss and basis with
reference to the Purchase Price allocation made pursuant to this Section
3.5.
The
parties shall not take any action or position inconsistent with the obligations
set forth in this Agreement.
3.6
Repurchase
of Series A Preferred Stock.
The
parties acknowledge that, concurrently with the Closing, Southern California
Gas
Company shall sell, convey and transfer to Seller, and Seller shall purchase
and
acquire from Southern California Gas Company, all of Southern California Gas
Company’s right, title and interest in 2,717,391 shares of Series A Preferred
Stock of Seller (the “Series
A Preferred Stock”),
in
exchange for a cash payment equal to One Million Seven Hundred Eighteen Thousand
Seven Hundred Fifty and 00/100 Dollars ($1,718,750). Seller hereby irrevocably
instructs Buyer to pay directly to Southern California Gas Company in cash
at
the Closing $1,718,750 of Seller’s Closing Cash Amount pursuant to Section
3.2(a)(i),
in the
manner described in Section
3.4.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Seller
hereby makes the following representations and warranties to Buyer:
4.1
Due
Organization.
Seller
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the State of Delaware, and has full power and authority to own and/or
lease all of its properties and assets, and to carry on the Business as now
being conducted. Seller is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing
in the jurisdictions described on Schedule 4.1,
which
constitute all of the jurisdictions in which the ownership of its property
or
the conduct of the Business requires such qualification. True, correct and
complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and all governing or
constitutive documents or agreements of Seller, as currently in effect (the
“Seller
Organizational Documents”),
have
been delivered to Buyer.
4.2
Power,
Authority and Authorization.
(a)
Seller
has the full power, legal capacity, and authority to execute and deliver each
of
the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to perform its obligations
thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereunder. The
Transaction Documents to which it is a party constitute the legal, valid, and
binding obligations of Seller, enforceable against it in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other
similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles
and the discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies.
(b)
On
or
prior to the date hereof, all requisite action was taken by Seller to authorize
and approve the execution of and entry into this Agreement, the execution and
delivery by Seller of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party,
and the performance by Seller of its duties and obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and of all other acts necessary or appropriate for
the
consummation of the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
-9-
4.3
Capitalization;
Subsidiaries.
(a) Schedule
4.3(a)
sets
forth (i) the record and beneficial ownership of all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Seller Stock, (ii) a list of all options, warrants or
other rights to purchase Seller Stock, and (iii) a list of all securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Seller Stock.
(b)
Seller
does not own any shares, equity or debt securities or other proprietary or
ownership interest, directly or indirectly, in any other Person, nor does Seller
have any Contract to acquire any such shares, securities or proprietary or
ownership interest.
(c)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.3(a),
there
are no outstanding:
(i)
|
options,
warrants, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase from
Seller
any shares or other securities or interests of or in Seller (including
any
Shares currently held as treasury shares by Seller);
or
|
(ii)
|
securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares or other securities or
interests of or in Seller (including any Shares currently held as
treasury
shares by Seller).
|
4.4
Inconsistent
Obligations.
Subject
to receipt of the consents and approvals described in Section
4.5,
the
execution and delivery by Seller of the Agreement, the execution and delivery
by
Seller of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the
consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents to which it is a party, and the performance by Seller of the covenants
and agreements set forth in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party
do
not, and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time,
or
both: (a) require the consent, waiver, approval, license or other authorization
of any Person; (b) violate or conflict with any applicable Law, which violation
or conflict could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c)
breach or constitute a default under any Contract to which Seller is a party
or
by which Seller or any of the Acquired Assets are bound, which breach or default
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (d) result
in the creation or imposition of, or afford any Person the right to obtain,
any
Encumbrance upon any of the Acquired Assets; or (e) contravene, conflict
with or result in a violation of the Seller Organizational Documents or any
resolution adopted by Seller.
4.5
Required
Consents.
Schedule 4.5
lists:
(a) each registration, filing, application, notice, transfer, consent, approval,
order, qualification and waiver required pursuant to any applicable Law to
be
obtained by Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of any
Transaction Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the
Transaction Documents; and (b) each Contract with respect to which a consent
of
or waiver by any other party thereto must be obtained by virtue of the execution
and delivery of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents to avoid the invalidity
of such Contract, the termination thereof (or the giving rise to any right
to
terminate by another party), a breach or default thereunder (whether with
notice, passage of time or both), or any other change or modification to the
terms thereof.
4.6
Financial
Statements.
Seller
has previously delivered to Buyer true and correct copies of (a) the balance
sheets, and statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of
Seller as at and for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2004 and 2003, and
(b) the interim balance sheet, and statements of earnings, stockholders’
equity and cash flows of Seller for the five (5) months ended April 30, 2005
(collectively, the “Financial
Statements”).
Except as provided on Schedule
4.6,
the
Financial Statements present fairly the financial position and the results
of
operations and cash flows of Seller as of the dates, or for the periods,
presented therein and have been prepared on a consistent basis during the
periods involved, except as otherwise noted therein.
-10-
4.7
Books
and Records.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.7:
(a) the
books of account and other financial records of Seller have been maintained
in
accordance with commercially reasonable business practices, consistently
applied, and fairly and accurately provide the basis for the financial position
and results of operation set forth in the Financial Statements; (b) the minute
books and stock transfer records of Seller contain accurate and complete records
in all material respects of all meetings held of, and action taken by, Seller,
its stockholders, the directors, committees of the directors or other governing
bodies of Seller, respectively; and (c) all of the books of account, financial
records, minute books and stock transfer records of Seller are in possession
of
Seller, and true, correct and complete copies of such materials have been
provided to or made available to Buyer and its representatives.
4.8
No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.8,
as of
the date hereof, Seller does not have any liability or financial obligation,
whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, that was not fully reflected
or reserved against in the Financial Statements or disclosed in the accompanying
notes thereto, except for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business since April 30, 2005, and liabilities incurred in connection with
this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder.
4.9
Taxes.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.9,
all
material Taxes of Seller have been timely paid in full if due, and if not due
will be timely paid when due. Seller has duly and timely filed all Tax Returns
required to be filed by it and has paid all Taxes disclosed on such returns
when
due. Each such Tax Return is true and complete in all material respects, and
Seller does not have and will not have any additional material liability with
respect to such Tax Returns that would create or impose an Encumbrance on any
Acquired Asset. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.9,
all
Taxes that Seller is required by Law to withhold or collect, including sales
and
use taxes and amounts required to be withheld for Taxes of employees, have
been
duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid over
to
the proper Governmental Authorities. No material Tax Return of Seller is under
audit or examination, and to the knowledge of Seller, no written notice of
such
an audit or examination has been received by Seller.
4.10
No
Adverse Change.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.10,
since
November 30, 2004, except as set forth in the Financial Statements, the Business
of Seller has been conducted in the ordinary and usual course, consistent with
past practice and there has not been any event, occurrence, development or
state
of circumstances or facts which has had or could reasonably be expected to
have
any
Material Adverse Effect.
4.11
Compliance
with Laws.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.11:
(a) to
Seller’s knowledge, Seller is in compliance with all applicable Laws material to
it; (b) Seller has obtained and maintained all Permits necessary for the conduct
of its Business, except for those Permits with respect to which the failure
of
Seller to obtain or maintain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; and (c) Seller has not received written notification by any
Governmental Authority (other than notifications which have lapsed, been
withdrawn or abandoned) (i) asserting a violation or possible violation of
any
Law, (ii) threatening to revoke any permit, license, registration, or
other
government authorization, or (iii) restricting or in any way limiting
its
operations of the Business. Seller is not subject to any regulatory or
supervisory cease and desist order, agreement, directive, memorandum of
understanding or commitment, and has not received any written communication
requesting that it enter into any of the foregoing.
4.12
Litigation. (a)
Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.12:
(i)
|
there
are no suits, actions, claims, arbitration proceedings or investigations
pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened against,
|
-11-
relating
to or involving Seller, the Business or the Acquired Assets, or against any
officer, director, stockholder or employee of Seller in their capacity as
such;
(ii)
|
there
are no actions, suits, claims, arbitration proceedings or investigations
instituted, pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened against
any
present or former director or officer of Seller that would reasonably
be
expected to give rise to a claim against Seller for indemnification,
and
to the knowledge of Seller, no fact or condition exists that would
be
reasonably likely to give rise to any such action, suit, claim,
arbitration proceeding or
investigation;
|
(iii)
|
there
are no actual or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened actions,
suits,
claims, arbitration proceedings or investigations which present a
claim to
restrain or prohibit the transactions contemplated
herein.
|
(b)
To
the
knowledge of Seller, no fact or condition relating to Seller exists that would
give rise to or constitute the basis for any action, suit, claim, arbitration
proceeding or investigation described above or that would prevent or
significantly hinder Seller from obtaining all of the material federal and
state
regulatory approvals contemplated herein. There are no judgments, orders,
injunctions, decrees, stipulations or awards (whether rendered by a court,
administrative agency, or by arbitration, pursuant to a grievance or other
procedure) against or relating to Seller before any Governmental Authority.
Seller is not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of
any
court or arbitration panel.
4.13
Permits.
Seller
holds the Permits described on Schedule
4.13
(each of
which is in full force and effect except where such non-compliance could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and no other Permits
are currently necessary for the lawful operation of the Business by Seller
or
its ownership of the Acquired Assets. Seller has not received notice of
termination, revocation or modification of any Permit, and is not delinquent
in
the payment of any Taxes or fees with respect to its
Permits. Seller has provided true, correct and complete copies of each Permit
to
Buyer.
