STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (MPI) by and among MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES, INC. THE JAMES R. MACLEAN REVOCABLE TRUST SARA G. MACLEAN THE LINDA R. MACLEAN IRREVOCABLE TRUST and TITAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. July 17, 2007
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT (MPI)
by
and among
MANAGEMENT
PROPERTIES, INC.
THE
XXXXX X. XXXXXXX REVOCABLE TRUST
XXXX
X. XXXXXXX
THE
XXXXX X. XXXXXXX IRREVOCABLE TRUST
and
July
17, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
No.
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1
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ARTICLE
II SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES; CLOSING
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7
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2.1
Shares
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7
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2.2
Purchase Price
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7
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2.3
Closing
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7
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2.4
Closing Obligations
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8
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2.5
Escrow
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8
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ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE
COMPANY
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9
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3.1
Organization and Good Standing
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9
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3.2
Authority; No Conflict
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9
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3.3
Capitalization
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10
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3.4
Financial Statements
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10
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3.5
Books and Records
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11
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3.6
Title to Properties; Encumbrances
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11
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3.7
Intellectual Property Matters
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12
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3.8
Absence of Material Adverse Change
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13
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3.9
No Undisclosed Liabilities
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13
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3.10
Taxes
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13
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3.11
Employee Benefits
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15
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3.12
Compliance with Legal Requirements; Governmental
Authorizations
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17
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3.13
Legal Proceedings
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18
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3.14
Absence of Certain Changes and Events
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18
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3.15
Material Contracts; No Defaults
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19
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3.16
Insurance
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21
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3.17
Environmental Matters
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21
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3.18
Brokers or Finders
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24
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3.19
Accounts Receivable
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24
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3.20
Inventory
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24
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3.21
Sufficiency of Assets
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24
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3.22
Relationships with Customers, Dealers and Suppliers
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24
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3.23
Related Party Transactions
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24
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3.24
Employee and Labor Relations
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25
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3.25
Closing Date
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25
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3.26
Disclosures
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25
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ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
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25
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4.1
Legal Capacity, Organization and Good Standing
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25
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4.2
Authority; No Conflict
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26
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4.3
Ownership of Shares
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26
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4.4
Absence of Claims
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26
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4.5
Brokers or Finders
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26
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4.6
Closing Date
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26
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ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
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27
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5.1
Organization and Good Standing
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27
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5.2
Authority; No Conflict
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27
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5.3
Investment Intent
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27
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5.4
Certain Proceedings
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27
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5.5
Buyer’s Investigation
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27
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5.6
Brokers or Finders
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27
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ARTICLE
VI COVENANTS OF COMPANY AND SELLERS PRIOR TO CLOSING
DATE
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28
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6.1
Access and Investigations
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28
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6.2
Operation of the Company
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28
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6.3
Negative Covenant
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29
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6.4
Cooperation Regarding Financial Statement Audit
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29
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6.5
Non-Solicitation
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29
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6.6
Notice of Developments—Company and Seller
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30
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6.7
Consents
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30
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6.8
Stockholder Agreements
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30
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6.9
Excise Tax
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30
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6.10
Environmental Due Diligence
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31
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6.11
Assignments
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31
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6.12
Disclosure Schedules
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31
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ARTICLE
VII COVENANTS
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32
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7.1
Approvals of Governmental Bodies
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32
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7.2
WARN Act
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32
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7.3
Notice of Developments—Buyer
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32
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7.4
Intentionally Left Blank
|
32
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7.5
Intentionally Left Blank
|
32
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7.6
Confidentiality
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32
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ARTICLE
VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO
CLOSE
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33
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8.1
Accuracy of Representations
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33
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8.2
Covenants
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33
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8.3
Consents
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33
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8.4
No Proceedings
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33
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8.5
Intentionally Left Blank
|
33
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8.6
Closing Deliveries
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34
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8.7
Intentionally Left Blank
|
34
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8.8
Financing
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34
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8.9
Opinion
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34
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8.10
FIRPTA Affidavit
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34
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8.11
Certificates
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34
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8.12
Section 280G Approval or Disapproval
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34
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8.13
Termination of Stockholder Agreements
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34
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8.14
Financial Statements; Audit
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34
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8.15
Satisfaction of Environmental Condition
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35
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8.16
Affiliate Leases
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35
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8.17
Satisfaction of Legal and Financial Due Diligence
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36
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8.18
Escrow Agreement
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36
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ARTICLE
IX CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SELLERS’ OBLIGATION TO
CLOSE
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36
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9.1
Accuracy of Representations
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36
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9.2
Covenants
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36
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9.3
Consents
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36
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9.4
No Proceedings
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36
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9.5
Certificates
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37
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9.6
Escrow Agreement
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37
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9.7
Appco Agreement
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41
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ARTICLE
X TERMINATION
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37
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10.1
Termination Events.
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37
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10.2
Effect of Termination
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38
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ARTICLE
XI SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND
AGREEMENTS
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38
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11.1
Representations and Warranties
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38
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11.2
Covenants
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38
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11.3
General
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39
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ARTICLE
XII INDEMNIFICATION
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39
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12.1
Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Seller
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39
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12.2
Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Buyer
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39
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12.3
Indemnitee’s Tax Benefits
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40
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12.4
Limitations
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40
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12.5
Procedures for Indemnification -- Third Party Claims
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40
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12.6
Procedure for Indemnification -- Other Claims
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41
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12.7
Exclusive Remedy
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41
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12.8
Tax Treatment
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42
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12.9
Manner of Payment
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42
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ARTICLE
XIII TAX MATTERS
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42
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13.1
Tax Indemnification
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42
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13.2
Tax Periods Ending On or Before the Closing Date
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43
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13.3
Cooperation on Tax Matters
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43
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13.4
Tax Sharing Arrangements
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43
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13.5
Transfer Taxes
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43
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13.6
Audits and Contests Regarding Taxes
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43
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ARTICLE
XIV GENERAL PROVISIONS
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44
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14.1
Expenses
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44
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14.2
Public Announcements.
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44
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14.3
Confidentiality
|
44
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14.4
Notices
|
45
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14.5
Jurisdiction; Service of Process
|
45
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14.6
Further Assurances
|
45
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14.7
Waiver
|
46
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14.8
Entire Agreement and Modification
|
46
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14.9
Disclosure Schedules
|
46
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14.10
Assignments, Successors, and No Third-Party Rights
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46
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14.11
Severability
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46
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14.12
Article and Section Headings, Construction
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46
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14.13
Time of Essence
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47
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14.14
Governing Law
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47
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47
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14.16
Sellers’ Representatives
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47
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DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULES
[To
be
delivered to Buyer on or before July 31, 2007.]
Schedule
3.1(a)
|
Executive
Officers & Directors; Business Qualification
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|
Schedule
3.1(b)
|
Subsidiaries;
Executive Officers & Directors
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|
Schedule
3.2(b)
|
No
Conflicts
|
|
Schedule
3.2(c)
|
Company
Required Consents
|
|
Schedule
3.3(a)
|
Capitalization
and Agreements in Respect of Equity Securities
|
|
Schedule
3.3(b)
|
Options,
Warrants and Similar Rights
|
|
Schedule
3.4
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
Schedule
3.6
|
Title
to Assets; Encumbrances
|
|
Schedule
3.7
|
Intellectual
Property
|
|
Schedule
3.9
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
|
Schedule
3.10
|
Taxes
|
|
Schedule
3.11
|
Plans
and Benefit Obligations; Retiree Benefits
|
|
Schedule
3.12
|
Compliance
with Legal Requirements
|
|
Schedule
3.13
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
|
Schedule
3.14
|
Absence
of Certain Changes and Events
|
|
Schedule
3.15(a)
|
Material
Contracts
|
|
Schedule
3.15(b)
|
Restrictive
Contracts
|
|
Schedule
3.15(c)
|
Validity
of Material Contracts
|
|
Schedule
3.15(d)
|
No
Violation of Material Contracts
|
|
Schedule
3.16
|
Insurance
|
|
Schedule
3.17
|
Environmental
Matters
|
|
Schedule
3.19
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
|
Schedule
3.20
|
Inventory
|
|
Schedule
3.22
|
Relationship
with Customers, Dealers and Suppliers
|
|
Schedule
3.23
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
|
Schedule
3.24
|
Employee
and Labor Relations
|
|
Schedule
4.2
|
No
Conflict of Sellers
|
|
Schedule
4.4
|
Absence
of Claims
|
OTHER
SCHEDULES
Schedule
6.2(a)
|
Operation
of the Company
|
|
Schedule
6.3
|
Negative
Covenant
|
|
Schedule
8.3
|
Consents
|
EXHIBITS
Buyer’s
Required Consents
|
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT (MPI)
This
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (MPI) (this
“Agreement”)
is
dated as of July 17, 2007, by and among Management Properties, Inc., a
Tennessee corporation (the “Company”),
the
stockholders of the Company identified on the signature page hereto
(collectively referred to herein as “Sellers”
and
each individually as a “Seller”),
and Titan
Global Holdings, Inc., a Utah corporation
(“Buyer”).
RECITAL
Sellers
desire to sell, and Buyer desires to purchase, in the aggregate, all of the
issued and outstanding common stock, zero par value per share, of the Company
(collectively, the “Shares”),
for
the consideration and on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
The
parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified
or
referred to in this Article I:
“Accounts
Receivable”
means
all
of the Company’s trade
accounts receivable, notes receivable, employee advances and other miscellaneous
receivables.
“Acquisition
Proposal”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).
“Affiliate”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person. For
the
purposes of this definition, “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and
“under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among
two or more Persons, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of
the
power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise.
“Affiliated
Group”
means
any affiliated group within the meaning of IRC §1504(a) or any similar
group defined under a similar provision of state, local or foreign
law.
“Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“All
Appropriate Inquiries”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
“Appco”
means
Appalachian Oil Company, Inc., a Tennessee corporation and an Affiliate of
the
Company.
“Appco
Agreement” means
the
Stock Purchase Agreement (Appco) among Appco, its stockholders and Buyer,
executed of even date herewith, and pursuant to which Buyer has agreed to buy,
and the stockholders have agreed to sell, all of the capital stock of
Appco.
“Basket”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 12.4.
“Benefit
Obligation”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday under the laws of the
State of Tennessee.
-1-
“Buyer”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer’s
Accountants”
means
Buyer’s independent, nationally recognized, certified public accountants.
“Cap”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 12.4.
“Closing”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
“Closing
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
“Common
Stock”
means
the common stock of the Company, zero par value per share.
“Company”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Company
Facility”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17(b).
“Company
Intellectual Property Assets”
means
the Intellectual Property Assets owned or used by the Company.
“Consent”
means
any approval, consent, ratification, waiver, or other authorization (including
any Governmental Authorization), including the satisfaction of any requirement
to pay any fees or other amounts under any Contract or instrument, arising
in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
“Consent
Fees”
means
all fees and other amounts payable to contractual counter-parties, Governmental
Bodies (except for any transfer taxes) and other third parties in connection
with obtaining the Consents, other than the Consents that are or should have
been set forth on Exhibit A
hereto.
“Contract”
means
any written (or oral) agreement, contract, license, sublicense, lease, sublease
or binding commitment or arrangement.
“CPI”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.16.
“Current
Company Facility”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17(c).
“Damages”
means
any and all losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, costs and expenses,
including without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel,
sustained or incurred by the applicable Person.
“Disclosure
Schedules”
or “Schedules” means,
collectively, those schedules to be delivered by the Company and the Sellers,
pursuant to Section 6.12 hereof, that set forth the facts and circumstances
that
qualify the representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers in
Articles III and IV of this Agreement, and “Schedule” means any
individual schedule comprising part of the Disclosure Schedules.
“Encumbrance”
means
any mortgage, easement, right of way, charge, claim, equitable interest, lien,
option, pledge, security interest, right of first refusal, or restriction of
any
kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income,
or
exercise of any other attribute of ownership.
“Environmental
Claim”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
“Environmental
Laws”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
“Environmental
Permits”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
-2-
“Equipment”
means
all equipment used by the Company in its operations or otherwise held by the
Company, whether owned, leased or licensed, and whether located at any Current
Company Facility or not, including, without limitation, all fuel pumps, fuel
tanks, trucks, cash registers, computers, telephones, printers and other related
equipment.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any
successor law, and regulations and rules issued pursuant to that Act or any
successor law.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Escrow
Account”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Escrow
Agent”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Escrow
Agreement”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Escrow
Amount”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“FIRPTA
Affidavit”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.10.
“Former
Company Facility”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17(c).
“Fundamental
Representations”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
“GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect at the
relevant time.
“Governmental
Authorization”
means
any approval, consent, license, permit, certification, registration, waiver,
or
other authorization issued, granted, given, required, or otherwise made
available by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or pursuant to
any
Legal Requirement.
“Governmental
Body”
means
any:
(a) nation,
state, county, city, town, village, district, or other jurisdiction of any
nature;
(b) federal,
state, local, county, municipal, foreign, or other government;
(c) governmental
or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental
agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other
tribunal); or
(d) body
exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial,
legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any
nature.
“Hazardous
Materials”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
“Indebtedness”
means
at any particular time, without duplication, (i) any indebtedness for
borrowed money or issued in substitution for or exchange of indebtedness for
borrowed money, (ii) any indebtedness evidenced by any note, bond,
debenture or other debt security, (iii) any indebtedness for the deferred
purchase price of property or services with respect to which a Person is liable,
contingently or otherwise, as obligor or otherwise (other than trade payables
and other current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business which
are not more than three months past due), (iv) any banker’s acceptances
that are not used to purchase Inventory, (v) any indebtedness guaranteed in
any manner by a Person (including, without limitation, guarantees in the form
of
an agreement to repurchase or reimburse), (vi) any obligations under
capitalized leases with respect to which a Person is liable, contingently or
otherwise, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or with respect to which
obligations a Person assures a creditor against loss, (vii) any
indebtedness secured by an Encumbrance on a Person’s assets, and
(viii) accrued interest in respect of any of the obligations described in
the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii) of this definition and all
premiums, penalties, charges, fees, expenses and other amounts which would
become due in connection with the payment and satisfaction in full of such
obligations on the Closing Date.
-3-
“Intellectual
Property Assets”
means
all: (A) patents, patent applications and patent disclosures;
(B) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos and slogans
(and all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations of the
foregoing) and Internet domain names, together with all goodwill associated
with
each of the foregoing; (C) copyrightable works and copyrights;
(D) registrations and applications related to any of the foregoing;
(E) trade secrets, know-how, confidential information and inventions;
(F) computer software (including but not limited to source code, executable
code, data, databases and documentation); (G) rights of publicity and
privacy relating to the use of the names, likenesses, voices, signatures and
biographical information of real persons; and (H) other intellectual
property.
“Interim
Financial Statements”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.4.
