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EXHIBIT 2.1
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made and entered
into this 6th day of October, 1998, by and among ISS GROUP, INC., a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Purchaser"); MARCH
INFORMATION SYSTEMS LIMITED, a corporation incorporated under the laws of
England and Wales with number 2459799 (the "Company"); XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
("XX XXXXXXX"), XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX ("XX XXXXXXXX"), XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX, XXXX
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX ("XX XXXXXXX"), DR. XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXXXX
XXXX XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX
XXXXXX AND XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX (all of said individuals, the "Sellers" and
individually "Seller").
RECITALS:
A. The Sellers are the beneficial owners of all of the issued
shares in the capital of the Company.
B. Each Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires
to purchase from each Seller, the number of ordinary shares of 1 pound sterling
each, of the Company set forth opposite such Seller's name on Schedule 2.1 to
the Sellers' Disclosure Letter (as defined in Section 5.30 hereof) (the
"Contract Shares").
C. Purchaser, the Company and the Sellers have agreed to effect the
purchase and sale of the Contract Shares provided for in this Agreement upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"BUSINESS" means all of the Company's business of developing software
to assess information systems for security weaknesses and associated
professional services which are related to information systems security.
"LIEN" means and includes, with respect to any equity, property or
asset, any lien, restriction, claim, equity, charge (fixed or floating),
option, equity, right of first refusal or similar or related right, and/or any
other encumbrance as to or defect in title of such property or asset whatsoever
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"PERSON" means any individual natural person and any partnership,
limited liability company, corporation, trust, government agency or subdivision
and any other legal entity.
"SELLERS' SOLICITORS" means Pitmans, 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx XX0 0XX.
Where any statement is qualified by the expression "to the knowledge of the
Sellers" or any similar expression that statement shall be deemed to include an
additional statement that it has been made after due and careful enquiry of and
by the Sellers.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE AND SALE.
2.1 PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser will accept and purchase from each
Seller, and each Seller will sell, transfer, assign and deliver with full title
guarantee to the Purchaser, at the "Closing" (as hereinafter defined), the
number of Contract Shares owned by such Seller set forth beside such Seller's
name on Schedule 2.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter.
SECTION 3. PURCHASE PRICE, CLOSING.
3.1 PURCHASE PRICE. upon the terms and subject to the conditions
contained in this Agreement, in reliance upon the representations, warranties
and agreements of the sellers contained herein, and in consideration of the
aforesaid sale, assignment, transfer and delivery of the contract shares, on
the closing date (as hereinafter defined), the Purchaser will pay or cause to
be paid to the Sellers Purchaser Shares (as hereinafter defined) and cash
(collectively, the "Purchase Price") in accordance with section 3.3 hereof.
3.2 CLOSING. The closing (the "Closing") of the purchase and sale
of the Contract Shares will take place forthwith after the signing hereof at
the offices of the Sellers' solicitors or such other office as the parties
shall agree.
3.3 CONSIDERATION. the consideration for the Contract Shares will
consist of (i) US $4.75 million in cash (the "Cash Consideration") and (ii)
119,994 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Purchaser
("Purchaser Shares") which shall be received by the Sellers pro rata to their
holding of the Contract Shares.
3.4 CLOSING DELIVERIES. (a) At Closing, against delivery of duly
executed share transfers and certificates representing the Contract Shares as
provided in Section 3.4(b), Purchaser will (i) pay the Cash Consideration to
the Sellers' solicitors (who are hereby irrevocably authorised to receive the
same) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such accounts as the
Sellers designate in writing to Purchaser and (ii) deliver to its transfer
agent instructions to issue and deliver certificates representing the Purchaser
Shares to the Sellers.
(b) At the Closing, against delivery of the Cash
Consideration and of certificates representing the Purchaser Shares as provided
in Section 3.4(a), the Sellers will deliver to Purchaser or to Purchaser's
designee transfers in favour of the Purchaser or such other
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name as Purchaser may specify by notice to the Sellers, of the Contract Shares
duly executed by the registered holders thereof together with certificates
representing all of the Contract Shares.
(c) Each of the Sellers hereby waives any rights which he
may have under the Articles of Association of the Company or otherwise to have
any of the Contract Shares offered to him for purchase prior to or in
consequence of the sale or transfer of the Contract Shares to the Purchaser.
3.5 NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS. At the Closing, the Purchaser and
each of the Sellers will enter into a Deed of Restrictive Covenant,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (collectively, the
"Noncompetition Agreements").
3.6 SERVICE AGREEMENTS. At Closing, the Purchaser and each of Xx
Xxxxxxx, Xx Xxxxxxxx and Xx Xxxxxxx will enter into Service Agreements,
substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (collectively, the
"Service Agreements").
3.7 TAX DEED. At Closing, the Purchaser and the Sellers will enter
into a Deed of Tax Covenant substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached
hereto (the "Tax Deed").
3.8 STOCK OPTIONS. At Closing, the Purchaser shall grant 40,000
stock options under the Purchaser's stock option scheme to certain employees of
the Company on terms consistent with options granted to other employees.
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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE
SELLERS.
The Sellers jointly and severally represent and warrant to Purchaser as
follows:
4.1 POWER AND AUTHORITY OF SELLERS; ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
BY SELLERS.
4.1.1 Each Seller has the full right, power and capacity to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each other
certificate, agreement, document and instrument to be executed and
delivered by such Seller in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the "Seller Ancillary
Documents") and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement and the Seller Ancillary Documents have been
duly and validly executed and delivered by each Seller or, in the case
of any Seller Ancillary Documents to be executed and delivered
hereafter, such documents will have been duly and validly executed and
delivered as of Closing.
4.1.2 This Agreement and the Seller Ancillary Documents each
constitute, or in the case of any Seller Ancillary Documents to be
executed hereafter, such documents will constitute, the legal, valid
and binding obligation of each Seller, enforceable in accordance with
their terms against such Seller.
4.1.3 The execution, delivery and performance by each Seller
of this Agreement and the Seller Ancillary Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
(including the sale of the Contract Shares) will not, with or without
the giving of notice or the passing of time, or both, (a) violate any
provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which any Seller is
subject, (b) violate any order, judgment or decree applicable to any
Seller or (c) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach or default
under, or cause the termination of, any term or condition of any court
order, trust document, will, agreement, document or other instrument
to which any Seller is a party or by which any Seller or any Seller's
properties are bound. Each Seller has reviewed carefully this
Agreement and the Seller Ancillary Documents to be executed and
delivered by such Seller and understands the effect of the
representations and warranties, covenants, conditions and other terms
herein and therein, including such Seller's obligations to indemnify
Purchaser against certain "Losses" (as hereinafter defined). Each
Seller has discussed the terms of this Agreement and the Seller
Ancillary Documents with independent legal advisers acting for such
Seller, and such Seller and such legal advisors have been given
adequate opportunity to comment upon the terms of this Agreement and
the Seller Ancillary Documents prior to the execution and delivery
hereof and thereof.
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4.2 OWNERSHIP OF THE SHARES. Each Seller is free to sell with full
title guarantee the number of Contract Shares set forth opposite such Seller's
name on Schedule 2.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter, and such Contract
Shares (a) have been duly authorised, and are validly issued and, fully paid
up, and (b) are free and clear of any Lien and have no defects of title
whatsoever in the hands of such Seller. By virtue of each such Seller's
ownership of such Contract Shares, the Sellers own all of the total allotted
and issued shares in the capital of the Company. Other than the Contract Shares
set forth opposite each Seller's name on Schedule 2.1 to the Sellers'
Disclosure Letter, no Seller or any other Person owns any shares in the capital
of the Company or any other equity security of the Company or any right of any
kind to have any such equity security issued. Upon consummation of Closing,
Purchaser shall have obtained good and valid title to the Contract Shares, free
and clear of any Lien, and with no defects of title whatsoever. Each Seller has
the exclusive right, power and authority to vote the Contract Shares owned by
such Seller and has not granted any outstanding proxy as to such shares. No
Seller is a party to or bound by any shareholder's agreement or any other
agreement affecting or relating to a Seller's right to sell or otherwise
transfer or vote the Contract Shares owned by such Seller and no Seller's sale
of Contract Shares to Purchaser hereunder will violate the legal rights of any
Person or give any Person any cause of action or claim against such Seller, the
Company or Purchaser.
4.3 INVESTIGATION BY SELLERS; Investment Intent. Each Seller has
conducted its own independent review and analysis of the businesses, assets,
condition, operations and prospects of the Purchaser and acknowledges that such
Seller has been provided access satisfactory to such Seller to the publicly
filed documents of the Purchaser for this purpose and has been afforded an
opportunity satisfactory to such Seller to discuss the foregoing with
management of the Purchaser. In entering into this Agreement, each Seller has
relied solely upon its own investigation and analysis and representations
contained herein and each Seller:
(a) acknowledges that none of the Purchaser or any of its
officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents or representatives makes any
representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy or
completeness of any of the information provided or made available to the
Company or the Sellers or their agents or representatives prior to the
execution of this Agreement, except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement;
(b) understands that the Purchaser Shares have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the United States (the "1933
Act"), or under the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be
transferred in the absence of an effective registration statement for such
securities under the 1933 Act or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the
Purchaser that registration is not required under the 1933 Act;
(c) agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that none of
the Purchaser or any of its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents
or representatives will have any liability or responsibility whatsoever to the
Sellers on any basis (including, without limitation, in contract or tort, under
securities laws or otherwise) based upon any information provided or made
available, or statements made, to the Company or the Sellers prior to the
execution of this Agreement, except that the foregoing limitations will not
apply to the Purchaser to the extent that the Purchaser makes the specific
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement but always subject
to the limitations and restrictions contained in this Agreement;
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(d) represents that such Seller is not a "U.S. Person" (and such
Seller is not purchasing for the account of any U.S. Person) within the meaning
of Regulation S under the 1933 Act;
(e) agrees that such Seller will not, prior to the expiration of
the 40-day restricted period provided for in Rule 903 of Regulation S under the
1933 Act, sell or otherwise dispose of (by means of a short sale or other
hedging transaction or otherwise) any Purchaser Shares; and
(f) all Purchaser Shares acquired by such Seller will be acquired
for such Seller's own account for the purpose of investment.