4.14
Title
to and Condition of Assets.
Seller
is the sole and exclusive legal and equitable owner of all right, title and
interest in, and has good and marketable title to, or a valid license interest
in, all of the Acquired Assets (real, personal and fixed, tangible and
intangible), free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, other than Permitted
Encumbrances and those Encumbrances that will be satisfied at Closing. Such
items of personal property are operational and in reasonable repair and are
adequate for the uses to which they are put, and no properties or assets
necessary for the conduct of the Business in substantially the same manner
as
the Business has heretofore been conducted are in need of replacement or
material maintenance or repair, except for routine replacement, maintenance
and
repair, and no such routine replacement, maintenance and repair has been
deferred within the past twelve (12) months.
4.15
Secured
Liabilities.
Seller
has no Contracts relating to any direct or indirect indebtedness for borrowed
money of Seller (including debentures, notes, indentures, guarantees,
capitalized leases or other instruments), or any Contract pursuant to which
Seller’s obligations thereunder are secured in whole or in part by any of the
Acquired Assets.
4.16
Material
Contracts.
(a) Schedule 4.16(a)
hereto
sets forth a complete list of the following Contracts relating to the Business
and to which Seller is a party, other than the Transaction Documents
(collectively, the “Material
Contracts”),
true,
correct and complete copies of which have been provided or made available to
Buyer:
-12-
(i)
|
Contracts
providing for annual payments in excess of Five Thousand and 00/100
Dollars ($5,000.00) or aggregate payments in excess of Five Thousand
and
00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00);
|
(ii)
|
leases
or subleases of real property;
|
(iii)
|
partnership,
joint venture or similar Contracts, or any rights to acquire from
any
person any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible
into
or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of such
person;
|
(iv)
|
executory
Contracts relating to the acquisition or disposition of any business
(whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or
otherwise);
|
(v)
|
licenses,
franchises or similar Contracts material to Seller, and any agreement
relating to any trade name or Intellectual Property of Seller, including
licenses thereof;
|
(vi)
|
exclusive
dealing arrangements or other Contracts or arrangements containing
covenants that limit the ability of Seller to compete in its Business
or
any other line of business or with any person or that involve any
restriction of geographical area in which, or method by which, Seller
may
carry on its business (other than as may be required by law or any
applicable Governmental Authority);
|
(vii)
|
Contracts
between any Affiliate of Seller, on the one hand, and Seller, on
the other
hand;
|
(viii)
|
Contracts,
which will survive the Closing, with any director, officer or employee
of
Seller, other than those agreements being executed and delivered
in
connection with this Agreement;
|
(ix)
|
collective
bargaining agreements;
|
(x)
|
Contracts
which will survive the Closing for the employment or other engagement
of
any individual on a full time, part time, consulting or other basis,
other
than those agreements being executed and delivered in connection
with this
Agreement;
|
(xi)
|
Contracts
under which Seller has advanced or loaned any amount to any of the
directors, officers, employees or independent contractors of Seller;
and
|
(xii)
|
any
other Contract that is material to
Seller.
|
(b)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.16(b)
hereto,
and in the case of subparagraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), in the Financial
Statements:
(i)
|
each
of the Contracts set forth on Schedule
4.16(a)
is
valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect, subject
to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium and other
|
-13-
similar
laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally, general
equitable principles and the discretion of courts in granting equitable
remedies, and subject to the rights of other parties thereto to terminate,
will
continue to be valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect on
substantially identical terms following consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(ii)
|
Seller
is not in breach or default and no event has occurred which with
notice or
lapse of time would constitute a breach or default, or permit termination,
modification or acceleration by any other party under any Contract
set
forth on Schedule
4.16(a),
and to the knowledge of Seller no other party is in breach or default
and
no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute
a breach or default, or permit termination, modification or acceleration
by Seller under any Contract set forth on Schedule
4.16(a);
|
(iii)
|
Seller
has not and, to the knowledge of Seller no other party has, repudiated
any
provision of any Contract set forth on Schedule
4.16(a);
and
|
(iv)
|
Seller
has not received any notice that the other party to any Contract
listed on
Schedule
4.16(a)
intends to exercise any termination rights with respect to any such
Contract.
|
(c)
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Seller has provided to Buyer true,
correct and complete copies of the Duke Agreements (including all amendments
thereto) along with copies of all material non-confidential correspondence
and
other non-confidential materials related thereto. Other than the Duke Agreements
and such other correspondence and materials, there are no other material
agreements, understandings or obligations between Seller and Duke, whether
orally or in writing.
4.17
Intellectual
Property. (a) Schedule 4.17(a)
sets
forth a complete list of all Intellectual Property which is owned, used or
held
for use by Seller, all registered portions of which are valid and enforceable
and in full force and effect as of the Closing Date, and all portions that
are
in process of registration are validly pending with an appropriate Governmental
Authority. Seller owns, or has the valid and exclusive right to use and to
transfer, in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted
Encumbrances and licenses granted by Seller which are listed on Schedule 4.17(c),
all
Intellectual Property used or held for use in the Business. With respect to
any
federal, state or foreign registrations of the Intellectual Property,
Schedule 4.17(a) also
sets
forth, as to each such item of the Intellectual Property, the (i) relevant
application or registration number, (ii) relevant filing, registration,
issue or application date, (iii) record owner, (iv) country, (v) title
or
description and (vi) current status and remaining life thereof.
Prior to
the date hereof, Seller has delivered to Buyer true, complete and correct copies
of all trademark registrations, trademark applications, patents, patent
applications, copyright registrations and copyright applications evidencing
or
relating to Seller’s Intellectual Property.
(b)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.17(b),
there
has not been, and is neither pending nor, to the knowledge of Seller,
threatened, any suit, action, claim, allegation, arbitration, grievance,
litigation, administrative or legal or other proceeding, or investigation,
against Seller, its licensors or any Stockholder, director, officer or employee
of Seller, contesting the validity of, or Seller’s right to use, any of the
Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(b),
Seller
is not aware of any material information that would, or that another Person
has
asserted that would, cause any of the Intellectual Property identified on
Schedule 4.17(a)
to be
invalid or unenforceable. The consummation of
-14-
the
transactions contemplated hereby, in and of itself, will not result in any
loss
or impairment of or to any Intellectual Property of Seller.
(c)
Seller
is
not party to, whether as licensor or licensee, and is not bound by or subject
to, any license agreement for any Intellectual Property or process, except
as
described on Schedule 4.17(c).
With
respect to all licenses identified on Schedule 4.17(c)
under
which Seller is the licensor, no claim, request or demand for indemnity for
infringement has been made by any licensee. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(c),
Seller
is not aware of any breach or anticipated breach of any license identified
on
Schedule 4.17(c),
nor has
it received notice of termination of any such license. Seller has provided
or
made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of each license
agreement listed on Schedule 4.17(c).
(d)
All
maintenance fees, annuities, affidavits and renewals due from Seller or required
to be paid by Seller through the Closing Date to avoid loss of any rights in
or
with respect to the Intellectual Property identified on Schedule 4.17(a)
have
been or will have been paid or filed on or prior to the Closing
Date.
(e)
Each
of
Seller’s directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents and independent
contractors, and any other Persons who were at any time otherwise engaged or
utilized by or on behalf Seller in any way connection with the invention,
development, registration of any Intellectual property owned, used, or held
for
use by Seller, have previously assigned to Seller, or are contractually
obligated to disclose and assign to Seller, all rights in and to the
Intellectual Property which is owned, used or held for use by Seller, or is
otherwise used or held for use in Seller’s Business. Schedule 4.17(e)
sets
forth a list of each Contract of Seller pursuant to which any of Seller’s
directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents and independent contractors
are contractually obligated to disclose and assign to Seller all rights with
respect to their work for Seller, and/or to cooperate with Seller in obtaining
and perfecting ownership of patents, copyrights and other statutory or related
rights with respect to such work (any such contract being referred to herein
as
a “Work-for-Hire
Agreement”).
Seller has provided or made available true, correct and complete copies of
any
such agreement to Buyer. Schedule 4.17(e)
also
sets forth a list of each of Seller’s directors, officers, employees,
consultants and independent contractors who provided material assistance to
Seller in connection with, or who otherwise may have a claim to ownership of,
any of Seller’s patents, copyrights or other related rights, and who are not
party to a Work-for-Hire Agreement with Seller.
(f)
Seller
has diligently searched for prior art relevant to the patentability of any
patents or patent applications included in the Intellectual Property owned,
used
or held for use by Seller in the Business, and Seller has located no prior
art
that (i) would adversely impact the scope of any claim of such patents or (ii)
Seller believes would adversely impact the scope of any claim of such patent
applications in the form pending as of the Closing Date. Except as set forth
on
Schedule 4.17(f),
the
conduct of Seller’s Business as currently conducted does not infringe upon
(either directly or indirectly such as through contributory infringement or
inducement to infringe), misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual
Property owned and controlled by any third party.
(g)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.17(g):
(i) to
the knowledge of Seller, no third party is misappropriating, infringing,
diluting, or violating any Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to or
by
Seller; (ii) no such claims have been made against a third party by Seller
or,
to the knowledge of Seller, the licensor of any Intellectual Property licensed
to Seller,
and (iii) no such claims have been made against Seller by any licensee with
respect to any Intellectual Property licensed by Seller as
licensor.
-15-
4.18
Real
Property.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.18,
Seller
does not currently own, lease or use, and has not in the past owned, leased
or
used, any real property, and no real property is necessary for the conduct
of
the Business as currently conducted.