“Inventory”
means
all inventory owned, used or held for sale by the Company, including, without
limitation, fuel, fuel-derivative products and convenience store merchandise,
and all raw materials, work in process, finished products, shipments in transit,
and related items owned, used or held for use by the Company.
“IRC”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor law, and
regulations issued by the IRS pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code or any
successor law.
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor agency, and, to
the
extent relevant, the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Knowledge”
with
respect to the Company, means knowledge of any member of Management, in each
case, assuming a reasonable inquiry.
“Leased
Real Property”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).
“Leases”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).
“Legal
Requirement”
means
any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational,
or
other administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common
law, court order, consent, decree, regulation, license, permit, statute, or
treaty.
“Management”
means
each of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx X. XxxXxxx and Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
in
their respective roles in the management of the Company.
“Material
Adverse Effect (or Change)”
means,
with
respect to a particular Person, any event, fact, circumstances or condition
that, individually or in the aggregate with any other such events, facts,
circumstances or conditions, has had or would be reasonably expected to have
(a) a
material adverse effect on the business,
results
of operations, assets or financial condition of such
Person and its subsidiaries (if any),
taken
as a whole,
or
(b) a material impairment of such Person’s ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby;
provided, however, that the term “Material Adverse Effect or (Change)” shall not
include any event, fact, circumstances or condition to the extent resulting
from
an action affirmatively taken by Buyer or its Affiliates after the date hereof
and prior to the Closing Date; general economic changes or changes in the
general industry of the Company; acts of terrorism or war; or political or
civil
instability, disturbance or unrest.
-4-
“Material
Contracts”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).
“Multi-Employer
Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Organizational
Documents”
means:
(a) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of a
corporation; (b) the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership
of a general partnership; (c) the limited partnership agreement and the
certificate of limited partnership of a limited partnership; (d) the
certificate of organization or formation and limited liability company agreement
of a limited liability company, including, without limitation, an operating
agreement; (e) any charter or similar document adopted or filed in
connection with the creation, formation, or organization of a Person; and
(f) any amendment to any of the foregoing.
“Owned
Real Property”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).
“Pension
Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b).
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general
or
limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust,
association, organization, labor union, or other entity or Governmental
Body.
“Phase
I”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
“Phase
I assessment”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
“Phase
II”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
“Phase
II assessment”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
“Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Potential
280G Benefits”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.9.
“Proceeding”
means
any action, arbitration, audit, claim, grievance, 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.
“Purchase
Price”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Purchase
Rights”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b).
“Qualified
Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Release”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
“Released”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
“Representative”
means
with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, employee, agent,
consultant, advisor, or other representative of such Person, including legal
counsel, accountants, and financial advisors.
-5-
“Sellers”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Sellers’
Accountants”
means
Xxxxxxxxx, Childers & Xxxxxxxx, PLC.
“Sellers’
Representatives”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 14.16.
“Senior
Lender”
means
each of First Tennessee Bank and AmSouth Bank..
“Senior
Lender Credit Agreements”
shall
mean each of the credit agreements or loan agreements by and between (or among)
the Company and the Senior Lenders under which the Senior Lender Obligations
have arisen.
“Senior
Lender Obligations”
shall
mean all indebtedness and obligations owed by the Company to the Senior Lenders
arising
under or in connection with
the
Senior Lender Credit Agreements, as secured by the security agreements entered
into by the Company in connection therewith; provided that the Senior Lender
Obligations shall not include any letters of credit or any banker’s acceptances
issued in favor of vendors of the Company’s Inventory to procure such Inventory.
“Shares”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recital of this Agreement.
“Subsidiary”
means
each Person listed on Schedule 3.1(b).
“Tax”
and
“Taxes”
means
(a) all
income,
gross receipts, franchise, estimated, excise, transfer, severance, value added,
ad valorem, fuel, sales, use, wage, payroll, workmen’s compensation, employment,
withholding, social security, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, occupation,
and real and personal property taxes; taxes measured by or imposed on capital;
levies, imposts, duties, (license and legislation fees); other taxes imposed
by
any Governmental Body, including assessments in the nature of taxes; interest,
penalties, fines, assessments and deficiencies relating to any tax or
taxes;
(b) liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in
clause (a) arising as a result of being (or ceasing to be) a member of any
Affiliated Group (or being included (or required to be included) in any Tax
Return relating thereto); and (c) liability for the payment of any amounts
of the type described in clause (a) as a result of any express or implied
obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the liability of
any
other person.
“Tax
Claim”
means
any claim based upon, arising out of or otherwise in respect of, any inaccuracy
in or any breach of any representation or warranty of any Seller or the Company
contained in this Agreement related to Taxes, including, without limitation,
Section 3.10, and any claim for Damages pursuant to
Section 13.1.
“Tax
Liability”
means
any liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether
absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or
unliquidated, and whether due or to become due) for Taxes.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return (including any information or amended return), report, statement,
schedule, notice, form, or other document or information filed with or submitted
to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Governmental Body
(including any schedule attached thereto) in connection with the determination,
assessment, collection, or payment of any Tax or in connection with the
administration, implementation, or enforcement of or compliance with any Legal
Requirement relating to any Tax.
-6-
“Taxing
Authority”
means
any Governmental Body (whether federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or
otherwise) responsible for the imposition, collection or administration of
any
Tax.
“Third
Party”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).
“Title
IV Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Transfer
Taxes”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 13.6.
“Year
End Financial Statements”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.4.
ARTICLE
II
SALE
AND TRANSFER OF SHARES; CLOSING
2.1 Shares.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Sellers will
sell
and transfer the Shares to Buyer, and Buyer will purchase the Shares from
Sellers.
2.2 Purchase
Price.
(a) The
purchase price for the Shares is $24,000,000
(such
amount, the “Base
Purchase Price”),
subject to all amounts and adjustments contemplated by this Agreement (as so
adjusted, the “Purchase
Price”).
(b) The
Purchase Price shall be paid in immediately available funds at the Closing
as
follows:
(i) first,
to
the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Amount, as provided by Section 2.5 hereof;
and
(ii) then,
to
each Seller as set forth on Schedule 3.3(a) hereto.
2.3 Closing.
The
purchase and sale (the “Closing”)
provided for in this Agreement will take place in Knoxville, Tennessee at the
offices of Woolf, McClane, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, PLLC, at 000 Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on the
later of (the “Closing
Date”):
(a) August
31, 2007 or
(b) the date that is five (5) Business Days following the satisfaction of
the closing conditions set forth in Articles VIII and IX (other than
those conditions which by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing,
but
subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof), or at such other date, time
and
place as the parties may agree. Subject to the provisions of Article X,
failure to consummate the purchase and sale provided for in this Agreement
on
the date and time and at the place determined pursuant to this Section 2.3
will not result in the termination of this Agreement and will not relieve any
party of any obligation under this Agreement.
-7-
2.4 Closing
Deliveries. At
the
Closing:
(a)
Sellers
or the
Company, as appropriate, will deliver or arrange to be delivered to
Buyer:
(i)
certificates
representing the Shares, duly endorsed (or accompanied by duly executed stock
powers) for transfer to Buyer;
(ii)
a
certificate executed by each of the Sellers certifying as to the satisfaction
of
the Closing conditions set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 hereof with
respect to such Seller;
(iii) a
certificate executed by the Company certifying as to the satisfaction of the
Closing conditions set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 hereof with
respect to the Company;
(iv) the
Escrow Agreement,
duly
executed by the Sellers and by the Escrow Agent, and duly executed copies of
all
other agreements, certifications, and other documents required to be executed
and delivered by the Company and Sellers hereunder at the Closing;
and
(v) written
resignations of each of the directors and officers of the Company.
(b) Buyer
will deliver to:
(i) the
Sellers, the portion of the Purchase Price payable to such Persons in accordance
with Section 2.2(b)(ii) hereof;
(ii) the
Escrow Agent, the Escrow Amount, in accordance with Sections 2.2(b)(i)
and 2.5;
(iii) the
Sellers, a certificate executed by Buyer certifying as to the satisfaction
of
the Closing conditions set forth in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof;
and
(iv) the
Sellers, the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Buyer, and duly executed
copies of all
other
agreements, certifications, and other documents required to be executed and
delivered by Buyer hereunder at the Closing.
2.5 Escrow.
At
the
Closing, Buyer shall withhold an amount equal to $1,000,000 (the “Escrow
Amount”),
on
a pro
rata basis among all Sellers in proportion to the aggregate amount of the
Purchase Price each Seller would otherwise be entitled to receive, and shall
instead deliver the Escrow Amount to an escrow agent jointly selected by, and
reasonably acceptable to each of, the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives
(the “Escrow
Agent”)
for
deposit into escrow (the “Escrow
Account”).
The
Escrow Amount shall be held pursuant to the provisions of an escrow agreement
in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer and the Sellers (the
“Escrow
Agreement”)
and
will be available to compensate Buyer for Damages and Tax Claims as provided
in
Article XII and Section 13.1 hereof. To the extent that there is any
portion, or all, of the Escrow Amount remaining in the Escrow Account which
has
not been reserved for claims under the Escrow Agreement on the date that is
eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date, such portion, or all, of the
Escrow Amount will be released.
-8-
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANY
The
Company represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:
3.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
(a) The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Tennessee, with full corporate power and
authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own or
use
the properties and assets that it purports to own or use. Schedule 3.1(a)
sets
forth the current directors and executive officers of Company. The
Company is duly
qualified and authorized to transact business as a foreign corporation and
is in
good standing in every jurisdiction where required except as disclosed on
Schedule 3.1(a) hereto, such exceptions not giving rise, either
individually or in the aggregate, to a Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
Schedule 3.1(b)
sets
forth, as of the date hereof, Company’s direct or indirect ownership interest in
any subsidiary companies or any other Person, its percentage ownership interest
therein (and the ownership interest of any other Person therein) and the
jurisdiction in which each Subsidiary was organized. Each of the Subsidiaries
is
a corporation or other entity duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation.
The Subsidiaries have all necessary corporate power and authority to own or
lease their respective properties and assets, as applicable, and to carry on
their respective businesses as now conducted and are duly qualified or licensed
to do business as foreign corporations or other entities in good standing in
all
jurisdictions in which the ownership of their property or the conduct of their
business requires such qualification. Schedule 3.1(b) sets forth the
current directors and executive officers of each Subsidiary.
(c)
Attached
to Schedule 3.1(c) are true and complete copies of the Organizational Documents
of the Company and each Subsidiary, as currently in effect.
3.2 Authority;
No Conflict.
(a) This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The Company has
all corporate right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.2(b), the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement will not, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or
lapse
of time):
(i) contravene,
conflict with, or result in a violation of (A) any provision of the
Organizational Documents of the Company, or (B) any resolution of the
Company adopted by its board of directors or stockholders;
(ii) contravene,
conflict with, or result in a violation of any of the terms or requirements
of,
or give any Governmental Body the right to revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel,
terminate, or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held by the
Company; or
-9-
(iii) contravene,
conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of any provision of, or give
any Person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or
to
accelerate the maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate, or modify,
any Material Contract.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.2(c), the Company is not, and will not be, required
to give any notice to or obtain any Consent from any Person in connection with
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement.
3.3 Capitalization.
(a) The
total
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000 shares of common
stock, zero par value per share, of which 29,752.84 shares are issued and
outstanding. The Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued and
are
fully paid and non-assessable and, except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(a)
hereto, are not subject to preemptive rights or any rights of first refusal
or
rights of rescission. Except as referenced on Schedule 3.3(a), there are no
Contracts for the issuance, sale or transfer of any equity securities or other
securities or interests of the Company. The Shares are held of record by the
Persons with the addresses of record and in the amounts
and pro
rata percentages
set
forth on Schedule 3.3(a).
(b) Schedule 3.3(b)
contains a list of equity incentive plans that are currently in effect. Except
for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and except as otherwise
set
forth on Schedule 3.3(b), there are no options, warrants, calls, rights,
exchangeable or convertible securities, commitments or agreements of any
character, written or oral, to which the Company is a party or by which it
is
bound (collectively, “Purchase
Rights”)
obligating the Company to (i) issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem,
or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any equity
or
other security or interest in the Company or (ii) grant, extend, accelerate
the vesting of, change the price of, otherwise amend or enter into any such
option, warrant, call, right, exchangeable or convertible securities, commitment
or agreement. All Shares and all issued and outstanding Purchase Rights have
been offered, sold and delivered by the Company in material compliance with
applicable federal and state securities laws.
3.4 Financial
Statements.
Attached
hereto as Schedule 3.4(a) are: (a) the unaudited balance sheet of the
Company as at September 30 in each of the years 2003 through 2006, and the
related unaudited statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and
cash flow for each of the fiscal years then ended, together with the notes
thereto, reviewed by Sellers’
Accountants (the
September 30, 2006 balance sheet, the related unaudited statements of
income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flow for the fiscal year then
ended, together with the notes thereto are referred to herein collectively
as
the “Year
End Financial Statements”);
and
(b) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at May 31, 2007 and
the related unaudited statement of income, change in stockholders’ equity, and
cash flow for the eight months then ended (collectively, the “Interim
Financial Statements”).
Such
Year-End Financial Statements and Interim Financial Statements fairly present
in
all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations,
changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flow of the Company, as applicable, as
at the dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements,
all of which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as set forth
on
Schedule 3.4(b)), subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements,
to normal recurring year-end adjustments and the absence of notes. The Year-End
Financial Statements referred to in this Section 3.4 reflect the consistent
application of GAAP throughout the period involved, except as disclosed in
the
notes to such financial statements or on Schedule 3.4(b).
-10-
3.5 Books
and Records.
The
books of account, minute books, stock record books, and other records of the
Company shall be made available to Buyer prior to the Closing, and are complete
and correct in all material respects.
3.6 Title
to Assets; Encumbrances.
(a)
Schedule 3.6(a) contains a complete and accurate list of all (x) land,
buildings and real property owned by the Company (the “Owned
Real Property”)
and
(y) all leases and other agreements (including all guaranties, assignments,
amendments, extensions and renewals of such leases and other agreements) (the
“Leases”)
under
which the Company holds any leasehold estates and other similar rights to use
or
occupy any land, buildings or other similar interest in real property (the
“Leased
Real Property”).
