ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG Merisel fd, LLC FUEL Digital, INC. (“Seller”) AND SHAREHOLDERS OF SELLER dated as of October 4, 2006
EXHIBIT
2.1
BY
AND AMONG
Merisel
fd, LLC
FUEL
Digital, INC. (“Seller”)
AND
SHAREHOLDERS
OF SELLER
dated
as of October 4,
2006
THIS
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of the 4th
day of
October 2006 (this “Agreement”),
is
entered into by and among Merisel FD, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the “Purchaser”),
Fuel
Digital, Inc., a New York corporation (“Seller”),
and
the direct and indirect shareholders of the Seller set forth on the signature
pages attached hereto (each a “Shareholder”
and
collectively, the “Shareholders”).
Merisel, Inc. has executed this Agreement for purposes of Sections 2.7, 7.13,
7.17, 9.4(b) and 11.9 only.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
Seller is engaged in the Business (as defined below);
WHEREAS,
Seller wishes to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser wishes to purchase from
Seller, substantially all of the assets and properties of Seller and in
connection therewith Purchaser is willing to assume certain specified
liabilities of Seller relating thereto, all upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS,
the Shareholders are the holders of all of the issued and outstanding equity
interests of Seller and will receive direct and substantial benefits from
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and
WHEREAS,
Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement or consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby without the agreements of the Shareholders contained
herein.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties,
agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, Purchaser, Seller and Shareholders hereby agree as
follows:
DEFINITIONS
As
used
in this Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, the following definitions will apply:
“Accounts
Receivable”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.18.
“Acquired
Businesses”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.12.
“Action”
shall
mean any action, claim, complaint, petition, investigation, suit or other
proceeding, whether administrative, civil or criminal, in law or in equity,
or
before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
“Actual
Net Working Capital”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d).
“Actual
Tangible Net Worth”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d).
“Actual
Adjusted EBITDA”
shall
mean EBITDA of Seller for the period from October 1, 2005 through September
30,
2006, adjusted as an add-back or reduction from EBITDA by the amounts set forth
on Exhibit
A,
with
the components of EBITDA calculated in accordance with GAAP from the September
30, 2006 Financials.
“Affiliate”
shall
mean (a) an “affiliate” as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, (b) a Person who directly or indirectly controls,
is
controlled by or is under common control with the Person specified and (c)
any
Person owning directly or indirectly at least five percent (5%) of the
outstanding equity interests of any other Person. All Related Persons shall
be
deemed Affiliates of one another.
“Agreement”
shall
mean this Agreement, including all exhibits and schedules attached
hereto.
“Alternative
Transaction”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in section 7.5.
“Annual
Target EBITDA”
shall
mean $2,100,000 for Period One, Period Two and Period Three.
“Arbitration
Firm”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d)(ii).
“Assumed
Debt”
shall
mean bank debt, commercial debt (but not including any related party debt or
Operating Lease Obligations) and capital lease obligations, in each case
selected by Seller and identified pursuant to the agreements set forth on
Schedule 1.1(a), up to a maximum of $1,202,000 principal in the aggregate,
which
amount shall exclude interest on equipment leases for future installments,
Operating Lease Obligations which are reflected on the Estimated Closing Date
Balance Sheet or Schedule 1.1(d), real property leases and all Liabilities
of
the types expressly set forth on Exhibit B as Assumed Liabilities.
“Assumed
Liabilities”
shall
mean only the following items without duplication:
(a) the
Liabilities of the types expressly set forth on Exhibit
B
hereto
as of the Closing Date as reflected on the Estimated Closing Date Balance
Sheet;
(b)
the
Assumed Debt (subject to the limitations in the definition thereof);
(c) Liabilities
under the Contracts which are Purchased Assets arising after the Closing Date,
but not including any Liability, obligation or commitment for any breach thereof
by Seller occurring prior to the Closing Date; and
(d) Such
additional Liabilities set forth on Exhibit B hereto.
provided,
that,
in no
event shall any Excluded Liability be an Assumed Liability. For avoidance of
doubt, any Assumed Liabilities, including those relating to employees, shall
be
adequately reflected or reserved for on the Closing Date Balance Sheet or set
forth on Exhibit B hereto.
“Assumed
Sales Tax”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.19(e).
“Audited
September 30, 2006 Financials”
shall
mean an audit of the balance sheet, statement of income and cash flow statement
of Seller as of and for the twelve (12) month period ended September 30, 2006
prepared in accordance with GAAP which shall comply with all requirements for
financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Auditor”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d).
“Benefit
Plans”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.10.
“Books
and Records”
shall
mean Seller’s books, ledgers, files, records, manuals, and other materials (in
any form or medium, including electronic and computer files), including, but
not
limited to, all correspondence, personnel records, payroll records, purchasing
materials and records, vendor lists, operation and quality control records
and
procedures, research and development files, Intellectual Property disclosures
and documentation, sales order files, purchase order files, advertising
materials, catalogs, product brochures, mailing lists, customer files, customer
lists, distribution lists, sales and promotional materials, and all other
records utilized by Seller and all computer software and data files necessary
to
access or review or continue to compile or utilize any of the foregoing, except
for Seller’s minute and stock books.
“Business”
shall
mean the business conducted by Seller on the date hereof, including, but not
limited to retouching, pre-press, digital photo printing and studio
photography.
“Capital
Expenditures”
shall
mean all capital expenditures, capital additions or capital improvements made
by
a Person in accordance with GAAP.
“Closing”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1.
“Closing
Date”
shall
mean October 4, 2006.
“Closing
Date Balance Sheet”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d). A template for the
Closing Date Balance Sheet is attached hereto as Exhibit
C.
“Closing
Payment”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.5(b).
“COBRA”
shall
mean Code Section 4980B, Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and any
applicable state law providing for similar group health plan continuation
coverage.
“Code”
shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, together with all rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Confidential
Information”
shall
mean all proprietary or confidential property, information or knowledge of
Seller and the Business including without limitation: (a) all records concerning
products or services provided to customers; (b) all information containing
pricing policies, the prices charged to customers, the volume or orders of
customers and other information concerning transactions with customers; (c)
customer lists; (d) financial information; forecasts, budgets, marketing
information, research and development, expansion plans, management policies
and
methods of operation, (e) information concerning salaries or wages paid to,
the
work records of and other personnel information relative to employees; (f)
confidential information of other Persons; (g) technical data specifications,
programs, documentation and analyses, and (h) all Intellectual Property owned
or
licensed, including all source code and trade secrets within any such
Intellectual Property, except to the extent that such confidential information
(i) becomes a matter of public record, or is published in a newspaper, magazine
or other periodical available to the general public, other than as a result
of
any act or omission of Seller or any Shareholder, (ii) is based upon the
knowledge and expertise of the Person using it developed prior to his/her/its
association with Seller and can be obtained independently by him/her/it without
use of the records of Seller or (iii) is required to be disclosed by any law,
regulation or order of any court or regulatory commission, department or
agency.
“Consent”
shall
mean any consent, approval, authorization, waiver, permit, grant, franchise,
license, exemption or order of, any registration, certificate, qualification,
declaration or filing with, or any notice to, any Person, including, without
limitation, any Governmental Authority.
“Contingent
Payment”
shall
mean, for any period during the Earnout Period, an amount equal to $416,666.66
provided the EBITDA of Purchaser in such period equals or exceeds the Annual
Target EBITDA, provided,
however,
the
Contingent Payment for Period Two shall be $416,666.67 if the EBITDA of
Purchaser in such period equals or exceeds the Annual Target EBITDA or the
aggregate EBITDA of Purchaser in Period One and Period Two equals or exceeds
$4,200,000; and the Contingent Payment in Period Three shall be $416,666.67
if
the EBITDA of Purchaser in such period equals or exceeds the Annual Target
EBITDA, EBITDA of Purchaser in Period Two and Period Three equals or exceeds
$4,200,000, or the aggregate EBITDA of Purchaser in Period One, Period Two
and
Period Three equals or exceeds $6,300,000. In no event shall the Contingent
Payment exceed $1,250,000.
“Contracts”
shall
mean any written or oral contract, agreement, instrument, obligation, order,
arrangement, license, commitment or understanding of any nature.
“Corinella
Proceeding”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 7.14.
“Current
Assets”
shall
mean all current assets on the Closing Date Balance Sheet that are Purchased
Assets, calculated in accordance with GAAP
“Current
Liabilities”
shall
mean all current liabilities on the Closing Date Balance Sheet that are Assumed
Liabilities, calculated in accordance with GAAP.
“Disposal”
shall
have the meaning set forth at 42 U.S.C. § 6903(3).
“EBITDA”
shall
mean net income of a Person before taking into account deductions for interest,
taxes, the depreciation of assets, the amortization of costs, expenses in
connection with this transaction, including earn out payments, if any, and
Public Company Expenses in excess of $360,000 for the Period, excluding in
all
cases (i) any income or earnings not generated in the ordinary course of
business (including interest income) and (ii) financial results of assets,
businesses or entities acquired after Closing by Purchaser or any Affiliate,
with all components of EBITDA determined in accordance with GAAP from financial
statements which shall comply with all requirements for financial statements
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“EEOC”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.22(f).
“Earnout
Period”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.7.
“Employment
Agreements”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.2(e)(iii).
“Environment”
shall
have the meaning set forth at 15 U.S.C. § 2602(5).
“Environmental
Law”
shall
mean Laws relating or concerning (a) protection of or damage to (i) the
Environment, (ii) human health or (iii) occupational health and safety; or
(b)
the manufacture, use, transport, treatment, storage, remediation, emission,
discharge, Disposal, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Substances.
By
way of example only, Laws include the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”),
42
U.S.C. § 9601 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(“RCRA”),
42
U.S.C. § 6901 et seq, the Hazardous Materials Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X.
§0000 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. (“CWA”),
the
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq., the Toxic Substances Xxxxxxx Xxx, 00
X.X.X. §0000 et seq. (“TSCA”),
the
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Xxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. § 00000 et seq.,
and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”),
29
U.S.C. § 651 et seq., all regulations and guidance applicable thereto, and
each corresponding state or local Law.
“Environmental
Liability”
means
any and all Liabilities, obligations to investigate, remediate, cleanup or
xxxxx, expenses, damages, deficiencies, fines, penalties, sanctions and costs
of
any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of, relating to or directly or
indirectly associated with, the compliance with or Liability under any
Environmental Law.
“Environmental
Permit”
shall
mean any License required by or pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Equity
Securities”
shall
mean with respect to any Person, (a) any capital stock, partnership, membership,
joint venture or other ownership or equity interest, participation or securities
(whether voting or non-voting, whether preferred, common or otherwise, and
including any stock appreciation, contingent interest or similar right), and
(b)
any option, warrant, security or other right (including debt securities)
directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for,
or
otherwise representing the right to acquire directly or indirectly any ownership
or equity interest, participation or security described in clause (a)
above.
“ERISA”
shall
mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is or which has at
any
time been considered a single employer with Seller within the meaning of Section
414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
“Estimated
Cash Purchase Price”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(a).
“Estimated
Adjustment Amount”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(c).
“Estimated
Closing Date Balance Sheet”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(b).
“Estimated
Net Working Capital”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(b).
“Estimated
Tangible Net Worth”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(b).
“Excluded
Assets”
shall
mean:
(a) Seller’s
rights under this Agreement or any other document or agreement delivered to
or
received by Seller in connection herewith;
(b) the
Excluded Contracts;
(c)
all
cash
on deposit in Seller’s bank accounts on the Closing Date not reflected on the
Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet;
(d) all
receivables not exceeding $125,000 in the aggregate from employees or
stockholders not reflected on the Estimated Closing Date Balance
Sheet;
(e) all
life
insurance policies insuring the lives of the Shareholders and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
not reflected on the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet; and
(f) the
rights to all damages, costs and fees received in the Corinella Proceeding
not
reflected on the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet.
“Excluded
Contracts”
shall
mean (i) all Contracts set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) and (ii) all Contracts
and
Leases of Seller other than Purchased Contracts.
“Excluded
Liabilities”
shall
mean any Liabilities of Seller, which are not Assumed Liabilities, whether
arising before, on or after the Closing Date, including, without limitation:
(a) all
Liabilities arising or resulting from or relating to the conduct of the Business
prior to the Closing Date or arising or resulting from or relating to claims
or
actions made, or facts, events or circumstances that became or become known,
before, on or after the Closing related to periods prior to the Closing Date
other than Assumed Liabilities;
(b) all
Liabilities for Taxes and deferred Tax Liabilities (other than any sales taxes
in the aggregate not in excess of $240,000 which relate to Assumed Liabilities
or Accounts Receivable included in the Purchased Assets, provided such sales
tax
liability is reflected on the Closing Date Balance Sheet) that have been or
may
be incurred as a result of Seller’s operation of the Business or ownership of
the Purchased Assets prior to Closing;
(c) all
Liabilities arising in connection with any Action, private or public, whether
instituted or threatened prior to or after the Closing, arising out of conduct
of the Business or any facts or circumstances existing prior to and including
the Closing Date, including without limitation, those matters set forth on
Schedule 4.11;
(d) allowances
or adjustments (including adjustments in rates charged prior to the Closing)
to
which customers, clients, contractors or other Persons purchasing, acquiring
or
otherwise receiving services or products may be entitled either on or after
the
Closing based on facts, circumstances and events that existed or occurred prior
to the Closing that are greater than the reserve amounts included in the Closing
Date Balance Sheet;
(e) any
Liability arising from or due to (i) alleged or actual non-compliance by Seller
or any Affiliate or the Business with Environmental Law or Environmental Permits
prior to Closing, or arising from events or circumstances arising prior to
Closing, or (ii) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance
into the Environment at, on, or from any Real Property prior to Closing, or
arising from events or circumstances arising prior to Closing, or (iii) the
Release or threatened Release into the Environment of any Hazardous Substance
generated due to Business operations, facts or circumstances that exist prior
to
Closing;
(f)
all
Liabilities arising under Contracts that are Purchased Assets with respect
to
events and periods prior to the Closing, or in connection with any breach
thereof prior to Closing or arising from events or circumstances arising partly
or wholly prior to Closing;
(g) Liabilities
relating to any Indebtedness or to any Trade Payables and Accruals that are
not
Assumed Liabilities;
(h) Liabilities
to Affiliates of Seller;
(i) Liabilities
to or with respect to current or former shareholders, employees, independent
contractors, officers or directors of Seller, including under existing
employment agreements of Seller, or Liabilities under any Benefit Plan; other
than Liabilities to the Hired Employees arising entirely from events and
circumstances occurring subsequent to the Closing Date;
(j) Liabilities
relating to Excluded Contracts and the Excluded Assets;
(k) any
Liability incurred by Seller or its Affiliates to pay any fee or commission
to
any broker, finder, investment banker or other intermediary or any other deal
related costs and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement;
(l) Liabilities
covered by insurance arising out of events, circumstances, or conditions
occurring or existing prior to Closing;
(m) Liabilities
resulting from any violation of Law arising out of events, circumstances, or
conditions occurring or existing prior to Closing;
(n) Liabilities
of Seller arising after the Closing;
(o) Liabilities
relating to those matters set forth on Exhibit
D;
(p) Liabilities
relating to the Corinella Proceeding; and
(q) Liabilities
relating to the property located at 000 0xx
Xxxxxx
xx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx.
“Family
Member”
shall
mean with respect to a Person, any parent, any spouse, any natural or adoptive
sibling or any spouse thereof, and any direct lineal descendant (natural or
adoptive) of any of the foregoing.
“Final
Adjustment Amount”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d).
“FF&E”
shall
mean machinery, equipment, computers, peripherals, software booked as FF&E,
office equipment, furnishings, leasehold improvements, vehicles, tools, supplies
and other tangible assets.
“Financial
Statements”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.7(a).
“GAAP”
shall
mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, in effect
from time to time.
“Governmental
Authority”
shall
mean any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof,
any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including, without
limitation, any governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission
or
instrumentality of the United States, any State of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof, and any tribunal or arbitrator(s) of competent
jurisdiction, and any self-regulatory organization.
“Hazardous
Substance”
shall
mean all liquid, solid, or gaseous (a) contaminants, (b) pollutants (as defined
at 33 U.S.C. 1362(6) and/or 40 U.S.C. 7412(b)(1), as amended or supplemented
by
regulation), (c) solid waste (as defined at 42 U.S.C. 6903(27)), (d) hazardous
waste (as defined at 42 U.S.C. 6903(5)), (e) hazardous substances (as defined
at
42 U.S.C. 9601(14)), (f) chemical substances (as defined at 15 U.S.C. §
2602(2)), (g) substances harmful to human health or the Environment, (h)
petroleum and petroleum products, fractions and constituents, (i) asbestos
and
asbestos-containing materials, (j) polychlorinated biphenyls, (k) lead
(including lead paint), (l) radon, (m) radioactive material or waste, (n)
flammables and explosives, (o) “mold” or microbial matter, and (p) biologic or
medical waste.
“Hired
Employees”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 7.6.
“Holdback
Amount”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.5(c).
“Indebtedness”
shall
mean all (a) obligations for borrowed money, (b) notes, bonds, debentures,
mortgages and similar obligations, (c) obligations for the deferred purchase
price of assets, property, or services (excluding ordinary course trade
payables), (d) capital obligations and leases, and (e) guaranties and contingent
obligations for the debts of another Person, (f) accounts payable or other
liabilities not arising in the ordinary course of business, (g) accounts payable
for equipment purchases, (h) accounts payable that are more than ninety (90)
days past their due dates (other than accounts payable to Xxxxxx for a SHERPA
machine), (i) obligations in respect of letters of credit (other than the letter
of credit used for the security deposit in Seller’s lease agreement for office
space located at 000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx), bonds, guaranties,
reimbursement agreements and similar instruments, (j) obligations in respect
of
futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, options or similar arrangements,
(k) off balance sheet financing transactions, (l) all obligations under
facilities for the discount or sale of receivables and (m) all obligations
that
are required to be classified as long term liabilities on financial statements
including footnotes thereon under GAAP ( in each case whether such obligations
are contingent or otherwise) other than Operating Lease
Obligations.
“Indemnitee”
shall
mean a Purchaser Indemnitee or Seller Indemnitee as applicable.
“Indemnitor”
shall
mean any party against whom a claim for indemnification is made under this
Agreement.