4.19
Employees,
Contractors and Consultants. Seller
has had two employees since the date of its organization, which employees are
Xxxxxx and XxXxxxxx. Such employees are employees at-will, terminable on
one-month’s notice or less without penalty, and except as set forth on
Schedule
4.19,
such
employees are not and have not been parties to our bound by any employment
agreement or other arrangement for services with Seller, or any agreements
or
arrangements with respect to severance, change of control or similar payments
with Seller. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.19,
Seller
does not currently engage any independent contractors, consultants, or other
service providers with respect to the conduct of the Business. There are no
unpaid amounts, bonuses or commissions owed to any employees or independent
contractors (other than those not yet due and which have been accrued in the
financial books and records of Seller).
4.20 Employment
Practices; Labor Relations. (a)
Seller
is in compliance with all currently applicable Laws respecting employment and
employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours,
including, without limitation, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, any such Laws respecting
employment discrimination, disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity,
plant closure issues, affirmative action, workers’ compensation, employee
benefits, severance payments, labor relations, employee leave issues, wage
and
hour standards, occupational safety and health requirements and unemployment
insurance and related matters, and there are no internal complaints by or on
behalf of employees in this regard.
(b)
Seller
is
not currently, and has not in the past been, a party to an arrangement for
services from a professional employer organization.
(c)
Seller
is
not the subject of a proceeding asserting that it has committed an unfair labor
practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking
to
compel it to bargain with any labor organization as to wages and conditions
of
employment.
4.21
No
Seller Benefit Plans.
Since
its inception, Seller has never maintained, and does not currently maintain,
any
Seller Benefit Plan or ERISA Affiliate Plan.
4.22
Insurance.
Schedule
4.22
sets
forth a complete and correct list of all insurance policies of any kind
currently in force with respect to Seller (the “Insurance
Policies”),
including all “occurrence based” liability policies regardless of the periods to
which they relate and Seller has delivered true and correct copies of such
Insurance Policies to Buyer. Schedule
4.22
also
sets forth for each Insurance Policy, the type of coverage, the name of the
insureds, the insurer, the premium, the expiration date, the period to which
it
relates, the deductibles and loss retention amounts and the amounts of coverage.
Except as set forth on Schedule
4.22,
none of
the insurers under any of the Insurance Policies has rejected the defense or
coverage of any claim purported to be covered by such insurer or has reserved
the right to reject the defense or coverage of any claim purported to be covered
by such insurer. Seller has no liability for retroactive premium adjustments
under any Insurance Policies.
4.23
Transactions
with Related Parties.
Schedule
4.23
sets
forth all existing transactions, investments and loans, including loan
guarantees existing as of the date hereof, to which Seller is a party with
any
director, officer or Stockholder, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing.
All
such transactions, investments and loans are on terms no less favorable to
Seller than could be obtained from unrelated parties.
-16-
4.24
Certain
Business Practices.
Neither
Seller nor any director, officer, agent or employee of Seller has (a) used
any
funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful
expenses relating to political activity, (b) made any unlawful payment to
foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic
political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (c) made any other unlawful
payment.
4.25
Brokers.
Other
than as set forth on Schedule
4.25,
Seller
has not incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, to any
Person for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commission or other similar
payment in connection with the Acquisition.
4.26
Investment
Representations.
(a)
Seller
hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Acquisition Shares will be issued in
reliance upon the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of
the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”),
and
that the Acquisition Shares will also be issued in reliance upon the exemptions
from registration contained in applicable state securities laws, and that the
transfer of Acquisition Shares may be restricted or limited as a condition
to
the availability of such exemptions.
(b)
The
Acquisition Shares are being purchased for investment for the account of Seller
and without the intent of participating directly or indirectly in a distribution
of such shares, and the Acquisition Shares will not be transferred except in
a
transaction that is in compliance with any and all applicable securities
laws.
(c)
Seller
has been supplied with, or has had access to, all information, including
financial statements and other financial information, of Buyer, to which a
reasonable investor would attach significance in making investment decisions,
and have had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from,
knowledgeable individuals concerning Buyer and the Acquisition
Shares.
(d)
Seller
understands that no offering statement, prospectus or offering circular
containing information with respect to Buyer or the Acquisition Shares has
been
or is to be prepared, and Seller has made its own inquiries and analyses with
respect to Buyer and the Acquisition Shares.
(e)
Seller
is
an “accredited investor” as such term is defined under the Securities Act, or,
alternatively, has such knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in
Buyer and the Acquisition Shares.
(f)
Seller
is
financially able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Acquisition
Shares, can afford to hold the Acquisition Shares for an indefinite period
and
can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Acquisition
Shares.
4.27
Full
Disclosure.
No
statement, certificate, instrument, or other writing furnished or to be
furnished by Seller to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement (including without
limitation the Schedules attached hereto) or the Transaction Documents, nor
any
representation, covenant, or agreement made by Seller in this Agreement,
contains
or will contain any untrue statement of material fact
or omits
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
4.28
No
Limitation.
No
investigation or due diligence conducted by, or knowledge obtained by, Buyer
shall limit, modify or negate any of the foregoing representations and
warranties.
-17-
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
Each
Stockholder, for itself, himself or herself only, hereby makes the following
representations and warranties to Buyer (except that Southern California Gas
Company makes to Buyer only those representations and warranties set forth
in
Sections
5.2
through
5.5):
5.1
Investment
Representations.
(a)
Stockholder
hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Acquisition Shares will be issued in
reliance upon the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of
the
Securities Act, and that the Acquisition Shares will also be issued in reliance
upon the exemptions from registration contained in applicable state securities
laws, and that the transfer of Acquisition Shares may be restricted or limited
as a condition to the availability of such exemptions.
(b)
The
Acquisition Shares are being purchased for investment for the account of
Stockholder and without the intent of participating directly or indirectly
in a
distribution of such shares, and the Acquisition Shares will not be transferred
except in a transaction that is in compliance with any and all applicable
securities laws.
(c)
Stockholder
has been supplied with, or has had access to, all information, including
financial statements and other financial information, of Buyer, to which a
reasonable investor would attach significance in making investment decisions,
and has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from,
knowledgeable individuals concerning Buyer and the Acquisition
Shares.
(d)
Stockholder
understands that no offering statement, prospectus or offering circular
containing information with respect to Buyer or the Acquisition Shares has
been
or is to be prepared, and Stockholder has made its or his own inquiries and
analyses with respect to Buyer and the Acquisition Shares.
(e)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule
5.1(e),
Stockholder is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined under the
Securities Act, or, alternatively, has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of an investment in Buyer and the Acquisition Shares.
(f)
Stockholder
is financially able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the
Acquisition Shares, can afford to hold the Acquisition Shares for an indefinite
period and can afford a complete loss of its or his investment in the
Acquisition Shares.
5.2
Power,
Authority and Authorization.
(a)
Stockholder has the full power, legal capacity, and authority to execute and
deliver each of the Transaction Documents to which Stockholder is a party,
to
perform its or his obligations thereunder, and to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereunder. The Transaction Documents to which Stockholder is
a
party constitute the legal, valid, and binding obligations of Stockholder,
enforceable against it or him in accordance with their respective terms, subject
to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles and the discretion of
courts in granting equitable remedies.
(b)
On
or
prior to the date hereof, all requisite action was taken by Stockholder to
authorize and approve the execution of and entry into this Agreement, the
execution and delivery by Stockholder of the other Transaction Documents to
which Stockholder is a party, and the performance by
-18-
Stockholder
of its or his respective duties and obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and of all other acts necessary or appropriate for
the
consummation of the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
5.3
Capitalization.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.3,
there
are no outstanding options, warrants, rights of first refusal or other rights
to
purchase from Stockholder any shares or other securities or interests of or
in
Seller.
5.4
Inconsistent
Obligations.
The
execution and delivery by Stockholder of the Agreement, the execution and
delivery by Stockholder of the other Transaction Documents to which Stockholder
is a party, the consummation by Stockholder of the transactions contemplated
by
the Transaction Documents to which Stockholder is a party, and the performance
by Stockholder of the covenants and agreements set forth in the Transaction
Documents to which Stockholder is a party do not, and will not, with or without
the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both: (a) require the consent,
waiver, approval, license or other authorization of any Person (including any
spousal consent); (b) violate or conflict with any applicable Law, which
violation or conflict could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; (c) breach or constitute a default under any Contract to which
Stockholder is a party, which breach or default could reasonably be expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect; or (d) result in the creation or imposition
of, or afford any Person the right to obtain, any Encumbrance upon any of the
Acquired Assets.
5.5
Full
Disclosure.
No
statement, certificate, instrument, or other writing furnished or to be
furnished expressly by Stockholder (and not by Seller or any other Stockholder)
to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement (including without limitation the Schedules
attached hereto) or any of the Transaction Documents to which such Stockholder
is a party, nor any representation made by Stockholder in Article V
of this
Agreement, contains
or will contain any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein,
in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer
makes the following representations and warranties to Seller and the
Stockholders:
6.1
Due
Incorporation.
Buyer
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the State of Delaware, and has full power and authority to own and/or
lease all of its properties and assets, and to carry on its business as now
being conducted.
6.2
Power,
Authority and Authorization.
(a)
Buyer
has the full power, legal capacity, and authority to execute and deliver each
of
the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to perform its respective
obligations thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated
thereunder. The Transaction Documents constitute the legal, valid, and binding
obligations of Buyer, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles and the
discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies.