4.4 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. No Seller is the owner of any shares of
Common Stock of the Purchaser.
SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANY.
The Company and the Sellers hereby jointly and severally represent and
warrant to Purchaser as follows:
5.1 ORGANIZATION. The Company is a company incorporated and
validly existing under the laws of England and Wales and has all requisite
corporate power and authority (a) to own, lease and operate its properties, (b)
to carry on its business as now being conducted, (c) to enter into and perform
this Agreement and each other certificate, agreement, document and instrument
to be executed and delivered by the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the "Company Ancillary
Documents") and (d) no notice has been received by the Company in any
jurisdiction where it transacts business that it is in breach of local
regulations and requirements. The Company has heretofore made available to
Purchaser copies of its Memorandum and Articles of Association (the "Articles")
as currently in effect and of the minute books and the register of members of
the Company. Schedule 5.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter is a list of the
jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation.
5.2 AUTHORIZATION, EXECUTION AND ENFORCEABILITY. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Company Ancillary Documents
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and by
the Company Ancillary Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company and the Sellers, no other corporate
action on the part of the Company or the Sellers being necessary. This
Agreement has been, and each Company Ancillary Document will be as at Closing,
duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes or will constitute
(as the case may be) the valid and legally binding agreements of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms.
5.3 ABSENCE OF RESTRICTIONS, CONFLICTS AND REQUIRED CONSENTS.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.3 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Company Ancillary
Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and by the Company Ancillary Documents and the fulfilment of and compliance
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Company Ancillary
Documents do not and will not (as the case may be), with or without the
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passing of time or the giving of notice or both, and no consent, approval,
registration filing, application, notice, transfer, order, qualification,
waiver or other action of any kind of any Person (each such action of any of
the aforementioned kind being referred to herein as a "Consent") is required or
necessary in order for such execution, delivery, performance and compliance not
to (a) violate or conflict with any of the provisions of the Articles, (b)
violate, conflict with or result in a breach or default or loss of any rights
under, result in, cause or create any liability, reassessment or revaluation of
assets or any Lien, or cause the termination or acceleration of any term or
condition of any franchise, mortgage, lease indenture, contract, license,
permit, instrument, trust document, or other agreement, understanding, document
or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of
its properties may be bound, (c) violate, conflict with, constitute a breach of
or default under, result in the loss of any benefit under, or permit the
acceleration of any obligation under any Contract (as hereinafter defined), or
(d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien of any kind whatsoever
upon any of the Contract Shares or any asset of the Company.
5.4 CONSENTS. All Consents have been duly and lawfully filed,
given, obtained or taken and are effective, valid and subsisting, in a form
which does not and will not materially affect the rights of the Company or
interfere with the ability of the Company to conduct the Business after the
date hereof and after Closing in the manner it was conducted prior to the date
hereof and the Company has provided to Purchaser true and correct copies of
each Consent.
5.5 AUTHORIZED AND ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL.
5.5.1 The classes of authorized share capital of the
Company and the number of issued and allotted shares of each class,
together with the names and addresses of, and shares held by, each
shareholder, are set forth on Schedule 2.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure
Letter. All of such issued and allotted shares are duly authorized,
validly issued and fully paid up. The Company does not have
outstanding, and is not bound by, any subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, contracts, demands, commitments or other agreements
requiring the Company to issue or entitling any Person to acquire any
additional shares in the share capital of the Company or any other
equity security, including any right of conversion or exchange under
any outstanding security or other instrument, and the Company is not
obligated to issue any additional shares in the share capital of the
Company for any purpose or reason. There are no outstanding
obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares in the share capital of the Company.
5.5.2 Each previous issuance, transfer and purchase of the
Company's shares has been in compliance with all applicable agreements
and all applicable laws, including United Kingdom securities laws, and
all taxes thereon, if any, have been paid. No former or present holder
of any of the shares or any other securities of the Company has any
claim against the Company or any Seller, based on any issuance, sale,
purchase, redemption or involvement in any transfer of any shares of
the Company or any other securities of the Company.
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5.6 TRANSFER CLAIMS. No prior offer, issue, redemption, call,
purchase, sale, transfer, negotiation or other transaction of any nature or
kind with respect to any shares in the capital of the Company or other
securities (including shares, offers, options, warrants, or debt convertible
into shares, options or warrants) of the Company has given or may give rise to
any valid claim or cause of action by any Person which is enforceable against
the Company, any Seller or Purchaser, and no fact or circumstance exists which
could give rise to any such right, claim or cause of action on behalf of any
Person.
5.7 EQUITY INTERESTS. The Company has no direct or indirect equity
interest (by stock ownership, partnership interest, joint venture interest,
limited liability company membership, or otherwise) in any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, firm, association or
business enterprise.
5.8 OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS AND RELATED MATTERS.
5.8.1 REAL PROPERTY. The Company does not own any freehold
property. Schedule 5.8.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter sets forth
a list and description of all freehold property leased by the Company
(the "Leased Property"). The Company has a valid leasehold interest to
all of the Leased Property, free and clear of any Lien. All of the
Leased Property is located in the United Kingdom.
The Company has good and marketable title to the Leased
Property and is the legal and beneficial owner of the underleasehold
interest in the Leased Property.
The Company is not under any obligation to purchase, lease,
sublease, use or otherwise occupy or to acquire any rights of any
nature whatsoever in respect of any other land or buildings
wheresoever situated.
5.8.2 PERSONAL PROPERTY. Except as disclosed in Schedule
5.8.2 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter, the Company has good and
marketable title, and physical possession of, all of the tangible
assets which are used in its Business, free and clear of any Lien. The
Company has physical possession of all such tangible assets which are
used in the Business. Schedule 5.8.2 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter
sets forth a list of the tangible assets of the Company which are used
in its Business and which have been fully depreciated and thus are not
reflected in its books and records. The Purchaser by buying the
Contract Shares and thus all the tangible and intangible assets of the
Company is able to carry on the Business after Closing in the same
manner as the Sellers were able to carry on the Business immediately
prior to Closing.
5.8.3 LEASES. Schedule 5.8.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure
Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all leases and
agreements relating to the Leasehold Property ("the Property Leases")
and all leases and agreements granting to the Company possession of or
rights to personal property (the "Personal Property Leases" and,
together with the Property Leases, the "Leases"). The Company has
heretofore delivered to Purchaser true and correct copies of all of
the Leases. All of the Leases are valid and enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms with respect to the Company and with
respect to each other party thereto. There are no existing defaults of
the Company
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with respect to any Lease or of any of the other parties thereto (or
events or conditions which, with or without notice or the passing of
time or both would constitute a default of the Company or any other
party thereto). The Company has peaceful and undisturbed physical
possession of all the Leased property, personal property and other
assets which are covered by the Leases.
5.8.4 DEBTS. All book debts of the Company reflected on the
Interim Balance Sheet of the Company as of 31 August, 1998 referred to
in Section 5.9 below, (a) are valid, existing and are, to the
knowledge of the Sellers collectible in the ordinary course of the
Company's business, (b) represent monies due for goods sold and
delivered or services rendered in the ordinary course of business and
(c) are not subject to any refunds or adjustments or any defences,
rights of set-off, assignment, restrictions, security interests or
other encumbrances. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.8.4 to the
Sellers' Disclosure Letter, (i) all such book debts are current and
there is no dispute regarding the collectibility of any such book
debts and (ii) no book debts have been factored, pledged, turned over
for collection, or assigned to any Person.
5.8.5 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Schedule 5.8.5 to the Sellers'
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of: (a) all patents, technical
documentation, trade secrets, trademarks and service marks (whether
registered or unregistered) trade or brand names, inventions,
discoveries, processes, improvements, formula, ideas, copyright,
design copyright, registered designs and any equivalent thereof under
the laws of any country (including all United Kingdom, U.S. federal,
state and foreign registrations pertaining thereto and applications
therefor) and all copyright registrations and pending applications
therefor owned by the Company (collectively, the "Proprietary
Intellectual Property"); and (b) all patents, trademarks, trade names,
copyrights, trade secrets, technology, processes and other
intellectual property rights used by the Company pursuant to a license
or other right granted by a third party excluding any "shrink-wrap"
software packages customarily acquired through retail distribution
channels ("Shrink-Wrap Software") (the "Licensed Intellectual
Property", and together with the Proprietary Intellectual Property,
the "Intellectual Property"). The Company owns, or has the right to
use, pursuant to valid and enforceable agreements identified in
Schedule 5.8.5 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter, all Intellectual
Property. No claims are pending against the Company by any Person with
respect to the Company's use of any Intellectual Property or
challenging or questioning the validity or enforceability of any
license or agreement relating to the same, and the current use by the
Company of the Intellectual Property does not infringe on the rights
of any Person.
5.8.6 COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE.
5.8.6.1 Schedule 5.8.6.1 to the Sellers' Disclosure
Letter sets forth a list of (a) all software owned by the
Company and used in connection with the Business (the
"Proprietary Software") and (b) all software (other than the
Proprietary Software) used in connection with the Business
(the "Licensed Software," and together with the Proprietary
Software, the "Software"). The Software consists of (i)
source and object code embodied in magnetic media and (ii)
all development and procedural tools necessary to maintain
the Software, including licenses to use compilers,
assemblers, libraries and other aids. The
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Company employs in the Business individuals or retains
consultants who assisted in the development of the Proprietary
Software and who are familiar with the Business, are qualified
to maintain the Proprietary Software and are familiar with the
related computer hardware used by the Business (the
"Hardware").