“Intellectual
Property”
shall
mean all of the intellectual or intangible property owned or licensed to Seller
or in which Seller has any right or interest, including, without limitation,
Seller’s trademarks, trademark registrations and applications, service marks,
trade names, corporate names and fictitious names, copyrights, copyright
registrations, works of authorship, patents, patent applications, industrial
design registrations and applications, integrated circuit topography
applications and registrations, design rights, inventions, trade secrets, data,
technical information, Confidential Information, designs, plans, specifications,
formulas, processes, patterns, compilations, devices, techniques, mask works,
methods, shop rights, know-how, show-how, and other business or technical
confidential or proprietary information in each case whether or not such rights
are patentable, copyrightable, or registrable; Software and computer hardware
programs and systems, source code, object code, know-how, show-how, processes,
formula, specifications and designs, databases, and documentation relating
to
the foregoing; all domain names and Internet addresses, and content with respect
to Internet websites including such consent in its electronic form and other
proprietary information owned, controlled, created, under development or used
by
or on behalf of Seller in whole or in part and whether or not registrable or
registered, and any registrations or applications for the
foregoing.
“Inventory”
shall
mean all quantities of inventory, including raw materials, works in progress,
finished goods (whether or not in the possession of Seller), consigned
inventory, spare parts, replacement and component parts, materials, supplies
and
packaging items.
“Knowledge”
shall
mean and include as to (i) Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, all facts and other matters which each such individual
knows
or would have known upon the exercise of reasonably diligent efforts and (ii)
Seller shall mean and include all facts and other matters that any of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx or Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx knows or would
have known upon the exercise of reasonably diligent efforts.
“Law”
shall
mean all laws of any nation or political subdivision thereof, including, without
limitation, all federal, state, provincial, local, or foreign constitutions,
treaties, statutes, rules, codes, regulations, ordinances, administrative
guidance, judgments, orders, decrees, injunctions, awards, common law duties,
or
reported decisions of any state, provincial, federal or other court or
tribunal.
“Leased
Real Property”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.16.
“Leases”
shall
mean all leases, subleases, or other occupancy agreements, licenses, and lease
agreements for equipment, machinery, furnishings, vehicles or tools, together
with all amendments, supplements and nondisturbance agreements pertaining
thereto, under which Seller subleases, licenses, occupies or uses any real
or
personal property.
“Liabilities”
shall
mean liabilities, obligations, claims or commitments of any nature, whether
fixed, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether liquidated,
matured or unmatured, known or unknown, determined, determinable or otherwise
and regardless of whether such liability, obligation, claim or commitment is
immediately due and payable.
“License”
shall
mean any license, permit, franchise, consent, authorization, right, privilege,
variance, exemption, order or approval issued or granted by any Governmental
Authority.
“Lien”
shall
mean any charge, claim, lien, option, pledge, security interest, mortgage,
deed
of trust, assignment, deposit arrangement, priority or other preferential
arrangement, right of first refusal, easement, title defect, or encumbrance
of
any kind, excluding Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable.
“Losses”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 9.2.
“Majority
Shareholder”
shall
mean Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
shall
mean a material adverse effect on, or any event, fact circumstance, condition
or
change that, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have
a
material adverse effect on, (a) the assets, business, operations, condition
(financial or otherwise), Properties, management, Liabilities, obligations,
earnings, results of operations or prospects of Seller or the Business, (b)
the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement and/or any or all of the Related
Documents or (c) the right or ability of Seller, any of its Affiliates or the
Shareholders to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby.
“Material
Contracts”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.12.
“Minimum
Adjusted EBITDA”
shall
mean $2,100,000.
“Minimum
Basket”
shall
have the meaning given to each term in Section 9.3(a).
“Minority
Shareholder”
shall
mean Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx.
“Net
Working Capital”
shall
mean (i) all Current Assets less (ii) all Current Liabilities.
“Operating
Lease Obligations”
shall
mean all equipment lease obligations that are not treated as capital lease
obligations by Seller, for which the original book value of the underlying
equipment was not in excess of $10,000, and which are set forth on Schedule
1.1(d).
“Ordinary
Course of Business”
shall
mean in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with Seller’s past custom
and practice.
“Pension
Plan”
shall
mean an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of
ERISA.
“Period”
shall
mean Period One, Period Two or Period Three, as applicable.
“Period
One”
shall
mean the twelve month period beginning on the first day of the calendar month
beginning after the Closing Date.
“Period
Two”
shall
mean the twelve month period beginning on the day after the end of Period
One.
“Period
Three”
shall
mean the twelve month period beginning on the day after the end of Period
Two.
“Person”
shall
mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, individual,
unincorporated organization or a governmental agency or political subdivision
thereof, as the context may require.
“Proceeding”
shall
mean any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation, or
suit
(whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or informal) commenced,
brought, conducted, or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any
governmental body or arbitrator.
“Products”
shall
mean any and all products or services designed, fabricated, manufactured,
distributed, provided, performed or sold at any time after January 1, 2004
by or
on behalf of the Business or Seller.
“Property”
shall
mean any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal
or
mixed, and whether tangible or intangible of Seller.
“Public
Company Expense”
shall
mean any of the following amounts to the extent charged to Purchaser after
the
Closing: (i) audit fees, (ii) fees of counsel relating to public company
requirements, (iii) fees of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nasdaq
National Market, or any other national exchange or quotation service, (iv)
charges for Purchaser’s parent legal personnel relating to public company
requirements including, but not limited to, any fees or expenses incurred to
comply with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 or related regulations, or (v) other
corporate overhead charges.
“Purchase
Price”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(d).
“Purchase
Price Adjustment”
shall
mean (A) if the Actual Adjusted EBITDA is $2,075,000 or greater than $2,075,000
but less than the Minimum Adjusted EBITDA, (i) the Estimated Cash Purchase
Price
less (ii) the difference between Minimum Adjusted EBITDA and Actual Adjusted
EBITDA, and (B) if the Actual Adjusted EBITDA is less than $2,075,000 than
$25,000 plus the figure arrived at by multiplying 3.57 by the difference between
(i) $2,075,000 and (ii) Actual Adjusted EBITDA.
“Purchased
Assets”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1.
“Purchased
Contracts”
shall
mean the following other than the Excluded Contracts set forth on Schedule
1.1(b): (i) all Contracts to sell products or services to customers of the
Business, (ii) all Leases for the Leased Real Property, provided such leases
are
set forth on Schedule 4.16 and (iii) any other Contract or Lease set forth
on
Schedule 1.1(c).
“Purchaser”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Purchaser
Indemnitees”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 9.2.
“Real
Property”
shall
mean any real property currently or formerly owned, operated, leased or occupied
by Seller (or any predecessors).
“Receivables”
means
all notes, deposits and Accounts Receivable in favor of Seller and all notes,
bonds and other evidence of Indebtedness of and rights to receive payments
from
any person in favor of Seller.
“Related
Documents”
shall
mean the Transfer Documents and all other agreements and documents contemplated
hereunder or thereunder, and any and all amendments or modifications
thereto.
“Related
Person”
shall
mean any Person in which a specified Person owns any material economic interest,
and any other Affiliate or Family Member of such specified Person.
“Release”
shall
mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
abandonment, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing of a Hazardous
Substance into or onto air, soil, surface water and/or groundwater (as defined
at 42 U.S.C. 9601(12)).
“SEC”
shall
mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Seller”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Seller
Advance Payments”
shall
mean, with respect to Seller, payments with respect to the Business made by
Seller for goods or services on or prior to the Closing Date, to the extent
such
goods or services are not fully used or received by the Business as of the
Closing Date, including without limitation all credits, prepaid expenses,
deferred charges, advance payments, security deposits, prepaid rent, prepaid
Taxes, prepaid advertising and prepaid items.
“Seller
Customer Deposits”
shall
mean, with respect to Seller, deposits received by Seller from customers and
subscribers of the Business on or prior to the Closing Date, including deposits
by customers whose creditworthiness requires payments in advance.
“Seller
Customer Prepayments”
shall
mean, with respect to Seller, payments received by Seller for goods or services
from customers and subscribers of the Business where such goods or services
are
not fully delivered or performed by Seller as of the Closing Date.
“Seller
Employees”
shall
mean collectively, any and all current, former and retired employees of
Seller.
“Shareholders”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Software”
shall
mean any and all of the following: (i) computer programs, including any and
all
software implementations of algorithms, heuristics, models and methodologies,
whether in source code or object code, (ii) testing, validation, verification
and quality assurance materials (iii) databases, conversions, interpreters
and
compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether
machine readable or otherwise, (iv) descriptions, schematics, flow-charts and
other work product used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the
foregoing, (v) all documentation, including user manuals, web materials and
architectural and design specifications and training materials, relating to
any
of the foregoing, (vi) software development processes, practices, methods and
policies recorded in permanent form, relating to any of the foregoing, and
(vii)
performance metrics, sightings, bug and feature lists, build, release and change
control manifests recorded in permanent form, relating to any of the
foregoing.
“Tangible
Net Worth”
shall
mean tangible Purchased Assets (excluding, for avoidance of doubt, goodwill
and
noncompete assets) less Assumed Liabilities determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Tax
Claim”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 8.3.
“Tax
Return”
shall
mean any return, report, information return, registration form or other document
(including any related or supporting information filed therewith) related to
the
obligations of any Person filed or required to be filed with any Governmental
Authority in connection with the determination of any Tax or the administration
of any Laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any
Tax.
“Taxes”
shall
mean any income, alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross
receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, franchise, profits, license, withholding,
payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, real
property, personal property, or windfall profit tax, custom duty or other tax,
governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever,
addition to tax or additional amount related to the obligations of any Person,
imposed by any Governmental Authority responsible for the imposition of any
such
tax (domestic or foreign), but only if and to the extent attributable to periods
(or partial periods) prior to and including the Closing Date, together with
any
penalty thereon or in connection therewith and any interest on or in connection
with any of the foregoing (including any penalty).
“Threshold
Net Working Capital”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(c).
“Threshold
Tangible Net Worth”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(c).
“Trade
Payables and Accruals”
shall
mean all trade payables and accrued Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of business by Seller.
“Transfer
Documents”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.2(e).
“Transfer
Taxes”
shall
have the meaning given to such term in Section 8.5.
(a) When
a
reference is made in this Agreement to Articles or Sections, such reference
shall be to an Article or a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes,” or “including” are used in
this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation”, whether or not so stated. Any singular term in this Agreement shall
be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular.
(b) The
table
of contents, titles, captions and headings of the Articles and Sections herein,
and the use of a particular gender, are for convenience of reference only and
are not intended to be a part of or to affect or restrict the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(c) The
Exhibits and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein
by
reference and made a part hereof.
SALE
AND PURCHASE OF ASSETS
.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Seller shall, at the
Closing, sell, transfer, convey, assign, grant and deliver to Purchaser, and
Purchaser shall, at the Closing, purchase and acquire from Seller, free and
clear of all Liens (except as set forth on Schedule 2.1), all right, title
and
interest in and to all properties, rights, interests, tangible and intangible
assets of Seller (other than Excluded Assets) (the “Purchased
Assets”),
including without limitation:
(i) all
FF&E;
(ii) all
Receivables;
(iii) all
Inventory;
(iv) the
Purchased Contracts;
(v) all
patents, copyrights, trademarks and service marks (whether registered or
unregistered), all names (and variations thereof), all assumed fictional
business names and trade names, including without limitation, the items set
forth on Schedule 2.1(v) hereto;
(vi) all
other
Intellectual Property, including without limitation the Intellectual Property
described on Schedule 2.1(vi);
(vii) all
design tools, order management and other management tools, manufacturing tools
and test equipment, including laboratory testing equipment, whether located
at
the facilities of Seller or the facilities of a third party;
(viii) all
Seller Advance Payments, Seller Customer Deposits and Seller Customer
Prepayments;
(ix) the
Leased Real Property;
(x) all
Books
and Records;
(xi) to
the
extent transferable, all Licenses from any Governmental Authority relating
to
the operation of the Business;
(xii) to
the
extent transferable, all insurance policies held by Seller (other than life
insurance policies insuring the lives of the Shareholders and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx)
or that may have been issued to Seller and in effect at any time during Seller’s
operation of the Business, including without limitation, on the Leased Real
Property, including the right to any proceeds thereunder but excluding any
insurance policies with respect to any Benefit Plan;
(xiii) all
guarantees, warranties, indemnities and similar rights in favor of Seller or
any
of the Purchased Assets;
(xiv) all
telephone and facsimile numbers, post office boxes, and cash in amounts equal
to
Seller Customer Deposits or Seller Customer Prepayments at the Closing;
(xv) all
domain names and Internet addresses, and content with respect to Internet
websites, including such content in its electronic form;
(xvi) all
rights, claims, causes of action against any Person other than claims against
any person related to an Excluded Liability;
(xvii) all
other
tangible or intangible property, rights and assets of Seller; and
(xviii) all
goodwill of the Business.
At
the
Closing, Purchaser shall not purchase and Seller shall retain all right, title
and interest in and to the Excluded Assets.
At
the
Closing, Purchaser shall assume only the Assumed Liabilities as existing on
the
Closing Date and subject to any limitations set forth in the definition of
Assumed Liabilities. Assumed Liabilities shall not exceed the amounts reflected
on the Closing Date Balance Sheet or set forth on Exhibit B, and any excess
shall be an Excluded Liability.
Except
as
expressly provided herein or in any Schedule or Exhibit hereto, Purchaser shall
not assume any of the Excluded Liabilities and all Excluded Liabilities shall
remain the exclusive Liabilities of Seller. Seller shall pay, perform or
otherwise discharge, as the same shall become due in accordance with their
respective terms, all of the Excluded Liabilities.
On
the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, as consideration for
the
sale, transfer, assignment and delivery of the Purchased Assets to Purchaser
at
the Closing:
(a) Purchaser
shall assume the Assumed Liabilities as provided herein;
(b) Purchaser
shall deliver to Seller at Closing cash by wire transfer to Seller’s designated
account in an amount equal to the Estimated Cash Purchase Price less the
Holdback Amount, subject to the adjustment in Section 2.6 (the “Closing
Payment”).
(c) Purchaser
shall deposit $937,500 of the Purchase Price (the “Holdback
Amount”)
in
escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit
E
(the
“Escrow
Agreement”)
to
satisfy claims against Seller or Shareholders in connection with this Agreement,
including claims under the provisions set forth in Section 2.6 or Article 8
or
9. After satisfaction of any claims pursuant to Section 2.6 and/or Articles
8 or
9, the lower of (i) $625,000, and (ii) two thirds of the Holdback Amount
remaining after satisfaction of claims pursuant to Section 2.6 and Articles
8
and 9 shall be released (x) if there is no dispute concerning the Closing Date
Balance Sheet, thirty (30) days following the delivery of the Closing Date
Balance Sheet in accordance with Section 2.6(d), or (y) if there is a dispute
concerning the Closing Date Balance Sheet, within thirty (30) days following
the
resolution of such dispute pursuant to Section 2.6(d)(ii); provided
that, to
the extent any portion of the Holdback Amount is undisputed, such undisputed
portion after deducting therefrom fees and expenses payable to the Arbitration
Firm by the Seller pursuant to Section 2.6(d)(ii), as estimated by such
Arbitration Firm, shall be released on the earlier of that date which is thirty
(30) days following the delivery of the Closing Date Balance Sheet or that
date
which is five (5) business days following the date on which there is no longer
a
dispute regarding that portion of the Holdback Amount, and any remaining amount,
as the case may be, of the Holdback Amount shall be released to Seller after
satisfaction of claims pursuant to Articles 8 and 9, if any, upon the one year
anniversary of the Closing Date, all in accordance with the provisions of the
Escrow Agreement; provided,
that,
any
remaining amount in excess of such claims shall be released upon the one year
anniversary of the Closing Date after deducting therefrom estimated legal fees
and expenses (including, without limitation, accountants and experts fees)
payable to the Purchaser pursuant to Articles 8 and 9 after the one year
anniversary of the Closing Date, as determined by the Purchaser in its sole
discretion. The Holdback Amount is a non-exclusive source of payment for claims
hereunder.
(d) Subject
to Section 9.6 hereof, Purchaser shall pay the Contingent Payment, if any,
in
accordance with Section 2.7.
(a) The
amount of the “Estimated
Cash Purchase Price”
shall
be Six Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($6,150,000), as adjusted
pursuant to this Section 2.6.
(b) No
later
than three business days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and
deliver to Purchaser an estimated balance sheet of the Business being purchased
by Purchaser, which shall include only the Purchased Assets and Assumed
Liabilities and shall exclude the Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities,
as
of the start of business on the Closing Date, prepared in accordance with GAAP
(the “Estimated
Closing Date Balance Sheet”),
and a
calculation of the estimated Net Working Capital of Seller as of the start
of
business on the Closing Date (“Estimated
Net Working Capital”)
and of
the estimated Tangible Net Worth of Seller as of the start of business on the
Closing Date (“Estimated
Tangible Net Worth”),
together with the detailed work papers which support the Estimated Closing
Date
Balance Sheet.
(c) Purchaser
shall review the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet and the calculations
of
Estimated Net Working Capital and Estimated Tangible Net Worth, and the parties
shall resolve in good faith any disagreements concerning such estimates prior
to
the anticipated Closing Date. The Estimated Cash Purchase Price shall be
decreased by an amount (the “Estimated
Adjustment Amount”)
equal
to the sum of (i) the amount by which Estimated Net Working Capital is less
than
$700,000 (“Threshold
Net Working Capital”)
and
(ii) the amount by which Estimated Tangible Net Worth is less than $870,000
(“Threshold
Tangible Net Worth”),
if
any.
(d) After
the
Closing, Actual Net Working Capital and Actual Tangible Net Worth will be
determined as follows:
(i) Within
sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing, Purchaser shall cause Xxxxxxxxx
Kass
or another nationally recognized accounting firm (the “Auditor”)
to
prepare and deliver to Seller the Audited September 30, 2006 Financials. The
balance sheet included in the Audited September 30, 2006 Financials shall be
prepared prior to giving effect to the Closing and shall include the line items
set forth on Exhibit C (the “Closing
Date Balance Sheet”),
and a
calculation of the Net Working Capital of Seller as of September 30, 2006 prior
to giving effect to the Closing (“Actual
Net Working Capital”)
and of
the Tangible Net Worth of Seller as of September 30, 2006 prior to giving effect
to the Closing (“Actual
Tangible Net Worth”).