The
Company shall deliver or make available to Buyer copies of the deeds and other
instruments (as recorded) by which the Company acquired its interest in the
Owned Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions,
abstracts, and surveys in the possession of the Company and relating to such
property or interest. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6(a), the
Company has not leased, subleased or granted the right to use or occupy any
portion of the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property to any Person.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.6(a), the
Company owns or holds a valid and enforceable (i) title, in the case of
Owned Real Property, and (ii) leasehold interest under the Leases, in the
case of Leased Real Property, in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances
other than (A) liens for real estate Taxes assessed with respect to the
Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property for the current fiscal tax year
but
not yet due and payable; (B) with respect to Leased Real Property, monetary
Encumbrances granted by a landlord under any financing to such landlord with
regards to which the Company has been granted non-disturbance rights as tenant;
and (iii) other defects in title or Encumbrances that do not materially
restrict or impair the Company’s use of the Owned Real Property or Leased Real
Property in the ordinary course of business.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.6(b), the
Company has good and marketable title to, or, in the case of leased properties
and assets, a valid leasehold interest in, all its material properties and
assets (whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible)
used by the Company, located on any of the premises of the Company or reflected
in the books and records of the Company, including all of the properties and
assets reflected in the balance sheet portion of the Year End Financial
Statements and the balance sheet portion of the Interim Financial Statements
(except for Inventory sold since the date of the Year End Financial Statements
and the Interim Financial Statements, as the case may be, to customers in the
ordinary course of business). To the Knowledge of the Company, the buildings,
plants, structures, and other material assets owned, leased or licensed by the
Company are in reasonably good operating condition and repair, in all material
respects, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and are reasonably fit for the
purposes for which they are used by the Company, except for such conditions
as
would not have a materially adverse impact upon the use thereof. Except as
set
forth on Schedule 3.6(b), all material properties and assets reflected in
the balance sheet portions of the Year End Financial Statements and the Interim
Financial Statements are free and clear of all Encumbrances except:
(i) the
Senior Lender Obligations;
-11-
(ii) mortgages
or security interests incurred in connection with the purchase of property
or
assets and shown on the balance sheet portions of the Year End Financial
Statements or the Interim Financial Statements as securing only such property
or
assets so purchased, with respect to which no default (or event that, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default)
exists;
(iii) mortgages
or security interests incurred in connection with the purchase of property
or
assets after the date of the Interim Financial Statements (such mortgages and
security interests being limited to the property or assets so acquired), with
respect to which no default (or event that, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would constitute a default) exists;
(iv) liens
for
current Taxes not yet due;
(v) the
matters set forth on Schedule 3.6(b); and
(vi) other
defects of title or Encumbrances with respect to the Owned Real Property or
Leased Real Property which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially
restrict or impair the Company’s use of its Owned Real Property or Leased Real
Property.
The
Encumbrances set forth in clauses (ii)-(vi) above are collectively referred
to as the “Permitted
Encumbrances.”
(c) Schedule
3.6(c) contains a complete and accurate list of all Equipment items owned,
leased or licensed by the Company, grouped by category of Equipment and the
nature of the Company’s interest (owned, leased or licensed) with respect
thereto. To the Knowledge of the Company, each
Equipment item is in reasonably good operating condition and repair, in all
material respects, ordinary wear, tear, breakage and malfunctions excepted,
and
is reasonably fit for the purpose for which it is used by the Company in its
ordinary course of business, except for such conditions as would not have a
materially adverse impact upon the use thereof.
3.7 Intellectual
Property Matters.
Schedule
3.7(a) attached hereto sets forth a complete and correct list of all of the
following that are owned by the Company: patents; patent applications; trademark
applications; trademark registrations; Internet domain names; service xxxx
applications; service xxxx registrations; copyright registrations and material
unregistered trademarks, service marks and copyrights. Schedule 3.7(b) sets
forth all agreements relating to the licensing of Intellectual Property Assets
by the Company to a third party or by a third party to the Company, and all
other agreements affecting the Company’s ability to use or disclose any
Intellectual Property Assets, except for licenses for commercially available
off-the-shelf computer software programs, applications or products purchased
or
licensed for less than a total cost of $25,000.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.7(c) and except to the extent that the inaccuracy
of any of the following, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company:
(a) the
Company Intellectual Property Assets owned by the Company are not
subject to any pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened claim,
judgment or dispute of any nature;
(b) the
Company has not: (i) consented to or otherwise acquiesced in the use by
another Person of the Company’s name or a name that is substantially similar to
the Company’s name; or (ii) received any notice or claims from any third
party alleging that the operation of the Company’s business infringes or
misappropriates the Intellectual Property Assets of such third party;
-12-
(c) to
the
Company’s Knowledge, no third party has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise
conflicted with, any of the Company Intellectual Property Assets and the Company
does not have Knowledge of any facts that indicate a likelihood of any of the
foregoing;
(d) the
Company Intellectual Property Assets are subsisting and in full force and effect
and, to the Knowledge of the Company, are valid and enforceable;
and
(e) the
Company owns and possesses the entire right, title and interest in and to all
material Intellectual Property Assets created or developed by, for or under
the
direction or supervision of the Company, including any of the foregoing created
or developed by any employee, consultant or contractor, and all Persons who
have
participated in the creation or development of any such material Intellectual
Property Assets, including, without limitation, the Intellectual Property Assets
set forth on Schedule 3.7(a), have executed and delivered to the Company a
valid and enforceable agreement (i) providing for the non-disclosure by
such Person of any confidential information of the Company and
(ii) providing for the assignment by such Person to the Company of any
material Intellectual Property Assets arising out of such Person’s employment
by, engagement by or contract with the Company.
3.8 Absence
of Material Adverse Change.
To the
Knowledge of the Company, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.8, since
the date of the Interim Financial Statements and, to the extent not fully
reflected in the Interim Financial Statements, since the date of the Year End
Financial Statements, there has not been any Material Adverse Change with
respect to the Company.
3.9 No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
To the
Knowledge of the Company, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.9, the
Company has no material liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether
absolute, accrued, contingent, known or otherwise), except for the Senior Lender
Obligations, liabilities or obligations reflected in or reserved against in
the
balance sheet portion of the Interim Financial Statements, current liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Interim
Financial Statements (none of which is a liability resulting from non-compliance
with any applicable law, the breach of any Contract, the commission of any
tort
or act of infringement, or any other Proceeding) and liabilities that do not
or
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.10 Taxes.
(a) The
Company
has filed or caused to be filed all Tax Returns required to have been filed
by
it pursuant to applicable Legal Requirements. All such Tax Returns are true,
correct and complete in all material respects. Except as set forth in the
Disclosure Schedules, the Company has paid all Taxes shown on all Tax Returns
it
has filed, except such Taxes, if any, as are listed on Schedule 3.10(a) and
are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves (determined
in accordance with GAAP) have been provided on the face of the balance sheet
portion of the Year End Financial Statements and the balance sheet portion
of
the Interim Financial Statements. The Company is not currently the beneficiary
of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return.
-13-
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.10(b) there is no dispute or claim concerning any
Tax Liability of the Company either (A) claimed or raised by any Taxing
Authority in writing that has been received by the Company or (B) as to
which any of the Sellers or the Company has Knowledge based upon personal
contact with any agent of such Taxing Authority. Schedule 3.10 lists all
federal, state, local, and foreign income Tax Returns filed with respect to
the
Company for taxable periods commencing January 1, 2001 and ended on or
before December 31, 2005, indicates those Tax Returns that have been
audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of
audit. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(b), (x) no claim has been
made by an authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax
Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction and
(y) there are no Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable)
upon any of the assets of the Company. The Sellers and the Company have
delivered or made available to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all
such
federal income Tax Returns, examination reports with respect to such income
Tax
Returns, and statements of income Taxes assessed against or agreed to by the
Company since January 1, 2001 which were not shown on the face of such
income Tax Return. Except as described on Schedule 3.10(b), the Company has
withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in
connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent
contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third party, as shown on all Forms
W-2 and 1099 filed by the Company, and all such Forms W-2 and 1099
have been properly filed.
(c) Except
as
described on Schedule 3.10(c), the Company has not executed any
agreement waiving
any statute of limitations in respect of assessment or collection of Taxes
or
agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency
that has continuing effect, or granted any power of attorney in respect to
the
Company with respect to any matter related to Taxes which is currently in force.
Except as described on Schedule 3.10(c), there are no agreements currently
in effect between the Company and any Taxing Authority with respect to the
payment in installments of any Tax Liability after the Closing
Date.
(d) Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.9 hereof, the Company has not made any
payments and is not obligated to make any payments in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement that would be excess parachute
payments within the meaning of IRC § 280G. The Company has not been a
United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of
IRC §897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in
IRC §897(c)(1)(A)(ii). The Company (A) has never been a member of an
Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than
a
group the common parent of which was the Company) and (B) does not have any
Tax Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) under
Treasury Regulation §1.1502-6, as a transferee or successor, by contract,
or otherwise.
(e) The
unpaid Taxes of the Company did not, as of May 31, 2007, exceed the reserve
for Tax Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to
reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the balance
sheet portion of the Interim Financial Statements (rather than in any notes
thereto). The reserve for unpaid federal income taxes maintained by the Company
is in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company.
-14-
(f) The
Company will not be required to include any item of income in, nor will the
Company exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable
period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date as a result of
any
change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the
Closing Date under IRC §481(c) (or any corresponding or similar provision
of state, local or foreign income Tax law). The Company is not a party to any
“closing agreement” as described in IRC §7121 (or any corresponding or
similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) executed on or
prior to the Closing Date that would have continuing effect after the Closing
Date. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(f), the Company is not a party to
or
bound by any Tax allocation, sharing, or similar agreement, and the Company
has
no (A) gain from any intercompany transaction which has been deferred pursuant
to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-13 or any excess loss account described
in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-13 (or any corresponding or similar
provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) arising in any taxable
period or portion thereof ending before the Closing Date; (B) installment sale
or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, income
from which would be required to be reported by the Company after the Closing
Date; or (C) prepaid income amount received on or prior to the Closing Date
not
required to have been reported in computing taxable income for periods ending
on
or before the Closing Date.
(g) The
Company has never made an election under Section 1362(a) of the IRC to be
treated as an S corporation within the meaning of Section 1361 of the
IRC, nor has it been treated in a similar manner for purposes of the income
tax
laws of any state in which it has been subject to taxation where analogous
treatment is legally available. During the last seven years, the Company has
not
distributed stock of another Person, nor has had its stock distributed by
another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed
by whole or in part by § 355 or § 361 of the IRC.
3.11 Employee
Benefits.
(a) As
used
in this Section 3.11, the following terms have the meanings set forth
below.
“Benefit
Obligations”
means
all obligations, arrangements, or customary practices to provide benefits as
compensation for services rendered, to present or former directors, employees,
or agents, other than obligations, arrangements, and practices that are Plans.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means,
with respect to the Company, any other person that, together with the Company,
would be treated as a single employer under IRC § 414.
“Multi-Employer
Plan”
has
the
meaning given in ERISA § 3(37)(A).
“Pension
Plan”
has
the
meaning given in ERISA § 3(2)(A).
“Plan”
has
the
meaning given in ERISA § 3(3).
“Qualified
Plan”
means
any Pension Plan that meets or purports to meet the requirements of
IRC § 401(a).
“Title
IV Plans”
means
all Pension Plans that are subject to Title IV of ERISA,
29 U.S.C. § 1301 et
seq.,
other
than Multi-Employer Plans.
-15-
(b) Schedule 3.11
contains a complete and accurate list of all Plans and material Benefit
Obligations sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company on behalf
of
or for the benefit of its current or former employees, directors or independent
contractors. The Company shall deliver or make available to Buyer a true and
correct copy of the governing plan document for each Plan (including all
amendments thereto), its summary plan description and its most recent
Form 5500 with all schedules and attachments (if applicable), and any trust
agreement, insurance contract or other document under which Plan assets are
held
and invested or benefits provided. The Company shall further deliver or make
available to Buyer the material Benefit Obligations, and a copy of any document
furnished to employees which summarizes or describes each material Benefit
Obligation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, each Plan and each
Benefit Obligation complies in form and operation in all material respects
with
its terms and the applicable requirements of ERISA, the IRC and other applicable
Legal Requirements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, neither the
Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has at any time during the six years preceding
this Agreement and through the date hereof sponsored, maintained, contributed
to
or been obligated to contribute to any Qualified Plan, including without
limitation any Title IV Plan or Multi-Employer Plan, and no facts or
circumstances exist or are expected that could result in material liability
or
potential material liability to the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant
to
Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or IRC § 412. Neither the
Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any fiduciary with respect to
any
Plan has engaged in any nonexempt prohibited transaction under
ERISA § 406, or incurred any liability for breach of fiduciary duty or
any other failure to comply with any Legal Requirement in connection with the
administration or investment of assets of any Plan. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.11, no action, suit, Proceeding, hearing, audit or investigation
with respect to the administration or investment of assets of any Plan or
Benefit Obligation (other than routine claims for benefits) is pending or,
to
the Knowledge of the Company, threatened. Except as otherwise disclosed on
Schedule 3.11, the Company does not provide health or other welfare
benefits for any retired or former employee and is not obligated to provide
health or welfare benefits to any active employee following such employee’s
retirement or other termination of service (other than “COBRA” continuation
coverage required under ERISA §§ 601 et
seq.
and
IRC § 4980B). All contributions (including employer and employee
contributions) or premium payments with respect to each Plan or Benefit
Obligation for all periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date have been
made
or, to the extent not required to be made, have been made or properly accrued.
Except as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 3.11, neither the execution of
this Agreement, shareholder approval of this Agreement nor the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby will accelerate the time of payment or
vesting, result in any payment or funding of any benefits, or increase the
amount payable or benefits provided under any Plan or Benefit Obligation. The
Company has not granted to any Person an interest in a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan or arrangement that is, or is reasonably likely to be, subject
to the tax imposed by IRC § 409A(a)(1)(B) or (b)(4). All
persons classified by the Company as independent contractors satisfy and have
at
all times satisfied the requirements of applicable law to be so classified;
the
Company has fully and accurately reported their compensation on IRS
Forms 1099 when required to do so; and the Company has no obligations to
provide benefits with respect to such persons under any Plan or Benefit
Obligation. No individuals are currently providing, or have ever provided,
services to the Company pursuant to a leasing agreement or similar type of
arrangement, nor has the Company entered into any arrangement whereby services
will be provided by such individuals.
-16-
3.12 Compliance
with Legal Requirements; Governmental Authorizations.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.12 or Schedule 3.17 or except where any
failure to comply or any violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on
the Company:
(i) the
Company is in material compliance with each Legal Requirement that is or was
applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership
or use of any of its assets;
(ii) no
event
has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of
time) may constitute or result in a material violation by the Company of, or
a
material failure on the part of the Company to comply with, any Legal
Requirement; and
(iii) to
the
Company’s Knowledge, it has not received any written notice or communication
from any Governmental Body regarding: (A) any actual or alleged violation
of, or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement, or (B) any actual or
alleged obligation on the part of the Company to undertake, or to bear all
or
any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.
(b) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, Schedule 3.12 and Schedule 3.17, taken
together, contain a list that is complete and accurate in all material respects
of each Governmental Authorization that is held by the Company or that otherwise
relates to the business of, or to any of the assets owned or used by, the
Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company holds all Governmental
Authorizations necessary to conduct the Company’s business as presently
conducted without any material violation of any Legal Requirement. To the
Knowledge of the Company, each Governmental Authorization listed on
Schedule 3.12 or Schedule 3.17 is valid and in full force and effect.