(b)
On
or
prior to the date hereof, all requisite corporate action was taken by Buyer
authorizing and approving the execution of and entry into this Agreement, the
execution and delivery by Buyer of the other Transaction Documents and the
performance by Buyer of its duties and obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and of all other acts necessary or appropriate for
the
consummation of the
-19-
Acquisition
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other
Transaction Documents.
6.3
Brokers.
Buyer
has not incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for
brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commission or other similar payment in
connection with the Acquisition.
6.4
Issuance
of Shares.
When
issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Acquisition Shares
and any shares of common stock of Buyer issued under Section
3.3(a)
hereof,
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will be free of any
Encumbrances, other than any Encumbrances provided for under any of the
Transaction Documents and any Encumbrances arising as a result of actions taken
by the recipient of such shares in its or his capacity independent of Buyer;
provided,
however,
that
the all such shares will be subject to applicable restrictions on transfer
under
state and federal securities laws.
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
7.1
Consents;
Failure to Obtain Consents.
Without
prejudice to Section
7.4,
after
the Closing, Seller and the Stockholders
(other
than Southern California Gas Company)
will use
their reasonable efforts to obtain or cause to be obtained any consents required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction
Documents that are reasonably requested by Buyer and that were not and without
limitation to Sections
2.3
and
Section 2.4
hereof,
obtained prior to or at the Closing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth herein, this Agreement shall not constitute an assignment or attempt
to assign or transfer any interest in any instrument, Contract, lease, Permit
or
other agreement or arrangement of or relating to the Business or any claim,
right or benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom, if such assignment
or transfer is without the consent of a third party and would constitute a
breach or violation thereof or adversely affect the rights of Buyer, the
Acquired Assets or the Business. If any consent with respect to any Contract
or
Permit is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by any
of
the Transaction Documents and has not been obtained as of the Closing, then
Seller and the Stockholders (other than Southern California Gas Company) shall
continue to use their reasonable efforts to obtain or cause to be obtained
such
consents and until all of such consents are obtained, shall cooperate in any
arrangement reasonably satisfactory to Buyer designed to fulfill Seller’s
obligations thereunder and to afford Buyer the continued full benefits
thereof.
7.2
Publicity.
Except
as otherwise required by Law, none of Buyer, Seller or any Stockholder shall
issue any press release or make any other public statement, in each case
relating to or connected with or arising out of this Agreement or the matters
contained herein, without obtaining the prior written approval of all parties
hereto to the contents and the manner of presentation and publication thereof,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided,
however,
that:
(a) Buyer may make any press release or public statement that it believes is
required by federal securities Laws or the applicable rules of NASDAQ (or any
other exchange or automated quotation system on which Buyer’s common stock may
at the time be listed or quoted, as applicable); and (b) Southern California
Gas
Company may make any public statement that it believes is required pursuant
to
applicable Law, including the laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures
of the California Public Utilities Commission or other Governmental
Authorities.
7.3
Transfer
Taxes.
All
national, federal, state, provincial or local transfer taxes in any country,
including excise, sales, use, value added, real property transfer, stamp,
documentary, filing, recordation, notarial and other similar taxes and fees
that
may be imposed or assessed as a result of the
-20-
transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, together with any interest, additions or
penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions
or
penalties shall be paid by Buyer.
7.4
Expenses.
Except
as
otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto shall pay all of
their
own expenses relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, the fees and expenses of their own agents, representatives, financial
consultants, accountants and counsel.
7.5
Further
Assurances.
From
and
after the Closing Date, Buyer, Seller and the Stockholders agree to execute,
acknowledge, deliver and file, or cause to be executed, acknowledged, delivered
and filed, all further instruments, agreement or documents as may be reasonably
necessary to consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions provided
for
in the Transaction Documents and to do all further things reasonably necessary
to carry out the purpose and intent of the Transaction Documents.
7.6
Assignment
of Previously Unassigned Rights.
Each
Stockholder hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to Buyer all of such
Stockholder’s rights in and to any and all Intellectual Property which is owned
by Seller, or which is used or held for use by Seller in the Business, and
which
had not otherwise been disclosed and assigned to Seller prior to the date of
this Agreement.
7.7
Confidentiality
and Non-Disclosure.
(a)
Each
Stockholder (other than XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx) hereby agrees that, except as
and
to the extent required by Law, including without limitation the laws, rules,
regulations, policies and procedures of the California Public Utilities
Commission or other Governmental Authorities, such Stockholder shall not,
directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with any other Person: (a)
disclose, publish, disseminate or otherwise communicate, in oral, written,
electronic or other format, any Confidential Information to any Person
unaffiliated with Seller or Buyer; or (b) use, copy or reproduce any
Confidential Information, except for the sole benefit of Buyer. The foregoing
restrictions shall terminate with respect to any Confidential Information that
does not constitute a Trade Secret upon the conclusion of the Restricted Period.
Each Stockholder (other than XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx) agrees that if it, he or
she
is required (by Law or court or judicial order) to disclose any Confidential
Information, such Stockholder will give Buyer prompt notice of such requirement
so that Buyer may seek an appropriate protective order. If a protective order
or
similar order is not obtained by the date that such Stockholder must comply
with
the request, such Stockholder will disclose what it, he or she believes in
its,
his or her reasonable judgment to be the minimal amount of Confidential
Information necessary to comply with the request. Each Stockholder (other than
XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx) shall, promptly after receipt of a written request of
Buyer, return to Buyer, at Buyer’s expense, or destroy all documents or other
materials or things in his or its possession that contain or embody the
Confidential Information or any portion of the Confidential Information, except
that Southern California Gas Company can maintain one (1) copy of the
Confidential Information in its confidential files in its legal
department.
(b)
“Confidential
Information”
shall
mean all Non-Public (as defined below) information or data of or about Seller,
its business, clients and customers, including, but not limited to, information
or data about its products, manufacturing processes, intellectual property,
know-how, Trade Secrets (as defined below), designs, formulas, developmental
or
experimental work, computer programs (whether in object or source code),
databases, other original works of authorship, customer lists, marketing
methods, business plans, and financial information; provided,
however,
that
with respect to any Stockholder, Confidential Information shall not include
information (i) that is or becomes generally available to the public
other
than as a result of a disclosure by such Stockholder that was not previously
authorized by Buyer, or (ii) that becomes available to such Stockholder
on
a non-confidential basis from a third-party source unaffiliated with Buyer
or
Seller, provided that such source is not actually known by such Stockholder
to
be bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy
to
Buyer or Seller; and provided,
further,
that
with respect to Southern California Gas Company, Confidential Information also
shall not include information that is independently developed by or for Southern
-21-
California
Gas Company without use of or knowledge of any of the Confidential Information,
as demonstrated from the written records of Southern California Gas Company.
For
purposes of the foregoing definition, “Non-Public”
information is information that is not legally available to or legally
accessible by the public.
(c)
“Restricted
Period”
means
the period from and after the Closing Date until the second anniversary of
the
Closing Date
(d)
“Trade
Secrets”
means
information that constitutes a trade secret under applicable law.
7.8
Limitation
on Competition.
(a)
As an
inducement for Buyer to enter into this Agreement and consummate the
Acquisition, and in connection with the significant value and benefit that
he
will receive in conjunction with the Acquisition as a result of being a
stockholder of Seller, each Stockholder (other than XxXxxxxx, Xxxxxx and
Southern California Gas Company) agrees that, during the Restricted Period,
it,
he or she shall not, anywhere in the Restricted Territory, directly
or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with any other person or entity, without
the express prior written consent of Buyer, seek, accept, or take active steps
to prepare for a Competitive Position (it
being
understood that any continuing education or attending any industry conference
or
trade show shall not be deemed to be taking “active steps” to prepare for a
Competitive Position).
(b)
“Competitive
Position”
means,
with respect to any Stockholder subject to the foregoing Section
7.8(a):
(i)
such Stockholder’s direct or indirect equity ownership or control of any
Competitor, or (ii) an employment, consulting, partnership, advisory,
directorship, agency, promotional or independent contractor relationship between
such Stockholder and a Competitor, where such Stockholder is to provide
employment, consulting, contractual, advisory or other services similar in
nature to some or all of the services that such Stockholder provided to Seller.
Notwithstanding the foregoing: (x) such Stockholder’s direct or indirect
ownership, solely as a passive investment, of equity securities of any entity
that is required to file periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended, the securities of which corporation are listed on any securities
exchange, quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System or traded in the over-the-counter market shall not constitute
a
“Competitive Position” if such Stockholder is not a controlling person of, or a
member of a group that controls, the entity and such Stockholder does not,
directly or indirectly, own one percent (1%) or more of any class of securities
of the entity; and (y) a
relationship between such
Stockholder
and a
subsidiary, division or Affiliate of a Competitor with annual revenues in excess
of $1 billion, which subsidiary, division or Affiliate is not engaged, in whole
or in part, in the Business, shall not constitute a “Competitive Position” if
such relationship does not involve the provision of employment, consulting,
contractual, advisory or other services within the Business.
(c)
“Competitor”
means
any Person that is engaged, wholly or in material part, in the Business, or
that
develops, manufactures, sells, resells or distributes commercial or residential
foodservice equipment.
(d)
“Restricted
Territory”
means
the United States of America.
7.9
Registration
of Installment Shares.