A
physical inventory shall be conducted over the weekend prior to Closing in
accordance with GAAP. Seller shall have a period of thirty (30) days from
receipt of the Closing Date Balance Sheet to review such balance sheet and
Purchaser’s calculation of Actual Net Working Capital and Actual Tangible Net
Worth. In connection therewith, Purchaser shall provide Seller and its
representatives with access to all records and workpapers necessary to compute
and verify the Closing Date Balance Sheet, the Actual Net Working Capital,
and
the Actual Tangible Net Worth. Purchaser shall be responsible for payment of
the
Auditor’s fees for auditing the Closing Date Balance Sheet and the Seller and
Shareholders shall extend all possible cooperation to the Auditor.
(ii) Within
thirty (30) calendar days following receipt by Seller of the Closing Date
Balance Sheet, Seller shall deliver written notice (a “Notice
of Disagreement”)
to
Purchaser of any dispute Seller has with respect to the preparation or content
of such Closing Date Balance Sheet. The Notice of Disagreement must describe
in
reasonable detail the items contained in the Closing Date Balance Sheet that
Seller disputes and the basis for any such dispute. If Seller does not notify
Purchaser in writing of a dispute with respect to the Closing Date Balance
Sheet
within such thirty (30)-day period, the calculation of Actual Net Working
Capital and Actual Tangible Net Worth reflected in the Closing Date Balance
Sheet will be final, conclusive and binding on Seller, Shareholders and
Purchaser. If a Notice of Disagreement is delivered to Purchaser, Purchaser
and
Seller shall negotiate in good faith to resolve the disputed items contained
therein. If Purchaser and Seller, notwithstanding such good faith effort, fail
to resolve such disputed items within fifteen (15) days after delivery of the
Notice of Disagreement to Purchaser, then Purchaser and Seller jointly shall
engage a recognized independent public accounting firm as may be mutually agreed
(the “Arbitration
Firm”),
to
resolve such disputed items in accordance GAAP. Seller and Purchaser shall
cooperate in the engagement of the Arbitration Firm and shall use reasonable
efforts to cause the Arbitration Firm to render a written decision resolving
the
matters submitted to the Arbitration Firm as promptly as practicable. The scope
of the disputes to be resolved by the Arbitration Firm will be limited to the
items in dispute that were properly included in the Notice of Disagreement.
The
Arbitration Firm’s decision will be based on written submissions by Seller and
its representatives and written submissions by Purchaser and its representatives
or any testimony provided by such parties at a meeting in which Purchaser and
Seller are in attendance and not by independent review. The Arbitration Firm
may
not assign a value greater than the greatest value for any disputed item claimed
by either Purchaser, on the one hand, or Seller, on the other hand, or smaller
than the value assigned to the disputed item by Purchaser, on the one hand,
or
Seller on the other hand. All determinations made by the Arbitration Firm will
be final, conclusive and binding on Purchaser, Seller and Shareholders and
judgment may be entered upon the determination of the Arbitration Firm in any
court having jurisdiction over the party against which such determination is
to
be enforced. The fees and expenses of the Arbitration Firm shall be shared
equally between Purchaser and Seller.
(iii) For
purposes of complying with the terms set forth in this Section 2.6(d), Purchaser
shall cooperate with and make available to Seller and its representatives all
information, records, data and working papers, as may be reasonably required
in
connection with the analysis of the Closing Date Balance Sheet, Actual Net
Working Capital and Actual Tangible Net Worth and the resolution of any disputes
thereunder.
(iv) After
giving effect to this Section 2.6(d), the Estimated Cash Purchase Price shall
either be:
(1) decreased
by an amount equal to (A) the greater of (i) the amount by which Threshold
Net
Working Capital exceeds Actual Net Working Capital or (ii) the amount by which
Threshold Tangible Net Worth exceeds Actual Tangible Net Worth (the
“Final
Adjustment Amount”)
less
(B) the Estimated Adjustment Amount; or
(2) increased
by the amount by which the Estimated Adjustment Amount exceeds the Final
Adjustment Amount, up to a maximum of the Estimated Adjustment Amount;
and
(3) if
Minimum Adjusted EBITDA exceeds the Actual Adjusted EBITDA, decreased by the
Purchase Price Adjustment.
(v) The
amount of any payment required by the adjustments under Section 2.6(d) (ii)
and
(iv) shall be made, within (A) five (5) business days after Seller notified
Purchaser that it does not object to the Actual Working Capital or Actual
Tangible Net Worth or the end of the thirty (30) day review period if no dispute
notice has been given by Seller or (B) within five (5) business days following
the final determination of any disputed items pursuant to Section 2.6(d)(ii);
provided,
however,
to the
extent any amount is undisputed, such undisputed portion shall be paid by the
party that owes the payment within five (5) business days after the
determination of the adjustment is made. Any payments due from Seller up to
$625,000 shall be first paid out of the Holdback Amount held in escrow with
any
excess paid directly by Seller and/or Shareholders for which Seller and Majority
Shareholder shall be jointly and severally liable, and Minority Shareholder
shall be severally liable.
(vi) The
“Purchase
Price”
shall
equal the Estimated Cash Purchase Price as adjusted pursuant to this Section
2.6, the Assumed Liabilities and the Contingent Payments under Section 2.7
paid
to Seller.
(a) During
the period commencing on October 1, 2006 to the day prior to the third
anniversary of such date (the “Earnout
Period”),
Purchaser shall pay the Contingent Payments to Seller for each annual period
during the Earnout Period, based on the financial statements for each annual
period prepared in accordance with the standards for Audited September 30,
2006
Financials for each period in the Earnout Period. The financial statements
for
each annual period shall be used to calculate EBITDA which shall comply with
all
requirements for financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission; provided,
however,
that
Purchaser shall not be obligated to audit financial statements unless so
instructed by Seller. These financial statements shall be used to calculate
EBITDA for each annual period in the Earnout Period and, accordingly, net income
derived from such financial statements shall be adjusted to exclude each of
the
items set forth in the definition of EBITDA. Any fees related to the audit
of
such financial statements done pursuant to Seller’s instruction shall be borne
by Seller and Shareholders to the extent no Contingent Payment is payable for
the applicable Period during the Earnout Period, for which Seller and Majority
Shareholder shall be jointly and severally liable, and Minority Shareholder
shall be severally liable, but such fees shall be borne by Purchaser to the
extent a Contingent Payment is payable for such Period. The periods in the
Earnout Period are Period One, Period Two and Period Three.
(b) Purchaser
will pay any Contingent Payment due to Seller on the later of (i) if there
is no
dispute, sixty (60) days after the end of the Period in the Earnout Period,
or
(ii) if there is a dispute, within ten (10) days following the resolution of
such dispute pursuant to Section 2.6(d)(ii). If a dispute arises between
Purchaser and Seller as to whether or not a Contingent Payment is due and owing
for any Period in the Earnout Period, the dispute shall be resolved in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.6(d)(ii), provided that,
the basis of the dispute as set forth in the Notice of Disagreement shall relate
to the content of the financial statements for the Period in
dispute.
(c) Purchaser
will provide Seller with copies of internally prepared quarterly and annual
income statements of the operations of Purchaser following the Closing, subject
to the obligation of each Shareholder to execute and comply with a
confidentiality agreement with respect to such financial information in such
form as Purchaser may reasonably request.
(a) Exhibit
F
attached hereto is a preliminary allocation of Estimated Cash Purchase Price
among the Purchased Assets as agreed by the parties and as determined in
accordance with Section 1060 of the Code. Promptly following the determination
of the Actual Net Working Capital and following any Contingent Payment, a
revised Exhibit F shall be prepared by Purchaser in a manner consistent with
the
Exhibit F delivered at Closing. Seller and Purchaser each agree, (a) to report
the sale of the Purchased Assets for Tax purposes in accordance with the
allocations set forth on the most recent Exhibit F and to follow the allocations
set forth on the most recent Exhibit F in determining and reporting their
Liabilities for any Taxes, (b) without limitation, not to take any position
inconsistent with such allocations on any of its Tax Returns, and (c) to timely
file federal tax Form 8594 with the applicable Tax Return for the year of this
transaction reflecting such allocations and for each later year in which there
is any change in the amount allocated to any asset.
(b) Purchaser
shall reimburse Seller for any incremental income tax Seller pays in connection
with the transaction contemplated hereby arising solely because Purchaser
allocates Purchase Price on an aggregate basis to FF&E in an amount in
excess of the aggregate tax basis of such FF&E at Closing. The tax basis of
the FF&E at the Closing shall be in accordance with the tax basis of
FF&E required by Purchaser’s independent auditors.
THE
CLOSING
The
closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Assets shall take place at
the
offices of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
on
the date upon which all of the conditions precedent set forth in Article 6
shall
have been satisfied or waived or at such other time, date and place as Purchaser
and Seller may otherwise mutually agree (the “Closing”).
Upon
satisfaction or waiver of all conditions set forth in Article 6, at the Closing,
and against payment of the Closing Payment by transfer of immediately available
funds to Seller, as designated by Seller to Purchaser, and of the Holdback
Amount to the Escrow Account Seller shall sell, transfer and deliver to
Purchaser at the Closing, free and clear of all Liens, (except as set forth
on
Schedule 2.1), the Purchased Assets. Upon consummation of the Closing, Purchaser
shall be deemed to have acquired the Purchased Assets as of the start of
business on the Closing Date.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
AND
THE SHAREHOLDERS
As
of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date, Seller and each Shareholder hereby
jointly and severally represent and warrant to Purchaser, as
follows:
(a) Seller
is
a corporation, duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the state of its incorporation, and has all requisite corporate
power and authority under its organizational documents to own and lease the
Purchased Assets and carry on the Business as now conducted. Except as stated
on
Schedule 4.1(a), Seller is duly qualified or duly licensed to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business
conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, all of which are set forth
on Schedule 4.1(a).
(b) Schedule
4.1(b) sets forth all of the authorized and outstanding Equity Securities of
Seller. All of the outstanding Equity Securities of Seller have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are
free
and clear of all Liens. Schedule 4.1(b) sets forth the record and beneficial
ownership and number of all Equity Securities of Seller. There are no Contracts,
purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights or
other commitments that could require Seller to issue, sell, or otherwise cause
to become outstanding any of its Equity Securities. There are no outstanding
or
authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation, or similar
rights with respect to Seller. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(b), there
are
no shareholder agreements all rights under which have not been waived by the
parties thereto for the purpose of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or understandings with
respect to the voting of the Equity Securities of Seller. None of the
outstanding Equity Securities or other securities of Seller was issued in
violation of the Securities Act or any other Law. Seller does not own, or have
any Contract to acquire, any Equity Securities or other securities of any Person
or any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest in any other business.
True and complete copies of all organizational documents of Seller have been
delivered to Purchaser.
Seller
does not own, directly or indirectly, any stock, partnership interest,
membership interest, joint venture interest, ownership interest or other
security, investment or interest in any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, organization or other entity.
All
action on the part of Seller and each Shareholder, and their respective
officers, directors and shareholders, necessary for the authorization,
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Related Documents
and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been taken. Seller and
each
Shareholder has the full power and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement and the Related Documents to which it is a party and to carry out
the
transactions contemplated thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Related
Document to which Seller or each Shareholder is a party will be, duly
authorized, executed and delivered by Seller or each Shareholder, as applicable,
and constitutes, and with respect to each such Related Document will constitute
at the Closing, the valid and legally binding obligation of Seller and such
Shareholder, as applicable, enforceable against Seller or such Shareholder
in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and
remedies generally.
(a) Seller
owns, and at the Closing will own, good and marketable title to, and all rights
and interests in and to, the Purchased Assets free and clear of all Liens
(except as set forth on Schedule 2.1). The Purchased Assets constitute all
of
the assets, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever, necessary for
Purchaser to continue to conduct the Business as had Seller prior to the Closing
Date.
(b) Schedule
4.4(b) sets forth a description of any assets or services provided by any
Shareholder, Affiliate or Related Party of Seller in connection with the
Business.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.5, no Consent of any Person or Governmental Authority
is
required by or with respect to Seller or any Shareholder in connection with
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Documents or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including
the
effective assignment and assumption to and by Purchaser of any of the Purchased
Assets) including under any Contract, License or Law.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.6, the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the
Related Documents by Seller and Shareholders does not, and, the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the effective
assignment to Purchaser of any of the Purchased Assets) shall not conflict
with,
or result in any violation of, or default under (with or without notice or
lapse
of time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation,
modification or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit or result
in the imposition of any Lien upon any of its respective assets under: (i)
any
provision of the charter or governance documents of Seller or any Shareholder;
(ii) any mortgage, indenture, Lease, Contract or other agreement or instrument,
permit, concession, franchise or License to which Seller or any Shareholder
is a
party or any of its respective properties or assets are subject; or (iii) any
Law, order, decree, injunction or writ applicable to Seller or any Shareholder
or its respective properties or assets.
(a) Seller
has delivered to Purchaser a reviewed balance sheet, statement of income and
cash flow statement of Seller as of and for each of the calendar years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively and a compiled, unaudited balance
sheet, statement of income and cash flow statement of Seller as of and for
the
six (6) months ended June 30, 2006 (collectively, the “Financial
Statements”).
The
Financial Statements (i) have been prepared from the Books and Records kept
by
Seller, and (ii) are complete and correct and fairly present the financial
condition, results of operations, and cash flows of Seller, as of the dates
and
for the periods indicated therein in all material respects, and (iii) do not
require any material modifications in order for them to be in conformity with
GAAP. The books of account, financial data, schedules and other records of
Seller, including any of the foregoing delivered or made available to Purchaser
or its representatives or Affiliates in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, have been maintained properly and regularly in accordance
with sound business practices and in the course of business of Seller, are
accurate and complete and there are no material misstatements, errors or
omissions therein, and there have been no transactions involving Seller that
properly should have been reflected therein in accordance with GAAP that have
not been accurately and completely reflected. The Financial Statements reflect
the conduct of the Business in the ordinary course. The Audited September 30,
2006 Financials, when delivered, (i) will have been prepared from the Books
and
Records kept by Seller, and will have been prepared in conformity with GAAP,
and
(ii) will be complete and correct and will fairly present the financial
condition, results of operations, and cash flows of Seller, as of the dates
and
for the periods indicated therein, in all material respects.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.7(b) and the Financial Statements, Seller has no
Liabilities of any kind, and there are no conditions, situations or
circumstances which would reasonably be expected to result in any Liability,
except Liabilities incurred since June 30, 2006 in the Ordinary Course of the
Business (none of which relates to any breach of contract, breach of warranty,
tort, infringement or violation of Law or arose out of any Action, proceeding,
claim, complaint, grievance, investigation or unfair labor practice complaint,
grievance or investigation, other than the Corinella Proceeding) and Liabilities
arising from this Agreement and transaction expenses incurred in connection
with
this Agreement for legal fees. Schedule 4.7(b) lists all Indebtedness of Seller
or the Business.
(a) Since
June 30, 2006, except as set forth on Schedule 4.8, Seller has conducted the
Business in the Ordinary Course of Business and there has not been any:
(i) Material
Adverse Effect;
(ii) in
a
single transaction or a series of related transactions, sale (including by
sale-leaseback), lease, license, transfer or disposition of assets or Properties
by Seller, other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business
and
consistent with past practice;
(iii) acquisition
of or agreement to acquire by merging with, or by purchasing a substantial
equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other
manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
association or other business entity, in a transaction or series of related
transactions by Seller;
(iv) change
in
accounting methods, principles or practices by Seller affecting any of its
respective assets, Liabilities, results of operations or business;
(v) revaluation
by Seller of any of its Properties, including without limitation, any
write-offs, increases or decreases in any reserves or any write-up or write-down
of the value of inventory, property, plant, equipment or any other Property
or
any change in any assumptions underlying, or facts relating to, or methods
of
calculating, any bad debt, contingency or other reserves;
(vi) Indebtedness
incurred, assumed or guaranteed by Seller or any commitment to incur
Indebtedness entered into by Seller, or any loans made or agreed to be made
by
Seller, in an amount greater than $10,000 in the aggregate other than trade
payables incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(vii) increase
in the compensation or benefits of officers or employees (including any such
increase pursuant to any bonus, pension, profit sharing or other plan or
commitment) or any increase in the compensation or benefits payable or to become
payable to any officer or employee, by Seller other than increases for
non-officer employees in the ordinary course in an aggregate amount not to
exceed 5% of the compensation expense for such non-officer employees for
2005;
(viii) granting
of any bonus, incentive compensation, severance, termination, change of control,
service, award or other like benefit to any officer or employee by
Seller;
(ix) incurrence
or imposition of a Lien on any of the assets or Properties of Seller other
than
as set forth on Schedule 2.1;
(x) damage,
destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) adversely affecting
the financial condition, assets, Liabilities, Properties, business, results
of
operation or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any customer relationships of Seller
in amounts individually in excess of $25,000 or in excess of $100,000 in the
aggregate;
(xi) delay
or
failure to pay or perform any current Liability (including accounts payable)
of
Seller in the Ordinary Course of Business except for bona fide disputes that
have been properly reserved for on the Financial Statements;
(xii) acceleration,
prepayment or performance of any Account Receivable or any Indebtedness or
other
obligation owed to Seller before it is due or otherwise owed;
(xiii) material
termination, amendment, modification or waiver of, or any breach, violation
or
default by any party under, any Contract;
(xiv) forgiveness,
waiver or agreement to extend repayment of any Indebtedness or other obligation
owed by or to Seller which will not be disclosed on the Estimated Closing Date
Balance Sheet;
(xv) disposition
or lapse of any rights to use any material Intellectual Property right of
Seller;
(xvi) contract,
agreement or transaction with any Affiliate of Seller, any officer, director,
stockholder or employee of Seller or the Family Member of any such
person;
(xvii) declaration,
setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution or payment
(whether in cash, property or equity interests) with respect to the capital
stock of Seller or any , redemption, purchase or acquisition of any of the
securities of Seller;
(xviii) material
change in the federal, state or local Tax Liability of Seller;
(xix) capital
expenditures or commitments in an amount in excess of $25,000 in the aggregate
for additions to any Property of Seller constituting capital assets;
or
(xx) contract
or agreement entered into to take or agree to take any of the actions described
in subsections (i) through (xix) above.