To the Knowledge of the Company, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.12
or Schedule 3.17, or except where any failure to comply, violation or other
event or circumstances would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company:
(i) the
Company is in compliance with all of the terms and requirements of each
Governmental Authorization identified or required to be identified on
Schedule 3.12 or 3.17;
(ii) no
event
has occurred or circumstance exists that may (with or without notice or lapse
of
time): (A) constitute or result directly or indirectly in a violation of or
a
failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Governmental Authorization
listed on Schedule 3.12 or 3.17, or (B) result directly or indirectly in
the revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, modification, or
termination of, any material Governmental Authorization listed on
Schedule 3.12 or 3.17;
(iii) the
Company has not received any written notice or communication from any
Governmental Body regarding: (A) any actual, alleged or potential violation
of or failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Governmental
Authorization, or (B) any actual or threatened revocation, withdrawal,
suspension, cancellation, modification or termination of any material
Governmental Authorization; and
(iv) all
applications required to have been filed for the renewal of any material
Governmental Authorizations listed or required to be listed on
Schedule 3.12 or 3.17 have been duly filed on a timely basis with the
appropriate Governmental Bodies, and all other filings required to have been
made with respect to such Governmental Authorizations have been duly made on
a
timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Bodies.
-17-
3.13 Legal
Proceedings.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.13, there is no pending Proceeding:
(a) that
has
been commenced by or against the Company or any of the material assets owned
or
used by the Company; or
(b) that
challenges, or that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal,
or otherwise interfering with, any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.13, to
the
Knowledge of the Company, no such Proceeding has been threatened. Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.13, there
is
no judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Body or
arbitrator outstanding against the Company.
3.14 Absence
of Certain Changes and Events.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.14, since the date of the Interim Financial
Statements, and, to the extent not fully reflected in the Interim Financial
Statements, since the date of the Year End Financial Statements, the Company
has
conducted its business only in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practices, and there has not been any:
(a) change
in
the Company’s authorized or issued capital stock or the ownership thereof; grant
of any stock option or right to purchase shares of capital stock of the Company;
issuance of any security convertible into such capital stock; grant of any
registration rights; purchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition
by
the Company of any shares of any such capital stock;
(b) amendment
to the Organizational Documents of the Company;
(c) acquisition
of any stock or business of, or merger or consolidation with, another Person,
or
any action with respect to liquidating, dissolving, recapitalizing, reorganizing
or otherwise winding up the Company’s business;
(d) payment
or increase by the Company of any bonuses, salaries, or other compensation
to
any stockholder, director, officer, or employee (except, with respect to
non-executive employees, in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past
practice) or entry into any new, or material amendment of any existing,
employment, consulting, independent contractor, severance, change of control
or
similar Contract;
(e) adoption
of any profit sharing, bonus, deferred compensation, savings, insurance,
pension, retirement, or other employee benefit plan;
(f) damage
to
or destruction or loss of any asset or property of the Company, whether or
not
covered by insurance, which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have,
a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(g) sale
(other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business), lease,
license, distribution or other disposition of any material asset(s) or property
of the Company, or any waiver, release, transfer or assignment of any right
of
material value, or any mortgage, pledge, or imposition of any lien or other
Encumbrance on any material asset(s) or property of the Company except as noted
on Schedule 3.6 or except as explicitly permitted under Section 6.2 or
required under any other provision of this Agreement;
-18-
(h) entry
into any Contract or other agreement providing for payments by the Company
in an
aggregate amount exceeding $25,000 that is not terminable by the Company,
without penalty, upon sixty (60) days notice, with the exception of
agreements for the purchase of fuel entered into by the Company in the ordinary
course of its business and consistent with past practice;
(i) any
capital expenditure in excess of $25,000;
(j) change
in
any annual accounting period or accounting methods used by the
Company;
(k) any
modification, termination or amendment to a Material Contract or waiver of
any
right or claim thereunder;
(l) loss
of
use of any Company Intellectual Property Assets;
(m) change
in
methods, practices, principles or timing regarding the purchase of inventory
or
the payment or accrual of operating expenses, including accounts payable;
or
(n) entry
into any Contract, whether oral or written, by the Company to do any of the
foregoing.
3.15 Material
Contracts; No Defaults.
To the
Knowledge of the Company, after having made inquiry of all Company employees
authorized to enter into Material Contracts on behalf of the
Company:
(a) Schedule 3.15(a)
contains a complete and accurate list, and the Company shall deliver or make
available to Buyer prior to the Closing, true and complete copies of the
following Contracts (together with the Leases listed on Schedule 3.6 and
the Contracts listed on Schedule 3.7(b), the “Material
Contracts”):
(i) each
Contract that involves performance of services or delivery of goods or materials
by the Company of an amount or value in excess of $250,000 either
(A) during fiscal 2006 or (B) reasonably expected for fiscal 2007 or
any fiscal year thereafter, except
for purchase orders for fuel, fuel components or finished goods in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practices;
(ii) each
Contract that involves performance of services or delivery of goods or materials
to the Company of an amount or value in excess of $250,000 either
(A) during fiscal 2006 or (B) reasonably expected for fiscal 2007 or
any fiscal year thereafter, except
for (y) Contracts for the purchase of fuel, fuel components or other
finished goods in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practices and (z) Contracts that are terminable by the Company without
penalty or notice;
(iii) each
Contract entered into by the Company outside the ordinary course of business
involving, or reasonably expected to involve, expenditures or receipts of the
Company in excess of $25,000;
(iv) each
Lease, rental or occupancy agreement, license, installment or conditional sale
agreement, or other Contract affecting the ownership of, leasing of, title
to,
use of, or any leasehold or other interest in, any real or personal property
(except personal property leases and installment and/or conditional sales
agreements involving aggregate payments of less than $25,000);
-19-
(v) each
joint venture, partnership, and other similar Contract (however named) involving
(or reasonably expected to involve) a sharing of profits, losses, costs, or
liabilities by the Company with any other Person;
(vi) each
Contract containing covenants that restrict the business activity of the Company
or limit the freedom of the Company to engage in any line of business or to
compete with any Person;
(vii) each
Contract for capital expenditures in excess of $25,000;
(viii) each
indenture, mortgage, trust, deed, promissory note, loan agreement, security
agreement, guarantee or other material agreement or material commitment for
Indebtedness;
(ix) any
indemnification agreements or other similar arrangements under which the Company
is obligated to indemnify any Person;
(x) any
settlement, conciliation or similar agreement pursuant to which the Company
is
required to pay consideration in excess of $25,000 after the date
hereof;
(xi) each
Contract between the Company and any of its customers that involves the
sale
of
goods by the Company to such distributor of an amount in excess of $100,000 either
(A) during fiscal 2006 or (B) reasonably expected for fiscal
2007;
and
(xii) each
Contract with any officer, director, employee, consultant or independent
contractor of the Company;
(xiii) each
Contract providing for payments in an aggregate amount exceeding $25,000
per
annum
that
is
not terminable by the Company, without penalty, upon sixty (60) days
notice; and
(xiv) each
amendment, supplement, and modification (whether oral or written) in respect
of
any of the foregoing.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.15(b):
(i) no
Seller
has or may acquire any rights under, and no Seller has or may become subject
to
any obligation or liability under, any Contract that relates to the business
of,
or any of the assets owned or used by, the Company; and
(ii) to
the
Knowledge of the Company, no officer, director, agent, employee, consultant,
or
contractor of the Company is bound by any Contract that purports to limit the
ability of such officer, director, agent, employee, consultant, or contractor
to: (A) engage in or continue any conduct, activity, or practice relating
to the business of the Company; or (B) assign to the Company or to any
other Person any rights to any invention, improvement, or
discovery.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.15(c), each Material Contract identified or
required to be identified on Schedule 3.15(a) is in full force and effect
and is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.15(d):
(i) the
Company is in material compliance with all applicable terms and requirements
of
each Material Contract;
-20-
(ii) to
the
Knowledge of the Company, each other Person that has any obligation or liability
under any Material Contract is in material compliance with all applicable terms
and requirements of such Material Contract;
(iii) to
the
Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred or circumstance exists that
(with or without notice or lapse of time) may contravene, conflict with, or
result in a violation or breach of, or give the Company or other Person the
right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the
maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate, or modify, any Material
Contract; and
(iv) to
the
Knowledge of the Company, the Company has not given to or received from any
other Person, at any time since the date of the Interim Financial Statements,
or
to the extent not reflected in the Interim Financial Statements, since the
date
of the Year End Financial Statements, any written notice or communication
regarding any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation or breach of,
or
default under, any Material Contract.
3.16 Insurance.
(a) The
Company shall deliver or make available to Buyer:
(i) true
and
complete copies or coverage abstracts or summaries of all policies of insurance
to which the Company is a party or under which the Company, or any officer
or
director of the Company, is or has been covered at any time within the
two (2) years preceding the date of this Agreement (a list of material
policies is set forth on Schedule 3.16(a)); and
(ii) true
and
complete copies of all pending applications for policies of insurance (a list
of
which applications is set forth on Schedule 3.16(a)).
The
policies referred to in clause (i) above provide
coverage required by any Material Contract to which the Company is party.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.16(b):
(i) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, the Company has not received: (A) any refusal of
coverage or any notice that a defense will be afforded with reservation of
rights, or (B) any notice of cancellation or any other indication that any
material insurance policy is no longer in full force or effect or will not
be
renewed or that the issuer of any policy is not willing or able to perform
its
obligations thereunder.
(ii) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, the Company has paid all premiums due (or has accrued
for such on its financial statements), and has otherwise performed all of its
obligations, under each policy to which the Company is a party or that provides
coverage to the Company or any director thereof.
3.17 Environmental
Matters.
To the
Knowledge of the Company:
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.17(a) and except to the extent that the inaccuracy
of any of the following, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company:
(i) the
Company holds and is in compliance with all Environmental Permits, and is and
has otherwise been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and
there is no condition that is reasonably likely to prevent or materially
interfere with compliance by the Company with Environmental Laws;
-21-
(ii) no
modification, revocation, re-issuance, alteration, transfer or amendment of
any
Environmental Permit, or review by, or approval of, any third party, including,
without limitation, any Governmental Body, of any Environmental Permit or of
the
environmental condition any real property owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is required in connection with the execution or delivery of this
Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby or the operation of the business of the Company on the date of the
Closing;
(iii) the
Company has not received any Environmental Claim, nor, to the Knowledge of
the
Company, has any Environmental Claim been threatened against the Company;
and
(iv) the
Company has not entered into or agreed to any outstanding judgment, decree,
order or consent arrangement with any Governmental Body under any Environmental
Laws, including without limitation those relating to compliance with any
Environmental Laws or to the investigation, cleanup, remediation or removal
of
Hazardous Materials.
(b) Set
forth
on Schedule 3.17(b) are all of the parcels of real property that are now,
or have heretofore been, owned or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries,
or
otherwise used by the Company or its Subsidiaries for the conduct of the
Company’s business (each, a “Company
Facility”),
or to
which any Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or its Subsidiaries
have
been delivered during the last 10 years by a third party.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.17(c) or as disclosed in Buyer’s environmental due
diligence under Section 6.10, except
for Hazardous Materials which are required for the conduct of the business
of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and
which
are
being stored and
disposed of by
the
Company
or
any
of
its Subsidiaries
in
accordance with applicable
Environmental
Laws, no
Hazardous Materials have been Released at or onto or, to Knowledge of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, are migrating onto or from any Company Facility
currently leased or owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (a “Current
Company Facility”)
(including, without limitation, the soil, groundwater, surface water, or ambient
air, or building materials thereof).
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.17(c) or as disclosed in Buyer’s environmental due
diligence under Section 6.10, no
Hazardous Materials were Released at or onto, and, to the Knowledge of the
Company, no Hazardous Materials migrated onto or from, any Company Facility
previously leased or owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (a “Former
Company Facility”)
during
the ownership or leasing by the Company or any Subsidiary of such Former Company
Facility. Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.17(c) or as disclosed in Buyer’s environmental due
diligence under Section 6.10, except
for Hazardous Materials used, generated, stored and Released in accordance
with
applicable Environmental Laws, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Hazardous
Material which was
generated, discarded, transported, or Released by the Company or its
Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date is present, in a concentration or amount
exceeding legally allowable limits applicable
to the use of the property in question
or
in a
manner which violates any applicable
Environmental
Law or that is reasonably likely to require any investigation, removal or
response activity under any
applicable
Environmental Law, on any other real property, including, without limitation
any
disposal site to which Hazardous Materials generated or transported by the
Company have been delivered.
-22-
(d) The
Company shall deliver to Buyer (or make available for Buyer’s inspection) all
reports, records, tests, evaluations, Governmental Body and third party
correspondence, and other documents relating to the storage, use, Release,
manufacture, remediation, investigation, or removal of Hazardous Materials
by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the presence of any Hazardous Material
on or about any Company Facility.
(e) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.17(e), no
person
has been exposed to any Hazardous Material stored, used, Released, generated,
or
transported by or for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a manner which
has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, an adverse health
effect.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the terms below shall have the following
meanings:
“Environmental
Claim”
means
any written complaint, notice, claim, demand, action, suit or judicial,
administrative or arbitral proceeding by any Person to the Company asserting
liability or potential liability (including without limitation, liability or
potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental
response costs, natural resource damages, property damage, personal injury,
fines or penalties) arising out of, relating to, based on or resulting from:
(i) the presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials
at any location, (ii) circumstances forming the basis of any violation or
alleged violation of any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits, or
(iii) otherwise relating to obligations or liabilities under any
Environmental Law.
“Environmental
Laws”
means
all applicable federal, state, county, and local statutes, rules, regulations,
ordinances, orders and decrees, and all common law, in each case relating in
any
manner to pollution, protection of human health and the environment, the
exposure of Persons, property or the environment to any Hazardous Materials,
or
the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, to the extent
and
in the form that such exist at the date hereof.
“Environmental
Permits”
means
all permits, licenses, registrations, exemptions and other governmental
authorizations required under Environmental Laws for the Company to conduct
its
operations as presently conducted.
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes, materials or chemicals, petroleum
and
petroleum products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, pollutants,
contaminants and all other materials and substances, including but not limited
to radiologically-contaminated materials regulated pursuant to any Environmental
Laws or that could result in liability under any Environmental
Laws.
“Release”
means
any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment (including but
not limited to any ventilated or indoor air) or into any building or other
man-made structure.
-23-
“Released”
means
spilled, leaked, pumped, poured, emitted, emptied, discharged, injected, allowed
to escape, allowed to xxxxx, dumped, or disposed of into the environment
(including but not limited to any ventilated or indoor air) or into any building
or other man-made structure.