5.8.6.2 The Company is the owner of and has absolute
unencumbered title to all intellectual property rights in the
Proprietary Software. The Company developed the Proprietary
Software entirely through its own efforts (together with its
Consultants) for its own account, and the Proprietary Software
is free and clear of any Lien. The use of the Licensed
Software and the use and distribution of the Proprietary
Software does not breach any terms of any contract between the
Company and any other Person or violate any rights of any
Person, and the performance of the transactions contemplated
hereby will not breach any such contract or violate any such
rights.
5.8.6.3 Schedule 5.8.6.3 to the Sellers' Disclosure
Letter sets forth a list of all license agreements in favour
of the Company relating to the Licensed Software (the
"Software License Agreements"), together with any maintenance
and support, custom development, or other professional
services agreements relating to the Licensed Software. The
Software License Agreements have granted the Company valid
and subsisting license rights with respect to all software
comprising the Licensed Software. The Company is in
compliance in all material respects with each of the terms
and conditions of each of the Software License Agreements. In
the case of any commercially available "shrink-wrap" software
programs, neither the Company nor to the knowledge of the
Sellers any of its employees, agents or representatives has
made or is using any unauthorized copies of any such software
programs. True, correct and complete copies of the Software
License Agreements have been made available to Purchaser.
After Closing, the Company will have and retain all of the
rights the Company now has under each Software License
Agreement. The Closing will not impair or affect such rights.
5.8.6.4 The Proprietary Software does not infringe
any patent, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual
property right of any Person. The source code for the
Proprietary Software has been maintained in confidence, and,
except as provided in customer Contracts, copies of which
have been furnished to Purchaser, no Person has been granted
access to or any right or license to use the source code for
any Proprietary Software. Except as disclosed in Schedule
5.8.6.4 to the Seller's Disclosure Letter no source code for
any Proprietary Software has been placed in any source code
escrow or similar arrangement for the benefit of any Person.
5.8.6.5 All personnel of the Company, including
employees, agents, consultants and contractors, who have
contributed to or participated in the conception and
development of the Proprietary Software either (a) have been
employees of the Company performing work within the scope of
their employment, which fact has vested in the Company all of
their rights to the Proprietary Software that could or might
be claimed by any such Person, or (b)
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have executed appropriate written instruments of assignment
in favour of the Company as assignee that have conveyed to
the Company full and complete ownership of all of their
intellectual property rights in the Proprietary Software.
True, correct and complete copies of such instruments of
assignment have been provided to Purchaser.
5.8.6.6 Schedule 5.8.6.6 to the Sellers' Disclosure
Letter sets forth a list of agreements or arrangements in
effect with respect to the marketing, distribution, licensing
or promotion of the Proprietary Software by any sales
representative, agent, distributor, reseller, sublicensee or
other remarketer or sales organization.
5.8.6.7 Schedule 5.8.6.7 to the Sellers' Disclosure
Letter sets forth a list of each right or license granted by
the Company to any Person with respect to the Software
(collectively, the "Third Party Licenses") for license fees
in excess of 25,000 pounds sterling. The Company has
furnished Purchaser with copies of each such Third Party
License listed on such Schedule 5.8.6.7. The Company is in
compliance with each of the terms and conditions of each
Third Party License, and each licensee is in compliance with
each of the terms and conditions of each Third Party License.
Schedule 5.8.6.7 also sets forth a list of each maintenance
and support, custom development or other professional
services agreement or arrangement entered into by the Company
in which the Company has agreed to maintain, support or
develop any software for or on behalf of any third party.
True, correct and complete copies of such agreements and
arrangements have been furnished to Purchaser by the Company.
5.8.6.8 The Software and the computer equipment owned
by the Company are adequate in all material respects with the
other assets of the Business to run the Business. There have
been no material problems experienced by the Business in the
past eighteen (18) months with respect to the Software or
Hardware and the provision of services to clients of the
Business which have resulted, or reasonably could be expected
to have resulted in the termination of the Company's
relationship with any such client or a material reduction in
the amount of business done by the Company with any such
client.
5.8.6.9 True, correct and complete copies of each
confidentiality, assignment of know-how inventions or
developments, non-competition, non-solicitation and other
related or similar contracts or agreements to which the
Company is a party with any director, officer, employee,
consultant, advisor or independent contractor have been
furnished to Purchaser, and such contracts are listed on
Schedule 5.8.6.9 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter.
5.8.7 NO THIRD PARTY OPTIONS. Except for agreements with
customers and clients as to the sale or provision by the Company of specific
inventory or services in the ordinary course of business, there are no existing
agreements, options, commitments or rights with, of or to any Person to acquire
any assets, properties or rights of the Company or any interest therein.
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5.8.8 OWNERSHIP. Except for assets leased under the Leases
or licensed under the Licenses, all assets used in the operation of the
Business are owned by the Company. The assets owned, leased and licensed by the
Company constitute all the assets and properties necessary to permit the
Company to conduct the Business in the same manner as the Company has conducted
the Business in the past. All assets owned by the Company that are used or held
for use in the Business are owned by the Company, free and clear of any Lien.
5.8.9 CONDITION OF CERTAIN ASSETS. The buildings,
machinery, equipment and other tangible property owned or leased by the Company
are in good operating condition and good state of repair, subject to ordinary
wear and tear. All public utilities (including water, gas, electricity, and
storm and sanitary sewage) required to operate the facilities of the Company
are available in sufficient quantities or levels of service consistent with
past operations of the Company.
5.8.10 NO CONDEMNATION OR EXPROPRIATION. Neither the whole
nor any portion of the Leased Property is subject to any governmental decree or
order to be sold or is being condemned, expropriated or otherwise taken by any
public authority with or without payment or compensation therefor, nor to the
knowledge of the Sellers of the Company has any such condemnation,
expropriation or taking been proposed.
5.8.11 THIRD PARTY LEASES. Except as otherwise disclosed in
Schedule 5.8.11 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter, there are no leases,
subleases, licenses, concessions, options or other agreements, written or oral,
under which the Company has granted to any other Person the right of use or
occupancy of any portion of the Leased Property.
5.8.12 LIST OF ACCOUNTS. Schedule 5.8.12 to the Sellers'
Disclosure Letter contains a list of all bank and securities accounts, and all
safe deposit boxes, maintained by the Company and a list of the Persons
authorized to draw thereon or make withdrawals therefrom or, in the case of
safe deposit boxes, having access thereto.
5.8.13 CONTINGENT LIABILITY. The Company has no actual or
contingent liability of any nature whatsoever in respect of any freehold or
leasehold land or buildings other than the Leased Property whether as present
or former freeholder or leaseholder or surety or otherwise and the Company will
not at any time in the future have any such liability in respect of freehold or
leasehold land or buildings owned or occupied by the Company prior to the date
hereof other than the Leased Property.
5.9 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
5.9.1 The Company has delivered to Purchaser copies of the
balance sheets and profit and loss accounts of the Company as at March 31,
1995, March 31, 1996, March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998, and for the respective
twelve month periods then ended, which have been audited and reported upon
without qualification by Xxxxxx Xxxxx, chartered accountants and registered
auditors (the "Audited Financial Statements"). The balance sheet as of March
31, 1998 is referred to herein as the "Audited Balance Sheet".
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5.9.2 The Company has delivered to Purchaser copies of the
unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at 31 August 1998, (the
"Interim Balance Sheet") and the unaudited profit and loss account for
the 5 month period ended 31 August 1998, (together with the Interim
Balance Sheet, the "Interim Financial Statements"). The Interim
Financial Statements and the Audited Financial Statements are referred
to collectively as the "Financial Statements".
5.9.3 Copies of the Financial Statements are attached as
Schedule 5.9 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter. Each of the balance
sheets included in the Financial Statements (including any related
notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents the financial position of
the Company as of the date thereof, and each profit and loss account
included in the Financial Statements (including any related notes and
schedules) fairly presents the results of operations of the Company
for the periods set forth therein, in each case in accordance with
historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out in the
Audited Financial Statements, consistently applied during the periods
involved and, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, subject
to normal year end adjustments, consistent with past practice.
5.10 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. All of the liabilities
and obligations of the Company as of the date of the Audited Balance Sheet
required by the Financial Reporting Standards in force at the date hereof and
issued by the Accounting Standards Board of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of England and Wales (which shall be deemed to include any
Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the Accounting Standards Board,
Statements of Standard Accounting Practice and pronouncements of the Urgent
Issues Task Force) to be disclosed, reflected or provided for therein are
disclosed, reflected or provided for in the Audited Balance Sheet. All of the
liabilities of the Company, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise,
as of the date of the Audited Balance Sheet not disclosed, reflected or
provided for in the Audited Balance Sheet are disclosed in Schedule 5.10 to the
Sellers' Disclosure Letter. Since the date of the Audited Balance Sheet the
Company has not incurred any debts, liabilities or obligations whatsoever,
whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, except liabilities and
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of its business and consistent with
past practices and except liabilities and obligations that, individually or in
the aggregate, have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a "Material
Adverse Effect" (as hereinafter defined).
5.11 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES.