(b) To
the
Knowledge of Seller and each of the Shareholders, neither the conclusion of
Mr.
Corinella’s employment agreement nor the Corinella Proceeding will in any way
inhibit the ability of the Business to meet the Annual Target EBITDA for each
of
the Periods.
Schedule
4.9 identifies the policies of insurance currently maintained by, or on behalf
of, Seller or its Business and Properties, setting forth the name of the
insurer, the holder of each such policy, the nature of coverage, the amount
of
such coverage, the expiration dates thereof, information concerning any claim
in
excess of $10,000 asserted thereunder (whether asserted by Seller or any third
party) and other information. None of Seller nor any other insured named on
Schedule 4.9 is in default with respect to its obligations under any of such
outstanding insurance policies and all premiums with respect thereto are
current. None of Seller, nor any other insured named on Schedule 4.9 has failed
to give any notice or to present any claim under any such policy in a due and
timely fashion. Such policies are in full force and effect on the date hereof.
All premiums due under the policies identified on Schedule 4.9 have been paid
and none of Seller, nor any such insured has been issued or has received any
notice of cancellation, modification or termination in respect of any such
policy or is in default thereunder. None of Seller nor any such insured has
been
issued or has received notice that any insurer under any policy referred to
on
Schedule 4.9 is denying liability with respect to a claim thereunder or
defending under a reservation of rights clause.
(a) Schedule
4.10 sets forth a complete and accurate list (including a summary) of all
pension, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive compensation,
stock option, share appreciation right, phantom stock, severance, health,
dental, vision, life insurance, survivor benefit, vacation and other employee
benefit plans and programs (including, but not limited to, all employee benefit
plans as defined in ERISA Section 3(3)), which are currently in effect for
Seller which are intended to provide benefits to current or former employees,
directors, officers or independent contractors and/or their beneficiaries or
for
which Seller has any Liability. All of these types of arrangements shall be
collectively referred to as “Benefit
Plans”
or
“Plans.”
An
arrangement will not fail to be a Benefit Plan simply because it only covers
one
individual, or because Seller’s obligations under the Plan arise by reason of
its being a “successor employer” under Law. Furthermore, a voluntary employees’
beneficiary association under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code will be considered
a
Benefit Plan for this purpose. None of the benefit plans listed on Schedule
4.10
(individually referred to as a “Benefit
Plan”
or
“Plan”)
or any
trusts created thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator or fiduciary
thereof, has engaged in a “prohibited transaction,” as described in Section 4975
of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA, which would subject the Plan, any such
trust or any trustee or administrator or fiduciary thereof, Seller or any party
dealing with the Plan or any trust to the tax or penalty on prohibited
transactions imposed by Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA.
None of such Plans nor any trusts thereunder has been terminated, nor have
there
been any “reportable events” with respect thereto, as that term is defined in
Section 4043 of ERISA. Each Plan and trust and all provisions thereof are in
compliance with ERISA and with the requirements imposed for the “qualification”
of the Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, where applicable. Seller and
any
administrator of each Plan have complied with all reporting and disclosure
requirements of ERISA, the Code and other Law with respect to the
Plan.
(b) Seller
has delivered to Purchaser a true and complete copy of the following documents,
to the extent that they are applicable, with respect to each Benefit
Plan:
(i) the
Plan
document and any related funding agreements (e.g
(1) .
trust
agreements or insurance contracts), including all amendments, and any custodial
and service agreements;
(ii) the
current summary description and all subsequent summaries of material
modifications with respect to each Benefit Plan;
(iii) The
most
recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter for each Benefit Plan
that
is intended to qualify for favorable income tax treatment under Code Section
401(a) or 501(c)(9), which determination letter reflects all amendments that
have been made to the Plan (except as set forth in Schedule 4.10);
(iv) The
two
(2) most recent Form 5500s (including all applicable schedules and the opinions
of the independent accountants) that were filed on behalf of the Benefit Plan
and the two (2) most recent actuarial reports; and
(v) Any
governmental advisory opinions, rulings, compliance statements, closing
agreements and similar materials, and all material communications with any
governmental entity or agency, including, without limitation, the Department
of
Labor, Internal Revenue Service or Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
(c) Each
Benefit Plan at all times has been operated in all material respects in
accordance with its terms, and complies currently, and has complied in the
past,
both in form and in operation, in all material respects with all Laws, including
ERISA and the Code. The Internal Revenue Service has issued a favorable
determination letter with respect to each Benefit Plan that is intended to
qualify under Code Section 401(a) or Section 501(c)(9), and no event has
occurred (either before or after the date of the letter) that is likely to
result in the revocation of such determination or which requires or could
require action under the compliance resolution programs of the Internal Revenue
Service to preserve such qualification.
(d) Other
than routine claims for benefits and those relating to qualified domestic
relations orders, there are no (i) pending or (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller
or
any Shareholder threatened lawsuits, governmental investigations or other claims
against or involving any Benefit Plan or any fiduciary (within the meaning
of
Section 3(21)(A) of ERISA) or service provider of such Plan, nor is there any
reasonable basis for any such lawsuit, investigation or claim.
(e) All
costs
of administering and all contributions required to be made to each Benefit
Plan
under the terms of that Benefit Plan, ERISA, the Code, or any other Law have
been timely made.
(f) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.10(f), neither Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains
any plan that provides (or will provide) post-employment medical or other
post-employment welfare benefits to one or more former employees or independent
contractors (including retirees), other than benefits that are required to
be
provided pursuant to COBRA. Seller and each ERISA Affiliate have at all times
complied with the applicable provisions of COBRA. There are no reserves, assets,
surpluses or prepaid premiums with respect to any Benefit Plan that is “welfare
plan” within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(1).
(g) Seller
has no intention or commitment, whether legally binding or not, to create any
additional plan or program which, once established, would come within the
definition of Benefit Plan, or to modify any existing Benefit Plan so as to
increase benefits to participants or the cost of maintaining the Benefit Plan.
The benefits under all Benefit Plans are as represented, and have not been,
and
will not be increased subsequent to the date documents are provided to
Purchaser. No statement, either oral or written, has been made by Seller or
any
agent of Seller to any Person regarding any Benefit Plan that is not in
accordance with the Plan that could have adverse economic consequences to
Purchaser.
(h) None
of
the persons performing services for Seller have been improperly classified
as
being independent contractors, leased employees or exempt from the payment
of
wages for overtime.
(i) None
of
the Benefit Plans provide any benefits that (i) become payable or become vested
solely as a result of the consummation of this transaction or (ii) would result
in excess parachute payments (within the meaning of Code Section 280G), either
(A) solely as a result of the consummation of this transaction or (B) as a
result of the consummation of this transaction and any actions taken by
Purchaser after the Closing Date. Furthermore, the consummation of this
transaction will not require the funding (whether on a formal or informal basis)
of the benefits under any Benefit Plan (e.g., contributions to a “rabbi
trust”).
(j) None
of
the assets of any Benefit Plan that is a Pension Plan are invested in a group
annuity contract or other insurance contract that is subject to any surrender
charge, interest rate adjustment, or other similar expense upon its premature
termination.
(k) Neither
Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has maintained
or
contributed to, or has any Liability under, a benefit plan that is subject
to
Title IV of ERISA or to Code Section 412 or ERISA Section 302. No assets of
Seller are subject to any lien under ERISA Section 302(f) or Code Section
412(n). No Benefit Plan is or was at any time a multiemployer plan, as defined
in Section 3(37) of ERISA, and neither Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate have
ever
contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to any multiemployer
plan.
(l) No
Benefit Plan has any interest in any annuity contract or other investment or
insurance contract issued by an insurance company that is the subject of
bankruptcy, conservatorship, rehabilitation, or similar
proceedings.
(m) Each
Benefit Plan that is intended to meet currently applicable requirements for
tax-favored treatment under Subchapter B of Chapter 1 of the Code is in
compliance with such requirements and, if applicable, with the requirements
of
Code Sections 419 and 419A, and no “disqualified benefits” (within the meaning
of Section 4976(b) of the Code) have been paid that would subject Seller to
a
Tax under Code Section 4976.
(n) None
of
the Benefit Plans have unrelated business taxable income or unrelated
debt-financed income under Code Section 511.
(o) Seller
has complied with all reporting and disclosure obligations imposed upon it
under
all applicable federal and state securities Laws by reason of the operation
of
the Benefit Plans.
(p) No
Benefit Plan is a multiple employer plan within the meaning of Code Section
413(c) or ERISA Sections 4063, 4064 or 4066. None of the Benefit Plans are
part
or have at any time been part of a multiple employer welfare arrangement, as
that term is defined in ERISA Section 3(40).
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.11, there are no Actions, claims, suits, proceedings,
arbitrations, complaints, grievances, unfair labor practice or employment
discrimination charges or complaints, or investigations pending or to the
Knowledge of Seller or any Shareholder, threatened (i) against, initiated by,
relating to or affecting Seller, the Business or any of the Purchased Assets
before any Governmental Authority; (ii) that challenge the validity or propriety
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Related
Documents; or (iii) that challenge or question the legal right of Seller to
conduct the operations of the Business as presently or previously
conducted.
(b) There
are
no (i) to the Knowledge of Seller and each of the Shareholders, facts or
circumstances known to Seller or any Shareholder that could give rise to, or
provide the basis for, any action which would be required to be disclosed
pursuant to this Schedule 4.11 or (ii) outstanding judgments, orders, decrees,
awards or citations of any Governmental Authority affecting Seller or the
Business (including any assets, Property right, obligation or Liability of
such
business). Seller has delivered to Purchaser true and correct copies of each
attorney confirmation letter or “audit letter” prepared since January 1, 2004
and delivered to Seller or any Affiliate thereof that mentions any action,
claim, suit, charge, complaint, investigation or proceeding that could
reasonably be expected to involve or affect Seller or its respective Business
or
Properties.
(c) There
is
no agreement (noncompete or otherwise), commitment, judgment, injunction, order
or decree to which Seller is a party or that otherwise could be binding upon
Seller, the Purchased Assets or the Business which has or would reasonably
have
the effect of prohibiting or impairing the use of the Purchased Assets or the
operation of the Business by Purchaser. Seller has not entered into any
agreement under which the operations of the Business are restricted from
selling, licensing or otherwise distributing the Purchased Assets, or providing
services to, customers or potential customers or any class of customers, in
any
geographic area, during any period of time or in any segment of the
market.
Schedule
4.12 sets forth whether written or oral, together with all amendments and
modifications thereto, (a) all Contracts whether or not fully performed pursuant
to which Seller has acquired, sold or transferred all or any portion of the
Business, assets (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business),
Properties or equity interests of any Person (including Seller) (whether through
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) (the “Acquired
Businesses”)
which
provided for an aggregate purchase price in excess of $25,000; (b) all Contracts
containing indemnification provisions, confidentiality provisions or provisions
containing covenants not to compete on the part of Seller or which otherwise
restrict the ability of Seller in any way to engage in the Business; (c) all
notes, mortgages, indentures, letters of credit, guarantees, performance bonds
and other Contracts for or relating to any lending or Indebtedness (including
assumed Indebtedness) entered into by Seller (other than standard vendor
invoices for which payment is due at least thirty (30) days after the invoice
date) or pursuant to which any Properties are pledged or mortgaged as
collateral; (d) any Contract relating to the employment, consulting or severance
of any Person, including any present or former director, officer or employee
of
Seller other than employment agreements relating to at-will employees which
are
terminable on notice without payment of severance or other remuneration based
on
separation; (e) all Contracts with any Affiliate of Seller; (f) all Contracts
for the purchase or sale of goods or services by or from Seller, each of which
requires a payment or payments by or to Seller, in the aggregate, of more than
$25,000 in any given year; (g) all other Contracts, including real or personal
property Leases, involving aggregate payments of more than $25,000 during the
term thereof or with a term of more than one (1) year, including all extensions
thereof, at the option of any party other than Seller; (h) all Contracts with
respect to Intellectual Property; and (i) all other Contracts which are material
to Seller or the Business, each of the foregoing described under clauses (a)
through (i), including each of the same listed on Schedule 4.12, collectively
referred to as the “Material Contracts.” Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12,
Seller is not subject to Contracts with “take or pay” or minimum requirements
provisions. With respect to each Material Contract, except as set forth on
Schedule 4.12, (i) such Material Contract is valid, binding and enforceable
against the parties thereto and is in full force and effect and will remain
enforceable in such manner and be in full force and effect after the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related
Documents, (ii) Seller is not and to the Knowledge of Seller or any Shareholder
any other party to such Material Contract is not in a material breach thereof
or
default thereunder, (iii) there does not exist any event that, with the giving
of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a material breach
of or
a material default by Seller or to the Knowledge of Seller or any Shareholder
any other party to such Material Contract under such Material Contract, and
none
of Seller or any Affiliate thereof has received or given notice of any such
breach, default or event, (iv) true, complete and correct copies of each
Material Contract have been delivered to Purchaser or their representatives,
(v)
Seller has not waived any material rights under any Material Contract, (vi)
Seller does not know of any defense to the validity or enforceability of any
Material Contract, (vii) Seller has not received or given notice of any breach
or default in connection with any Material Contract and (viii) Seller has no
existing Liability (contingent or otherwise), including with respect to any
indemnification or guarantee obligation, with respect to any Acquired Business.
The work completed by Seller under any Material Contract which requires customer
or third party approval or acceptance which has not been received as of the
Closing, will meet all material requirements and specifications of such Material
Contract. Schedule 4.12 sets forth all outstanding proposals relating to the
Business that are reasonably expected to result in revenues in excess of
$25,000.
Seller
is, and all of its assets and Properties are and at all times since January
1,
2004 have been, in material compliance with, and immediately following the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related
Documents, will be in material compliance with, and Seller has no Liability
under, any Laws, including, without limitation, any applicable franchise,
building, zoning, Environmental Laws, employment, labor relations or other
statute, Law, ordinance or regulation. All business conducted by Seller with
any
Governmental Authority has been conducted in accordance with all applicable
Laws
and accounting requirements.
Seller
has all material Licenses necessary to conduct the Business as it is now being
conducted and as is proposed to be conducted, a complete and correct list of
all
such Licenses of Seller is set forth on Schedule 4.14, and each such License
is
in full force and effect and except as set forth on Schedule 4.14, none of
such
Licenses of Seller will require any Consents or be impaired as a result of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Related Documents. Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.14, Seller solely possesses all such Licenses. Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.14, neither Seller nor any Affiliate thereof has
received any notice to the effect that, or otherwise been advised that, Seller
is not in compliance with, or that it is in violation of, any such License,
and
Seller is in compliance with the terms of each such License and to the Knowledge
of Seller and the Shareholders there are not currently existing circumstances
that are likely to result in a failure of Seller to comply with, or in a
violation by Seller of any such License.
Seller
does not own and since January 1, 2001 has never owned any real property. Seller
does not hold any outstanding options or rights of first refusal to purchase
real properties.
Schedule
4.16 contains a complete and correct list of all real property leases, warehouse
leases, subleases, licenses and occupancy agreements pursuant to which Seller
is
a lessor, lessee, sublessor, sublessee, licensor or licensee of real property,
setting forth the address, landlord and tenant for each (the “Leased
Real Property”).
Seller has delivered to Purchaser correct and complete copies of each of the
agreements set forth in Schedule 4.16, including all amendments thereto and
all
nondisturbance agreements in connection therewith. Each lease, sublease, license
or other agreement set forth in Schedule 4.16 is legal, valid, binding,
enforceable and in full force and effect. The term of each agreement set forth
on Schedule 4.16 shall expire on the expiration date specified for such
agreement on Schedule 4.16. All rents and other charges that are currently
due
and payable under each agreement set forth on Schedule 4.16 have been paid
to
date and all rents and other charges that become due and payable from and after
the date hereof through the date of the Closing shall be paid when due. Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.16, no party is in default, violation or breach
under
any of the same, and no event has occurred and is continuing thereunder that
constitutes or, with notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute
a
default, violation or breach thereunder. Seller has good and valid title to
the
leasehold estate under each lease, sublease, license or other agreement set
forth in Schedule 4.16, free and clear of all Liens. Seller enjoys peaceful
and
undisturbed possession under the same. All of the buildings, structures and
other improvements situated in whole or in part at any Leased Real Property
are
in good operating condition, in a state of good maintenance and repair and
are
adequate and suitable for the purposes of which they are presently being used.
The Leased Real Property constitute all of the real property interests leased
or
occupied in whole or in part by Seller or which are related to or used in
connection with the Business since January 1, 2004.
Seller
owns or leases all tangible personal property, including all vehicles,
machinery, equipment, tools, computer hardware and software, furniture, fixtures
(both real and personal), furnishings and other similar Property necessary
for
the conduct of the Business as presently conducted. Schedule 4.17 sets forth
a
complete and correct list of such assets and other Properties with an acquired
value in excess of $25,000, and identifies whether such assets are owned,
licensed or leased. Each such asset or Property has been reasonably maintained
in accordance with ordinary industry practice, is in good operating condition
and repair, subject to normal wear and tear, and is usable and adequate in
the
Ordinary Course of Business and for the use or uses to which it is being put.
All equipment, vehicles, machinery, tools and other similar Properties owned,
leased or used by Seller have been maintained and operated in material
compliance with all Laws, statutes, ordinances and regulations, including any
relating to employment or Environmental Laws, and all necessary Licenses have
been obtained and maintained with respect to such equipment since such date.
Except for leased or licensed assets, Seller has good, valid and marketable
title to all of the owned Property used in the conduct of their business as
presently conducted except as set forth on Schedule 4.17. Seller has good and
valid leasehold title to all leased or licensed Property leased or licensed
by
them from third parties, free and clear of all Liens except as set forth on
Schedule 4.17. All of the Property and other assets, owned, leased, licensed
or
used by Seller in the conduct of its business is located at the Leased Real
Property.