3.18 Brokers
or Finders.
The
Company has incurred no obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for
brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or other similar payment in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
3.19 Accounts
Receivable.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.19, all Accounts Receivable of the Company are
reflected properly on its books and records, are valid receivables and, to
the
Knowledge of the Company, are collectible in accordance with their terms at
their recorded amounts, subject only to the reserve for doubtful accounts set
forth in the balance sheet portion of the Interim Financial Statements (rather
than in any notes thereto) as adjusted for the passage of time through the
Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the
Company.
3.20 Inventory.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.20, all
Inventory is useable and saleable in the ordinary course of business, except
for
obsolete items of below-standard quality, all of which have been written off
or
written down to estimated net realizable value (or reserves have been
established for such Inventory) in the books and records of the Company in
accordance with GAAP. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.20, the Inventory
is reflected on the balance sheet portion of the Year End Financial Statements
and the Interim Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. Liquid fuel
Inventory is reflected at the lower of cost, using the last-in, first-out (LIFO)
method, or market. All other Inventory is reflected at the lower of cost, using
the first-in, first-out method (FIFO), or market.
3.21 Sufficiency
of Assets. The
Company owns, or has a valid leasehold interest in or license for, in each
case
free and clear of all Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances, all assets
materially necessary for the conduct of its business as presently conducted
consistent with past practices.
3.22 Intentionally
Left Blank.
3.23 Related
Party Transactions. Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.23, no director, officer, partner, employee,
Affiliate or “associate” (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Company or its Subsidiaries
(i) has borrowed any monies from or has outstanding any indebtedness or
other similar obligations to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (ii) owns any
direct or indirect interest of any kind in, or is a director, officer, employee,
partner, Affiliate or associate of, or consultant or lender to, or borrower
from, or has the right to participate in the management, operations or profits
of, any person or entity which is (x) a competitor, supplier, customer,
distributor, lessor, tenant, creditor or debtor of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, (y) engaged in a business related to the Company's business
or (z) participating in any transaction to which the Company or its
Subsidiaries is a party; or (iii) otherwise is or has been a party to any
contract, arrangement, understanding or transaction with the Company or its
Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.23, each of such
agreements, obligations and arrangements shall have been paid in full or, in
the
case of executory obligations, terminated prior to the Closing Date.
-24-
3.24 Employee
and Labor Relations.
(a) Schedule 3.24(a)
hereto correctly sets forth the name and current annual salary of each of the
Company’s employees receiving more than $50,000 in annual compensation and
whether any employees are absent from active employment, including, but not
limited to, leave of absence or disability.
(b) Schedule 3.24(b)
sets forth the bonuses paid and reasonably expected to be paid to the Company’s
officers and employees for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.24(c):
(i) the
Company is not party to any collective bargaining agreement or
relationship;
(ii)
to the
Company’s Knowledge, no key employee or group of employees of the Company have
any plans to terminate employment with the Company; and
(iii) to
the
Company’s Knowledge, it does not have any material labor relations problems
(including any union organization or decertification activities, threatened
or
actual strikes or work stoppages or material employee grievances).
3.25 Closing
Date.
Each of
the representations and warranties of Company contained in this Article 3,
in the Disclosure Schedules or in any certificate delivered by or on behalf
of
Company to Buyer pursuant hereto shall be true and correct as of the Closing
Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date was substituted for
the
date hereof (or any other reference to the date hereof or the date of this
Agreement) throughout such representations and warranties; provided,
however,
that
the Company and the Sellers shall update the Disclosure Schedules hereto at
or
prior to the Closing Date to reflect changed conditions or circumstances after
the date of such Disclosure Schedules. Buyer shall have the right to terminate
this Agreement as a result of any such update to the Disclosure Schedules that
reflects a Material Adverse Change.
3.26 Disclosures.
Neither
this Agreement nor any of the Disclosure Schedules annexed hereto, nor any
report, certificate or instrument furnished by the Company or Sellers in writing
to Buyer or its counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement, when read together, contains or will contain any material
misstatement of fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary
to
make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in any material
respect. The Company and Sellers have not, after due inquiry, knowingly withheld
from Buyer any information or fact which has, or would reasonably be expected
to
have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
Each
Seller represents and warrants jointly and severally to Buyer as
follows:
4.1 Legal
Capacity, Organization and Good Standing.
Each
Seller that is a natural person has the legal capacity and all requisite power
and authority to enter into this Agreement, to comply with the provisions hereof
and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Seller that is
not a
natural person, including any trust, corporation, limited partnership, or other
entity, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the jurisdiction of such entity’s incorporation or formation and has all
requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to comply with
the provisions hereof.
-25-
4.2 Authority;
No Conflict.
(a) This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Seller,
enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its terms. Each Seller has
the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority, and capacity to execute
and deliver this Agreement and the other documents to be executed in connection
herewith and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the documents
to be executed in connection herewith.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.2, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by any Seller nor the consummation or performance of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement by a Seller will give any Person
the
right to prevent, delay, or otherwise materially interfere with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to:
(i) any
provision of any Seller’s Organizational Documents;
(ii)
any
resolution or consent adopted by the board of directors or stockholders of
any
Seller;
(iii)
any
Legal Requirement to which a Seller may be subject; or
(iv)
any
material Contract to which a Seller is a party or by which a Seller may be
bound.
4.3 Ownership
of Shares.
Each
Seller is and will be on the Closing Date the record and beneficial owner and
holder of the Shares set forth opposite its name on Schedule 3.3(a). Each
Seller represents that its Shares will be transferred to Buyer on the Closing
Date, free and clear of all Encumbrances except for restrictions imposed under
any federal or state securities law.
4.4 Absence
of Claims.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.4, such Seller has no commitment, action, debt,
claim, counterclaim, suit, cause of action or similar right, at law or in
equity, contingent or otherwise, against the Company or the officers, directors,
employees, stockholders, Affiliates, predecessors, successors or assigns of
any
of them, including, but not limited to, any claims which relate to or arise
out
of such Seller’s prior relationship with the Company or his, her or its rights
or status as a stockholder, officer, director, or employee of the
Company.
4.5 Brokers
or Finders.
No
Seller has incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for
brokerage, finders’ fees, agents’ commissions or other similar payment(s) in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
4.6 Closing
Date.
Each of
the representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in this
Article 4, in the Schedules attached hereto or in any certificate delivered
by or on behalf of the Sellers to Buyer pursuant hereto shall be true and
correct as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing
Date was substituted for the date hereof (or any other reference to the date
hereof or the date of this Agreement) throughout such representations and
warranties.
-26-
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer
represents and warrants to Sellers as follows:
5.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
Buyer is
a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State
of
Utah.
5.2 Authority;
No Conflict.
(a) This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Buyer,
enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms. Buyer has the absolute
and unrestricted right, power, and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the other documents to be executed in connection herewith and
to
perform its obligations under this Agreement and the documents to be executed
in
connection herewith.
(b) Except
as
set forth in Exhibit
A,
Buyer
is not and will not be required to obtain any Consent from any Person in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation
or performance of any of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement.
(c) Except
as
expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the attachments hereto, the Buyer
is
not a party to any other agreement or understanding with any of the Sellers,
the
Company or any of the Company’s employees.
5.3 Investment
Intent.
Buyer is
acquiring the Shares for its own account and not with a view to their
distribution within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
5.4 Certain
Proceedings.
There is
no pending Proceeding that has been commenced against Buyer and that challenges,
or may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise
interfering with the performance of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated herein. To Buyer’s Knowledge, no such Proceeding has been
threatened.
5.5 Buyer’s
Investigation.
Buyer
hereby acknowledges that to its knowledge, Buyer and its Representatives have
been (a) given access to the premises, properties, books, contracts and
records of the Company and (b) furnished with all additional financial and
operational data and other information concerning the Company’s assets as Buyer
and its Representatives have requested in connection with Buyer’s determination
to enter into this Agreement.
5.6 Brokers
or Finders.
Buyer
and its officers and agents have incurred no obligation or liability, contingent
or otherwise, for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or other
similar payment in connection with this Agreement and will indemnify and hold
Sellers harmless from any such payment alleged to be due from Sellers by or
through Buyer as a result of the action of Buyer or its officers or
agents.
-27-
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
OF COMPANY AND SELLERS PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE
6.1 Access
and Investigations.
(a) Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company and its
Representatives will, during normal business hours: (i) afford Buyer and
its Representatives reasonable access to the Company’s properties, contracts,
books and records, and other documents and data, (ii) afford Buyer and its
Representatives reasonable access to the Company’s personnel, customers,
suppliers and licensors, provided
that the
Buyer notifies the Company in advance of the personnel, customers, suppliers
and
licensors to which it wants access, and will allow the Company to participate
in
any contacts with such personnel, customers, suppliers and licensors,
(iii) furnish or make available to Buyer and Buyer’s Representatives copies
of all such contracts, books and records, and other existing documents and
data
as Buyer may reasonably request, and (iv) furnish or make available to
Buyer and Buyer’s Representatives such additional financial, operating, and
other data and information as Buyer may reasonably request so long as such
request does not unreasonably interfere with the operation of the Company’s
business in the ordinary course.
(b) Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company and its
Representatives will furthermore provide Buyer’s financial employee or officer
designee (to be selected by Buyer in its sole discretion) and Buyer’s
Accountants reasonable access to the Company’s properties, contracts, books and
records, and other documents and data in order to (i) enable Buyer’s
Accountants to perform the audits provided for under Sections 6.4
and 8.14 hereof, (ii) keep Buyer informed as to the Sellers’ and the
Company’s compliance with the pre-Closing covenants set forth in this
Article VI, and (iii) assist Buyer in its efforts to integrate the
Company’s business with Buyer’s existing business and to perform its legal and
financial due diligence.
6.2 Operation
of the Company.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company (and, where
applicable, the Sellers) shall:
(a) except
as
set forth on Schedule 6.2(a), conduct the business of the Company only in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(b) not
pay
dividends or make any distributions to the Sellers, except for payment of
salaries established prior to September 30, 2007 and customary year-end
bonuses in an amount consistent with prior years’ practices;
(c) not
withdraw cash or liquidate marketable securities for the payment of amounts
outside of the ordinary course of business;
(d) not
amend
any of its Organization Documents;
(e) not
issue
any shares of its stock or rights to acquire shares of its stock;
(f) use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the goodwill of the Company’s
suppliers, customers, distributors, licensors and employees; and
-28-
(g) not
create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness not in existence
on
the date of this Agreement except pursuant to the Senior Lender Credit
Agreements, as such agreements are in existence on the date hereof.
6.3 Negative
Covenant.
Except
as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or as set forth on
Schedule 6.3, between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date,
the
Company will not, without the prior consent of Buyer, take any affirmative
action, or fail to take any reasonable action within its control, as a result
of
which any of the changes or events listed in Section 3.14 would reasonably
be expected to occur.
6.4 Cooperation
Regarding Financial
Statement Audit. Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date,
the
Company, together with the Sellers, shall cooperate with Buyer and Buyer’s
Accountants in their timely preparation of audited, consolidated financial
statements of the Company that meet the requirements of Item 9.01(a) of
Form 8-K for the period required by Rule 3-05(b) of
Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
6.5 Non-Solicitation.
(a) From
and
after the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Closing
or
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article X, the Company and the
Sellers will not, and will not permit their respective Representatives to,
directly or indirectly enter into any agreement or understanding with, any
Person (other than Buyer and its Affiliates) for the purpose of making, or
otherwise facilitate the making of, an “Acquisition Proposal” (as defined
below). In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company or Sellers will promptly
notify Buyer if it receives any proposal, inquiry or request for information
in
connection with an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal.
(b) For
the
purposes of this Agreement, “Acquisition
Proposal”
shall
mean any one of the following (other than the transactions among the Company,
the Sellers and Buyer contemplated hereunder): (i) a proposal for any
transaction pursuant to which any Person or group of Persons (other than the
Sellers) (a “Third
Party”)
proposes to acquire beneficial ownership of any equity securities of the
Company, whether from the Company or pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer,
recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, (ii) a proposal for any
merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company
pursuant to which any Third Party proposes to acquire beneficial ownership
of
any equity securities of the Company or of the entity surviving such merger,
consolidation or other business combination, (iii) a proposal for any other
transaction or series of related transactions (including any license) pursuant
to which any Third Party proposes to acquire control of any assets of the
Company (other than a proposal to acquire inventory in the ordinary course
of
business consistent with past practices), or (iv) any public announcement
of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any agreement
to
engage in any of the foregoing.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no provision of this Section 6.5 shall be construed (i) to
prohibit any of the Company, Sellers or their respective Representatives from
responding to any proposal, inquiry or request for information in connection
with an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal for the purpose
of advising the Person making such proposal, inquiry or request of the Company’s
and Sellers’ obligations under this Section 6.5 or (ii) to require any
of the Company, Sellers or their respective Representatives to disclose to
Buyer
any terms and conditions of any such proposal, inquiry or request, including
the
identity of the party making an Acquisition Proposal.
-29-
6.6 Notice
of Developments—Company and Seller. Any
of
the Sellers or the Company shall give prompt written notice to Buyer of any
development causing, or which would reasonably be expected to cause, a breach
of
any of the Company’s representations and warranties set forth in
Article III above, and each Seller shall give prompt written notice to the
other parties hereto of any development causing, or which would reasonable
be
expected to cause, a breach of any of such Seller’s representations and
warranties set forth in Article IV above. No disclosure by any Seller or
the Company pursuant to this Section 6.6, however, shall be deemed to amend
or supplement the Disclosure Schedules or to prevent or cure any
misrepresentation or breach of warranty by such Seller.
6.7 Consents.
The
Company and the Sellers shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain as
soon as practicable after the date on which the Buyer notifies the Company
and
the Sellers that the Buyer’s financing contingency set forth in Section 8.8
hereof has been satisfied or waived by the Buyer all third-party Consents
(including those identified on Schedules 3.2(b), 3.2(c) and 4.2,
and give, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, all third-party notices,
in each case which may be required under any instruments, Contracts,
commitments, or arrangements in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and Buyer will
cooperate with the Company and the Sellers in assisting them to obtain such
third-party Consents and to deliver such third-party notices; provided that
nothing herein shall be deemed to require Buyer to incur any costs or expenses
in connection with such cooperation.
The
Sellers shall pay all Consent Fees required in connection with obtaining such
third-party consents, approvals or the giving of such notices, including,
without limitation, any fees or other amounts payable under any Contract in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.8 Stockholder
Agreements.
Between
the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Sellers and the Company shall
terminate any and all existing stockholder agreements among any of the Sellers
and/or the Company relating to the voting or disposition of the Shares or any
other similar matters, in each case, on terms and conditions reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer and with no further obligation or liability of the Company
or any other party thereto.