(a)
Buyer
agrees that, within two (2) business days following the date of each Installment
Payment, it shall file a registration statement registering under the Securities
Act, for public sale in the manner(s) specified by Seller or the Stockholders,
as applicable, all of the Installment Shares
-22-
contained
in such Installment Payment, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause
such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as possible after
its filing date (each such registration statement being referred to herein
as a
“Registration
Statement”
and the
Installment Shares included therein being referred to as the “Registered
Shares”);
provided,
however,
that if
Buyer shall furnish to Seller or the Stockholders, as applicable, a certificate
signed by the President and Chief Executive Officer of Buyer stating that in
the
good-faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Buyer it would be detrimental
to Buyer and its stockholders for the registration statement in respect of
such
Installment Shares to be filed and it is therefore essential to defer the filing
of such registration statement, Buyer shall have the right to defer such filing
for up to one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of payment of such
Installment Payment.
(b)
Buyer
shall use its reasonable best efforts to register the Registered Shares for
public sale in accordance with the methods of disposition specified by Seller
or
the Stockholders, as applicable, to Buyer at any time before the fifth (5th)
business day prior to the date of the Installment Payment in respect of which
such Registered Shares were issued. If any such method of disposition shall
be
an underwritten public offering, the holders of a majority of the Registered
Shares requesting such method of distribution shall be entitled to designate
the
managing underwriter for such offering, subject to the reasonable approval
of
Buyer. Other possible underwriters for the offering may be selected by Seller
or
other such requesting Stockholders, as applicable, subject to reasonable
approval by Buyer and to the customary discretion of managing underwriters
with
respect to such matters.
(c)
Buyer
shall be entitled to include in any Registration Statement, for sale in a manner
consistent with the method(s) of disposition specified therein, shares of
Buyer’s common stock to be sold by or for the account of other Persons who may
then be holding “piggyback” registration rights.
(d)
Whenever
Buyer is required under Section
7.9(a)
hereof
to use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any of the
Installment Shares under the Securities Act, Buyer will:
(i)
|
prepare
and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
a Registration Statement (which shall be on Form S-3, unless Form
S-3 is
unavailable to Buyer, in which case such Registration Statement shall
be
on another appropriate form promulgated by the Commission), cause
such
Registration Statement to become effective, and use its reasonable
best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to remain effective
for a
period of one hundred eighty (180)
days;
|
(ii)
|
prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith
as
may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for
the
period referred to in clause (i) above and to comply with the provisions
of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registered
Shares covered by such Registration Statement, in accordance with
the
intended method or methods of disposition set forth in such Registration
Statement, for such period;
|
(iii)
|
furnish
such number of prospectuses and other documents incident thereto
as the
participating holders of Registered Shares from time to time may
reasonably request;
|
(iv)
|
use
its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or to secure
an
exemption therefrom, the Registered Shares covered by such
|
-23-
Registration
Statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions (up to
an
aggregate maximum of five (5), and excluding jurisdictions in which an exemption
is readily available) as the sellers of Registered Shares shall reasonably
request; provided,
however,
that
the foregoing shall not obligate Buyer to qualify to do business, or to subject
itself to service of process generally, in any jurisdiction in which it is
not
otherwise so qualified or subject;
(v)
|
if
the offering is underwritten, use its reasonable best efforts to
furnish,
at the request of any seller of Registered Shares, on the date that
Registered Shares are delivered to the underwriter(s) for sale pursuant
to
such registration: (A) an opinion of counsel representing Buyer for
the
purposes of such registration, addressed to such seller (and to such
underwriter(s), if any), stating that such Registration Statement
has
become effective under the Securities Act, and further stating that,
to
the knowledge of such counsel, (y) no stop order suspending the
effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose
have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Securities
Act and (z) the Registration Statement, the related prospectus, and
each
amendment or supplement thereof, comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (except that such
counsel need express no opinion as to financial statements, other
financial information or any statistical or similar data contained
therein), and (B) a “cold comfort” letter from the independent public
accountants of Buyer, addressed to such seller (and to such
underwriter(s), if any), in customary form and covering matters of
the
type customarily covered by such
letters;
|
(vi)
|
use
its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registered Shares to
be
listed or qualified on each securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation
system on which similar securities issued by Buyer are then listed
or
qualified on the basis such securities are listed or qualified;
and
|
(vii)
|
if
the offering is underwritten, enter into such customary agreements
(including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all
such
other actions as the sellers of the Registered Shares being sold
or the
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registered
Shares.
|
(e)
Each
seller of Installment Shares participating in a Registration Statement shall
furnish in writing to Buyer such information regarding such seller and the
distribution proposed by such seller as Buyer may reasonably request in writing
and as shall be reasonably required in connection with such Registration
Statement, and Buyer shall not be required to include such seller’s respective
Installment Shares in any such Registration Statement unless such information
shall have been provided.
(f)
All
Registration Expenses (as defined below) incurred in connection with any
Registration Statement shall be borne by Buyer; and each participating seller
of
Registered Shares shall bear such seller’s respective Selling Expenses (as
defined below); provided,
however,
that if
any jurisdiction in which such securities shall be qualified shall require
that
expenses incurred in connection with the qualification of the securities in
that
jurisdiction be borne by the participating sellers of
-24-
Registered
Shares, then each such participating seller shall bear such seller’s respective
portion of such expenses. “Registration
Expenses”
means
all expenses incurred by Buyer in complying with its obligations under this
Section
7.9,
including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees; printing
expenses; fees and disbursements of counsel for Buyer; state “blue sky” fees and
expenses; and accountants’ expenses, including without limitation any special
audits incident to or required by any such Registration Statement; but excluding
the compensation of regular employees of Buyer, which shall be paid in any
event
by Buyer, and excluding also any expenses of counsel for the participating
sellers of Registered Shares, which shall be paid by such participating sellers.
“Selling Expenses”
means
all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and transfer taxes applicable
to
the sale of Registered Shares.
(g)
Regarding
any Registration Statement:
(i)
|
With
respect to the sellers of Registered Shares participating therein,
Buyer
shall indemnify such holders, and each of the officers, directors
and
partners of each such holder, each Person controlling (as defined
in
Section
7.9(g)(v))
each such seller, each of such controlling Person’s officers, directors
and partners, and shall also indemnify each underwriter, if any,
and each
Person who controls any underwriter, against all claims, losses,
damages
and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or
based on
any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material
fact
contained in such Registration Statement or in any related prospectus,
offering circular or other document, or based on any omission (or
alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light
of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, or any violation
by
Buyer of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities
Act
applicable to Buyer and relating to action or inaction required of
Buyer
in connection with such Registration Statement, and shall reimburse
such
sellers, and each of the officers, directors and partners of each
such
seller, each Person controlling (as defined in Section
7.9(g)(v))
each such seller, each of such controlling Person’s officers, directors
and partners, each such underwriter, and each Person who controls
such
underwriter, for any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred
in
connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage,
liability or action; provided,
however,
that Buyer shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that
any
such claim, loss, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is
based
upon written information furnished to Buyer in an instrument duly
executed
by a participating holder of Registered Shares, the underwriter or
any
such other party seeking to be indemnified, where such information
was
provided specifically for use in such Registration Statement or related
prospectus, offering circular or
document.
|
(ii)
|
Each
participating seller of Registered Shares shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify Buyer, each of its directors and officers, each
Person
who controls (as defined in Section
7.9(g)(v))
Buyer, and each of such controlling Person’s officers, directors and
partners, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or
actions
in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement
(or
alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in such
Registration Statement or related
|
-25-
prospectus,
offering circular or other document, or any omission (or alleged omission)
to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make
the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, and shall reimburse Buyer, its directors, officers,
partners and control Persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged
omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular
or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to Buyer by any such participating seller specifically for use
therein.
(iii)
|
Each
party entitled to indemnification under this Section
7.9(g)
(the “Section
7.9 Indemnified Party”)
shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification
(the
“Section
7.9 Indemnifying Party”)
promptly after such Section 7.9 Indemnified Party has actual knowledge
of
any claim as to which indemnity may be sought and shall permit the
Section
7.9 Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or
any
litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the Section
7.9
Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or
any
litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Section
7.9
Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not be withheld unreasonably),
and
the Section 7.9 Indemnified Party may participate in such defense
at such
Section 7.9 Indemnified Party’s expense. The failure of any Section 7.9
Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall relieve
the
Section 7.9 Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section
7.9(g)
only if such failure is prejudicial to the ability of the Section
7.9
Indemnifying Party to defend such action, and only then to the extent
so
prejudiced, and such failure shall in no event relieve the Section
7.9
Indemnifying Party of any liability that he or it may have to any
Section
7.9 Indemnified Party otherwise than under this Section
7.9.
No Section 7.9 Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim
or
litigation, shall, except with the consent of each Section 7.9 Indemnified
Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
that
does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such Section 7.9 Indemnified Party of a
release
from all liability with respect to such claim or
litigation.
|
(iv)
|
If
the indemnification provided in Section
7.9(g)(i)
or
Section
7.9(g)(ii)
is
unavailable for any reason, the Section 7.9 Indemnifying Party agrees
to
contribute to the claims, losses, damages and liabilities of the
Section
7.9 Indemnified Party in the proportion appropriate to reflect (A)
the
relative benefits received by the Section 7.9 Indemnified Party,
on the
one hand, and the Section 7.9 Indemnifying Party, on the other hand,
in
connection with the transaction(s) from which such claims, losses,
damages
or liabilities arose, (B) the relative fault of the Section 7.9
Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Section 7.9 Indemnified
Party, on the other, in connection with such claims, losses, damages
or
liabilities, and (C) any other relevant equitable considerations.
The
|
-26-
relative
fault of the Section 7.9 Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and of the Section
7.9 Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference
to,
among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information, opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting
in
such claims, losses, damages or liabilities, and whether any alleged untrue
statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information
provided by the Section 7.9 Indemnifying Party or other conduct by the Section
7.9 Indemnifying Party (or its employees or other agents), on the one hand,
or
by the Section 7.9 Indemnified Party, on the other hand.