All
accounts receivable and other receivables, whether billed or unbilled and
whether or not earned by performance, of Seller (“Accounts
Receivable”)
represent bona fide sales actually made or services actually performed on or
prior to such date in accordance with GAAP. Attached hereto as Schedule 4.18
is
a true and complete list of all Accounts Receivable as of June 30, 2006, with
an
aging schedule. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18, there is no contest,
claim
or right of set-off contained in any oral or written agreement with any account
debtor relating to the amount or validity of any Account Receivable. The
Accounts Receivable are valid and collectible at the recorded amounts thereof
in
the ordinary course of business of Seller, subject to collections already made
and the allowance for doubtful accounts contained in the Financial Statements
or
established in the ordinary course on the Books and Records since June 30,
2006.
Proper amounts of deferred revenues appear on Seller’s Books and Records, in
accordance with GAAP with respect to (i) billed but unearned Accounts
Receivable, (ii) previously billed and collected Accounts Receivable still
unearned and (iii) unearned customer deposits. The reserves reflected in the
Financial Statements with respect to the Accounts Receivable have been
established in the Ordinary Course of Business, in accordance with
GAAP.
.
Except
as otherwise provided in Schedule 4.19:
(a) Seller
has timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it (all of which are
true and correct in all material respects) and has duly paid or made provision
for the payment of, all Taxes which are due and payable to a Governmental
Authority. Seller has delivered to Purchaser copies of all such Tax Returns
relating to income, franchise or 2005 and 2006 sales taxes filed.
(b) None
of
the assets of Seller is subject to any Liens in respect of Taxes, other than
for
Taxes not currently due and payable;
(c) Seller
is
a corporation within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(3) of the Code but is not
a
foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 897(a)(1) of the Code.
(d) Seller
has not agreed, and is not required, to include in income any adjustment
pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code (or similar provisions of other
applicable Law) as a result of transactions, events, or accounting methods
employed prior to the Closing Date;
(e) Other
than sales tax not in excess of $240,000 which relates to Assumed Liabilities
and is reflected on the Closing Date Balance Sheet (the “Assumed
Sales Tax”),
Seller has collected all sales, use and value added Taxes that it was required
or permitted to collect, and Seller has remitted, or will remit on a timely
basis, such Taxes that have become due and payable prior to the Closing Date
to
the appropriate Governmental Authorities and have received or furnished properly
completed exemption certificates with respect to such Taxes for all exempt
transactions; and
(f) Seller
has properly withheld income and social security or other similar Taxes and
paid
payroll Taxes with respect to all persons properly characterized as employees
for federal, state or local Tax purposes.
Except
as
disclosed on Schedule 4.20, to the Knowledge of the Seller and the
Shareholders:
(a) |
The
Business complies with Environmental Law and Seller has all Environmental
Permits required to legally operate
thereunder.
|
(b) |
Neither
Seller nor its Shareholders or Affiliates have received any written
or
oral notice or communication from a Governmental Authority or other
Person
regarding actual, threatened, or potential Environmental Law Liability
due
to (i) Business operations, or (ii) the environmental condition of
the
Real Property, or (iii) the handling, storage, and off-site transportation
or disposal of Hazardous Substances generated due to Business
operations.
|
(c) |
The
Real Property complies with Environmental
Law.
|
(d) |
Seller
will transfer to Buyer all Environmental Permits needed to lawfully
operate the Business.
|
(e) |
To
the best of Seller’s and the Shareholders’ Knowledge, there has never been
a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Substances into the
Environment in violation of Environmental Law at any Real
Property.
|
(f) |
There
are no events, conditions, circumstances, incidents, actions or plans
(i)
which may interfere with or prevent future operation of the Business
and/or any Real Property in compliance with Environmental Law, or
(ii)
require any new Environmental Permit or capital expenditure for the
Business and/or any Real Property to remain in compliance with any
Environmental Law, or (iii) may give rise to any Liability relating
to the
Business and/or any Real Property.
|
(g) |
There
are and have been no underground storage tanks on any Real Property.
|
(h) |
There
have been no hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal units
or
facilities located on any Real Property.
|
(i) |
Seller
has delivered to Purchaser true copies of all environmental audits
and
studies relating to the Real Property and the
Business.
|
(j) |
To
Seller or any Shareholder’s Knowledge, there are no asbestos containing
materials of any kind on the Real Property that are present in a
condition
that violates an Environmental Law.
|
None
of
the matters set forth on Schedule 4.20 will have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.21, no Shareholder or any officer, director or Affiliate
of Seller has any (a) interest, directly or indirectly, in any lease, Lien,
contract, license, loan or other agreement or arrangement to which Seller is
a
party or that relates in any way to any Property or any aspect of the Business,
(b) interest in any Properties, Liabilities or other obligations of Seller
or
(c) employment relationship or other relationship as a director, manager or
similar such position with, or any interest (other than a passive investment
in
equity securities of any Person if such equity securities are registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided that such equity investment
does not exceed one percent (1%) of the outstanding equity securities of such
Person), direct or indirect, in any competitor, supplier, vendor or customer
of,
or other Person having any business dealings or a business relationship with
Seller. Neither Seller nor any Shareholder, nor any Affiliate thereof will
own,
hold, possess or have any other right or obligation with respect to any Property
or other asset on or after the Closing Date that is currently used in the
Business.
(a) Schedule
4.22(a) sets forth the following information for all current Seller Employees:
name, identifying code, job title, rate of pay, and date of hire, as
applicable.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.22(b), since January 1, 2004 no independent contractor
or other Person that is not an employee of Seller performs or provides services
on behalf of Seller directly to third party customers or clients of Seller
or
contractors with whom Seller has contracted in connection with their respective
businesses.
(c) Seller
represents that it does not employ a sufficient number of employees for the
federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended,
to apply to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related
Documents.
(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.22(d), Seller is not a party to or bound by any
collective bargaining agreements or other agreements with labor organizations.
Since January 1, 2004 Seller has not violated any Laws, regulations, orders
or
contract terms affecting the collective bargaining rights of employees or labor
organizations or any Laws, regulations or orders affecting employment
discrimination, equal opportunity employment, or employees’ health, safety,
welfare, wages and hours.
(e) (i)
There
are no labor disputes, existing or threatened, involving strikes, slow-downs,
work stoppages, job actions, disputes, lockouts or any other disruptions of
or
by Seller Employees, (ii) there are no unfair labor practices or petitions
for
election pending or threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or
any
other federal, state or local labor commission relating to Seller Employees,
(iii) no demand for recognition or certification heretofore made by any labor
organization or group of employees is pending with respect to Seller and (iv)
Seller enjoys good labor and employee relations with its employees and labor
organizations and to the Knowledge of Seller the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or under the Related Documents will not
adversely affect such relations.
(f) Seller
is, and at all times since January 1, 2004 has been, in full compliance with
all
applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and
conditions of employment, wages and hours, and immigration and naturalization.
Except as set forth in Schedule 4.22(f), no claims are pending against Seller
before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”)
or any
other administrative body or in any court asserting any violation of Title
VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 or 9183 or any other federal, state or local Law,
statute or ordinance barring discrimination in employment.
(g) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.22(g), Seller is not a party to, or bound by, any
employment or other contract or agreement that contains any severance,
termination pay or change of control Liability or obligation, including, without
limitation, any “excess parachute payment,” as defined in Section 280G(b) of the
Code.
(h) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, none of the Seller Employees includes any Persons who
are
not United States citizens or Persons not legally entitled to work in the United
States. Purchaser will not incur any Liability for the improper classification
by Seller of such employees as independent contractors or leased employees
prior
to the Closing.
(i) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.22(i), no Seller Employee is on long term disability
leave, extended absence or receiving benefits pursuant to workers’ compensation
legislation or on leave of absence, including any leave of absence by reason
of
disability or pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 or the
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. Except as
set
forth on Schedule 4.22(i), no Seller Employee or any present or former spouse
or
child of a Seller Employee is receiving benefits under any Benefit Plan pursuant
to COBRA or is entitled to elect COBRA coverage under any Benefit Plan as a
result of an event occurring prior to Closing.
(a) The
term
“Intellectual
Property Assets”
means
all domestic and foreign Intellectual Property owned, wholly or jointly, or
licensed (as licensor or licensee) by Seller in which Seller has a proprietary
interest, including:
(i) Seller’s
names, all assumed fictional business names, trade dress, trade names, service
marks, whether registered or common law, and applications (collectively,
“Marks”);
(ii) all
patents, patent applications and inventions and discoveries that may be
patentable (collectively, “Patents”);
(iii) all
registered and unregistered copyrights in both published works and unpublished
works, including any and all moral rights associated therewith (collectively,
“Copyrights”);
(iv) all
rights in mask works;
(v) all
know-how, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information, customer
lists, Software, technical information, data, process technology, plans,
drawings, blue prints and conversion and upgrade kits (collectively,
“Trade
Secrets”);
and
(vi) all
rights in internet web sites, content thereon and internet domain names
(collectively “Net
Names”).
(b) Schedule
4.23(b) contains an accurate and complete list and summary description,
including any royalties paid or received by Seller, and Seller has delivered
to
Purchaser accurate and complete copies, of all the Contracts of Seller relating
to the Intellectual Property Assets, except for any license implied by the
sale
of a product and perpetual, paid-up licenses for commonly available Software
programs with a value of less than $1,000 under which Seller is the licensee.
There are no outstanding and no threatened, disputes or disagreements with
respect to any such Contract.
(c) (i)The
Intellectual Property Assets are all those necessary for the operation of the
Business as it is currently conducted. Seller is the owner or licensee of all
right, title and interest in and to each of the Intellectual Property Assets,
free and clear of all Liens, other than the Liens set forth on Schedule 2.1,
and
has the right to use without payment to a third party all of the Intellectual
Property Assets, other than in respect of licenses listed in Schedule 4.23(c).
(ii) To
the
Knowledge of Seller and each of the Shareholders, none of the Intellectual
Property, Software or any of the Products used, manufactured, marketed, sold
or
licensed by Seller , or used in the conduct of the Business at any time has
infringed or now infringes upon, has violated or now violates or has constituted
or now constitutes the unauthorized use of any rights owned or controlled by
any
third party, including any intellectual property of any third
party.
(d) Seller
has no rights to any Patent.
(e) (i)Schedule
4.23(e) contains an accurate and complete list and summary description of all
Marks.
(ii) All
Marks
have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, are
currently in compliance with all Laws (including the timely post-registration
filing of affidavits of use and incontestability and renewal applications),
are
valid and enforceable and are not subject to any maintenance fees or taxes
or
actions falling due within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date.
(iii) No
Xxxx
has been or is now involved in any opposition, invalidation or cancellation
Proceeding and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no such action is threatened with
respect to any of the Marks.
(iv) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, there is no potentially interfering trademark or trademark
application of any other Person.
(v) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, no Xxxx is infringed or has been challenged or threatened
in any way
(1) .
None of
the Marks used by Seller infringes or is alleged to infringe any trade name,
trademark or service xxxx of any other Person.
(vi) All
products and materials containing a Xxxx xxxx the proper federal registration
notice where permitted by law.
(f) (i)Schedule
4.23(f) contains an accurate and complete list and summary description of all
Net Names.
(ii) All
Net
Names have been registered in the name of Seller and are in compliance with
all
Laws.
(iii) No
Net
Name has been or is now involved in any dispute, opposition, invalidation or
cancellation Proceeding and no such action is threatened with respect to any
Net
Name.
(iv) There
is
no domain name application pending of any other Person which would or would
potentially interfere with or infringe any Net Name.
(v) No
Net
Name is infringed or has been challenged, interfered with or threatened in
any
way. No Net Name infringes, interferes with or is alleged to interfere with
or
infringe the trademark, copyright or domain name of any other
Person.
(a) With
respect to each Product, Seller has obtained all applicable Licenses, if any,
which regulate such Product and that are necessary for such Product to be sold
or otherwise provided in the jurisdictions in which it is sold or otherwise
provided.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.24(b), each Product manufactured or fabricated by Seller
has been manufactured or fabricated in compliance with all Laws and all
applicable contractual commitments and warranties (whether express or implied)
and each Product has been distributed, sold and provided in conformity with
all
Laws and all applicable contractual commitments and warranties (whether express
or implied), and to the Knowledge of Seller or any Shareholder there is no
basis
for any present or future action, suit or other proceeding giving rise,
individually or in the aggregate, to any Liability or other obligation with
respect to such Product or Products, including for the replacement thereof
or
for damages in connection therewith or resulting therefrom. Except as set forth
on Schedule 4.24(b), neither Seller nor the Shareholders are aware of any basis
for any present or future action, suit or other proceeding giving rise to any
Liability arising out of the death of or injury to any Person or damage to
property as a result of the sale, provision or use of any Product. Except as
set
forth on Schedule 4.24(b), neither Seller nor any Shareholder has received
any
notice that any action, suit or other proceeding has been, or in the future
may
be, made alleging that any Product is or was defective in any way.
(c) There
are
no (i) express warranties applicable to Products sold or otherwise provided,
(ii) recalls with respect to Products during the past five (5) years that have
not been closed, and (iii) claims with respect to Products that are open as
of
the date hereof. To the Knowledge of Seller or any Shareholder there is no
basis
for any present or future Product recall or Product claims with respect to
any
Products that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any Liability or
other obligation in excess of $10,000 individually or in the
aggregate.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.25, no distributor, contractor, broker, dealer, agent
or
representative, other than Seller’s Employees, has an oral or written agreement
or understanding to sell or otherwise provide Products.
Schedule
4.26 sets forth the names of the twenty (20) largest (based upon revenues)
customers, contractors and other Persons from whom Seller derived revenues
for
the twelve (12) month periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 and for the
six
(6) month period ended June 30, 2006, and the amount for which each such
customer, contractor or other Person was invoiced during such periods. Except
as
set forth in Schedule 4.26, Seller has not received any notice, nor does Seller
or any Shareholder have any Knowledge, that any such customer, contractor or
other Person set forth in Schedule 4.26 has ceased, or will cease, to purchase
or use Products, or has substantially reduced, or will substantially reduce,
the
purchase or use of Products at any time. Seller is current and in material
compliance with respect to all of its obligations to all of its customers,
contractors and each other Person from whom it derives revenues.
Schedule
4.27 sets forth the name of each supplier, vendor or other provider of services
of Seller from which Seller ordered raw materials, supplies and other goods
and
services in each of the twelve (12) month periods ended December 31, 2005 and
2004 and for the six (6) months ended June 30, 2006 in an amount of $50,000
or
more. Except as listed on Schedule 4.27, Seller has not received any notice,
nor
does Seller or any Shareholder have any Knowledge, that any such supplier,
vendor or other provider of services has ceased, or will cease, to supply such
raw materials, supplies or other goods or services to Seller on or after the
Closing Date, or has substantially reduced, or will substantially reduce, the
supply of such items or services to Seller on or after the Closing Date. Seller
is current and in material compliance with respect to all of its obligations
to
its suppliers, vendors and other providers of services.
All
Inventory reflected on the Financial Statements is of good, usable and
merchantable quality and does not include any obsolete or discontinued items,
except for reserves reflected on the Financial Statements. Inventory maintained
by Seller as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date is or shall be (a)
adequate for the conduct of the Business in the ordinary course, and (b)
consistent with the inventory levels and inventory balance maintained by Seller
as of June 30, 2006. All Inventory is recorded on the books of Seller at the
lower of cost or market value determined in accordance with GAAP. All Inventory
is located at the Leased Real Property. All finished goods Inventory is saleable
in the Ordinary Course of Business. Purchase commitments for raw materials
and
parts are not in excess of normal requirements and are consistent with past
practice and none were at a price materially in excess of market prices existing
on the date such commitments were made.
Neither
Seller, any Shareholder nor any Affiliate thereof has paid or become obligated
to pay any fee or commission to any broker, finder, investment banker or other
intermediary in connection with this Agreement or any of the Related
Documents.
Neither
Seller nor its current or, to its Knowledge, former executives, officers,
representatives, agents or employees (a) has used or is using any funds for
any
illegal contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses; (b)
has
used or is using any funds for any direct or indirect unlawful payments to
any
foreign or domestic government officials or employees; (c) has violated or
is
violating any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; (d) has
established or maintained, or is maintaining, any unlawful or unrecorded fund
of
monies or other properties; (e) has made at any time any false or fictitious
entries on their respective Books and Records; (f) has made any bribe, rebate,
payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of any nature
or
paid any fee, commission or other payment that has not been properly recorded
on
its Books and Records; or (g) has made or received any material favor, gift
or
other consideration.
(a) Seller
has designed procedures to ensure that all material information relating to
Seller is made known to the executive officers of Seller. Since January 1,
2004,
with respect to Seller, there has not been any change in internal controls
or in
other factors that could significantly affect internal controls or any
corrective action with regard to significant deficiencies or weaknesses. Seller
maintains accounting records which fairly and validly reflect its transactions
and maintains accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances
that (i) such transactions were and are executed in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization, (ii) such transactions were and are recorded
as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in conformity
with GAAP and to maintain accountability for Seller’s consolidated assets, (iii)
access to Seller’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s
authorization, (iv) the reporting of Seller’s assets is compared with existing
assets at regular intervals, and (v) accounts, notes and other Receivables
and
inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are
implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis.
(b) The
Books
and Records of Seller, all of which have been delivered to Purchaser, are
accurate and complete and have been maintained in accordance with sound business
practices. To the Knowledge of Seller, the minute books of Seller contain
accurate and complete records of all meetings held of, and corporate action
taken by, the shareholders, the boards of directors and committees of boards
of
directors of Seller, as applicable, and no meeting of the shareholders, boards
of directors, or any committee has been held for which minutes have not been
prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of
the
Books and Records will be in the possession of Seller.
No
disclosure made by Seller or any Shareholder in this Agreement, any Exhibit
or
Schedule hereto, any Related Document, or certificate furnished by or on behalf
of Seller or any Shareholder to Purchaser or its Affiliates, agents and
representatives in connection with this Agreement and the Related Documents
or
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby contains any untrue statement
of
a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they are made, not misleading. To Seller’s Knowledge, there is no fact that has
not been disclosed in this Agreement which will cause a Material Adverse
Effect.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser
represents to Seller and Shareholders as follows:
Purchaser
is a Delaware limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
limited liability company power and authority conduct its business as it is
currently being conducted, to own and lease property and assets, to enter into
this Agreement and each Related Document to which it is a party and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder. Purchaser
is
duly qualified and in good standing to do business in the State of New York.