6.9 Excise
Tax. Prior
to
the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Buyer evidence reasonably satisfactory
to Buyer that, with respect to any payments of cash or sales and purchases
of
stock or other payment or benefits provided by the Company that may be deemed
to
constitute “parachute payments” pursuant to Section 280G of the IRC
(“Potential
280G Benefits”),
(i) the Company’s stockholders have approved by the requisite vote (which
is more than 75% of the Company’s disinterested stockholders, as defined in the
regulations promulgated under IRC Section 280G) all such Potential
280G Benefits with respect to any disqualified individual (as defined in
IRC Section 280G and the regulations thereunder), or (ii) such
requisite stockholder approval was sought and the Company’s stockholders did not
approve such Potential 280G Benefits, and therefore such Potential 280G Benefits
shall not be made or provided to any disqualified individual. The procedures
for
obtaining such stockholder approval as described in IRC Section 280G and
the regulations issued thereunder shall be subject to the reasonable approval
of
Buyer.
-30-
6.10 Environmental
Due Diligence.
Regarding any Current Company Facility, the Company and the Sellers shall
provide Buyer with the right, but not the obligation, to take all steps
necessary to conduct all appropriate inquiries pursuant to
Section 101(35)(B) of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
Section 9601(35)(B), as the United States Environmental Protection Agency
has defined such inquiries in a rule promulgated at 70 Fed.
Reg. 66070
(November 1, 2005) and effective on November 1, 2006 (hereinafter,
“All
Appropriate Inquiries”).
Buyer’s performance of All Appropriate Inquiries shall include but not be
limited to, performance by or for Buyer, at Buyer’s sole cost, of any of the
actions described in this Section 6.10. Prior to the Closing, Sellers shall
make available to Buyer all records held by Sellers concerning each Current
Company Facility and environmental conditions thereon, including but not limited
to, for each Current Company Facility, any environmental site assessments,
analytical results of sampling, remedial reports, investigations, permits,
licenses, underground or aboveground storage tank test results, inventory
records, administrative or judicial notices, and estimates of the cost of any
environmental remediation, investigation, monitoring, or compliance. Sellers
shall also provide to Buyer a list of, and make available to Buyer any written
information on any environmental conditions at, every Former Company Facility.
Buyer shall have the right, but not the obligation, to perform or cause to
be
performed an environmental site assessment of each Current Company Facility
(each, a “Phase I
assessment”)
and to
produce or cause to be produced a written report of each such assessment and
any
recommendations made as a result of each such assessment (each, a “Phase I”).
If
any Phase I recommends that samples of any environmental medium, including
but not limited to any air, soil, surface water, ground water, sediment, rock,
or bedrock at, above, or beneath any portion of a Current Company Facility,
should be taken, or if any environmental site assessment or report provided
to
Buyer shows any contamination or remediation at a Current Company Facility,
Buyer shall have the right, but not the obligation, to sample such Current
Company Facility or cause it to be sampled, at Buyer’s sole cost (a
“Phase II
assessment”).
A
written report of any such Phase II assessment, any other efforts to
address any concern raised or condition noted in any Phase I or any
information obtained by Buyer, and any recommendations for further action (a
“Phase II”)
shall
be prepared by or for Buyer at Buyer’s sole cost. Buyer shall provide Sellers
with copies of the final Phase I and Phase II reports as each such
report is generated. Sellers hereby grant Buyer and agents of Buyer all access
to each Current Company Facility and to any individual representatives of
Sellers which is or may be needed by or for Buyer to undertake All Appropriate
Inquiries regarding each Current Company Facility.
6.11 Assignments.
Between
the date of this agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers and Company (or
their Affiliates, as applicable) shall execute and have executed necessary
and
proper assignment documents evidencing the assignment, for no additional
consideration (beyond the entry into this Agreement), of all Company
Intellectual Property Assets or other assets used in or necessary for the
conduct of the Company’s business as conducted the ownership of which is
currently vested in employees, consultants or Affiliates of the Company or
the
Sellers. For the sake of clarification, the foregoing sentence shall not require
the assignment to the Company of any real property that is currently leased
to
the Company pursuant to a valid, written lease agreement.
6.12 Disclosure
Schedules.
The
Company and the Sellers shall deliver the Disclosure Schedules to Buyer no
later
than July 31, 2007.
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ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
7.1 Approvals
of Governmental Bodies.
As
promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement and in any event prior
to the tenth (10th)
Business Day following execution of this Agreement, the Buyer will make all
filings required by Legal Requirements to be made by it to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Between the date of this Agreement
and the Closing Date, the Buyer will cooperate with the Company and Sellers
with
respect to all filings that are required by Legal Requirements to be made in
connection with the transactions contemplated herein. Buyer will
(i) cooperate with the Company and the Sellers in assisting them to obtain
the consents referred to in Section 6.7 hereof, including those consents
identified on Schedules 3.2(b), 3.2(c) and 4.2; provided that nothing
herein shall be deemed to require Buyer to incur any costs or expenses in
connection with the obtaining of such consents; and (ii) exercise
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all consents identified in
Exhibit A.
7.2 WARN
Act.
In the
event Buyer discontinues all or part of the operations of the Company and/or
fails to employ or discontinues the employment permanently or temporarily of
any
Company employees on and after the Closing Date, Buyer shall be liable and
responsible for compliance with and liability under the Federal Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Act by the Company and any similar state or local
law
or ordinance.
7.3 Notice
of Developments—Buyer. The
Buyer
shall give prompt written notice to the other parties hereto of any Material
Adverse Change (but in no event later than five (5) Business Days after
Buyer becomes aware of any such Material Adverse Change) causing, or which
would
reasonably be expected to cause, a breach of any of Buyer’s representations and
warranties set forth in Article V above, or which would prevent or
adversely impact, in a material way, Buyer’s ability to obtain financing for the
transactions described hereunder as contemplated under Section 8.8 hereof.
No disclosure by Buyer pursuant to this Section 7.3, however, shall be
deemed to amend or supplement Exhibit A
annexed
hereto or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation or breach of warranty by
Buyer.
7.4 Intentionally
Left Blank.
7.5 Intentionally
Left Blank.
7.6 Confidentiality.
(a) Each
Seller, Sellers’ Representatives and, prior to the Closing, the Company, agree
to use their respective best efforts to maintain the confidentiality of all
proprietary and other non-public information regarding the Company, except
as
required to file tax returns and as required by law, and to turn over to Buyer
at the Closing all such materials (and all copies thereof) they have in their
possession. In the event of the breach of any of the provisions of this
Section 7.6, Buyer, in addition and supplementary to other rights and
remedies existing in its favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of
competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other
relief (without the posting of bond or other security) in order to enforce
or
prevent any violations of the provisions hereof.
(b) In
the
event that any party hereto reasonably believes after consultation with counsel
that it is required by law to disclose any confidential information described
in
this Section 7.6, the disclosing party will (i) to the extent
permitted by such applicable law, provide the other parties with prompt notice
before such disclosure in order that such other parties may attempt to obtain
a
protective order or other assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded
such confidential information and (ii) cooperate with the other parties in
attempting to obtain such order or assurance. The provisions of this
Section 7.6 shall not apply to any information, documents or materials
which are, as shown by appropriate written evidence, in the public domain or,
as
shown by appropriate written evidence, shall come into the public domain, other
than by reason of default by the applicable party bound hereunder or its
Affiliates.
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ARTICLE
VIII
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
Buyer’s
obligation to purchase the Shares and to take the other actions required to
be
taken by Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to
the
Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived in
writing by Buyer, in whole or in part):
8.1 Accuracy
of Representations.
Each of
the representations and warranties of Company and the Sellers contained in
this
Agreement, including any updated Schedules as contemplated by Section 3.25
hereof, or in any certificate delivered to Buyer in connection herewith shall
be
true and correct (but determined in each case, other than with respect to
Section 3.8, without giving effect to any qualifications therein
referencing the terms “material” or “Material Adverse Effect” or other terms of
similar import or effect) when made and as of the Closing (with the same force
and effect as if made as of the Closing), except where all failures of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct have not had, and
would
not reasonably be expected to have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company or the Buyer.
8.2 Covenants.
Each of
the covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement to be complied
with by the Company or the Sellers on or before the Closing Date shall have
been
complied with in all material respects.
8.3 Consents.
Each of
the Consents identified on Schedule 8.3 hereto shall have been obtained by
the Company or Sellers on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Buyer
and shall be in full force and effect.
8.4 No
Proceedings.
Since
the date of this Agreement, there must not have been commenced against Buyer,
or
against any Person affiliated with Buyer, any Proceeding that, in the reasonable
good faith judgment of Buyer, based on the advice of outside counsel, would
have
a reasonable prospect of surviving a motion for summary judgment by Buyer before
any Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction which (a) seeks to enjoin,
restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby; (b) seeks to impose criminal penalties in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (c) would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
Buyer, including, without limitation, preventing, delaying, making illegal,
or
otherwise interfering with the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
8.5 Intentionally
Left Blank.
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8.6 Closing
Deliveries.
Buyer
shall have received each of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.5(a)
hereto.
8.7 Intentionally
Left Blank.
8.8 Financing.
Buyer
shall have received a financing commitment to provide all requisite financing
required by Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
8.9 Opinion.
Buyer
shall have received from Woolf, McClane, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
& Xxxxxxxxx, PLLC, counsel for the Sellers and the Company, an
opinion addressed to Buyer and Buyer’s lenders, dated as of the Closing Date and
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.
8.10 FIRPTA
Affidavit. The
Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer an affidavit, under penalty of perjury
(a
so-called “FIRPTA
Affidavit”)
duly
executed by each of the Sellers, in form and substance required under Treasury
Regulation §1.897-2(h), certifying facts that would exempt the Buyer from
withholding requirements of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax
Act.
8.11 Certificates.
Sellers
and the Company shall have delivered to Buyer: (i) a copy of the
Organizational Documents of the Company (in the case of the Company’s charter
documents, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee);
(ii) a certificate of good standing for the Company from the State of
Tennessee; (iii) certificates of good standing or qualification for each
other jurisdiction in which the Company is qualified or admitted to do business,
with respect to each of (i)-(iii) above, such certificates to be dated no
more than ten days prior to the Closing Date; and (iv) a certificate, dated
as of the Closing Date and executed by the Secretary of the Company, certifying
to (A) the incumbency of all officers executing this Agreement and/or any
document contemplated hereby on behalf of the Company, (B) the accuracy and
completeness of attached copies of the Company’s Organizational Documents,
(C) the resolutions of the Board of Directors and requisite shareholders of
the Company authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company, the performance of its obligations hereunder, and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.12 Section 280G
Approval or Disapproval.
If
required in order for the Company to comply with its pre-Closing covenant under
Section 6.9 hereof, the stockholders of the Company shall have voted or
acted by written consent to either (i) approve, by the requisite majority,
any Potential 280G Benefits, or (ii) not approve such Potential 280G
Benefits by the requisite majority. If the Company’s stockholders shall have not
provided the requisite approval, any disqualified individual (as such term
is
defined in the regulations promulgated under IRC Section 280G) shall
have agreed to forfeit any Potential 280G Benefits.
8.13 Termination
of Stockholder Agreements.
The
Company and the Sellers shall have fully complied with the covenants set forth
in Section 6.8 hereto.
8.14 Financial
Statements;
Audit.
(a) The
Buyer
(together with Buyer’s Accountants) shall have prepared audited, consolidated
financial statements of the Company that meet the requirements of
Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K for the period required by Rule 3-05(b)
of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
and Buyer’s Accountants shall have consented to Buyer’s use of the Company’s
audited consolidated financial statements with respect to any of the Buyer’s
filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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(b) The
Buyer
(together with Buyer’s Accountants) shall have conducted an audit of Seller’s
Accountants work in reviewing the Company’s financial statements for the three
year period ended September 30, 2006, the results of which shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and shall have evidenced whether (i) there
are no material changes to the corresponding information contained in the
financial statements prepared by the Company and reviewed by Seller’s
Accountants with respect to such three year period and (ii) the information
obtained as a result of such audit of the Company’s financial statements at
September 30, 2006 is consistent with corresponding information contained
in the Interim Financial Statements (as at May 31, 2007).
8.15 Satisfaction
of Environmental Condition.
Buyer
shall have made All Appropriate Inquiries concerning each Current Company
Facility and shall have obtained a Phase I
and, if necessary, a Phase II with
respect to each Current Company Facility for which Buyer has exercised its
rights under Section 6.10 hereof, in each case in a form which allows Buyer
to rely on such reports. Upon receipt of such Phase I and Phase II
reports, Buyer shall be deemed to have obtained and investigated all
investigations, sampling, reports, and information concerning the presence
of
Hazardous Materials on or about each Current Company Facility, at which point
Buyer shall have determined, based on the results obtained by such
investigations, that Buyer is satisfied that no Hazardous Materials have been
Released to, on, or from any Current Company Facility in concentrations or
amounts which exceed limits legally allowable under any applicable Environmental
Law for the use of the property in question, or which require any investigation,
removal or response activity under any applicable Environmental Law, or which
otherwise violate any Environmental Law. Regarding Former Company Facilities
and
any real property to which any Hazardous Materials generated or transported
by
the Company were sent for disposal or onto which such materials were Released,
Buyer shall have determined that the Company is not liable or potentially liable
under any Environmental Laws for any investigation into or remediation of any
Release of any Hazardous Materials at such real property in an amount which
would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
8.16 Affiliate
Leases. The
Buyer
shall have been granted access to and reviewed all real property leases entered
into by and between the Company (and/or
its Subsidiaries)
and any
officer,
director, stockholder, employee or Affiliate
of the Company (or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing), and the terms of
each
such lease shall have been satisfactory to Buyer in its sole and absolute
discretion (subject to the following sentence of this Section 8.16).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, all such real property leases shall have been
amended to reflect the following terms:
(i) the
approval or objection by the Company (and/or its Subsidiaries), as lessor under
each such lease, to improvements proposed to be effected by the lessee to the
real property covered by such lease shall be provided by the lessor within
thirty (30) days of receipt of notification by the lessee of each such
proposed improvement; consent to any such proposed improvement (of which lessor
is notified in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms of the lease)
shall
not be unreasonably withheld by the lessor;
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(ii) rent
payments under each such lease during the extension period of the lease shall
be
calculated without reference to the Consumer Price Index (the “CPI”)
and
shall not increase due to a rise in the CPI; and
(iii) in
lieu
of CPI-based increases, rent payable by the lessee under each such lease shall
be increased by fifteen percent (15%) during each five year extension
period under the lease.
8.17 Satisfaction
of Legal and Financial Due Diligence.
Buyer
and its counsel shall have completed their legal and financial due diligence
concerning the Company, the results of which shall have been satisfactory to
Buyer in its sole discretion.
8.18 Escrow
Agreement.
The
Sellers and the Escrow Agent shall have executed and delivered the Escrow
Agreement to the Buyer.