5.11.1 Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11.1 to the
Sellers' Disclosure Letter and as reflected in the Interim Financial
Statements, since March 31, 1998, there has not been (a) any material
adverse change in the properties, business, business prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company, (b) any
damage, destruction, loss or casualty to property or assets of the
Company, whether or not covered by insurance, or any deterioration in
the condition of the property or assets of the Company, (c) any
transactions, direct or indirect, between the Company and any
shareholder, director or officer of the Company, including any sale of
assets, loans, contributions or payment of dividends or making of any
other type of distribution from the Company, except for compensation
by the Company of employees and reimbursement of ordinary and
necessary business expenses in accordance with past practice, or (d)
any agreement to do or effect any of the foregoing. Since March 31,
1998, the Company has (1)
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extended credit to customers, collected debts and paid accounts
payable and similar obligations in the ordinary course of its business
consistent with past practice, (2) conducted the Business in the
ordinary course on a basis consistent with past practice, (3) not
engaged in any new line of business or entered into any agreement,
transaction or activity or made any commitment except those in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices, none of
which agreements, transactions, activities, or commitments will have a
Material Adverse Effect and (4) used its best endeavours to preserve
the business, customers and suppliers of the Company.
5.11.2 Except as set forth in Schedule 5.11.2 to the
Sellers' Disclosure Letter, or as reflected in the Interim Financial
Statements, with respect to the Company, since March 31, 1998, there
has not been (a) any ordinary or "extraordinary" loss suffered, (b)
any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by the Company of any
indebtedness for borrowed money, (c) any assets mortgaged, pledged or
made subject to any Lien, (d) any liability or obligation (accrued,
absolute or contingent) incurred except in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice and which has not had and
is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (e) any
claim, liability or obligation (accrued, absolute or contingent) paid,
discharged or satisfied, other than the payment, discharge or
satisfaction in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice, of claims, liabilities and obligations reflected or
reserved against in the Audited Financial Statements or incurred in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice on
or after Xxxxx 00, 0000, (x) any note, cheque debt which has been
written off as uncollectible, except write-offs in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice, (g) any write-down of the
value of any asset or investment on the Company's books or records,
including any investment or expenditure for software development,
except for depreciation and amortization taken in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice, (h) any cancellation of any
debt or waiver of any claim or right of substantial value, or sale,
transfer or other disposition of any property or asset (real, personal
or mixed, tangible or intangible) of substantial value, except, in
each such case, in transactions in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and which in any event do not exceed
10,000 pounds sterling in the aggregate, (i) any single capital
expenditure or commitment in excess of 5,000 pound sterling for
additions to property or equipment or aggregate capital expenditures
and commitments in excess of 25,000 pound sterling for additions to
property or equipment, (j) any sale or other disposal of assets, (k)
any increase in the compensation of any director, officer or employee,
whether now or hereafter payable in excess of 7% of their prior
compensation level per year, (l) any material adverse change in the
Company's relations with any of its employees, suppliers or customers,
(m) any increase of any reserves for contingent liabilities over the
amount included in the Audited Balance Sheet, (n) any transactions
entered into other than in the ordinary course of business, (o) any
agreement to do any of the foregoing, (p) any change by the Company in
any method of accounting or keeping its books of account or accounting
practices, (q) any determination or realization by management of the
Company that the performance by the Company of any contract to which
the Company is a party (regardless of the date entered into) (a "Loss
Contract") will result in the Company's suffering a material loss over
the term of such Loss Contract, if the revenues and expenses fairly
attributable to the Loss Contract are accounted for separate from the
other revenues and expenses of the Company, or (r) any other event,
development or condition of any character that has had or is
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the assets,
liabilities, results of operations, financial condition,
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Business or business prospects of the Company, taken as a whole (a
"Material Adverse Effect").
5.12 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. No suits, actions, claims, proceedings or
investigations have been commenced against the Company pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Sellers, threatened against, relating to or
involving the Business or the Company or any of its directors, officers,
employees, consultants or independent contractors (acting in their capacity as
such) before any court, arbitrator or administrative or governmental body. None
of such suits, actions, claims, proceedings or investigations, if finally
determined adversely, will, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company is not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction,
rule or order of any court, arbitrator or administrative or governmental body.
The Company is not subject to any governmental restriction which is reasonably
likely (a) to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) to cause a limitation on
the conduct of the Business by the Company after Closing in the same manner as
heretofore conducted by the Company. To the knowledge of the Sellers no event
has occurred or circumstance exists that may (with or without notice or the
passing of time or both) give rise to or serve as the basis for any suit,
action, claim, proceeding or investigation against or involving the Company or
the Business which is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of the Sellers no action or proceeding has been instituted against
the Sellers or the Company before any court or other governmental body by any
Person or public authority seeking to restrain or prohibit the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
5.13 LICENSES, PERMITS AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. To the knowledge of
the Sellers the Company has all authorizations, approvals, licenses, permits
and orders of and from all governmental and regulatory offices and bodies
necessary to carry on the Business as it is currently being conducted, to own
or hold under lease the properties and assets it owns or holds under lease and
to perform all of its obligations under the agreements to which it is a party
(collectively, the "Licenses"). Schedule 5.13 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter
sets forth a list of all the Licenses. None of the Company's rights under any
of the Licenses will be affected by the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and, after Closing, the Company will have and retain all of the
rights it currently has under the Licenses. Except as disclosed in Schedule
5.13 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter, the Company and the Business is, to the
knowledge of the Sellers in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable laws, regulations and court and administrative orders (including
laws and regulations relating to employee safety, environmental, employment,
labour or use or occupancy of properties or any part thereof) of the United
Kingdom or other government to which it is subject. Neither the Company nor the
Business is presently charged with, has received any notice (whether written or
oral) of, or is under governmental investigation with respect to any actual or
alleged violation of any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation. Neither the
Company nor the Business is presently a party in an adverse proceeding or has
received any notice (whether written or oral) of any threatened adverse
proceeding, in either case by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over
the Company or the Business.
5.14 CONTRACTS. For purposes of this Agreement, "Contract" means
any contract, agreement, purchase order, mortgage, promissory note, deed of
trust, debt instrument, lease (including the Leases), franchise, license,
commitment, arrangement, undertaking or understanding to which the Company is a
party or bound or to which it or its property is subject, whether written or
oral and including each and every amendment, modification or supplement to any
of them. The Contracts are valid and enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms
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with respect to the Company and with respect to each other party thereto. There
are no existing material defaults of the Company under any Contract or of any
of the other parties thereto (or events or conditions which with or without
notice or the passing of time or both would constitute a material default as to
any party). Schedule 5.14 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter sets forth a list
of all consents or notices required to be obtained or given under the Contracts
in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in
order for the Contracts to remain in full force and effect, and for the Company
to have and retain after Closing, all of the rights it currently has under the
Contracts. Without limiting the foregoing, unless disclosed in Schedule 5.14 to
the Sellers' Disclosure Letter and a copy thereof has been furnished to
Purchaser, the Company is not a party to any of the following contracts,
agreements, commitments, arrangements, understandings, or other instruments (in
each case whether oral or written) (including any amendment, modification or
supplement to the foregoing):
5.14.1 Indentures, security agreements or other agreements
and instruments relating to the borrowing of money, the extension of
credit or the granting of Liens.
5.14.2 Contracts, whether or not fully performed, in respect
of the issuance, sale or transfer of shares, bonds or other securities
of the Company or pursuant to which the Company has acquired any
substantial portion of its Business or assets.
5.14.3 Management, employment, consulting or advisory
agreements, or arrangements or agreements related to temporary
services of any kind.
5.14.4 Union or other collective bargaining agreements.
5.14.5 Powers of attorney.
5.14.6 Sales agency, manufacturer's representative and/or
distributorship agreements or other distribution or commission
arrangements.
5.14.7 Licenses (other than licenses resulting from opening
shrink-wrapped products) of any patent, trademark, software,
copyrights, know-how and/or other intellectual property rights.
5.14.8 Agreements, orders or commitments for the purchase of
services, supplies, software, computer hardware or finished products
not yet supplied from any one supplier for an amount in excess of
15,000 pounds sterling.
5.14.9 Agreements, orders or commitments for the sale of
products, software, computer hardware or services to any single
purchaser that involves or is likely to involve more than 25,000
pounds sterling over the next twelve months.
5.14.10 Any contract or option relating to the sale by the
Company of any asset, other than provision of services in the ordinary
course of business, in accordance with past practices.
5.14.11 Agreements or commitments for capital expenditures in
excess of 10,000 pounds sterling for any single project.
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5.14.12 Joint venture or partnership agreements or limited
liability company operating agreements.
5.14.13 Agreements requiring the consent of any party thereto
to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
5.14.14 Lease agreements under which the Company is lessor.
5.14.15 Agreements, contracts or commitments for any
charitable or political contribution.
5.14.16 Agreements prohibiting, partially restricting, or
otherwise limiting the Company's ability to compete, solicit customers
or otherwise conduct any business anywhere in the world.
5.14.17 Agreements (other than agreements pertaining to
patented, trademarked or copyrighted property of another Person) with
any supplier of goods or services of any kind to the Company where
such supplier is the only available source of the goods or services in
question on the economic terms offered by such supplier.
5.14.18 Any other Contracts that involve or may involve
payments to or receipts by the Company of more than 25,000 pound
sterling over the next twelve months, or that were entered into other
than in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with past
practices.
5.15 TAX RETURNS; TAXES.
5.15.1 TAXES. For purposes of this Agreement, "taxation"
means all taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges and withholdings of
whatsoever nature whenever and wherever imposed and without limitation
includes income tax, corporation tax, advance corporation tax, capital
gains tax, the charge under section 601(2) of the Taxes Act 1988 (as
hereinafter defined), value added tax, Customs and Excise duties,
amounts corresponding to any of corporation tax or income tax or
advance corporation tax, inheritance tax, National Insurance
contributions, stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax and the Uniform
Business Rate and all penalties, charges, costs and interest included
in or relating to any tax or to any obligation in respect of tax (in
all cases, regardless of whether such taxes, penalties, charges, costs
and interest are directly or primarily chargeable against or
attributable to the Company or any other person, firm or company and
regardless of whether the Company has or may have any right of
reimbursement against any other person) and "Taxes Act 1988" means the
United Kingdom Income and Corporation Taxes Xxx 0000;
5.15.2 TAX RETURNS.. All necessary information, notices,
accounts, statements, reports, computations and returns which ought to
have been made have been properly and punctually submitted by the
Company to the relevant taxation authorities and all information,
notices, computations and returns submitted to such authorities are
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true and accurate and are not the subject of any material dispute nor
are likely to become the subject of any material dispute.