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Documents to which
it
is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and
therein has been authorized by all necessary limited liability company action
on
the part of Purchaser. This Agreement and each Related Document has been duly
executed and delivered by Purchaser, to the extent it is a party thereto, and
constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable
against Purchaser, as applicable, in accordance with its terms subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 5.2, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein by Purchaser will not
require the consent or approval of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority
or third party.
Purchaser
has not paid or become obligated to pay any fee or commission to any broker,
finder, investment banker or other intermediary in connection with this
Agreement or any of the Related Documents.
As
of the
Closing Date, Purchaser will have access to sufficient funds to pay the
Estimated Cash Purchase Price.
Since
June 30, 2006, except as set forth in Schedule 5.5, Purchaser has conducted
its
business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice and there has
not
been any Material Adverse Change on its business or condition and to the
knowledge of Purchaser, no event, fact or circumstance has occurred, that
individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to result in a Material
Adverse Change on its business or condition.
Neither
the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby
by Purchaser, nor the performance by Purchaser of the transaction contemplated
hereby or thereby violates, conflicts with, or constitutes a default (or an
event or condition that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
a default) under, or results in the termination of, or accelerates the
performance required by, or causes the acceleration of the maturity of any
liability or obligation pursuant to, or results in the creation or imposition
of
any security interest, lien, charge or other encumbrance upon any of the
property or assets of Purchaser under (a) Purchaser’s Articles of Formation or
Purchaser’s Operating Agreement or (b) except as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect or would not prevent or materially impede or delay the
consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, any judgment, order, writ,
injunction, decree, law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, commitment,
understanding, arrangement, agreement or restriction of any kind or character
applicable to Purchaser or its respective properties or assets.
CONDITIONS
TO THE CLOSING AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF CLOSING
The
obligations of the parties to this Agreement are subject to the following
conditions:
The
obligations of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be subject to the condition that (a) no injunction or order shall have
been issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or any other Governmental
Authority that would restrain or prohibit any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or any of the Related Documents or that would impose damages
as a result thereof and (b) no Action or proceeding shall be pending before
any
court or administrative agency or instrumentality of competent jurisdiction
in
which any Person seeks such a remedy (if, in the opinion of counsel to any
party, there exists a reasonable risk of a materially adverse result in such
pending Action or proceeding).
The
obligations of Purchaser to effect the Closing as contemplated hereby shall
be
subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each
of
the following conditions (any one or more of which may be waived by Purchaser
in
writing):
(a) Representations;
Performance by Seller and Shareholders.
Each of
the representations and warranties made by Seller and Shareholders in this
Agreement and in each Related Document shall be true and correct as of the
date
made and as of the Closing, with the same effect as though such representations
and warranties were made at and as of the Closing, and Seller and each
Shareholder shall have performed and satisfied its respective obligations
required or contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents to be
performed and satisfied prior to the Closing. Seller and each Shareholder shall
have delivered to Purchaser a certificate certifying as to the matters described
in Section 6.2(a), signed by Seller’s President .
(b) No
Material Adverse Effect; No Change in Product Mix.
Since
June 30, 2006, no Material Adverse Effect to Seller or any Shareholder shall
have occurred, and no event, fact or circumstance shall have occurred or become
known that is a Material Adverse Effect, and Seller and each Shareholder shall
have delivered to Purchaser a certificate certifying as to the matters described
in Section 6.2(b), signed by Seller’s President, in the case of Seller. The
sales mix of Seller as of the Closing Date shall not be materially adversely
different from that of Seller as of June 30, 2006, as reasonably determined
by
Purchaser.
(c) Corporate
Proceedings.
All
corporate and other proceedings of Seller in connection with this Agreement
and
the Related Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
shall
have been taken and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance
to
Purchaser.
(d) Consents.
Seller
shall have obtained and delivered to Purchaser copies of all Consents listed
on
Schedule 4.5, which consents shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to Purchaser; provided,
however,
if any
such consent is not delivered prior to Closing, the Seller and each Shareholder
shall be jointly and severally liable to deliver the same within sixty (60)
days
following the Closing. Purchaser shall have obtained the consents set forth
on
Schedule 5.2; provided,
however,
if any
such consent is not delivered prior to Closing, the Purchaser shall be liable
to
deliver the same within sixty (60) days following the Closing.
(e) Closing
Documents.
Seller
shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Purchaser on the Closing
Date the following documents:
(i) bills
of
sale and assignment and assumption agreements, each reasonably satisfactory
in
form and substance to Purchaser and such other transfer documentation reasonably
required by Purchaser (collectively, the “Transfer
Documents”)
executed by Seller;
(ii) Escrow
Agreement duly executed by Seller and Escrow Agent;
(iii) employment
agreements and confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements
duly executed by each of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx and a
confidentiality and non-solicitation agreement executed by Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
prior to Closing, each in substantially the form(s) attached hereto as
Exhibit
G
(the
“Employment
Agreements”);
(iv) Secretary’s
Certificate of Seller, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Purchaser, duly executed by Seller’s secretary;
(v) Good
standing certificates (including tax good standing certificates for New York,
Oregon and Florida) dated as of a date within one week of the Closing Date
for
Seller certified by the Secretary of State and relevant taxing authority of
the
state of its incorporation and each of the states set forth opposite its name
on
Schedule 4.1(a);
(vi) Lease
assignment, landlord consents and estoppel and nondisturbance agreements in
form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser from each landlord under
a
lease for the Leased Real Property in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
H;
and
(vii) Such
other documents as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser including all Books
and Records in the Purchased Assets.
(f) Opinion
of Counsel.
Seller
shall have delivered to Purchaser an opinion of Xxxx Xxxxx, LLP, dated the
Closing Date and addressed to Purchaser and Merisel Inc., form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser.
(g) Permits.
Purchaser shall have obtained all Licenses necessary for Purchaser to conduct
the Business as of the Closing.
(h) Contracts.
The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related
Documents shall not result in a breach, default or adverse change of the rights
of the parties under any Contract or under any applicable Law or
regulation.
(i) Governmental
Consents.
All
necessary Consents of Governmental Authorities to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents shall
have
been received.
(j) Name
Change.
On or
before the Closing Date, Seller shall (i) amend its Articles or Certificate
of
Incorporation and take all other actions necessary to change its name to one
sufficiently dissimilar to Seller’s present names, in Purchaser’s judgment, to
avoid confusion and (ii) take all actions requested by Purchaser necessary
for
Purchaser to assume Seller’s present names.
(k) Releases;
Affiliate Transactions.
At or
prior to the Closing, all Indebtedness (other than Assumed Debt) shall be repaid
and all holders of Indebtedness whether secured or unsecured of Seller, other
than the Assumed Debt, shall have delivered an irrevocable and complete release
of all Liens or claims against the Purchased Assets in form and substance
satisfactory to Purchaser. The Purchased Assets shall be free of any other
recorded Liens or claims, except as set forth on Schedule 2.1. All agreements
or
transactions between Seller and any Shareholder or other Affiliate, except
those
set forth on Schedules 4.21 shall have been terminated. All amounts due from
or
to the Shareholders or other Affiliates except in the Ordinary Course of
Business shall be paid prior to Closing.
(l) Procurement
of Satisfactory Financing or Satisfactory Term for Assumed Debt.
Purchaser shall have negotiated terms and conditions for the Assumed Debt that
are acceptable to Purchaser in its judgment or have refinanced such Assumed
Debt
on terms and conditions satisfactory to it.
(m) Completion
of Satisfactory Due Diligence.
As of
the Closing, Purchaser shall have completed its review of Seller’ legal,
operational and financial due diligence and its verification of Seller’s cash
flows, Contracts, customer inquiries, vendor inquiries, employment and other
matters as Purchaser deems necessary, in each case with the results of such
review being to Purchaser’s satisfaction. As of the Closing, Purchaser shall
have completed its review of environmental matters with respect to Seller and
shall be satisfied with the results thereof.
(n) Financing.
Purchaser shall have obtained financing for the transaction contemplated by
the
Agreement on terms similar to those in existence for other acquisitions by
Affiliates of Merisel.
(o) Delivery
of Financial Statements.
Seller
shall have delivered to Purchaser the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet,
the
calculation of Estimated Net Working Capital and the calculation of Estimated
Tangible Net Worth in all cases reasonably acceptable to Purchaser.
The
obligations of Seller and Shareholders to effect the Closing as contemplated
hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction at or prior to the
Closing of each of the following conditions (any one or more of which may be
waived by Seller or the Shareholder Representative in writing):
(a) Representations;
Performance of Purchaser.
Each of
the representations and warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct as of the date made and as of the Closing and Purchaser shall
have performed and satisfied each of its obligations required or contemplated
by
this Agreement and in each Related Document to be performed and satisfied prior
to the Closing. Purchaser shall have delivered to Seller an officer’s
certificate to such effect, signed by an officer of Purchaser.
(b) Purchase
Price.
The
Closing Payment shall have been paid, as provided in Article 2.
(c) Additional
Closing Documents.
Purchaser shall have delivered to Seller and Shareholders the following
documents:
(i) Assignment
and assumption agreements with respect to the Assumed Liabilities;
and
(ii) Good
standing certificates dated as of a date within one week of the Closing Date
for
each of Purchaser and Merisel certified by the Secretary of State of the state
of its formation.
(iii) Secretary’s
Certificates of each of Purchaser and Merisel, each in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Seller, duly executed by their respective
secretaries; and
(iv) the
Escrow Agreement duly executed by Purchaser and Escrow Agent and the Holdback
Amount deposited in escrow.
(d) Employment
Agreements.
Purchaser shall have delivered to the Shareholders executed copies of their
respective Employment Agreements.
(e) Leases.
Purchaser shall have delivered to Seller evidence satisfactory to Seller that
Purchaser has assumed the operating lease for offices located 000 Xxxxxxxx
in
New York, New York, and has replaced the letter of credit in the amount of
approximately $262,500 with a similar security deposit acceptable to the
landlord for such Leased Real Property.
(f) Personal
Guarantees.
Purchaser shall have delivered to each Shareholder reasonably satisfactory
evidence that they have been released from all personal guarantees of any
obligations of Seller, provided that, if Purchaser is unable to obtain such
releases on or before the Closing Date, it shall comply with the terms of
Section 7.17 hereof.
(g) Assumed
Debt.
At or
prior to the Closing, all Assumed Debt which, pursuant to its terms, must be
repaid prior to Closing, shall be repaid or expressly assumed by
Purchaser.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall have deemed to have
purchased the Business as of 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2006 and will be entitled
to all cash received by Seller after October 2, 2006, amounts received in
Seller’s bank accounts after October 3, 2006 and other Purchased Assets and
Assumed Liabilities from the beginning of October 1, 2006.
COVENANTS
AND AGREEMENTS
The
parties agree and covenant as follows:
From
the
date hereof through the Closing, Seller and each Shareholder covenants and
agrees that Seller will carry on its Business only in the Ordinary Course of
Business and shall not take any actions, individually or in the aggregate,
inconsistent therewith in any material respect or with the transactions
contemplated hereby or in the Related Documents, and will (a) use commercially
reasonable efforts to preserve intact the present business organization and
preserve and maintain the relationships and goodwill with suppliers, vendors,
service providers, clients, lenders, customers, contractors, employees,
landlords, tenants and other Persons having any business dealings with Seller
in
connection with its Business and keep available the service of its operating
personnel, (b) operate Seller’s Business in material compliance with all Laws,
including Environmental Laws, and maintain in full force and effect and to
protect and enforce, each in accordance with past practices, all Licenses and
Intellectual Property Rights of Seller, (c) not take any action listed in
Section 4.8(a)(i) through (xix) and (d) not, without the prior written consent
of Purchaser:
(i) in
a
single transaction or a series of related transactions, sell (including by
sale-leaseback), lease, license, pledge, transfer, dispose of or encumber any
assets, other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice;
(ii) except
for the line of credit between Seller and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx as in effect on the
date
hereof incur or become contingently liable with respect to any Indebtedness
or
redeem, purchase acquire or offer to purchase or acquire any long-term
Indebtedness provided such Indebtedness is either paid before Closing or
reflected on the Closing Date Balance Sheet;
(iii) acquire
or agree to acquire by merging with, or by purchasing a substantial equity
interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner,
any business or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
association or other business entity, in a transaction or series of related
transactions;
(iv) enter
into or amend any written or oral contract, agreement or arrangement with any
officer, director, stockholder or other Affiliate of Seller;
(v) enter
into or amend any Contract that obligates Seller to provide or purchase products
or services with a term in excess of one year, requiring Seller to take or
purchase a minimum amount of product or services or with a contract price in
excess of $10,000;
(vi) enter
into, amend or become obligated under any employment, consulting, severance,
bonus, profit-sharing or other employee benefit or compensation agreement or
arrangement;
(vii) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 7.1, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or
distribution in respect of any capital stock, or purchase or redeem any shares
of capital stock of Seller (including any security convertible or exchangeable
into such capital stock) or issue, grant or otherwise create any option or
right
to acquire any such capital stock;
(viii) waive,
release, grant, transfer or relinquish any rights or benefits of
value;
(ix) directly
or indirectly, (A) increase the compensation payable or to become payable by
Seller to any of its independent contractors, employees, officers or directors,
(B) except as required by this Agreement, adopt additional, make any payment
or
provision under, accelerate the vesting or exercise of any benefits under,
or
otherwise amend any option, bonus, profit sharing, pension, group insurance,
severance pay, deferred compensation or other payment or employee compensation
plan for the benefit of any Seller Employee or director, (C) enter into any
new,
or alter or amend any employment, severance, consulting or other compensation
agreement with any director, officer, employee or Affiliate of Seller, or (D)
make any payment, loan or advance to, or enter into any transaction or written
contract, lease or commitment with, any independent contractor, officer,
employee or director of Seller or any of its Affiliates except in the case
of
travel, entertainment or other similar advances in the ordinary course of
business, consistent with past practice;
(x) capital
expenditures not previously contained or described in a capital budget furnished
to Purchaser (or commitments to make such expenditures which are not terminable
without penalty or any other obligation at the option of Seller in its sole
discretion) which shall in no event exceed $15,000, nor shall Seller make any
investment of a capital nature either by purchase of stock or securities,
contributions to capital, property transfers or otherwise or by the purchase
of
any property or assets of any other individual, firm, corporation or other
entity;
(xi) alter
in
any respect the manner of keeping its books of account or records or the
accounting practices reflected therein in connection with the conduct of its
business, make or change any Tax or accounting election, change any annual
accounting period, adopt or change any accounting method, file any amended
Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle any Tax claim or assessment
relating to Seller or surrender any right to claim refund of Taxes, consent
to
any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Tax claim
or
assessment relating to Seller or take any other action or omit to take any
action that would have the effect of altering any Tax Liability of
Purchaser;
(xii) cause
or
allow to occur any material change in the manner in which Seller conducts the
Business;
(xiii) take
any
action not consistent in all material respects with the past practices of Seller
or the Business in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice;
(xiv) alter
or
reduce in any respect any monies reserved for or related to the Purchased
Assets; or
(xv) Seller
shall not enter into an agreement to do any of the things described in clauses
(i) through (xiv).
Seller
further covenants and agrees that between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, or the earlier termination hereof, Seller shall duly observe
and
perform all obligations on its part to be performed under all leases, duly
enforce all of Seller’s rights thereunder, and promptly give to Purchaser copies
of any notices sent or received by Seller with respect to all
leases.
Purchaser
and Seller will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain prior to the
Closing, at Seller’s sole cost and expense, all Consents listed on Schedule 4.5
and otherwise reasonably necessary to the transfer of the Purchased Assets
to
Purchaser. Purchaser agrees to cooperate with Seller in its efforts to obtain
such Consents. Seller shall not, without Purchaser’s approval, agree to amend or
modify any Contract or License in order to obtain any such Consent or any other
Consent to the transactions hereunder or under the Related Documents. Nothing
in
this Agreement shall constitute a transfer or assignment of any Contract that
would be breached by such transfer or assignment without consent.
Each
party hereto will give prompt written notice to the other parties hereto of
its
failure to perform in all material respects any of its covenants or other
obligations hereunder or under any Related Document or of the occurrence, or
failure to occur, of any event of which it has Knowledge and which would cause
any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in any Related
Document to be materially untrue or inaccurate in any respect at any time from
the date hereof to and including the Closing Date.
(a) From
and
after the date hereof through the Closing Date, Purchaser, its Affiliates and
any financing sources identified by Purchaser may, through their respective
employees, officers, agents and representatives (including accountants and
attorneys), continue to make or cause to be made such reasonable investigation
of Seller, the Leased Real Property, the Properties and the Business as they
deem necessary or advisable, and Seller and its Affiliates shall cooperate
with
such investigation and grant such representatives reasonable access (as often
as
Purchaser deem reasonably necessary) to their personnel, Properties, assets,
books and records, contracts and other documents and information relating to
Seller, the Business, the Leased Real Properties, the Properties and to the
extent applicable, any Affiliate of Seller, including, without limitation,
such
access as may be requested to allow Purchaser, any Affiliate thereof, any such
financing sources and all employees, officers, agents and representatives
thereof to satisfy themselves that the conditions to the Closing set forth
herein have been satisfied and complied with and in so doing, may also contact
the current and prospective customers, contractors, clients, suppliers, vendors
and other service providers of Seller.
(b) From
and
after the Closing Date, the Shareholders, their agents and representatives
(including accountants and attorneys) shall be permitted reasonable access
(during normal business hours, upon reasonable prior notice and in a manner
that
is not disruptive to the business) to the Books and Records.
From
the
date hereof through the Closing Date or until this Agreement is terminated
in
accordance with Article 10, Seller and Shareholders will not, and will not
cause
or permit their Affiliates, including Seller’s officers, directors, employees,
agents or other representatives (collectively, “Representatives”)
to,
directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of
inquiries, proposals or offers from, engage in any discussions or negotiations
with, provide any non-public information to any Person with respect to or enter
into any agreement relating to any Alternative Transaction. The term
“Alternative
Transaction”
means
any proposal for a transaction involving the purchase of any of the Purchased
Assets, an investment in or sale of any outstanding or newly issued Equity
Securities in Seller, the acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the
stock or Properties or Business of Seller, a merger, consolidation or other
business combination, pursuant to which such Person would acquire any interest
in Seller, the Purchased Assets or the Business or other recapitalization or
refinancing of Seller. In the event that any Shareholder, Seller or any
Affiliate or Representative thereof receives any unsolicited proposal or inquiry
regarding an Acquisition Proposal, Seller and such Shareholder, Affiliate or
Representative, as applicable, will promptly communicate to Purchaser in writing
the fact that it has received such proposal or inquiry and its terms and will
provide Purchaser with a complete copy of any written material relating to
such
transaction.