(v)
|
For
purposes of this Section
7.9,
the term “control” shall have the meaning assigned thereto under the
Securities Act.
|
(h)
Upon
receipt of any notice from Buyer of the happening of a Material Event (as
defined below), each seller of Registered Shares participating in a Registration
Statement shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registered Shares pursuant
to the then-current prospectus until: (i) such seller is advised in writing
by
Buyer that a new registration statement covering the offer of Registered Shares
has become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) such seller receives copies
of any required supplemented or amended prospectus; or (iii) such seller is
advised in writing by Buyer that the use of the prospectus may be resumed;
provided,
however,
that
Buyer shall use its reasonable best efforts to cure any such misstatement,
omission or event that is applicable to the Registration Statement as soon
as
reasonably practicable after delivery of such notice of the happening of a
Material Event. Such periods of discontinued use of the Registration Statement
shall not exceed one hundred twenty (120) days in any three hundred sixty-five
(365) day period, and the one hundred eighty (180) day time period set forth
in
Section 7.9(d)(i)
hereof
shall be extended for such number of days as the use of such Registration
Statement shall be so discontinued. If so directed by Buyer, on the happening
of
a Material Event, each holder of Registered Shares participating in the
applicable Registration Statement will deliver to Buyer (at Buyer’s expense) all
copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of
the prospectus covering such Registered Shares current at the time of receipt
of
such notice. For purposes of this Section
7.9,
“Material
Event”
means
any
event
as a result of which any prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as
then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(i)
A
holder
of Installment Shares shall not have any rights to participate in a registration
pursuant to this Section
7.9
herein
with respect to any Installment Shares that are eligible for sale pursuant
to
Rule 144 or Rule 145 under the Securities Act.
(j)
Nothing
contained herein shall limit or restrict the Company’s right to grant
registration rights to other Persons.
ARTICLE
VIII
CLOSING
DELIVERIES
8.1
Seller’s
Closing Deliveries.
In
accordance with the provisions of Section
3.2(b)
hereof,
Seller hereby delivers, or has previously delivered, to Buyer the
following:
(a)
|
a
certificate signed by an authorized officer of Seller to the effect
that:
|
-27-
(i)
|
the
representations and warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement
are
true and correct in all material respects (except that those
representations and warranties that are limited by materiality shall
be
true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing Date;
and
|
(ii)
|
Seller
has performed in all material respects all obligations required to
be
performed by it under this Agreement prior to the
Closing;
|
(b)
|
an
executed certificate of an authorized officer of Seller as
to:
|
(i)
|
the
approval of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other
Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Acquisition and
the
other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby;
|
(ii)
|
the
corporate status of Seller; and
|
(iii)
|
the
incumbency and true signatures of the officers of Seller who executed
this
Agreement or will execute any other Transaction Document contemplated
hereby on behalf of Seller.
|
(c)
|
all
registrations, filings, applications, notices, transfers, consents,
approvals, orders, qualifications and waivers listed on Schedule
4.5,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and its
counsel;
|
(d)
|
a
Xxxx of Sale, General Assignment and Conveyance with respect to the
Acquired Assets, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A,
duly executed by Seller,
title certificates for each certificated asset that is an Acquired
Asset,
and such other instruments as may be reasonably requested by Buyer
to
transfer full legal and beneficial ownership of the Acquired Assets
to
Buyer, free and clear of Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances
(the “Xxxx
of Sale”);
|
(e)
|
a
counterpart of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit
B,
duly executed by Seller, whereby Seller assigns, and Buyer assumes,
the
Assumed Liabilities (the “Assignment
and Assumption Agreement”);
|
(f)
|
evidence,
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, that all of the restricted stock
of
Seller, par value $0.0001 per share, described on Schedule
4.3(a)
has become fully vested; and
|
(g)
|
such
other documents, instruments and certificates in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as Buyer may reasonably
request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and
its
counsel.
|
8.2
Stockholders’
Closing Deliveries.
In
accordance with the provisions of Section
3.2(b)
hereof,
each Stockholder (severally and not jointly) hereby delivers, or has previously
delivered, to Buyer the following (as applicable):
(a)
|
a
certificate signed by the Stockholders to the effect
that:
|
-28-
(i)
|
the
representations and warranties of the Stockholder for itself, himself
or
herself only set forth in Article
V
of
this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (except
that
those representations and warranties that are limited by materiality
shall
be true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing Date;
and
|
(ii)
|
the
Stockholders have performed in all material respects all obligations
required to be performed by it, him or her under this Agreement prior
to
the Closing;
|
(b)
|
services
agreements, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
C,
duly executed and delivered by each of XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx (the
“Services Agreements”);
|
(c)
|
restrictive
covenant agreements, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D,
duly executed and delivered by each of XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx (the
“Restrictive
Covenant Agreements”);
and
|
(d)
|
such
other documents, instruments and certificates in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as Buyer may reasonably
request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and
its
counsel.
|
8.3
Buyer’s
Closing Deliveries. In
accordance with the provisions of Section
3.2(a)
hereof,
Buyer hereby delivers, or has previously delivered, to Seller and the
Stockholders the following:
(a)
|
a
certificate signed by an authorized officer of Buyer to the effect
that:
|
(i)
|
the
representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in this Agreement
are
true and correct in all material respects (except that those
representations and warranties that are limited by materiality shall
be
true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing Date;
and
|
(ii)
|
Buyer
has performed in all material respects all obligations required to
be
performed by it under this Agreement prior to the Closing
Date;
|
(b)
|
a
certificate of the Secretary of Buyer as
to:
|
(i)
|
the
approval of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other
Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Acquisition and
the
other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby;
|
(ii)
|
the
corporate status of Buyer; and
|
(iii)
|
the
incumbency and true signatures of the officers of Buyer who executed
this
Agreement or will execute any other Transaction Document contemplated
hereby on behalf of Buyer;
|
(c)
|
a
counterpart of the Xxxx of Sale, duly executed by
Buyer;
|
(d)
|
a
counterpart of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, duly executed
by
Buyer;
|
-29-
(e)
|
counterparts
of the Services Agreements, duly executed by
Buyer;
|
(f)
|
counterparts
of the Restrictive Covenant Agreements, duly executed by Buyer;
and
|
(g)
|
the
Acquisition Shares and payments as described in, and in accordance
with,
Section
3.2(a)(i)-(iii)
hereof.
|
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1
Survival.
(a)
All
representations and warranties of Buyer, Seller and the Stockholders contained
herein, and all claims in respect of any breach hereof, shall survive the
Closing and any investigation conducted by or on behalf of Buyer, Seller or
the
Stockholders.
(b)
All
covenants, agreements and obligations of Buyer, Seller and the Stockholders
contained herein which by their terms are to be performed after the Closing
shall survive the Closing and not expire unless otherwise provided in this
Agreement.
9.2
Seller’s
and Stockholders’ Indemnification Obligations.
(a)
Subject
to the provisions of this Article
IX,
Seller
and the Stockholders shall, indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its
Affiliates, and each of Buyer’s officers, directors, employees, representatives
and agents (collectively, the “Buyer
Indemnified Parties”)
in
respect of any and all Losses incurred by any Buyer Indemnified Party as a
result of any:
(i)
|
breach
or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made by Seller in
this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document (other than any Transaction
Document entered into in connection with Section
7.9
hereof);
|
(ii)
|
breach
of any covenant, agreement or undertaking made by Seller in this
Agreement
or any other Transaction Document (other than those covenants, agreements
and undertakings set forth in such Transaction Documents, if any,
as are
entered into in connection with Section 7.9
hereof);
|
(iii)
|
past,
present or future claim by, on behalf of or with respect to, and
any
obligation or liability or loss relating to, current or former employees
of Seller arising from or related to their employment with Seller,
including termination of their employment with Seller, any claim
for
unfair labor practices or any obligation with respect to any Seller
Benefit Plan;
|
(iv)
|
brokerage
or finders’ fees or commissions or similar payments based upon any
agreement or understanding made, or alleged to have been made, by
any
Person with Seller or any Stockholder (or any Person acting on their
behalf) in connection with the Acquisition;
or
|
(v)
|
liability
or obligation of Seller or the Stockholders of any nature whatsoever,
other than the Assumed Liabilities.
|
-30-
(b)
Each
Stockholder for itself, himself or herself only, shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Buyer Indemnified Parties in respect of any and all Losses incurred
by any Buyer Indemnified Party as a result of any: (i) breach or inaccuracy
of
any representation or warranty made by such Stockholder in Article
V
of this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document (other than any Transaction Document
entered into in connection with Section
7.9
hereof);
or (ii) breach by such Stockholder of any covenant, agreement or undertaking
made by such Stockholder in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document
to
which it is a party (other than any Transaction Document entered into in
connection with Section
7.9
hereof).