ARTICLE
IX
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO SELLERS’ OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
Sellers’
obligation to sell the Shares and to take the other actions required to be
taken
by Sellers at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the
Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived in
writing on behalf of all Sellers by Sellers’ Representatives, in whole or in
part):
9.1 Accuracy
of Representations.
Each of
the representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement or
in
any certificate delivered to the Sellers in connection herewith shall be true
and correct (but determined in each case without giving effect to any
qualifications therein referencing the terms “material” or “Material Adverse
Effect” or other terms of similar import or effect) when made and as of the
Closing (with the same force and effect as if made as of the Closing), except
where all failures of such representations and warranties to be so true and
correct have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the Sellers.
9.2 Covenants.
Each of
the covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement to be complied
with by the Buyer on or before the Closing Date shall have been complied with
in
all respects, except where all failures to so comply with such covenants in
the
aggregate have not resulted, and would not reasonably be expected to result,
in
a material adverse effect on the Sellers or the ability of the Buyer to
consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
9.3 Consents.
Each
of
the Consents identified in Exhibit
A
as a
pre-condition to Closing must have been obtained and must be in full force
and
effect, except where the Buyer’s failure to obtain such consents: (a) was
due to a breach by the Company or the Sellers of their obligation to cooperate
with Buyer to obtain such consents under the standard outlined by
Section 6.4; and (b) would not be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Buyer or a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of
the
Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
9.4 No
Proceedings.
Since
the date of this Agreement, there must not have been commenced against Sellers
or the Company, or against any Person affiliated with Sellers or the Company,
any Proceeding that, in the reasonable good faith judgment of Sellers or the
Company, based on the advice of outside counsel, would have a reasonable
prospect of surviving a motion for summary judgment by Sellers or the Company
before any Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction which (a) seeks to
enjoin, restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby; (b) seeks to impose criminal penalties in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (c) would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Sellers, including,
without limitation, preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise
interfering with the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
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9.5 Certificates.
Buyer
shall have delivered to the Sellers and the Company: (i) a copy of the
Articles or Certificate of Incorporation (as the case may be) of the Buyer,
certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Utah; (ii) a
certificate of good standing for the Buyer from the State of Utah;
(iii) certificates of good standing or qualification for each other
jurisdiction in which Buyer is qualified or admitted to do business, with
respect to each of (i)-(iii) above, such certificates to be dated no more
than ten days prior to the Closing Date; and (iv) a certificate or
certificates, dated as of the Closing Date and executed by the Secretary of
the
Buyer, certifying to (A) the incumbency of all officers executing this
Agreement and/or any document contemplated hereby on behalf of the Buyer,
(B) the accuracy and completeness of attached copies of the Buyer’s
Organizational Documents, (C) the resolutions of the Board of Directors and
requisite shareholders of the Buyer authorizing and approving the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement by the Buyer, the performance of its obligations
hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
9.6. Escrow
Agreement. Buyer
and
the Escrow Agent shall have executed and delivered the Escrow Agreement to
the
Sellers.
9.7 Appco
Agreement.
The
purchase and sale of the capital stock of Appco and the other transactions
contemplated by the Appco Agreement shall have been consummated
contemporaneously with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
X
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination
Events.
This
Agreement may, by notice given prior to or at the Closing, be
terminated:
(a) by
either
Buyer or Sellers if a material breach of any provision of this Agreement has
been committed by the Company or any of the Sellers (in the case of a
termination by Buyer) or Buyer (in the case of a termination by the Sellers’
Representatives) and such breach has not been waived, provided that written
notice has been given to such other party of the intention to terminate under
this Section 10.1(a) due to such breach and such other party has not cured
such breach within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such notice,
or
if
such breach is unable to be cured within such 30-day period, the breaching
party
has made commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach and such breach
is
cured not later that thirty (30) days after notice thereof;
(b) (i) by
Buyer
if any of the conditions in Article VIII have not been satisfied as of the
Closing Date or if satisfaction of such a condition is or becomes impossible
(other than through the failure of Buyer to comply with its obligations under
this Agreement) and Buyer has not waived such condition on or before the Closing
Date; or
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(ii) by
Sellers’ Representatives, if any of the conditions in Article IX have not
been satisfied as of the Closing Date or if satisfaction of such a condition
is
or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of the Company or any
of
the Sellers to comply with their obligations under this Agreement) and Sellers’
Representatives have not waived such condition on or before the Closing Date;
(c) by
mutual
written consent of Buyer and Sellers; or
(d) by
Buyer
or Sellers if the Closing has not occurred (other than through the failure
of
any party seeking to terminate this Agreement to comply with its obligations
under this Agreement) on or before August 31, 2007, or such later date that
the
parties may agree upon in writing.
10.2 Effect
of Termination.
Each
party’s right of termination under Section 10.1 is in addition to any other
rights it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of a
right of termination will not be an election of remedies. If this Agreement
is
terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, all further obligations of the parties
under this Agreement will terminate, except that the provisions of
Article XIV will survive after such termination; provided
that if
this Agreement is terminated by a party because of the breach of the Agreement
by the other party or because one or more of the conditions to the terminating
party’s obligations under this Agreement is not satisfied as a result of the
other party’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement, the
terminating party’s right to pursue all legal remedies will survive such
termination unimpaired for a period of six (6) months after such
termination.
ARTICLE
XI
SURVIVAL
OF REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES,
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
11.1 Representations
and Warranties.
All
representations and warranties in this Agreement and the certificates delivered
pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii) and (iii) hereof shall expire on the
date which is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date, with the
exception of (i) the representations and warranties set forth in
Sections 3.1 (Organization; Good Standing), 3.2 (Authority; No
Conflict), 3.3 (Capitalization), 3.18 (Brokers or Finders),
4.1 (Authority; No Conflict) and 4.3 (Ownership of Shares)
(collectively, the “Fundamental
Representations”),
which
shall survive the Closing and remain in full force and effect forever; and
(ii) representations and warranties related to any Tax Claim (including
without limitation the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 3.10 hereof), which shall
terminate on the later of (x) sixty (60) days following the date upon
which the liability to which any such Tax Claim may relate is barred by all
applicable statutes of limitation (including any extension or waiver of such
periods) and (y) sixty (60) days following the date upon which any
claim for refund or credit related to such Tax Claim is barred by all applicable
statutes of limitations (including any extension or waiver of such
periods).
11.2 Covenants.
Claims
with respect to any breach of a covenant or obligation in this Agreement must
be
brought within eighteen (18) months of such breach coming to the attention
of the other party; provided that claims with respect to any covenant or
obligation to be performed and complied with by any party prior to the Closing
Date must be brought within eighteen (18) months after the Closing
Date.
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11.3 General.
Neither
Buyer nor any Seller shall have any liability whatsoever with respect to any
claim for breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or obligation brought
after the respective expiration dates set forth in this Article XI, except
in the case of fraud or willful misconduct. Except as otherwise set forth
herein, each of the parties hereto intends to shorten the statute of
limitations, and each party agrees that no claims or causes of action may be
brought against the other party arising out of, or based upon, any such
representation, warranty, covenant or obligation after the respective expiration
dates set forth in this Article XI, other than in the case of fraud or
willful misconduct.
ARTICLE
XII
INDEMNIFICATION
12.1 Indemnification
and Payment of Damages by Sellers.
(a) Representations,
Warranties and Covenants. Except
as
limited by Article XI hereof, and subject to the further provisions of this
Article XII and Section 13.1 hereof, each Seller shall, jointly and
severally, protect, defend, indemnify, and hold Buyer and its Affiliates
harmless from and against any and all Damages sustained, incurred or suffered
by
or asserted against any of them, directly or indirectly, as a result of or
relating to or arising out of: (i) any
breach of any representation or warranty made by Sellers or the Company in
this
Agreement or in any certificate delivered to Buyer in connection herewith (in
each case, other than with respect to Section 3.8, determined without
giving effect to any qualifications therein referencing the terms “material” or
“Material Adverse Effect” or other terms of similar import or effect) or
(ii) any breach by any Seller of any covenant or obligation of any Seller
in this Agreement or any breach by the Company or any Seller of any pre-Closing
covenant or pre-Closing obligation of the Company or such Seller in this
Agreement. Except
as
otherwise provided herein, any assertion by Buyer that Sellers are liable under
the terms of this Section 12.1(a) must be made by Buyer in writing and must
be sent to Sellers on or prior to the expiration of the survival period of
the
particular representation, warranty or covenant as provided in Article XI
hereof.
(b) Supplemental
Tax Indemnification. Notwithstanding
and in addition to the provisions of Section 12.1(a), the Sellers shall be
obligated to indemnify Buyer with respect to Taxes as set forth in
Section 13.1 hereof. All such indemnification obligations related to Taxes
shall be treated as Tax Claims for purposes of the survival provisions of
Section 11.1(ii), and shall not be subject to the Basket and Cap (each, as
defined hereinafter in Section 12.4) limitations that are set forth in
Section 12.4 hereof. For purposes of clarification, any and all references
to “Damages” found within Sections 12.3 through 12.8 (other than
Section 12.4) hereof shall include Damages for which a Tax Claim is
asserted by Buyer hereunder.
12.2 Indemnification
and Payment of Damages by Buyer.
Buyer
will indemnify and hold harmless Sellers, and will pay to them the amount of
any
Damages arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with (a) any
breach of any representation or warranty made by Buyer in this Agreement or
in
any certificate delivered to Sellers’ Representatives in connection herewith (in
each case, determined without giving effect to any qualifications therein
referencing the terms “material” or “Material Adverse Effect” or other terms of
similar import or effect), or (b) any breach by Buyer of any covenant or
obligation of Buyer in this Agreement or any breach by the Company of any
post-Closing covenant or post-Closing obligation under this Agreement.
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12.3 Indemnitee’s
Tax Benefits. Indemnification
payments under this Article XII and Section 13.1 hereof shall be paid
by the indemnifying party without reduction for any tax benefits available
to
the indemnified party.
12.4 Limitations.
No
claims for breaches of representations, warranties, covenants or obligations
may
be brought after the time limitations set forth in Article XI.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, other than with respect to
a
claim arising out of fraud or willful misconduct, no party shall have any
obligation to indemnify the other hereunder, unless (i) (except with
respect to a claim arising out of Sections 12.1(a)(ii)) the amount of
Damages sustained or incurred with respect to a particular claim (together
with
all related claims) exceeds $5,000 and (ii) (except with respect to a
breach of any Fundamental Representation, breach of any covenant or obligation,
or with respect to a Tax Claim) the aggregate amount of Damages sustained or
incurred with respect to all claims by such party pursuant to this Agreement
exceeds $150,000 (the “Basket”),
and
then (except with respect to a breach of any Fundamental Representation, breach
of any covenant or obligation, or with respect to a Tax Claim) only to the
extent of the excess of the aggregate amount of Damages sustained or incurred
by
such party with respect to all claims by such party pursuant to this Agreement
above the Basket amount up to (but not in excess of) a maximum aggregate
indemnity for such Damages of an amount (the “Cap”)
equal
to (a)
for
claims made within one (1) year after the Closing, twenty-five
percent (25%) of the Purchase Price; and (b) for claims made more than
one (1) year after the Closing, ten percent (10%) of the Purchase
Price.
12.5 Procedures
for Indemnification -- Third Party Claims.
(a) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 12.1 or 12.2 of
notice of the commencement of any Proceeding against it, such indemnified party
will, if a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party under such Section,
give notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of such claim, but
the
failure to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying
party
of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party, except, and only
to
the extent that, the indemnifying party demonstrates that the defense of such
action is materially prejudiced by the indemnifying party’s failure to give such
notice.
(b) If
any
Proceeding referred to in Section 12.5(a) is brought against an indemnified
party and it gives notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of
such
Proceeding, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in such
Proceeding and, to the extent that it wishes (unless the indemnifying party
is
also a party to such Proceeding or the indemnified party determines in good
faith that joint representation would be inappropriate), to assume the defense
of such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party; provided that the indemnifying party provides written notice of its
election to assume the defense of such Proceeding to the indemnified party
within ten (10) days of receipt by the indemnifying party of the notice of
claim by the indemnified party, and, after delivery of such written notice
from
the indemnifying party to the indemnified party, the indemnifying party will
not, as long as it diligently conducts such defense, be liable to the
indemnified party under this Article XII for any fees of other counsel or
any other expenses with respect to the defense of such Proceeding, in each
case
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
of
such Proceeding, other than reasonable costs of investigation. If the
indemnifying party assumes the defense of a Proceeding:
(i) it
will
be conclusively established for purposes of this Agreement that the claims
made
in that Proceeding are within the scope of and subject to indemnification;
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(ii) no
compromise or settlement of such claims may be effected by the indemnifying
party without the indemnified party’s consent unless: (A) there is no
finding or admission of any violation of Legal Requirements or any violation
of
the rights of any Person and no effect on any other claims that may be made
against the indemnified party, and (B) the sole relief provided is monetary
damages that are paid in full by the indemnifying party; and
(iii) the
indemnified party will have no liability with respect to any compromise or
settlement of such claims effected without its consent, other than reasonable,
documented costs of investigation.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if (i) the indemnifying party does not, within ten (10)
days after the indemnified party’s notice is given pursuant to this
Section 12.5, give written notice to the indemnified party of its election
to assume the defense of such Proceeding as permitted under
Section 12.5(b), or (ii) the indemnified party determines in good
faith that there is a reasonable probability that a Proceeding may adversely
affect it or its Affiliates other than as a result of monetary damages for
which
it would be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, then in either
case the indemnified party may, by notice to the indemnifying party, assume
the
exclusive right to defend, compromise, or settle such Proceeding, but, in such
case the indemnifying party will not be bound by any compromise or settlement
effected without its consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld)
unless such compromise or settlement: (A) results in no finding or
admission of any violation of Legal Requirements or any violation of the rights
of any Person and (B) does not obligate the indemnifying party to pay
monetary damages.
12.6 Procedure
for Indemnification -- Other Claims.
A claim
for indemnification for any matter not involving a third-party claim may be
asserted by notice to the party from whom indemnification is
sought.
12.7 Exclusive
Remedy.
(a)
Buyer
hereby agrees that besides the termination rights afforded under Article X
hereof, the rights and remedies of Buyer contained in this Article XII and
in Section 13.1 to recover Damages (subject to the limitations set forth
herein) shall be the sole and exclusive rights and remedies that they shall
have
against the Company or any Seller arising out of, relating to or resulting
from
a breach of representation, warranty or covenant (except for any covenant set
forth in Article II or Article VIIA) under this Agreement, except with
respect to any claim arising out of fraud or the willful misconduct of any
Seller or the Company.