(a) No
less
than five (5) business days prior to Closing, Purchaser will offer all employees
of Seller, other than those listed on Schedule 7.6, employment with Purchaser
following the Closing on terms no less favorable in the aggregate than exist
for
such employees prior to the Closing Date, subject to such employees executing
a
standard offer letter and nondisclosure agreement as a condition to employment.
Such employees shall not commence employment with Purchaser until the Closing
Date. Those employees who accept Purchaser’s employment offer and who report for
duty on the Closing Date are collectively referred to as “Hired
Employees”.
Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate Purchaser to maintain Seller’s
employment terms or any Hired Employee’s employment for any period of time
except insofar as shall be required by any agreement identified in Schedule
7.6.
Seller shall cooperate with Purchaser’s efforts to employ and retain any such
employees. At the Closing, Seller shall terminate those employees who accept
employment with Purchaser and waive, for the benefit of Purchaser, any and
all
restrictions in any oral or written agreement with any Hired Employee, relating
to noncompetition with Seller subsequent to termination of employment therewith.
Any confidentiality agreements with Hired Employees shall be assigned to
Purchaser. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.6 and also reflected on the
Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet, Purchaser does not assume, and Seller
shall be fully responsible for, the payment of any severance, accrued but unused
vacation and other benefits or payments related to or payable upon the
termination of any employees, if applicable. Seller shall be responsible for
compliance with all Laws relating to the termination by Seller of Seller’s
employees at or prior to the Closing including the Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act, if applicable. At Closing, Seller will certify
to
Purchaser in writing the number of employees terminated or laid off in the
ninety (90) days prior to Closing. After Closing, Purchaser shall be responsible
for compliance with WARN if in fact WARN provisions are triggered by Purchaser’s
actions, however if WARN is triggered due to a misrepresentation by Seller
of
the number of employees terminated or laid off by Seller in the 90 days prior
to
Closing, Seller shall be responsible for any WARN compliance required by state
or federal law.
(b) Effective
as of the Closing Date, Seller shall cause each participant in Seller’s 401(k)
Plan to be fully vested in his or her accrued benefit and shall cause each
Hired
Employee to be entitled to a distribution of his or her entire accrued benefit
under the 401(k) Plan in a single lump sum.
(c) At
Purchaser’s option, an Affiliate of Purchaser may employ the Hired Employees.
(d) Effective
as of the Closing Date, Purchaser shall assume all of Seller’s existing
obligations under COBRA and all obligations of Purchaser under COBRA that arise
as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(e) Purchaser
shall audit periods of service after the Closing Date for purposes of
determining eligibility and vesting under all benefit plans, programs and
policies maintained by Purchaser for the benefit of Hired Employees after the
Closing date.
(a) The
Shareholders acknowledge that in their capacities as the sole shareholders,
directly or indirectly, of Seller, they have occupied positions of trust and
confidence with respect to Seller. Seller and each Shareholder agree that they
shall not disclose to others or use, and shall prevent each of their Affiliates
from disclosing to others or using, directly or indirectly, any Confidential
Information regarding Seller or Purchaser, the Business, the prospective
business of Purchaser or any of the Products, except as required in the course
of any Shareholder’s employment with Purchaser for a period of five (5) years
from the Closing Date. Seller and each Shareholder represent and warrant to
Purchaser that as of the Closing Date it, he or she has surrendered to
Purchaser, as applicable, all documents, work papers, lists, memoranda, records,
computer data and other data (including all copies) in its, his or her
possession constituting or pertaining in any way to the Confidential
Information. Seller and the Shareholders acknowledge and agree that such
Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value
to
Purchaser and the Business and that such information gives Purchaser and the
Business a competitive advantage.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 7.7(b) Seller and each Shareholder hereby covenants and
agree with Purchaser that, during a period of four (4) years commencing on
the
Closing Date (the “Covenant
Period”),
it or
he shall not, and they shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, directly
or indirectly, own, manage, operate or control, or engage, join or participate
in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or furnish any capital
or
loans to, be employed by or act as a consultant to or be connected in any manner
with, any Person or business that is engaged in or owns, invests, operates,
manages or controls any venture or enterprise which competes in any manner
whatsoever with Purchaser or the Business; provided,
however,
solely
for the purpose of this Section 7.7(b) and not for any other section, including
without limitation Section 7.7(c), the covenant period for the Minority
Shareholder shall be four (4) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall prohibit or otherwise restrict Seller or any Shareholder from
holding a passive investment in the equity securities of any Person if such
equity securities are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ provided that
such equity investment does not exceed one percent (1%) of the outstanding
equity securities of such Person.
(c) During
the Covenant Period, Seller and each Shareholder agree that it, he or she shall
not, and they shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, directly or
indirectly, (i) solicit any present or former customers, clients or other
Persons from whom Seller derived any revenue in the course of conducting the
Business prior to the Closing Date for the purpose of competing with the
Business or (ii) solicit any customers, clients or other Persons from whom
Purchaser derives any revenue, with respect to the Business as conducted by
Purchaser on or after the Closing Date for the purpose of competing with the
Business or (iii) persuade or attempt to persuade any customer, client, vendor,
service provider, supplier, contractor or any other Person having business
dealings with Purchaser to cease doing business or otherwise transacting with
Purchaser or to reduce the amount of business or such other transactions it
conducts or will conduct with Purchaser or otherwise disrupt, damage, impair
or
interfere in any manner with the business of Purchaser.
(d) During
the Covenant Period, Seller and each Shareholder agree that it, he or she shall
not, and they shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, solicit or induce,
directly or indirectly, any employee or independent contractor of Purchaser
to
terminate his or her relationship with Purchaser or, directly or indirectly,
offer employment to or compensate or cause or permit any other Person to
compensate any such employee or independent contractor or any person who was
an
employee or independent contractor of Purchaser within the six (6) month period
prior to such offer of employment or compensation.
(e) Seller
and each Shareholder acknowledge and recognize that the businesses and markets
of Purchaser are conducted throughout the world, that Purchaser, is investing
substantial sums of money to acquire, maintain and develop the Business, that
Purchaser, if any, would not be doing so but for the covenants contained in
this
Agreement, and that such covenants are necessary in order to protect and
maintain the proprietary interests and other legitimate business interests
of
Purchaser, the Business and the prospective business of Purchaser and are
reasonable in all respects. Seller and each Shareholder hereby further
acknowledge that the geographic scope and duration of this covenant not to
compete is reasonable.
(f) The
necessity of protection against competition from Seller and the Shareholders
and
the nature and scope of such protection has been carefully considered by the
parties to this Agreement based upon the consultation with and advice from
their
respective legal counsel. Seller and the Shareholders acknowledge and agree
that
they will receive direct and substantial benefits from the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and that Purchaser would not enter into the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the agreements of Seller
and
the Shareholders contained in this Section 7.7. The parties agree and
acknowledge (i) Purchaser is investing substantial sums to acquire an interest
in the Business, (ii) that the duration, scope and territory applicable to
the
covenants contained in this Section 7.7 are fair, reasonable and necessary,
and
do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill
or
other business interest of the Business and Purchaser’s investment therein and
(iii) that adequate compensation has been received by Seller and the
Shareholders for such obligations.
(g) If
any
court determines that any of the covenants or other provisions contained in
this
Section 7.7, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder
of
such covenants and this Agreement shall not thereby be affected and shall be
given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. If any court
determines that any of the covenants contained in this Section 7.7, or any
part
thereof, are unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the
product or area covered thereby or for any other reason, such court shall have
the power and the parties intend and desire that such court, and in connection
with the purchase and acquisition of the Purchased Assets Purchaser is relying
on such court to, exercise such power to reduce the duration or coverage of
such
provision to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision enforceable,
and in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall
be
enforced.
(h) Each
party intends to and does hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the covenants
and other provisions contained in this Section 7.7, upon the courts of any
jurisdiction within the geographic scope of such covenants or other provisions.
If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions holds such covenants
or
other provisions wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such scope
or
otherwise, it is the intention of each party that such determination not bar
or
in any way affect the rights of Purchaser (if any) to relief in the courts
of
any other jurisdiction within the geographic scope of such covenants or other
provisions, as to breaches of such covenants or other provisions in any such
other jurisdiction, such covenants or other provisions as they relate to each
jurisdiction and geographic location being, for this purpose, severable into
diverse and independent covenants and other provisions.
(i) Seller
and each Shareholder hereby agree that a violation or attempted or threatened
violation of the covenants or other provisions contained in this Section 7.7,
or
any part thereof, by Seller or any Shareholder will cause irreparable injury
to
Purchaser, the Business and the prospective business of Purchaser for which
money damages would be inadequate, and that Purchaser shall be entitled, in
addition to any other rights or remedies they may have, whether in law or in
equity, to obtain an injunction enjoining and restraining Seller and each
Shareholder, as applicable, from violating or attempting or threatening to
violate any provision of this Agreement, including the covenants contained
in
this Section 7.7. The duration of the covenants and other provisions contained
in this Section 7.7, shall be extended by a period equal to the duration of
any
breach or violation thereof.
None
of
Shareholders or Seller shall enter into any transaction or contract or take
(or
omit to take) any action which would, or is reasonably likely to, (a) result
in
any of Seller’s or Shareholder’s representations or warranties contained in this
Agreement or in any Related Document not being true and correct as of the date
hereof or the Closing Date or (b) prevent Seller or any Shareholder from
performing, satisfying and/or complying with all of its covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement or in any Related Document.
Seller
shall maintain or cause to be maintained, in full force and effect through
the
Closing Date, all of the insurance policies of or covering the Business,
Properties and Seller Employees, including each insurance policy listed on
Schedule 4.9, unless replaced by comparable coverage. Seller shall promptly
advise Purchaser in writing of any fire, accident or other casualty involving
or
relating to Seller , the Business or any of the Properties that occurs on or
before the Closing Date (whether or not covered by insurance) which individually
or in the aggregate involves, or adversely affects the value of any Property,
in
an amount in excess of $10,000.
Each
party shall cooperate with the other parties and use its reasonable best efforts
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related
Documents in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. After the Closing
the
parties shall cooperate in good faith to facilitate the transfer of the
Purchased Assets and the Business to Purchaser.
Prior
to
the Closing, Seller and Shareholders (and their agents or Affiliates) shall
not
directly or indirectly make any press release or other public communication
with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. Any public announcement or
similar publicity with respect to this Agreement or the Contemplated
Transactions will be issued, if at all, at such time and in such manner as
Purchaser and its Affiliates determines. The parties hereto acknowledge and
agree that Purchaser is a subsidiary of a public company and that such public
company will disclose the terms of this Agreement and information regarding
Seller and transactions contemplated hereby in press releases and public
filings, including filing a copy of this Agreement, when and as it deems
appropriate for compliance with Laws, including the rules and regulations of
the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any stock market or quotation system.
The
Exclusivity Agreement dated July 17, 2006 between Seller and Merisel, Inc.
shall
terminate as of the Closing, and prior to the Closing shall be modified by
the
provisions of this Section 7.11.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Seller shall permit Purchaser’s
senior officers to meet with the executive and other officers of Seller
responsible for the Financial Statements, the internal controls of Seller and
the disclosure controls and procedures of Seller to discuss such matters as
Purchaser may deem reasonably necessary or appropriate for Purchaser’s parent to
satisfy its obligations under Sections 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act
of
2002 and any rules and regulations relating thereto.
After
the
Closing, Merisel, Inc. shall cause Purchaser to perform its obligations, if
any,
under Section 2.7 and will be jointly and severally liable with Purchaser for
such obligations.
Until
December 11, 2006, Seller shall use its best efforts to maintain the injunction
in line with the stipulated restraining order issued on July 27, 2006 by the
Supreme Court of the State of New York against Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx a/k/a Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Splashlight Studios, Inc. (the “Corinella
Proceeding”),
a
copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
I,
and
will appeal all adverse rulings in connection with the Corinella Proceeding
to
the maximum extent permitted by law using its best efforts. Seller shall also
promptly notify Purchaser regarding any correspondence, filings, rulings or
other changes in status of the Corinella Proceeding. After the Closing, Seller
shall retain a minimum of $150,000 for the sole purpose of covering costs
related to the Corinella Proceeding.
After
the
Closing, certain services currently being done by Seller such as Lamda, Mounting
and Vutek shall be done by other Affiliates of Purchaser and certain retouching
work currently being done by other Affiliates of Purchaser shall be done by
Purchaser. In each case, when an Affiliate transfers work to the other, the
Affiliate sending the work shall be entitled to an amount equal to the net
margin it would have received if it had done the work itself and in the case
of
Purchaser, such net margin shall be included in EBITDA during the Earnout
Period.
Subsequent
to Closing, Purchaser shall remit to the appropriate Governmental Authorities
on
or prior to their respective due dates all amount of sales taxes up to $240,000
that are included in Assumed Liabilities or Accounts Receivables provided such
amount is clearly disclosed as a liability on the Estimated Closing Date Balance
Sheet.
Subsequent
to Closing, Purchaser and Merisel, Inc. shall each use its commercially
reasonable efforts to release each Shareholder from personal guarantees of
obligations of Seller which are set forth clearly with amounts involved on
Schedule 7.17.
Subsequent
to Closing, Seller shall prepare a compiled balance sheet, statement of income
and cash flow statement of Seller as of and for the twelve (12) month period
ended September 30, 2006 prepared in accordance with GAAP in accordance with
its
normal operating procedures. Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to
cooperate with Purchaser and the Auditor to assist in the completion of the
Audited September 30, 2006 Financials.
Without
limiting the provisions of Article 9, Seller and each Shareholder, jointly
and
severally, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3(b), shall be liable
for, shall pay or cause to be paid and shall indemnify and hold Purchaser,
its
Affiliates, and all of their officers, directors and agents, harmless from
and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, Liabilities, costs, expenses
(including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost and expenses of enforcing
such indemnification against any of Seller or Shareholders), interest and
penalties, if any, arising out of or based upon or for or in respect of each
of
the following: (i)
any
and all Taxes of or with respect to Seller other than the Assumed Sales Tax
and
the portion of the Transfer Taxes payable by Purchaser pursuant to Section
8.5
hereof; (ii) any and all Taxes resulting solely from Seller having been included
in any consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6(a) or any analogous or similar state, local or
foreign law or regulations; and (iii) any and all Taxes with respect to the
Business for any Tax period beginning before the Closing Date and ending after
the Closing Date to the extent allocated to Seller pursuant to Section 8.2(b)
hereof and not previously paid.
(a) Seller
and Purchaser each shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause
to be
filed all federal, state and local Tax Returns required to be filed by it and
shall pay the amount of all Taxes shown as due on all such Tax Returns. Seller
shall pay to Purchaser the amount of each Tax allocable to Seller pursuant
to
Section 8.2(b) with respect to the Purchased Assets or the Business assessed
with respect to a Tax period that begins before and ends after the Closing
Date
within five days after Seller receives written request therefor from Purchaser
(but in no event more than five days before the date Purchaser pays the
Tax).
(b) Proration
of Taxes.
In any
case in which a Tax Return for a Tax with respect to the Purchased Assets or
the
Business is required to be filed by Purchaser for a Tax period that begins
before and ends after the Closing Date, the resulting Tax obligation shall
be
allocated to Seller for the period up to and including the Closing Date and
to
Purchaser for the period after the Closing Date. Any allocation of Tax
attributable to any period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date
shall be made by means of a closing of the Books and Records of Seller as of
the
close of the Closing Date, provided that exemptions, allowances, deductions
(including, but not limited to, depreciation and amortization deductions) or
any
Taxes (such as property or similar Taxes) that are calculated on an annual
basis
shall be allocated between the period ending on the Closing Date and the period
after the Closing Date in proportion to the number of days in each such period.
Any disagreements regarding the allocations shall be promptly resolved in an
arbitration conducted by a neutral arbiter in accordance with the procedures
in
Section 2.6(d).
If
a
claim shall be made by any Governmental Authority, which, if successful, might
result in an indemnity payment to Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.1, Purchaser
shall promptly notify Seller and Shareholders in writing of such claim (a
“Tax
Claim”).
Upon
payment of any Taxes by Purchaser with respect to which Purchaser is entitled
to
receive indemnification hereunder, Purchaser shall submit an invoice to Seller
and Shareholders stating that such Taxes have been paid and giving in reasonable
detail the particulars relating thereto. Seller or Shareholders shall remit
payment for such Taxes promptly upon receipt of such invoice. The amount of
the
indemnification payment hereunder shall be such that, after reduction by the
amount of Taxes payable by Purchaser in respect of that payment, it equals
the
amount of Taxes payable by Purchaser.
After
the
Closing Date, Seller, Shareholders and Purchaser shall:
(a) assist
(and cause its respective Affiliates to assist) the other parties in preparing
any Tax Returns which such other party is responsible for preparing and
filing;
(b) cooperate
fully in preparing for any audits of, or disputes, contests or proceedings
with,
taxing authorities regarding any Tax Returns which relate to Seller or
Purchaser;
(c) make
available to the other parties hereto and to any Governmental Authority as
reasonably requested all information, records and documents relating to Tax
Liabilities of such other party or parties;
(d) preserve
all such information, records and documents until the expiration of any
applicable statutes of limitations or extensions thereof and as otherwise
required by Law;
(e) make
available to the other, as reasonably requested, personnel responsible for
preparing or maintaining information, records and documents in connection with
Tax matters and provide notice to the other party prior to the destruction
or
disposal of any such information, records and documents and provide such
information, records and documents to the other party at its request in lieu
of
destroying or disposing of them;
(f) provide
timely notice to the other in writing upon receipt of notice of any pending
or
threatened Tax audits or assessments relating to Seller for any period beginning
prior to the Closing Date;
(g) furnish
the other with copies of all correspondence received from any Governmental
Authority in connection with any Tax audit or information request with respect
to any period beginning prior to the Closing Date;
(h) keep
confidential any information obtained pursuant to this Section 8.3, except
as
may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or
claims for refund or in conducting any audit or other Tax proceeding; and
(i) furnish
the other with adequate information which would enable the other party to
determine its entitlement to, and the amount of, any refund or credit to which
either party reasonably believes the other party may be entitled.