5.15.3 TAXATION LIABILITIES. All taxation of any nature and
whenever or wherever incurred the liability for which arises or arose
in respect of the Company has been paid (insofar as such taxation
ought to have been paid) and without prejudice to the generality of
the foregoing the Company has made all such deductions, withholdings
or retentions as it was obliged or entitled to make and all such
payments as should have been made.
5.15.4 MITIGATION OF TAX DEDUCTIONS. The Disclosure Letter
contains details of all current exemptions obtained by the Company
from any taxation authorities permitting the payment of interest or
royalties without deduction for or on account of tax.
5.15.5 OUTSTANDING TAX MATTERS. There are set out in the
Disclosure Letter with express reference to this paragraph full
details of all matters relating to taxation in respect of which the
Company (either alone or jointly with any other person) has an
outstanding entitlement (a) to make any claim (including a
supplementary claim) for relief under any taxation statute; (b) to
make any election for one type of relief, or one basis, system or
method of taxation as opposed to another; (c) to make any appeal
(including a further appeal) against any assessment to taxation; (d)
to make any application for the postponement of taxation; or (e) to
make any claim for the repayment of taxation.
5.15.6 REIMBURSEMENTS AND INDEMNITIES. The Company is not
and will not become liable to pay or make reimbursement or indemnity
in respect of any taxation (or amounts corresponding thereto) in
consequence of the failure by any other person to discharge that
taxation within any specific period where such taxation is in respect
of any profit, income, gain, transaction, act, omission, event, or
circumstance arising, occurring or due to arise wholly or partly
before Closing.
5.15.7 SECONDARY LIABILITIES. The Company is not liable to
be assessed or to have any taxation collected from it nor is it
accountable for any taxation in respect of any transactions, events,
profits, income or gains, or deemed profits, income or gains of any
third party.
5.15.8 PENALTIES AND INTEREST. No liability to pay any
penalty, fine, surcharge or interest in connection with taxation which
has not been paid has been incurred by the Company.
5.15.9 DISPUTES AND INVESTIGATIONS. The Company has not been
the subject of any dispute with or investigation, audit or visit by or
involving any taxation authority and there is no transaction, act,
omission, event or circumstance which is likely to or might give rise
to any such dispute or investigation, audit or visit.
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5.15.10 PAYE & NIC. The Company has properly operated the
PAYE and National Insurance contributions systems by making such
deductions as are required by law from all payments made or deemed to
be or treated as made by it or on its behalf, and by duly accounting
to the Inland Revenue for all sums so deducted and for all other
amounts for which it is required to account under the PAYE and
National Insurance contributions systems.
5.15.11 DEDUCTIONS OF TAX. All payments made by the Company
which were required to be or which ought to have been made under
deduction or withholding of taxation have been so made and any sums
required to be accounted for have been accounted for to the relevant
tax authority.
5.15.12 EXPENDITURE DEDUCTIBLE. No rents, interest, annual
payments or other sums other than of an income or revenue nature paid
or which are payable by the Company or for which the Company is under
an obligation are wholly or partly disallowable or have been
disallowed as a deduction or as a charge on income.
5.15.13 TAXATION ON DISPOSALS. No tax would have arisen on
the disposal by the Company of any asset of pool of assets if that
asset or pool of assets had been disposed of on March 31, 1998 for a
consideration equal to the book value of that asset or pool of assets
shown in or adopted for the purposes of the Audited Balance Sheet.
5.15.14 BALANCING CHARGES. No event has occurred since March
31, 1998 otherwise than in the ordinary course of business by reason
of which any balancing charge may fall to be made against or any
disposal value may fall to be brought into account by the Company
under the Capital Allowances Act 1990 (or other legislation relating
to any capital allowances).
5.15.15 QUALIFYING EXPENDITURE. All expenditure which the
Company has incurred or may incur under any subsisting commitment on
the provision of machinery or plant has qualified or will qualify (if
not deductible as a trading expense of the trade carried on by the
Company) for writing-down allowances under Part II Capital Allowances
Act 1990 (machinery and plant).
5.15.16 ALLOWANCES CLAIMED. All capital allowances made or to
be made to the Company in respect of capital expenditure incurred
prior to the date hereof or to be incurred under any subsisting
commitment have been made or will be made in taxing its trade.
5.15.17 SHORT LIFE ASSETS. The Company has not made any
election under section 37 Capital Allowances Act 1990 nor is it taken
to have made such an election under subsection (8)(c) of that section.
5.15.18 INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. None of the assets expenditure
on which has qualified for a capital allowance under Part I Capital
Allowances Act 1990 has at any time since that expenditure was
incurred been used otherwise than as an industrial building or
structure.
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5.15.19 LEASED ASSETS. The Company has not made any claim for
capital allowances in respect of any asset which is leased to or from
or hired to or from the Company and no election affecting the Company
has been made or agreed to be made under sections 53 or 00 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000 in respect of any such asset and no claim for
capital allowances on expenditure incurred by the Company prior to
Closing on the provision of machinery or plant which at the date
hereof is still leased will or may be restricted by reason of section
61(5) Capital Allowances Xxx 0000.
5.15.20 ARMS LENGTH DISPOSALS. The Company has only disposed
of or acquired any asset in circumstances such that the disposal or
acquisition would be treated for tax purposes as an arm's length
transaction.
5.15.21 BASE VALUES. The expenditure attributable to any
asset allowable in the computation of any chargeable gain or allowable
loss is not less than the value of the asset shown in the Audited
Balance Sheet.
5.15.22 GIFTS INVOLVING THE COMPANY. The Company does not
hold nor has held shares in a company on a disposal of which section
125 TCGA 1992 (close company transferring assets at an undervalue)
could apply.
5.15.23 GIFTS INVOLVING THE COMPANY II. The Company has not
received any asset by way of gift as mentioned in section 282 TCGA
1992 (recovery from donee).
5.15.24 ROLLOVER GAINS. The Disclosure Letter sets out full
details of all claims and elections made under section 175 TCGA 1992
(replacement of business assets by members of a group), section 23
TCGA 1992 (compensation and insurance moneys) or under sections 247 to
248 152 to 162 or 165 (inclusive) of the TCGA 1992 (replacement of
business assets) insofar as such claim or election affects or could
affect the chargeable gains or allowable loss which would arise on any
disposal of any asset after March 31, 1998.
5.15.25 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN CONNECTED PERSONS. The Company
is not entitled to any capital loss to which the provisions of section
18 TCGA 1992 are applicable.
5.15.26 DISPOSAL OF DEBTS. No chargeable gain will accrue to
the Company on the disposal or satisfaction of any debt.
5.15.27 Close Company Apportionment. No apportionment within
Section 423 of the Taxes Act 1988 has been made against the Company
within the last seven years and no such apportionment will be made in
respect of any accounting period commencing on or before 1st April
1989.
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5.15.28 CESSATION. The Company has not at any time within the
last seven years ceased to carry on the trade, or business of holding
investments, in which its activities wholly or mainly consisted.
5.15.29 Close Investment Holding Company. The Company has not
in any Accounting Period beginning after 31st March 1989 been a close
investment-holding company as defined in Xxxxxxx 00X xx xxx Xxxxx Xxx
0000.
5.15.30 CLOSE COMPANY DISTRIBUTIONS. The Company has not
incurred any expenses required to be treated as a distribution by
Section 418 of the Taxes Xxx 0000.
5.15.31 LOANS BY CLOSE COMPANIES. No loan or advance within
Part XI, Chapter II of the Taxes Act 1988 (Charges to Tax in
Connection with Loans) has been made by the Company and remains
outstanding and the Company has not since March 31, 1998 released or
written off the whole or part of the debt in respect of any such loan
or advance.
5.15.32 DISTRIBUTIONS SHOWN IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ETC.
No distribution within the meaning of sections 209 (distributions) and
210 (bonus issue following repayment of share capital) Taxes Xxx 0000
has been made by the Company since 6th April 1965 except dividends
shown in its audited accounts nor is the Company bound to make any
such distribution and the Company has not made any distribution or
deemed distribution without paying advance corporation tax thereon.
5.15.33 GROUP INCOME ELECTIONS. The Company is not nor is it
in the last seven years been a member of a group for United Kingdom
Tax purposes.
5.15.34 VAT. The Company is a taxable person and is
registered for the purposes of the Value Added Tax Xxx 0000 and is not
in arrears with any return or payments, has not received any surcharge
liability notice and has not been required to pay any fine, surcharge
or penalty or give security thereunder.
5.15.35 VAT EXEMPTION. The Company is not nor was partially
exempt in its current or preceding value added tax year and there are
no circumstances by reason of which the Company might not be entitled
to credit for all value added tax chargeable on supplies received and
imports or acquisitions of goods made (or agreed or deemed to be
received or made) by it since the beginning of its earliest value
added tax year to include a period since March 31, 1998, and there are
no circumstances by reason of which Regulation 107 Value Added Tax
Regulations 1995 might apply (or has since March 31, 1998 applied) to
the Company.
5.15.36 OPTION TO TAX. The Company has not elected to waive
exemption from value added tax under the provisions of paragraph 2 of
Schedule 10 to the Value Added Tax Xxx 0000 in respect of any interest
in land or buildings held by the Company.