(c)
(i)
The
Buyer
Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification under Section 9.2(a)(i),
Section
9.2(a)(ii)
and
Section
9.2(b)
for
Losses up to an aggregate amount equal to Fourteen Million Dollars
($14,000,000), less an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate
federal, state and local income taxes actually paid by Seller in respect of
the
Closing Cash Price, the Acquisition Shares and any Installment Payments received
by Seller prior to the date such Losses become due and payable to the Buyer
Indemnified Parties hereunder, plus the aggregate federal, state and local
income taxes actually paid by the Stockholders in the aggregate in respect
of
any portion of the Purchase Price which is paid directly by Buyer to the
Stockholders or which is received by Seller and distributed to the Stockholders
prior to the date such Losses become due and payable to the Buyer Indemnified
Parties hereunder, and (B) sixty-two percent (62%) of the amount of
the
Closing Cash Price, the Acquisition Shares and any Installment Payments actually
paid by Buyer prior to the date such Losses become due and payable to the Buyer
Indemnified Parties hereunder (the “Indemnification Amount”);
provided,
however,
that in
no event will the limitations in this Section 9.2(c)(i)
apply to
the Buyer Indemnified Parties’ right to indemnity for claims arising out of
fraud or intentional misrepresentation.
(ii)
In
the
event that the amount of indemnifiable Losses to which the Buyer Indemnified
Parties are entitled under Section 9.2(a)(i),
Section
9.2(a)(ii)
and
Section
9.2(b)
exceeds
the Indemnification Amount, each of XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx shall, severally and
not
jointly and subject to the provisions of Section
9.2(f)
hereof,
be obligated for such excess Losses up to an aggregate additional amount equal
to (A) Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000), less (B) an amount equal to one-half
of the aggregate federal, state and local income taxes actually paid by XxXxxxxx
and Xxxxxx in respect of the payments made to them under their respective
Restrictive Covenant Agreements prior to the date such Losses become due and
payable to the Buyer Indemnified Parties hereunder (the “Indemnification
Supplement Amount”);
provided,
however,
that in
no event will the limitations in this Section 9.2(c)(ii)
apply to
the Buyer Indemnified Parties’ right to indemnity for claims arising out of
fraud or intentional misrepresentation. For the avoidance of doubt, the
Indemnification Supplement Amount shall be available, and paid concurrently
with, the Indemnification Amount as necessary to fully indemnify the Buyer
Indemnified Parties hereunder. The Buyer Indemnified Parties shall seek
indemnification out of the Indemnification Supplement Amount equally from Xxxxxx
and XxXxxxxx for each applicable Loss.
(d)
Except
as
set forth in Section
9.2(c)(ii),
the
maximum aggregate monetary liability of any Stockholder (other than Southern
California Gas Company) to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer Indemnified
Parties for any Loss pursuant to Section
9.2(a)
(except
in cases of fraud or intentional violation of Law) shall be limited to an amount
equal to such Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of such Loss.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the maximum
aggregate monetary liability of Southern California Gas Company to indemnify
and
hold harmless the Buyer Indemnified Parties for any and all Losses pursuant
to
Section
9.2:
(a)
shall be limited to an amount equal to Southern California Gas Company’s Pro
Rata Share of the amount of each such Loss; and (b) shall be limited to an
aggregate of Eight Hundred Fifty-Nine Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Five
Dollars ($859,375) for all such Losses; provided,
however,
that
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Southern California
Gas Company shall have no obligation to indemnify
-31-
or
hold
harmless any Buyer Indemnified Parties with respect to any Losses as a result
of
any of the events, occurrences or circumstances described in Sections
9.2(a)(iii), (iv) and (v).
(e)
Seller’s
and the Stockholders’ indemnification obligations under this Section
9.2
shall
terminate on the first anniversary of the Closing Date; provided,
however,
that
such period shall be extended automatically to include any time period necessary
to resolve a claim for indemnification which was made before expiration of
such
period, but not resolved prior to its expiration. Subject to the provisions
of
this Article
IX,
liability for any such item shall continue until such claim shall have been
finally settled, decided or adjudicated.
(f)
Any
indemnified Losses incurred by a Buyer Indemnified Party for which Seller or
any
Stockholder is liable under this Section
9.2
shall be
first paid by offset against, or reduction of, any payments due to Seller or
any
Stockholders hereunder or otherwise; provided,
however,
that if
the amount of such Losses exceeds the amount of funds remaining to be paid
to
Seller or any Stockholders hereunder or otherwise, the Buyer Indemnified Party
may claim the amount of such excess directly against Seller or such Stockholder,
subject to the limitations of Section
9.2(c)
and
Section
9.2(d)
hereof.
(g)
The
remedies provided for in this Article
IX
shall be
the Buyer Indemnified Parties’ exclusive remedy against Southern California Gas
Company with respect to all claims arising pursuant to or as a result of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation
for any breach of representation or warranty or breach of covenant by Southern
California Gas Company under this Agreement, and no Buyer Indemnified Party
shall pursue or seek to pursue any other remedy against the Southern California
Gas Company (other than injunctive relief, specific performance or similar
equitable relief).
9.3
Buyer’s
General Indemnification Obligations.
(a)
Buyer
shall indemnify and hold harmless Seller and the Stockholders and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents
(collectively, the “Seller
Indemnified Parties”)
in
respect of any and all Losses incurred by any Seller Indemnified Party as a
result of any:
(i)
|
breach
or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made by Buyer in
this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document (other than any Transaction
Document entered into in connection with Section
7.9
hereof);
|
(ii)
|
breach
of any covenant, agreement or undertaking made by Buyer in this Agreement
or any other Transaction Document (other than any Transaction Document
entered into in connection with Section
7.9
hereof);
|
(iii)
|
brokerage
or finders’ fees or commissions or similar payments based upon any
agreement or understanding made, or alleged to have been made, by
any
Person with Buyer (or any Person acting on Buyer’s behalf) in connection
with the Acquisition; or
|
(iv)
|
liability
or obligation of Buyer that arises out of Buyer’s operation of the
Business or use of the Acquired Assets following the
Closing.
|
(b)
The
Seller Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification under
Section 9.3(a)(i)
and
Section
9.3(a)(ii)
for
Losses up to an aggregate amount equal to the Purchase Price;
-32-
provided,
however,
that in
no event will the foregoing apply to the Seller Indemnified Parties’ right to
indemnity for claims arising out of fraud or intentional
misrepresentation.
(c)
Buyer’s
indemnification obligations under this Section
9.3
shall
terminate on the first anniversary of the Closing Date; provided,
however,
that
such period shall be extended automatically to include any time period necessary
to resolve a claim for indemnification which was made before expiration of
such
period, but not resolved prior to its expiration. Subject to the provisions
of
this Article IX,
liability for any such item shall continue until such claim shall have been
finally settled, decided or adjudicated.
9.4
Indemnification
Procedures for General Indemnity Claims.
(a)
Promptly
after receipt by a Buyer Indemnified Party or Seller Indemnified Party of notice
by a third party (including any Governmental Authority) of any complaint or
the
commencement of any audit, investigation, action or proceeding with respect
to
which such Buyer Indemnified Party or Seller Indemnified Party may be entitled
to receive indemnification pursuant to Section
9.2
or
Section
9.3,
as
applicable (for purposes of this Article IX,
such
Buyer Indemnified Party or Seller Indemnified Party being referred to as the
“Indemnitee”),
the
Indemnitee will notify the Person from which it seeks indemnification (for
purposes of this Article IX,
the
“Indemnitor”)
of the
commencement of such audit, investigation, action or proceeding; provided,
however,
that
the failure to so notify the Indemnitor will relieve the Indemnitor from
liability under this Article IX
with
respect to such claim only if, and only to the extent that, such failure to
notify the Indemnitor results in the forfeiture by the Indemnitor of rights
and
defenses otherwise available to the Indemnitor with respect to such claim.
The
Indemnitor will have the right, upon written notice delivered to the Indemnitee
within thirty (30) days thereafter assuming full responsibility for any Losses
resulting from such audit, investigation, action or proceeding, to assume the
defense of such audit, investigation, action or proceeding, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee and the payment
of the fees and disbursements of such counsel. In any audit, investigation,
action or proceeding for which the Indemnitor has assumed the defense, the
Indemnitee will have the right to participate in such matter and to retain
its
own counsel at the Indemnitee’s own expense. The Indemnitor will at all times
use reasonable best efforts to keep the Indemnitee reasonably apprised of the
status of the defense of any matter the defense of which the Indemnitor has
assumed and to cooperate in good faith with the Indemnitee with respect to
the
defense of any such matter.
If the
Indemnitor does not assume the defense of a particular audit, investigation,
action or proceeding, the Indemnitee may defend against such audit,
investigation, action or proceeding in any manner it reasonably may deem
appropriate, including with counsel of its choice, without prejudice to its
indemnification rights under this Article
IX,
and the
reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be borne by the
Indemnitor and shall be paid directly by it from time to time. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 9.4(a),
if in
any audit, investigation, action or proceeding for which the Indemnitor has
assumed the defense the defendants include the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor,
and the Indemnitee shall have been advised in writing by its counsel that there
may be material legal defenses available to it inconsistent with those available
to the Indemnitor, or if the Indemnitee shall have been advised in writing
by
its counsel that a conflict of interest exists between it and the Indemnitor
with respect to such audit, investigation, action or proceeding or the defense
thereof, then in either case, the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ
its
own counsel in such action, and in such case the reasonable fees and expenses
of
the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be borne by the Indemnitor and shall be paid by
it from time to time within thirty (30) days of receipt of appropriate invoices
therefore.
(b)
No
Indemnitee may settle or compromise any claim or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder without
the prior written consent of the Indemnitor, unless (i) the Indemnitor fails
to
assume and maintain the defense of such claim pursuant to Section
9.4(a)
or (ii)
such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional
-33-
release
of the Indemnitor and its officers, directors, employees and Affiliates from
all
liability arising out of such claim.