Seller
and Shareholders, on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand, shall
each
shall be liable for one half of and shall each pay one half of all excise,
sales, use, transfer (including real property transfer or gains), stamp,
documentary, filing, recordation and other similar Taxes which may be imposed
in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, together with
any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto (“Transfer
Taxes”).
Each
party hereto hereby agrees to file all necessary documentation in connection
with the payment and reporting of Transfer Taxes.
The
obligations of the parties set forth in this Article 8 shall be unconditional
and absolute and shall remain in effect until the expiration of any applicable
statute of limitations (and any extensions thereof).
In
the
event of a conflict between the provisions of this Article 8 and any other
provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Article 8 shall
control.
INDEMNIFICATION
The
representations and warranties made by Seller and each Shareholder in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing and shall continue in effect until the
eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Closing Date, except (i) that the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and
4.7
shall survive until the third anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.10, 4.19 and 4.20 shall
survive until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect
to such matters (and any extensions thereof) and (iii) as to the breach of
any
representation or warranty as to which a claim is submitted in writing by a
Purchaser Indemnitee (as defined herein) within such period and identified
as a
claim for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or any Related Document,
in
which case such representation and warranty shall survive until the claim is
resolved. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
the obligations of Seller and Shareholders to indemnify any Purchaser Indemnitee
for (a) Excluded Liabilities under Section 9.2(c) or (b) for Losses arising
out
of or resulting from any fraud or intentional misrepresentation shall survive
indefinitely and shall not be limited by any applicable statute of limitations.
The representations and warranties of Purchaser shall terminate as of the
eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the right
of Purchaser to investigate the Business, assets and financial condition of
Seller, and notwithstanding any knowledge obtained or obtainable by Purchaser
as
a result of such investigation, Purchaser has the unqualified right to rely
upon, and has relied upon, each of the representations and warranties made
by
Seller and Shareholders in this Agreement or pursuant hereto. Seller, each
Shareholder and Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the representations
and
warranties made hereunder by Seller and Shareholders are bargained for
assurances.
After
the
Closing, Seller and the Shareholders agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify
and hold harmless Purchaser, and its officers, directors, agents, Affiliates,
representatives, successors and assigns (“Purchaser
Indemnitees”)
from
and against, and shall reimburse each Purchaser Indemnitee on demand for, any
and all direct or indirect claims, suits, Actions, proceedings, Liabilities,
obligations, judgments, fines, penalties, claims, losses, lost profits,
diminution in value, damages, costs and expenses of any kind (including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, accountants and
other experts whether incurred in connection with any of the foregoing or in
connection with any investigative, administrative or adjudicative proceeding,
whether or not such Purchaser Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto),
together with any and all reasonable costs and expenses associated with the
investigation of the same (provided with respect to costs of investigation
in
the case of a third party claim Purchaser shall have provided Seller with
written notice of such claim in accordance with Section 9.5 and Seller has
elected not to defend same) and/or the enforcement of the provisions hereof
and
thereof (collectively, “Losses”),
which
may be incurred by such Purchaser Indemnitee relating to, based upon, resulting
from or arising out of:
(a) the
breach of any representation or warranty made by Seller or any Shareholder
in
this Agreement or in any Related Document as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date during the survival period set forth in Section 9.1;
(b) the
breach of any agreement, covenant or obligation of Seller or any Shareholder
contained in this Agreement or in any Related Document;
(c) any
Excluded Liabilities (including any Assumed Liability in excess of amounts
set
forth in the Closing Date Balance Sheet or listed on Exhibit B);
(d) any
failure to comply with any applicable bulk sale or transfer Law in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) any
Liability incurred by Seller, any Shareholder or their respective Affiliates
to
pay any fee or commission to any broker, finder, investment banker or other
intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(f) any
misrepresentation contained in any certificate or other document furnished
by or
on behalf of Seller or any Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement or in any
Related Document or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
or
thereby or any other Losses arising out of or resulting from any fraud or
intentional misrepresentation; or
(g) any
(i)
harm to the Environment; (ii) Release of Hazardous Substances; (iii) alleged
or
actual violation of Environmental Law; or (iv) Environmental Liability, arising
from conditions, acts, or omissions that existed or occurred prior to Closing;
provided,
however,
in no
event will Seller be liable for any indirect, consequential, punitive or
exemplary damages.
(a) Other
than with respect to any indemnification claim made with respect to Losses
arising from a claim, action or proceeding related to breaches of the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4,
or
any claim for fraud, for which the limitations set forth in this Section 9.3
do
not apply, no claim for indemnification shall be brought under Section 9.2(a)
unless the aggregate amount of all Losses under Section 9.2(a) are greater
than
the greater of (i) $50,000 (the “Minimum Basket”) and (ii) the amount by which
Actual Net Working Capital exceeds Threshold Working Capital in the aggregate
at
which xxxx Xxxxxx and Shareholders shall be liable for all indemnity claims
made
by Purchaser Indemnities for the full amount of all Losses in excess of such
threshold. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Minority
Shareholder shall be jointly and severally liable for only twenty-five percent
(25%) of the Losses required to be indemnified pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof.
No claim for indemnification shall be brought under Section 9.4 (a) unless
the
aggregate amount of all Losses for which indemnification may be sought under
Section 9.4(a) exceeds the Minimum Basket and the Purchaser shall be liable
for
all such indemnity claims made by a Seller Indemnittee for the full amount
of
all Losses in excess of the $25,000. No claim for indemnification shall be
brought under Section 9.4(b) unless the aggregate amount of all Losses for
which
indemnification may be sought under Section 9.4(b) exceeds $5,000 and Merisel
shall be liable for all such indemnity claims made by a Shareholder for the
full
amount of all Losses in excess of $5,000.
(b) The
maximum liability of Seller, the Shareholders, Purchaser or Merisel, as
applicable, for indemnification for breaches of representations and warranties
shall not exceed the amount of the Purchase Price paid to Seller (the
“Indemnity
Cap”);
provided,
however,
that
such Indemnity Cap shall not apply to liability incurred as a result of fraud
or
breaches of representations and warranties by the Seller or any Shareholder
set
forth in Sections 4.19 or 4.20, or due to any Excluded Liability.
(a) Indemnification
by Purchaser.
Purchaser shall indemnify, after the Closing Date but prior to the expiration
of
the applicable survival period set forth in Section 9.1, Seller and each
Shareholder (each, a “Seller Indemnitee”)
for
all Losses which may be incurred by such Shareholder relating to, based upon,
resulting from or arising out of:
(i) the
breach of any representation or warranty made by Purchaser in this Agreement
or
in any Related Document as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date during
the survival period set forth in Section 9.1;
(ii) the
breach of any agreement, covenant or obligation of Purchaser contained in this
Agreement or in any Related Document;
(iii) any
Assumed Liability or any Liability listed on Exhibit B;
(iv) any
Liability incurred by Purchaser or its Affiliates to pay any fee or commission
to any broker, finder, investment banker or other intermediary in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(v) any
misrepresentation contained in any certificate or other document furnished
by or
on behalf of Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or in any Related Document
or
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any other
Losses arising out of or resulting from any fraud or intentional
misrepresentation;
(vi) any
Environmental Liability arising from conditions that arise entirely after
Closing; and
(vii) any
Liability incurred by either of the Shareholders under any personal guarantee
of
the obligations of the Business as set forth on Schedule 9.4;
provided,
however,
in no
event will Purchaser be liable for any indirect, consequential, punitive or
exemplary damages.
(b) Indemnification
by Merisel.
Merisel
shall indemnify, after the Closing Date, each Shareholder for all Losses which
may be incurred by such Shareholder relating to, based upon, resulting from
or
arising out of any liability incurred by either of the Shareholders under any
personal guarantee of the obligations of the Business as set forth on Schedule
9.4; provided,
however,
that
Merisel’s obligation to provide such indemnification for each personal guarantee
given by a Shareholder shall terminate concurrently with the termination of
each
such personal guarantee; provided,
further,
in no
event will Merisel be liable for any indirect, consequential, punitive or
exemplary damages.
If
any
Indemnitee shall receive notice of any third party claim, suit, arbitration
or
other legal proceeding giving rise to indemnity under this Agreement, the
Indemnitee shall give the Indemnitor prompt written notice of the same;
provided, however, that failure to provide such written notice shall not release
the Indemnitor from any of its obligations under this Article 9, except to
the
extent (and only to the extent) the Indemnitor is materially prejudiced by
such
failure. The Indemnitor may, but shall not be obligated to, upon prompt written
notice furnished to the Indemnitee, assume the defense of any such claim, suit,
arbitration or other proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnitee, if the Indemnitor acknowledges to the Indemnitee in writing its
obligations to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to all elements of such
claim. If the Indemnitor furnishes such written acknowledgment and assumes
the
defense of any such claim, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to participate
in
(but not control) the defense of any such Action, with its own counsel and
at
its own expense. Neither Seller, the Shareholders nor the Indemnitee shall
settle or compromise any claim by a third party without the prior written
Consent of the other party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) provided,
that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser Indemnitee shall be entitled
to withhold its written Consent to any settlement or compromise offers that
would either impose a restriction or burden operation of the Business after
the
date of such settlement or compromise or not release the Indemnitee from all
liability upon the execution of any such settlement or compromise. If the
Indemnitor does not assume the defense of any such claim, suit, arbitration
or
other proceeding as provided above, (i) the Indemnitee may defend against the
same, in such manner as it may deem appropriate and at the Indemnitor’s cost and
expense, including, without limitation, settling such matter provided that
such
settlement shall be subject to the Indemnitor’s prior written Consent (which
shall not be unreasonably withheld), and (ii) the Indemnitor shall be entitled
to participate in (but not control) the defense of such Action, with its own
counsel and at its own expense.
If
any
Purchaser Indemnitee has any claim against Seller or any Shareholder hereunder
or under any Related Document, whether for indemnification, breach of agreement
or otherwise, Purchaser may withhold the total amount of the claim from any
payment due Seller or any Shareholder hereunder, including under Section 2.5(c),
2.6 or 2.7, until final determination of such pending claim, and after such
final determination Purchaser may offset the determined amount against any
amounts owed to Seller or any Shareholder, provided
that,
Purchaser may not offset against any payments due to the Shareholders under
the
employment agreements.
TERMINATION
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date, as follows,
and in no other manner:
(a) by
the
mutual written agreement of the parties;
(b) by
Purchaser, by written notice to Seller and Shareholders, if (i) there shall
have
been a material breach of any representation or warranty made by Seller or
Shareholders in this Agreement, or if the representations and warranties of
Seller or Shareholders shall not have been true and correct in all respects
(in
the case of any representation or warranty containing any materiality
qualification) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation
or
warranty without any material qualification) as of the date when made, or (ii)
there shall have been a breach by Seller or Shareholders of any of its covenants
or agreements hereunder and, in each of clauses (i) and (ii), Seller or such
Shareholder shall not have cured such breach, if curable, within ten (10)
business days after written notice by Purchaser, provided that Purchaser has
not
breached any of its material obligations hereunder which have not been cured
after ten (10) business days of the receipt of a notice of such
breach;
(c) by
Seller
by written notice to Purchaser, if (i) there shall have been a breach of any
material representation or warranty made by Purchaser in this Agreement, or
if
the representations and warranties of Purchaser shall not have been true and
correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty
containing any materiality qualification) or in all material respects (in the
case of any representation or warranty without any material qualification)
as of
the date when made, or (ii) there shall have been a breach by Purchaser of
any
of its material covenants or agreements hereunder which would materially
adversely affect (or materially delay) the consummation of the purchase and
sale
of the Purchased Assets hereunder, and, in each of clauses (i) and (ii),
Purchaser shall not have cured such breach, if curable, within ten (10) days
after written notice by Seller, provided that Seller and Shareholders have
not
breached any of their material obligations hereunder; or
(d) by
either
Purchaser or Seller, if (i) the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior
to
October 31, 2006; provided, however, that no party may terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this clause (d) if the failure of such party to fulfill any of
its
obligations or conditions hereunder shall be the reason that the Closing shall
not have occurred on or prior to such date, or (ii) any final order, decree
or
judgment shall have been entered against Seller, Shareholders or Purchaser
enjoining, restraining or declaring illegal the material transactions
contemplated hereby or awarding damages in material amounts in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby.
In
the
event that this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, this
Agreement, other than Section 11.5 and as set forth in the next sentence, shall
forthwith become void and have no effect, and all further obligations of the
parties under this Agreement shall terminate without further Liability or
obligation of any party to another; provided, however, that each party shall
remain obligated for any breach by such party of this Agreement.
MISCELLANEOUS
The
terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, provided
that
no such succession, transfer, encumbrance or assignment of all or any part
of
Seller’s or any Shareholder’s rights or interest in this Agreement may occur
whether voluntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, without the express
approval of Purchaser in its sole discretion. Nothing in this Agreement, express
or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto
or their respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations
or
Liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided
in Article 9 of this Agreement. Seller and Shareholders agree that Purchaser
may
grant a security interest in this Agreement and all Related Documents to the
party or parties that will provide the financing for the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement under any and all financing documents entered
into by such financing party or parties to secure such Purchaser’s obligations
to such financing party or parties under this Agreement and any such
documents.
(a) This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of
the
State of New York without regard to choice of law rules.
(b) TO
THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SELLER, SHAREHOLDERS AND PURCHASER EACH
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATED
TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE RELATED DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY.
(c) Any
action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any right
arising out of, this Agreement shall be brought against any of the parties
in
the courts of the State of New York, or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction,
in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and
each of the parties irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such
courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such action or
proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. Process in any action
or proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence may be served on any party
anywhere in the world by first class certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid to the address at which such party is to
receive notice in accordance with this Agreement.
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. Signature by telecopy shall be sufficient to evidence a party’s
intention to be bound hereby.
Any
notices hereunder shall be deemed sufficiently given by one party to another
only if in writing and if and when delivered by personal delivery or as of
five
(5) business days after deposit in the United States mail in a sealed envelope,
registered or certified, with postage prepaid, twenty-four (24) hours after
deposit with an overnight courier if such day is a business day (or the next
business day if it is not), or five (5) hours after confirmation of delivery
by
facsimile during business hours on a business day, addressed as follows (or
at
such other address or facsimile number for a party as shall be specified by
like
notice):
If
to Purchaser or Merisel, to:
|
Merisel
FD, LLC or Merisel, Inc.
000
X. 00xx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice to):
|
Xxxxxxxxx
Traurig, LLP
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
If
to Seller, to:
|
Fuel
Digital, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone
No.: 000-000-0000
|
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxx, LLP
Centre
Square West
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telephone
No.: 000-000-0000
|
If
to the Shareholders to:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
c/o
Fuel Digital, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone
No.: 000-000-0000
and
Xxxxx
X’Xxxxxxx
c/o
Fuel Digital, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone
No.: 000-000-0000
|
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxx, LLP
Centre
Square West
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telephone
No.: 000-000-0000
|
or
to
such other address as the party addressed shall have previously designated
by
written notice to the serving party, given in accordance with this Section
11.4.
Any party may unilaterally change any one or more of the addresses to which
a
notice to the party or its representative is to be delivered or mailed, by
written notice to the other party hereto given in the manner stated
above.
Except
as
provided in Section 8.5, Purchaser shall bear and pay all of its own costs
and
expenses, and the costs and expenses of their advisors and organizers, relating
to the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Related Documents, including
the expenses of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP for the services for which Purchaser
has
retained them. Except as provided in Section 8.5, Seller and Shareholders shall
bear and pay all their own costs and the costs and expenses of their advisors
and organizers, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and in the
Related Documents including the expenses of Xxxx Xxxxx LLP for the services
for
which Seller or the Shareholders have retained them.
Any
term
or provision of this Agreement that is held invalid or unenforceable in any
situation in any jurisdiction will not affect the validity or enforceability
of
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability
of
the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction. In the event that any provision hereof would, under applicable
law, be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, each party hereto intends
that
such provision will be construed by modifying or limiting it so as to be valid
and enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with, and possible under,
applicable law.
This
Agreement, the Schedules and exhibits hereto and the Related Documents and
certificates delivered in connection herewith constitute the entire agreement
among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and thereof
and
supersede all prior agreements, term sheets, letters, discussions and
understandings of the parties in connection therewith. This Agreement contains
all agreements of the parties with respect to any matter mentioned herein.
No
prior agreement or understanding pertaining to any such matter shall be
effective.
Each
party to this Agreement shall execute all instruments and documents and take
all
actions as may be reasonably required to effectuate this Agreement, whether
before, concurrent with or after the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
This
Agreement may be amended or modified in writing with the prior approval of
Seller, Shareholder Representative, Purchaser and Merisel, Inc. Unless otherwise
provided herein, any waiver hereunder may be granted in writing with the prior
approval of Seller, Shareholder Representative, Purchaser and Merisel, Inc.
but
such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of any subsequent or other failure.
No
waiver by a party hereto of any provision hereof shall be deemed a waiver of
any
other provision hereof.
Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the terms and provisions
of
any Related Document or any other agreement between the parties hereto, but
each
and every term and provision of this Agreement shall be in addition to the
terms
and provisions of such other Related Documents and agreements.
The
headings and captions used herein are for convenience only and shall not be
construed as part of this Agreement.
[Remainder
of this page left intentionally blank.]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Asset Purchase Agreement
as of
the date first above written.
SELLER:
|
FUEL
DIGITAL, INC., a New York corporation
|
|
By:
|
||
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
||
SHAREHOLDERS:
|
||
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxx
X’Xxxxxxx
|
||
PURCHASER:
|
MERISEL
FD, LLC a Delaware limited liability company
|
|
By:
|
||
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxx
|
||
Title: Principal
Officer
|
||
MERISEL,
INC.
|
MERISEL,
INC., for purposes of Section 2.7, 7.13, 7.17, 9.4(b) and
Section
11.9 only
|
|
By:
|
||
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxx
|
||
Title:
Executive Vice President
|
||
Sales
Taxes
|
||