5.15.37 OPTION TO CHARGE VAT ON SUPPLIES BY THE COMPANY. The
Disclosure Letter contains full particulars of all elections to waive
exemption made or
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agreed to be made under Schedule 10 to the Value Added Tax Act 1994 by
(I) the Company or (ii) any person in relation to which the Company is
a relevant associate as defined in paragraph 3(7) of that Schedule and
in respect of each election made has been properly made and in
particular any necessary notification and information has been duly
given under paragraph 3(6) of that Schedule.
5.15.38 CAPITAL GOODS SCHEME. The Disclosure Letter sets out
full details of all adjustments that have arisen or could arise on the
Company under Part XV Value Added Tax Regulations 1995.
5.15.39 DEEMED INCOME AND GAINS. Except as provided in the
Audited Balance Sheet, there is in relation to the Company no
liability to taxation on income or gains except in respect and to the
extend of income and profits accruing to the Company nor do any
arrangements exist in relation to the Company which may give rise to
any such liability.
5.15.40 STAMP DUTY. All documents in the possession of the
Company or to the production of which the Company is entitled and
which attracts stamp duty or transfer duty in the United Kingdom or
elsewhere have been duly stamped, the Company has duly and punctually
paid all stamp duty reserve tax to which it is or has been liable and
is not liable to any penalty or fine in respect of any such duty or
stamp duty reserve tax and there are no circumstances (including the
existence of this Agreement) likely to lead to any such penalty, fine,
duty or document tax or to stamp duty reserve tax.
5.15.41 UK RESIDENCE. The Company is resident in the United
Kingdom for the purposes of United Kingdom taxation and is not and has
never been resident in any other jurisdiction or been treated as
trading through a branch or agency or having a permanent establishment
in any other jurisdiction.
5.15.42 CAPITAL TRANSFER TAX AND INHERITANCE TAX. No transfer
of value (as defined by the Inheritance Tax Act 1984) or disposal by
way of gift (within the meaning of section 102 Finance Act 1986) has
at any time been made by or to the Company, and there are no other
circumstances by reason of which any liability in respect of capital
transfer tax or inheritance tax has arisen or could arise on the
Company nor is there outstanding any Inland Revenue charge for unpaid
inheritance tax (as provided by sections 237 (imposition of charge)
and 238 (effect of purchases) Inheritance Tax Act 1984) over any asset
of the Company or in relation to any shares in the capital of the
Company nor are there in existence any circumstances whereby any such
power as is mentioned in section 212(1) Inheritance Tax Act 1984 could
be exercised in relation to any shares, securities or assets of the
Company.
5.15.43 TAX AVOIDANCE. Other than transactions carried into
effect in accordance with the terms of a relevant application and
corresponding valid and effective consent or clearance obtained on the
basis of full and accurate disclosure to the Inland Revenue, the
Company has not at any time been a party to or otherwise involved in
any transaction to which any of the following provisions have been or
could be applied: (a) section 139(5) TCGA 1992 (Company reconstruction
or amalgamation: transfer of assets); (b) section 75 of the Capital
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000 (further restrictions on
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allowances); (c) section 106 TCGA 1992 (disposal of shares and
securities within prescribed period of acquisition); (d) sections 135
and 136 TCGA 1992 (exchange of securities and reconstruction or
amalgamation involving issue of securities); (e) sections 213 to 218
Taxes Xxx 0000 and section 192 TCGA 1992 (demergers); (f) section 219
Taxes Act 1988 (purchase by unquoted trading company of its own
shares); (g) sections 61, 63, 64 or 65 Finance Xxx 0000 (interest etc
on debt between associated companies); (h) section 166 Finance Xxx
0000; (i) sections 56 (transactions in deposits etc), 399 (dealings in
commodity futures etc), 410 (arrangements for transfer of company),
395 (leasing contracts), 116 (arrangements for transferring relief)
and section 118 (restrictions on relief) of the Taxes Act; and (j)
Part XVII (tax avoidance) Xxxxx Xxx 0000.
5.15.44 RAMSAY PRINCIPLE. The Company has not been involved
in any transaction or series of transactions which, or any part of
which, may for any tax purposes be disregarded or reconstructed by
reason of any motive to avoid, reduce or delay a possible liability to
tax.
5.15.45 LOAN RELATIONSHIPS. The Company is not, and has not
been a party to any loan relationship for which the authorised
accounting method under the Finance Act 1996 is not the accounting
method used in the Audited Balance Sheet nor has the Company been
party to any loan relationships with a connected person as defined in
Section 87(3) of the Finance Xxx 0000 nor has the Company been
released from the whole or any part of any debt for which a deduction
has previously been allowed, or will be allowed, in computing the
taxable profits of its trade.
5.16 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 5.16 to the Sellers's Disclosure Letter:
5.16.1 There is no consultancy agreement with the Company or
any agreement for management services nor any contract of service with
any director of the Company.
5.16.2 Full and accurate details of the terms and conditions
of employment as at Closing of the Sellers and all other employees of
the Company including the date of commencement of their continuous
period of employment and all terms of general application applicable
to such employment (including any arrangements or assurances (whether
or not legally binding) in relation thereto) are set forth at Schedule
5.16.2 of the Seller's Disclosure Letter.
5.16.3 Since 31 March 1998 there has not been any material
alteration in the terms of employment or any material increase in any
fees or emoluments paid or payable to any director or employee of the
Company.
5.16.4 There is no amount owing to any present or former
director or employee of the Company other than for remuneration
accrued due or for reimbursement of business expenses.
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5.16.5 There is no share option or share incentive scheme of
any nature whatsoever in operation by or in relation to the Company
for any of its directors or employees.
5.16.6 Since 31 March 1998:
(a) no liability to pay compensation of any kind or any
payment of any kind to any person who is or has been
a director or other employee has been incurred by the
Company, whether under the Employment Rights Xxx
0000, the Trade Union and Labour Relations
(Consolidation) Xxx 0000, the Trade Union Reform and
Employment Rights Act 1993 or otherwise howsoever;
(b) no gratuitous payment has been made or promised by
the Company in connection with the actual or proposed
termination or suspension of employment or variation
of any contract of employment of any present or
former director or employee.
5.16.7 There are no employees of the Company whose
continuous period of employment for the purposes of redundancy
payments or compensation for unfair dismissal would include any
employment by any other person, firm or company prior to the
commencement of their employment with the Company.
5.16.8 To the knowledge of the Sellers the Company has in
relation to each of its employees and former employees complied with:
(a) all obligations imposed on it by all statutes,
regulations and codes of conduct and practice
relating to or affecting the employment of its
employees or in relation to any trade union and has
maintained current, adequate and suitable records
regarding the service and terms and conditions of
employment of each of its employees;
(b) all collective agreements, recognition agreements and
customs and practices for the time being dealing with
such relations or the conditions of service of its
employees; and
(c) all relevant orders, awards and recommendations made
under any relevant statute, regulation or code of
conduct and practice affecting the conditions of
service or otherwise in relation to its employees or
former employees.
5.16.9 Within the period of one year ending on the date
hereof the Company:
(a) has not given notice of any redundancies to the
Secretary of State or started consultations with any
independent trade union, or unions, under the
provisions of Chapter 2 of Part IV of the Trade
Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Xxx 0000
nor has the Company failed to comply with any
obligation under the said Chapter 2; and
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(b) has not been a party to any relevant transfer as
defined in the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection
of Employment) Regulations 1981 nor has the Company
failed to comply with any duty to inform and consult
any independent trade union under the said
Regulations.
5.16.10 No dispute has arisen between the Company and a
material number or category of its employees nor are there any present
circumstances known to the Sellers which are likely to give rise to
any such dispute nor is there any contract, agreement or arrangement
whether legally binding or otherwise between the Company and any trade
union or other body or organisation representing any employees of the
Company.
5.16.11 There are no training schemes, arrangements or
proposals in existence at the date hereof nor have there been any such
schemes, arrangements or proposals in the past in respect of which a
levy may henceforth become payable by the Company under the Industrial
Training Xxx 0000.
5.17 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.17
to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter:
5.17.1 There are no plans, programs, policies or
arrangements (whether written or oral) ("Employee Benefit Plans")
providing cash, superannuation or other compensation or benefits of
any kind or description whatsoever (whether current or deferred) to,
or on behalf of, any current or former officer, employee or director
of the Company or any "Company Subsidiary" (as defined below) or any
of their dependents under which the Company has any liability, duty or
obligation whatsoever, whether fixed or contingent, including but not
limited to, any employment, consulting or severance agreement.
5.17.2 The Company has supplied to the Purchaser all
relevant details including (without limitation): (i) except in
relation to the personal pension plans of employees into which the
Company pays contributions, true and complete copies of all deeds and
other documents governing each Employee Benefit Plan including the
copies of any explanatory literature or announcements made to
participants in respect of any of such plans; and (ii) an accurate
written summary of all material provisions of each unwritten Employee
Benefit Plan, other than any unwritten Employee Benefit Plan under
which the Company has no liability, duty or obligation whatsoever,
whether fixed or contingent.
5.17.3 The existing assets of the March Systems Consultancy
Limited Directors Pension Plan and the March Systems Consultancy
Limited Pension Scheme No 2 (the "Company Pension Schemes") are
adequate at Closing to secure fully the benefits which have accrued to
the members and beneficiaries under those schemes at that date.
5.17.4 All contributions or premiums due to be paid to or in
respect of each Employee Benefit Plan that have fallen due for payment
have been paid.
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5.17.5 Each Employee Benefit Plan has been established,
maintained and administered in compliance with all applicable laws,
and all applicable reporting and disclosure requirements with respect
to each Employee Benefit Plan have been satisfied on a timely basis.
5.17.6 No claims have been made or to the knowledge of the
Company or the Sellers threatened with respect to an Employee Benefit
Plan (other than routine claims for benefits made in the ordinary
course of the plan's operations) which claims could reasonably be
expected to result in any liability to the Company, and to the
knowledge of the Company or the Sellers no audit or investigation by
any domestic or foreign governmental or other law enforcement agency
is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Sellers, has
been proposed with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.