(c)
An
Indemnitor may not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, settle
or compromise any claim or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect
to
which indemnification is being sought hereunder unless (i) such settlement,
compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the Indemnitee and
its officers, directors, employees and Affiliates from all liability arising
out
of such claim, (ii) does not contain any admission or statement suggesting
any
wrongdoing or liability on behalf of the Indemnitee and (iii) does not contain
any equitable order, judgment or term which in any manner affects, restrains
or
interferes with the business of the Indemnitee or any of the Indemnitee’s
Affiliates.
(d)
Subject
to the provisions of this Article
IX,
Indemnitor shall pay or reimburse the Indemnitee for the full amount of any
Loss
relating to any claim, audit, investigation, action or proceeding brought
against the Indemnitee by a third party, within five (5) business days after
the
Indemnitor’s liability for such loss is deemed final by mutual written agreement
of the Indemnitor and Indemnitee, or by order of a court of competent
jurisdiction that is not subject to appeal, reconsideration or
review.
9.5
Indemnification
Procedures for Other General Indemnity Claims.
If an
Indemnitee notifies an Indemnitor of any claim for indemnification hereunder
that does not involve a third party claim, the Indemnitor shall, within thirty
(30) days after the date of such notice and subject to the provisions of this
Article
IX,
pay to
the Indemnitee the amount of Losses payable pursuant to this Article IX
and
shall thereafter pay any other Losses payable pursuant to this Article
IX
and
arising out of the same matter on demand, unless the Indemnitor disputes in
writing its liability for, or the amount of, any such Losses within such thirty
(30) day period, in which case such payment shall be made as provided above
in
respect of any matters not so disputed and, and any Losses in respect of the
matters so disputed shall be paid within five (5) business days after any
determination (by mutual agreement, litigation, arbitration or otherwise) that
the Indemnitee is liable therefor pursuant to this Article
IX.
9.6
Buyer’s
Specific Indemnification Obligations.
Buyer
shall, in addition to its obligations under Section
9.3
hereof,
indemnify and hold harmless XxXxxxxx and Xxxxxx for such Losses and in such
manner as are set forth on Schedule
9.6
hereto.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1
Notices.
All
notices, objections, requests, claims, demands, and other communications
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to
be
delivered and received (a) if personally delivered or, if delivered by courier
service, when actually received by the party to whom notice is sent (or upon
confirmation of receipt received by the sender), or (b) if delivered by mail
(whether actually received or not), at the close of business on the third
(3rd)
business day next following the day when placed in the mail, postage prepaid,
certified or registered, return receipt requested addressed to the appropriate
party or parties, at the address of such party set forth below (or at such
other
address as such party may designate by written notice to all other parties
in
accordance herewith):
-34-
to
Buyer:
TurboChef
Technologies, Inc.
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with
a
required copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
to
Seller:
Global
Appliance Technologies, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
to
the
Stockholders:
Xxxxx
X.
XxXxxxxx
0
Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
and
Xxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
-35-
with
a
copy to:
Fish
& Xxxxxxxxxx P.C.
00000
Xx
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
10.2
Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the documents referred to herein constitute the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and no party
shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any warranties,
representations or covenants with respect to such subject matter, except as
specifically set forth herein or therein.
10.3
Binding
Effect; Assignment.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No assignment or transfer
by any party of such party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement will be
made except with the prior written consent of the other parties to this
Agreement; provided,
however,
that
Buyer shall, without the obligation to obtain the prior written consent of
any
other party to this Agreement, be entitled to assign this Agreement or all
or
any part of its rights or obligations hereunder to one (1) or more its
Affiliates, and shall, prior to any such assignment, provide written notice
thereof to Seller and the Stockholders.
10.4
Third
Party Beneficiaries.
Nothing
in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any third
party any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of
this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
10.5
Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of
Georgia as applied to agreements among residents of Georgia made and to be
performed entirely within the State of Georgia, and without regard to the
conflicts of law principles as may otherwise be applicable.
10.6
Dispute
Resolution.
(a)
Except
as specifically provided in Section
10.6(d),
any
dispute, claim, question, or disagreement arising out of or relating to this
Agreement shall be solely and finally settled by binding arbitration in
accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Arbitration Rules (the
“Arbitration
Rules”)
of the
American Arbitration Association (“AAA”)
by a
panel of three arbitrators selected in accordance with the Arbitration Rules
(which arbitrators shall be generally knowledgeable in corporate transactions,
mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property law and the protection of
intellectual property).
(b)
The
parties agree that, unless otherwise selected by mutual agreement, any
arbitration proceeding hereunder shall be brought in Chicago,
Illinois.
(c)
Judgment
on the award of the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
over the party against which enforcement of the award is being
sought.
(d)
Any
party
hereto may, without inconsistency with this Agreement (including this
Section
10.6),
seek
from a court any interim or provisional relief, including injunctive or other
equitable relief, that may be necessary to protect the rights or property of
that party pending the selection of the arbitrators or pending the arbitrators’
determination of the merits of the controversy, or to otherwise enforce the
provisions of this Agreement, without first seeking or obtaining any decision
of
arbitrators
-36-
under
this Section
10.6,
even if
a similar or related matter has already been referred to arbitration in
accordance with the terms of this Section
10.6.
10.7
Specific
Performance.
Seller
and the Stockholders, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, acknowledge
and agree that Seller and the Stockholders, or Buyer, as applicable, would
be
damaged irreparably in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are
not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise are breached.
Accordingly, Seller and the Stockholders, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the
other hand, agree that Seller or any Stockholder, or Buyer, as applicable,
shall
be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and
the
terms and provisions hereof in addition to any other remedy to which it may
be
entitled, at law or in equity.
10.8
Counterparts
and Signature by Facsimile.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same
instrument. The facsimile signature of any party to this Agreement for purposes
of execution or otherwise, is to be considered as an original signature, and
the
document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as
an
original signature on an original document. At the request of any party, any
facsimile or telecopy document is to be re-executed in original form by the
parties who executed the facsimile or telecopy document. No party may raise
the
use of a facsimile machine or telecopier or the fact that any signature was
transmitted through the use of a facsimile or telecopier machine as a defense
to
the enforcement of this Agreement or any notice required thereof.
10.9
Attorneys’
Fees.
Should
any litigation or arbitration be commenced between the parties hereto concerning
this Agreement, the party prevailing in such litigation or arbitration shall
be
entitled, upon final judgment and expiration of all appeals, in addition to
such
other relief as may be granted, to a reasonable sum for attorneys’ fees and
costs in such litigation or arbitration, which shall be determined by the court
or arbitrator, as the case may be.
10.10
Severability.
In case
any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
it
shall to the extent practicable be modified so as to make it valid, legal and
enforceable and to retain as nearly as practicable the intent of the parties,
and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions
shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
10.11
Amendments;
Waivers; Delays or Omissions.
No
waiver, amendment, modification or change of any provision of this Agreement
shall be effective unless and until made in writing and signed by Buyer, Seller
and the Stockholders. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or
remedy accruing to any party upon any breach, default or noncompliance of
another party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or remedy,
nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or
noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach, default
or
noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver,
permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party
of
any breach, default or noncompliance under this Agreement or any waiver on
any
party’s part of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement must be in
writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in
such
writing and that all remedies, either under this Agreement or otherwise afforded
to a party shall be cumulative and not alternative.
10.12
Remedies
Cumulative.
No
right, remedy, or election given by any term of this Agreement shall be deemed
exclusive, but each shall be cumulative with all other rights, remedies, and
elections available at law or in equity.
10.13
Construction.
Seller,
the Stockholders and Buyer have participated jointly in the negotiation and
drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent
or
-37-
interpretation
arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by Seller,
the
Stockholders and Buyer and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
10.14
Mutual
Release of Officers, Directors and Stockholders Seller.
Each
Stockholder, for himself or itself, and his or its heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, or any of them hereby releases, and
forever discharges each officer, director and Stockholder of Seller (all such
persons hereinafter referred to individually and collectively as “Releasees”),
of
all and from all claims, demands, actions and causes of action, whether known
or
unknown, contingent or otherwise, which the Stockholders, or any one or more
them, have had, may now have, or in the future may have, against the Releasees,
or any one or more of them, and which are based upon, arise out of, or are
in
any way connected with this Agreement, any negotiations relating hereto, and
any
and all other matters relating to the conduct and operation of the Business,
on
or prior to the date hereof.
10.15
Appointment
of Stockholder Agents.
Each
Stockholder (other than Southern Californai Gas Company) hereby appoints
XxXxxxxx
and Xxxxxx, and each of them, as his, her or its agents and attorneys-in-fact
(except that this shall not create an attorney-client relationship), for and
on
such Stockholder’s behalf, to act as such Stockholder’s agents for all matters
involving this Agreement following the Closing, with full power and authority
to, among other things, take
action on behalf of Seller or any such Stockholder in connection with the
indemnification provisions of Article
IX
hereof.
Each
Stockholder (other than Southern California Gas Company) hereby agrees that
the
appointment of Messrs. Xxxxxx and XxXxxxxx as agents and attorneys-in-fact
(except that this shall not create an attorney-client relationship) is coupled
with an interest and shall be irrevocable except as provided by
Law.
[signatures
on following page]
-38-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties have executed and caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered
on
the date first above written.
BUYER:
TurboChef
Technologies, Inc.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chairman
SELLER:
Global
Appliance Technologies, Inc.
By:
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
STOCKHOLDERS:
/s/
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Xxxxx
X. XxXxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Southern
California Gas Company
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President, Customer Services
/s/
Xxxx XxxxXxxxxx
Xxxx
XxxxXxxxxx
|
[signatures
continued on following page]
-39-
[signatures
continued from previous page]
__________________
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
-40-