(b)
Each
Seller hereby agrees that it shall not (and shall cause its Affiliates not
to)
directly or indirectly make any claim for indemnification or contribution
against the Buyer, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates by reason
of the fact that any Seller or any Affiliate of any Seller is or was a
shareholder, director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Company or
any
of its Affiliates or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any
of
its Affiliates as a partner, manager, trustee, director, officer, employee
or
agent of another entity (whether such claim is for judgments, damages,
penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid in settlement, losses, expenses or
otherwise and whether such claim is pursuant to any statute, charter document,
bylaw, agreement or otherwise) with respect to any action, suit, proceeding,
complaint, claim or demand brought by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates against
Sellers pursuant to this Agreement or applicable law or otherwise. In no event
shall the Company or any of its Affiliates have any liability whatsoever to
any
Seller (or any Affiliate of any Seller) for breaches of the representations,
warranties, agreements or covenants of such Seller or the Company hereunder,
and
no Seller shall (and each shall cause its Affiliates not to) in any event seek
contribution from the Company or any of its Affiliates in respect of any
payments required to be made by any Seller pursuant to this
Agreement.
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12.8 Tax
Treatment. All
indemnification payments shall constitute adjustments to the Purchase Price
for
all Tax purposes, and no party hereto shall take any position inconsistent
with
such characterization, unless a final determination by any Governmental Body
causes any such amount not to constitute an adjustment to the Purchase Price
for
Tax purposes.
12.9 Manner
of Payment; Right of Set-Off.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, any indemnification of the Buyer or any Seller
hereunder shall be effected by wire transfer of immediately available funds
from
the Sellers or Buyer, as the case may be, to an account(s) designated by the
Buyer or the Sellers’ Representatives, as the case may be, within ten (10)
days after the determination thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth in this Section 12.9 or otherwise in this Agreement, Buyer and
its Affiliates shall first recover any Damages under Section 12.1 from the
Escrow Account. To the extent the Escrow Amount is insufficient for any portion
of such recovery, Buyer and its Affiliates may recover the remaining portion
of
any Damages required to be paid to Buyer or any of its Affiliates pursuant
hereto from the Sellers on a joint and several basis.
ARTICLE
XIII
TAX
MATTERS
The
following provisions shall govern the allocation of responsibility for, and
the
rights and remedies of the Buyer and Sellers with respect to, certain Tax
matters:
13.1 Tax
Indemnification.
Subject
to Sections 12.1(b), 12.3, 12.5, 12.6 12.7 and 12.8 hereof, each
Seller shall, jointly and severally, protect, defend, indemnify, and hold Buyer
and its Affiliates harmless from and against (i) all Taxes (or the
non-payment thereof) of the Company for all taxable periods ending on or before
the Closing Date, (ii) all Taxes of any Person (other than the Company)
imposed on the Company as a transferee or successor, by contract or pursuant
to
any law, rule or regulation, which Taxes relate to an event or transaction
occurring before the Closing, (iii) all Taxes of any member of an
Affiliated Group of which the Company (or any predecessor of the foregoing)
is
or was a member for taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date,
including pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.1502-6 (or any analogous or
similar state, local, or foreign law or regulation), and (iv) any Taxes
imposed under IRC §1374 (and any corresponding provision of state or local
law). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Sellers shall have no
obligation to protect, defend, indemnify or hold Buyer and its Affiliates
harmless from and against any Taxes to the extent such Taxes may be offset
by
deposits, installments, other payments, credits, reserves or net operating
losses paid or arising on or before the Closing Date. Sellers shall reimburse
Buyer for any taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary which are the
responsibility of Sellers pursuant to this Section 13.1 at least
five (5) days prior to payment of such Taxes by Buyer or the
Company.
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13.2 Tax
Periods Ending On or Before the Closing Date.
The
Company shall prepare or cause to be prepared and shall file or cause to be
filed (in a manner consistent with past custom and practice of the Company)
all
Tax Returns of the Company for all Tax periods ending on or before the Closing
Date.
13.3 Cooperation
on Tax Matters.
The
Buyer, the Company and the Sellers shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent
reasonably requested by the other party, in connection with the filing of Tax
Returns and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes.
Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other party’s
request) the provision of records and information reasonably relevant to any
such audit, litigation or other proceeding and making employees available on
mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation
of
any material provided hereunder. The Company, the Sellers and the Buyer agree
(i) to retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent
to the Company relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing
Date
until the expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified
by the Buyer or the Seller, any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable
periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with
any
Taxing Authority, and (ii) to give the other party reasonable written
notice prior to transferring any such books or records and, if the other party
so requests, the Company or the Sellers, as the case may be, shall allow the
other party to take possession of such books and records.
13.4 Tax
Sharing Arrangements.
The
Sellers and the Company will cause all Tax sharing agreements or similar
agreements, if any, and all powers of attorney with respect to Taxes or Tax
Returns that involve the Company to be terminated prior to the Closing and,
after the Closing, the Company will not be bound thereby or have any liability
thereunder.
13.5 Transfer
Taxes. Notwithstanding
Section 12.1(b) and any other provision of this Article XIII, the
parties agree that all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration
and other such taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest thereon,
“Transfer
Taxes”)
incurred by the Company in connection with this Agreement shall be borne by
the
Buyer. The Buyer shall prepare at its own expense any Tax Returns relating
to
Transfer Taxes required to be filed by Buyer, and, if required by applicable
law, any other party hereto will, and will cause its Affiliates to, join in
the
execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation required to be filed
by Buyer.
13.6. Audits
and Contests Regarding Taxes. Any
party
hereto who receives any notice of a pending or threatened Tax audit, assessment,
or adjustment relating to the Company, or the Sellers with respect to the
Company, which may give rise to liability of another party hereto, shall
promptly notify Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives within ten (10)
business days of the receipt of such notice. The parties hereto each agree
to
consult with and to keep the other parties hereto informed on a regular basis
regarding the status of any Tax audit or proceeding to the extent that such
audit or proceeding could affect the liability of such other parties (including
indemnity obligations hereunder). The Sellers’ Representatives shall have the
right to represent the Company’s interests in any Tax audit or administrative or
judicial proceeding and to employ counsel of its choice and at Sellers’ expense,
but reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, but only to the extent such audit or
other
proceeding pertains to taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date.
Buyer shall have the right to participate in such proceeding at its own expense,
and shall be entitled to control the disposition of any issue involved in such
proceeding which does not affect a potential liability of any Seller. The Buyer
and the Sellers’ Representatives shall be entitled to represent its own
interests in light of its responsibilities (including indemnity obligations)
for
the related Taxes, at its own expense, in any audit or administrative or
judicial proceedings involving a taxable period that includes but does not
end
on the Closing Date, provided that with respect to any such period, no party
hereto shall communicate with Representatives of an auditing Taxing Authority
on
any substantive matter without advising all other parties hereto of the
communication in advance, and if oral, providing the other parties hereto an
adequate opportunity to participate in such communication. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, the Seller Representatives shall not agree to any settlement for
any
taxable period that would affect Tax liabilities of Buyer or the Company for
any
taxable period beginning on or after the Closing Date without prior written
consent of Buyer. Except as provided in this Section 13.7, the provisions
of Article XII including the provisions therein addressing settlement
authority, shall govern the manner in which Tax audit or administrative or
judicial Proceedings are resolved.
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ARTICLE
XIV
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
14.1 Expenses.
Buyer
will bear its expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution,
and Buyer’s performance under this Agreement and of the transactions
contemplated herein, including all fees and expenses of Buyer’s agents,
Representatives, counsel, and accountants. Additionally, Buyer shall
be
responsible to pay when due all transfer, documentary, sales, use, value added,
stamp, registration, goods and services taxes, as well as all conveyance fees,
recording charges and other fees and charges, incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (as required under Section 13.3
hereof), regardless of whether the obligation to pay any such taxes, fees or
charges would otherwise be the obligation of the Company or Sellers under
applicable law or by custom or practice. The
Company shall pay all expenses of the Company and Sellers incurred in connection
with the preparation, execution and Sellers’ and the Company’s performance under
this Agreement and of the transactions contemplated herein, including all fees
and expenses of agents, Representatives, outside counsel and accountants of
Sellers and the Company.
14.2 Public
Announcements.
Prior to
the Closing, any public announcement or similar publicity with respect to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein will be issued, if at all,
at
such time and in such manner as Buyer and the Company shall reasonably
determine. The Company and Buyer will consult with each other concerning the
means by which the public and the Company’s employees, distributors, customers,
and suppliers and others having dealings with the Company will be informed
of
the transactions contemplated herein and, prior to the Closing, no announcement
shall be made by any party without the prior written consent of the other
parties.
14.3 Confidentiality.
The
provisions of the Mutual Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement, executed
by the parties on July _____, 2007, will continue in full force and effect
and
will survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall terminate
upon the Closing.
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14.4 Notices.
All
notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must
be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when:
(a) delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent
by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided
that a
copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, or (c) when
received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and
facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and facsimile
numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):
If
to the Company:
Management
Properties, Inc.
X.X.
Xxx 0000
0000
Xxxxxxx 00
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
With
a copy to:
Woolf,
McClane, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, PLLC
000
X. Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxx
|
and
to each Seller at the address set forth on Schedule 3.3(a) with a
copy to Woolf, McClane, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, PLLC (set
forth above); or at such other address as Company or the Sellers
may
designate by advance written notice to the other parties hereto;
and
|
|
If
to Buyer:
Titan
Global Holdings,
Inc.
0000
Xxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Chance
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
With
a copy to:
Sichenzia
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
00
Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
or
at
such other address as Buyer may designate by advance written notice to the
other
parties hereto.
14.5 Jurisdiction;
Service of Process.
Any
action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any right
arising out of, this Agreement may be brought against any of the parties in
the
courts of (a) the State of Tennessee, County of Xxxxxxxx, or, if it has or
can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Tennessee. Each of the parties consents to the 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.
14.6 Further
Assurances.
The
parties agree before and after Closing: (a) to furnish upon request to each
other such further information, (b) to execute and deliver to each other
such other documents, and (c) to do such other acts and things, all as the
other party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent
of
this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement.
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14.7 Waiver.
The
rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not
alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by any party in exercising any
right, power, or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to
in
this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege,
and
no single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will
preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power, or privilege or
the
exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. To the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law: (a) no claim or right arising out of this
Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged
by
one party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or
right unless in writing signed by the other party; (b) no waiver that may
be given by a party will be applicable except in the specific instance for
which
it is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to
be a waiver of any obligation of such party or of the right of the party giving
such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as
provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this
Agreement.
14.8 Entire
Agreement and Modification.
This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements between the parties with respect
to
its subject matter and constitutes (along with the documents referred to in
this
Agreement) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement
between the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may
not
be amended except by a written agreement executed by Buyer, the Company and
the
Sellers’ Representatives.
14.9 Disclosure
Schedules.
If and
to the extent any information required to be furnished in any Schedule is
contained in another Schedule, such information will be deemed to be included
in
all Schedules in which such information is required to be included, to the
extent the relevance of such disclosure to such other Schedules is reasonably
apparent on its face.
14.10 Assignments,
Successors, and No Third-Party Rights.
No party
may assign any of its rights under this Agreement without the prior consent
of
the other parties hereto; provided that Buyer may,
without the consent of any other party, assign all or any portion of its rights
hereunder to: (a) any of its Affiliates; (b) to any acquiror of
substantially all of the assets of Buyer or any Affiliates of such acquiror;
(c) for collateral security purposes, to any lenders of Buyer or any of its
Affiliates; and/or (d) such party as may be identified by Buyer prior to the
Closing.
Subject
to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will apply to, be binding in all
respects upon, and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns
of the parties. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be
construed to give any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal
or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement
or
any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement and all of its provisions and
conditions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this
Agreement and their successors and assigns.
14.11 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of
competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain
in
full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or
unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to
the
extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
14.12 Article
and Section Headings, Construction.
The
headings of Sections in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and
will not affect its construction or interpretation. All references to “Article”,
“Articles”, “Section” or “Sections” refer to the corresponding Article,
Articles, Section or Sections of this Agreement. All words used in this
Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances
require. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the word “including” does not
limit the preceding words or terms.
-46-
14.13 Time
of Essence.
With
regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement,
time is of the essence.
14.14 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee without regard
to conflicts of laws principles.
14.15 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken
together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
14.16 Sellers’
Representatives.
(a) By
virtue
of their approval of this Agreement, the Sellers shall have constituted and
appointed Xxxxx X. XxxXxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, acting together, to
serve as seller representatives (collectively, “Sellers’
Representatives”)
for
and on behalf of the Sellers, to give and receive notices and communications,
to
agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply
with
orders of courts with respect to such claims,
to take all other actions on behalf of the Sellers as is explicitly contemplated
by this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement and to take all actions necessary
or
appropriate in the judgment of the Sellers’ Representatives for the
accomplishment of the foregoing. No bond shall be required of the Sellers’
Representatives, and the Sellers’ Representatives shall receive no compensation
for their services. Notices or communications to or from the Sellers’
Representatives shall constitute notice to or from each Seller.
(b) The
Sellers’ Representatives shall not be liable for any act done or omitted
hereunder as Sellers’ Representatives while acting in good faith and in the
exercise of reasonable judgment and any act done or omitted pursuant to the
advice of counsel or with the consent of two-thirds in interest of the Sellers
shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The Sellers shall severally
indemnify the Sellers’ Representatives and hold each of them harmless against
any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or bad faith
on
the part of such Sellers’ Representatives and arising out of or in connection
with the acceptance or administration of his duties hereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, any decision, act, consent
or instruction of the Sellers’ Representatives with
respect to any matters contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be the decision,
act, consent or instruction of all of the Sellers and shall be final, binding
and conclusive upon each of the Sellers, and Buyer and the Escrow Agent may
rely
on each such decision, act, consent or instruction of the Sellers’
Representatives as being the decision, act, consent or instruction of each
of
the Sellers. Buyer is hereby relieved from any liability to any person for
any
acts done by them in reliance upon, or in accordance with, any such decision,
act, consent or instruction of the Sellers’ Representatives.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Stock Purchase
Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPANY:
MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES, INC. | |||
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
SELLERS: |
BUYER:
|
||
THE XXXXX X. XXXXXXX REVOCABLE TRUST | TITAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. XxxXxxx | By: /s/ Xxxxx Chance | ||
Name:
Xxxxx X. XxxXxxx
Title:
Trustee
|
Name:
Xxxxx X. Chance
Title:
President and Chief Executive
Officer
|
/s/ Xxxx X. XxxXxxx | |||
XXXX
X. XXXXXXX
(by
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
under
Power of Attorney dated 7-11-07)
|
THE XXXXX X. XXXXXXX IRREVOCABLE TRUST | ||
By:
/s/ Xxxx X. XxxXxxx
|
|
|
Name:
Xxxx X. XxxXxxx
Title:
Trustee
(by
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
under
Power of Attorney dated 7-11-07)
|
-48-