5.17.7 The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
not result in any required additional payments to or benefit accruals
for, or any increase in the vested interest of, any current or former
officer, employee or director or any of their dependents under any
Employee Benefit Plan. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement
will not result in any payments to any current or former officer,
employee or director of the Company.
5.17.8 Each of the Company Pension Schemes provides only
money purchase benefits (as defined in section 181 of the Pension
Schemes Act 1993).
5.17.9 The Company Pension Schemes do not hold and have not
held any employer related investments within the meaning given by
Section 40 of the Pensions Act 1995 and there are no loans or
borrowings outstanding between the Company Pension Schemes and the
Company.
5.18 INSURANCE. Schedule 5.18 to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter sets
forth a list of the Company's current insurance policies and coverages,
including names of insurers, amounts of coverage and premiums therefor, and
identifies all properties, operations and activities and all obligations and
liabilities of the Company as to which the Company is self-insured. The Company
has heretofore made available to Purchaser copies of all such insurance
policies. All such policies are in full force and effect and all premiums due
and payable in respect thereof have been paid. Since the respective dates of
such policies, no notice of cancellation or non-renewal with respect to any
such policy has been received by the Company. Schedule 5.18 to the Sellers'
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all material pending claims with respect
to all such policies. The Company will maintain its current insurance policies
and coverages fully in effect through Closing Date.
5.19 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Save as listed in Schedule 5.20 to
the Sellers' Disclosure Letter no shareholder or director or officer of the
Company, or any Person with whom any such shareholder, director or officer has
any direct or indirect relation by blood, marriage or adoption, or any entity
in which any such Person owns any beneficial interest (an "Affiliate") or any
Affiliate of any of the foregoing has any interest in: (a) any contract,
arrangement or understanding with the Company or relating to the Business (an
"Affiliate Contract"); (b) any loan, arrangement, understanding, agreement or
contract ("Affiliate Debt") for or relating to indebtedness of the Company; (c)
any property (real, personal or mixed), tangible or intangible, used or
currently intended to be used in the Business; or (d) any claim against the
Company. Any
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accounts due and payable from the Company to any Affiliate of the Company are
recorded on the books and records of the Company at the fair market value
thereof. Since March 31, 1998 there has been no repayment, forgiveness or other
release of Affiliate Debt.
5.20 CUSTOMER RELATIONS. The Company has not received any notice that
any single customer of the Company which accounted for more than 5% of the
total net sales of the Company for the twelve-month period ended on March 31,
1998 intends to terminate its business relations with the Company. To the
knowledge of the Sellers no customer of the Company described above or any
executive or key employee of the Company may terminate, as applicable, such
Person's business relations with or employment by the Company as a result of
the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.21 UNDISCLOSED PAYMENTS. During the period commencing on March 31,
1998, and continuing through the date of this Agreement, neither the Company
nor any of its directors or officers, nor any one acting on behalf of any of
them, has made or received any payments not correctly categorized and fully
disclosed in the books and records of the Company in connection with or in any
way relating to or affecting the Company or the Business.
5.22 BROKERS, AND INVESTMENT BANKERS. Neither the Company nor the
Sellers has employed any broker, investment banker or other intermediary or
incurred (or, upon Closing hereunder, will incur) any liability for any
investment banking fees, financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, finder's fees
or other similar fees in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.23 YEAR 2000.
5.23.1 All of the Software offered by the Company (or any
predecessor in interest), is, as of the date of this Agreement, "Year
2000 Compliant" (as hereinafter defined). The Company is not subject
to any pending or threatened regulatory action, proceeding or
investigation concerning the Year 2000 Compliance of the Company's
products, services or operations, and there is no basis for any such
regulatory action, investigation or proceeding. The Company is in
compliance with all applicable regulatory rules, regulations and
requirements in regards to the Year 2000 Compliance of its products,
services and operations. No claim that any of the Company's products
or services are not Year 2000 Compliant, including product liability
claims, has been asserted or threatened, and there is no basis for any
such claim or action. The Company has furnished Purchaser with true,
correct and complete copies of any customer agreements or other
materials in which the Company has furnished (or could be deemed to
have furnished) assurances as to the Year 2000 Compliance of the
Company's products or services, including any responses to surveys or
requests for certification of Year 2000 Compliance and letters of
assurance to customers.
5.23.2 All of the internal MIS systems (including hardware,
firmware, operating system software, utilities, and applications
software) and all systems used in the ordinary course of any
supplier's business by or on behalf of the Company, including the
Company's payroll, accounting, billing/receivables, customer service,
human resources, and e-mail systems are Year 2000 Compliant.
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5.23.3 For purposes of this Agreement, "Year 2000 Compliant"
means that (a) the products, services, or other item(s) at issue
accurately process, provide and/or receive date/time data (including
calculating, comparing, and sequencing), within, from, into, and
between centuries (including the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
and the years 1999 and 2000), including leap year calculations, and
(b) neither the performance nor the functionality nor the supply of
the products, services, and other item(s) at issue will be affected by
dates/times prior to, on, after, or spanning January 1, 2000. The
design of the products, services, and other item(s) at issue to ensure
compliance with the foregoing warranties and representations includes
proper date/time data century recognition and recognition of 1999 and
2000, calculations that accommodate same century and multi-century
formulae and date/time values before, on, after, and spanning January
1, 2000, and date/time data interface values that reflect the century,
1999, and 2000. In particular, but without limitation, (i) no value
for current date/time will cause any error, interruption, or decreased
performance in or for such product(s), service(s), and other item(s),
(ii) all manipulations of date and time related data (including, but
not limited to, calculating, comparing, sequencing, processing, and
outputting) will produce correct results for all valid dates and
times, including when used in combination with other products,
services, or items, (iii) date/time elements in interfaces and data
storage will specify the century to eliminate date ambiguity without
human intervention, including leap year calculations, (iv) where any
date/time element is represented without a century, the correct
century will be unambiguous for all manipulations involving that
element, (v) authorization codes, passwords, and zaps (purge
functions) will function normally and in the same manner during prior
to, on, and after January 1, 2000, including the manner in which they
function with respect to expiration dates and CPU serial numbers, and
(vi) the Company's supply of the product(s), service(s), and other
item(s) will not be interrupted, delayed, decreased, or otherwise
affected by the advent of the year 2000.
5.23.4 No breach of the representations and warranties in
this Section 5.23 will be excused by reason of the failure of the
Company's or any other entity's or person's products or services to be
Year 2000 Compliant, nor will any such occurrence(s) be deemed a force
majeure event.
5.23.5 The Company has in Schedule 5.23.6 to the Sellers'
Disclosure Letter furnished Purchaser with a copy of any internal
investigations, memoranda, or reports concerning the Year 2000
Compliance of the products, services, operations, systems, supplies,
and facilities of the Company.
5.24 DATA AND RECORDS
5.24.1 The Company has not registered or applied to register
any personal data held by it under the Data Protection Act 1984 and
none of such personal data held by the Company is registerable under
the Act.
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5.24.2 All personal data held by the Company has been held
in accordance with the data protection principles and there has been
no unauthorised disclosure of personal data held by the Company.
5.24.3 There are no outstanding enforcement, deregistration
or transfer prohibition notices or any other nature of notice under
the Data Protection Xxx 0000 currently outstanding against the
Company, nor is there any outstanding appeal against such notices nor
is the Company aware of any circumstances which may give rise to the
giving of any such notices to the Company.
5.24.4 There are no unsatisfied requests to the Company made
by data subjects in respect of personal data held by the Company, nor
any outstanding applications for rectification or erasure of personal
data. There are no outstanding claims for compensation for inaccuracy,
loss or unauthorised disclosure of personal data nor is any personal
data held by the Company inaccurate nor has the Company lost or made
any unauthorised disclosure of any such data.
5.24.5 The Company and its employees have complied in all
respects with the requirements of the Data Protection Xxx 0000.
5.24.6 The Company has not registered or applied for a
registration as a computer bureau.
5.25 BUSINESS IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES. The Company has no obligation to
purchase, lease or deal in or assist in dealing in any goods or services for
export to, import from, or transhipment through Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Libya,
North Korea, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), and Zaire.
5.26 ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF COPIES. In each case where it is
indicated in this Agreement that the Company or the Sellers have made
available, furnished or given, or the like, to Purchaser copies of specified
materials, the copies in question were true, complete, correct and included all
prior amendments to the subject materials at the time such copies were made
available or furnished to Purchaser, and are true, complete and correct and
include all amendments to such materials as of the date hereof.
5.27 DISCLOSURE. No representation or warranty made by the Company or
any Seller in this Agreement (including the Schedules to the Sellers'
Disclosure Letter) or the Company Ancillary Documents or Seller Ancillary
Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated herein or therein or necessary to make the
statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
5.28 DISCLOSURE LETTER. Prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Sellers have delivered to Purchaser a letter (the "Sellers'
Disclosure Letter") attaching schedules that set forth, among other things,
items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to
an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an
exception to the Seller's representations or warranties contained in Sections 4
or 5 or to the Sellers' covenants contained in Section 7.
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SECTION 6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER.
Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Sellers as follows:
6.1 ORGANIZATION. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has
all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Purchaser is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the character of its activities requires
such qualification.
6.2 AUTHORIZATION, EXECUTION AND ENFORCEABILITY. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and any other certificate,
agreement, document or instrument to be executed and delivered by Purchaser in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "Purchaser
Ancillary Documents", and together with the Seller Ancillary Documents and the
Company Ancillary Documents, the "Ancillary Documents") and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Purchaser Ancillary
Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of Purchaser. This Agreement has been, and the Purchaser Ancillary
Documents will be as of Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by Purchaser
and do or will (as the case may be) constitute the valid and legally binding
agreements of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with their
respective terms except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter
in effect relating to creditor's rights generally and (ii) the remedy of
specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be
subject to equitable defences and to the discretion of the court before which
any proceeding therefor may be brought.
6.3 ABSENCE OF RESTRICTIONS, CONFLICTS AND REQUIRED CONSENTS. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Purchaser
Ancillary Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Purchaser Ancillary Documents and the fulfilment of and
compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Purchaser
Ancillary Documents do not or will not (as the case may be), with or without
the passing of time or the giving of notice or both, and no Consent is
necessary in order for such execution, delivery, performance and compliance not
to (a) violate or conflict with any of the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of Purchaser, (b) violate, conflict with or result in a
breach or default or loss of rights under, result in, cause or create any
liability, reassessment or revaluation of assets, Lien pursuant to or cause the
termination or acceleration of any term or condition of any franchise,
mortgage, lease indenture, contract, license, permit, instrument, trust
document, or other agreement, understanding, document or instrument to which
the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser or any of its properties may
be bound, or (c) except for compliance with the applicable requirements of the
HSR Act, violate or conflict with any law, statute, ordinance, rule, order,
judgment, decree or ruling of any governmental authority applicable to the
Purchaser or any of its assets or (d) result in the creation or imposition of
any Lien of any kind whatsoever upon the Purchaser or any of its assets.
6.4 BROKERS, FINDERS AND INVESTMENT BANKERS. Purchaser has not
employed any broker, finder, investment banker or other intermediary or
incurred any liability for any investment banking fees, financial advisory
fees, brokerage fees, finders' fees or other similar fees in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby.
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6.5 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. No action or proceeding has been instituted
against Purchaser before any court or other governmental body by any person or
public authority seeking to restrain or prohibit the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.6 DISCLOSURE. No representation, warranty or covenant made by
Purchaser in this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state a material fact required to be stated herein or therein or
necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
SECTION 7. CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS.
Each of the parties hereto will comply with the following additional
covenants and agreements to the extent applicable to such party (unless
compliance is waived in writing in accordance with this Agreement):
7.1 CONFIDENTIALITY; PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Each party will, and will
use such Person's best endeavours to cause such Person's authorized
representatives to, hold in strict confidence, and not disclose to any other
Person without the prior written consent of the other parties, or use in any
manner except in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, all
information obtained from such other parties in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, except that such information may be disclosed
(a) where necessary to any regulatory authorities or governmental agencies, (b)
if required by court order or decree or applicable law, (c) if it is
ascertainable or obtained from public or published information (other than as a
result of disclosure by such party), (d) if it is received from a third party
not known to the recipient to be under an obligation to keep such information
confidential, (e) if it is or becomes known to the public other than through
disclosure by such party, (f) if the recipient can demonstrate it was in such
Person's possession prior to disclosure thereof in connection with the
Agreement, or (g) if the recipient can demonstrate it was independently
developed by such Person. The timing and content of all announcements regarding
any aspect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to the
financial community, government agencies, employees of the Company or the
general public will be mutually agreed upon in advance by Purchaser and the
Sellers.
7.2 SECTION 338 ELECTION. The Sellers will join with Purchaser and
the Company in making the Section 338 Election (and any corresponding elections
under any applicable State, local or foreign laws, to the extent available)
with respect to the purchase and sale of the shares of the Company hereunder.
Purchaser will deliver to the Sellers a proposed form of IRS Form 8023A (or
other applicable form), including any required schedules and any similar forms
required by any State, local or foreign taxing authority.
7.3 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party hereto will on Closing and from
time to time thereafter, at any other party's reasonable request and without
payment of any other or further consideration, execute and deliver to the
requesting party such instruments, certificates and documents in addition to
those expressly required by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested to
consummate more effectively or further confirm the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
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7.4 NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS AND SERVICE AGREEMENTS. The Purchaser
and each of the Sellers will on Closing enter into the Noncompetition
Agreements, and the Purchaser and each of Xx Xxxxxxx, Xx Xxxxxxxx and Xx
Xxxxxxx will enter into the Service Agreements.
7.5 OFFICER AND DIRECTOR RESIGNATIONS AND RELEASES. All officers and
directors of the Company other than Xx Xxxxxxx, Xx Xxxxxxxx and Xx Xxxxxxx will
have executed and delivered to the Purchaser resignations as directors in forms
satisfactory to the Purchaser and releases satisfactory in form to the
Purchaser from all claims against the Company.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.
8.1 INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLERS. Each Seller will
indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser and its shareholders, directors,
officers, employees, affiliates, agents, representatives and advisors, and each
of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Purchaser Indemnified Parties") from, against and in
respect of any and all claims, liabilities (whether accrued, absolute or
contingent, asserted or unasserted), obligations, losses (including diminution
of value), costs, expenses, penalties, fines and other judgments (at equity or
at law) and damages whenever arising or incurred (including amounts paid in
settlement, costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses)
arising out of or relating to:
8.1.1 any breach or inaccuracy of any representation or
warranty made by the Sellers or the Company in this Agreement, any
Schedule to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter or Exhibit hereto or any
Seller Ancillary Document or Company Ancillary Document;
8.1.2 any breach of any covenant, agreement or undertaking
made by the Sellers or the Company in this Agreement, any Schedule to
the Sellers' Disclosure Letter or Exhibit hereto or any Seller
Ancillary Document or Company Ancillary Document; and/or
8.1.3 any fraud, willful misconduct or bad faith by the
Sellers or the Company in connection with this Agreement, any Schedule
to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter or Exhibit hereto or any Seller
Ancillary Document or Company Ancillary Document.
The claims, liabilities, obligations, losses, costs, expenses, penalties, fines
and damages of Purchaser Indemnified Parties described in this Section 8.1 as
to which Purchaser Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification are
hereinafter collectively referred to as "Purchaser Losses."
8.2 INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS OF PURCHASER. Purchaser will
indemnify and hold harmless the Sellers, and their respective heirs, successors
and permitted assigns (collectively, the "Seller Indemnified Parties") from,
against and in respect of any and all claims, liabilities (whether accrued,
absolute or contingent, asserted or unasserted), obligations, losses (including
diminution of value), costs, expenses, penalties, fines and other judgments (at
equity or at law) and damages whenever arising or incurred (including amounts
paid in settlement, costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses) arising out of or relating to:
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8.2.1 any breach or inaccuracy of any representation or
warranty made by Purchaser in this Agreement or any Purchaser
Ancillary Document;
8.2.2 any breach of any covenant, agreement or undertaking
made by Purchaser in this Agreement, any Exhibit or any Purchaser
Ancillary Document;
8.2.3 any fraud, willful misconduct or bad faith by
Purchaser in connection with this Agreement or Exhibit hereto or any
Purchaser Ancillary Document.
The claims, liabilities, obligations, losses, costs, expenses, penalties, fines
and damages of the Seller Indemnified Parties described in this Section 8.2 as
to which the Seller Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification are
hereinafter collectively referred to as "Seller Losses" and, collectively with
Purchaser Losses, the "Losses."
8.3 NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND.
8.3.1 NOTICE OF ASSERTED LIABILITY. The party making a
claim under this Section 8 is referred to as the "Indemnitee," and the
party against who such claims are asserted under this Section 8 is
referred to as the "Indemnifying Party". All claims by any Indemnitee
under this Section 8 will be asserted and resolved as follows:
Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of any claim,
including any action, proceeding or investigation (an "Asserted
Liability") that is reasonably likely to result in a Loss, the
Indemnitee shall give notice thereof (the "Claim Notice") to the
Indemnifying Party. (In the case of the Sellers, notice to Xx Xxxxxxx
on behalf of all of the Sellers will be proper notice under this
Section). The failure to deliver a Claim Notice will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent
that the resulting delay is materially prejudicial to the defence of
any claim. The Claim Notice will describe the Asserted Liability in
reasonable detail and will indicate the amount (estimated, if
necessary, and to the extent feasible but in no event binding) of the
Loss that has been or may be suffered by the Indemnitee.
8.3.2 OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND. The Indemnifying Party may
subject as mentioned below, elect to compromise or to defend, at its
own expense and by its own counsel, any Asserted Liability. If the
Indemnifying Party (acting through Xx Xxxxxxx in the case of the
Sellers) elects to compromise or defend such Asserted Liability, it
will within 10 days of receipt of the Claim Notice notify the
Indemnitee of its wish to do so, and subject as mentioned below the
Indemnitee will cooperate, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party,
in the compromise of, or defence against, such Asserted Liability
(such co-operation will include the Indemnitee allowing and procuring
the Company to allow the Indemnifying Party (using professional
advisers nominated by the Indemnifying Party) to take such action and
institute and conduct such proceedings on behalf of the Indemnitee or
the Company as the Indemnifying Party may reasonably request to
dispute, resist, appeal or compromise, defend, remedy or mitigate the
subject matter of any claim or to enforce against any third party the
rights of the Company in relation to such claim). The Indemnifying
Party shall indemnify the Company and the Indemnitee in connection
with and arising out of the actions and the proceedings requested by
the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to
compromise or defend the Asserted
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Liability, fails to notify the Indemnitee of its election as herein
provided, or fails diligently and promptly to defend or compromise
such Asserted Liability, the Indemnitee may pay, compromise or defend
such Asserted Liability subject to the provisions of Section 8.7.
Notwithstanding the foregoing if the Indemnitee, acting in good faith,
is of the opinion that the Asserted Liability could have a material
adverse effect on the business of the Indemnitee (and where applicable
the Company) then the conduct of the Asserted Liability shall become
the entitlement of the Indemnitee alone who will from time to time
consult with and keep the Indemnifying Party informed of the progress
of the Asserted Liability and any proceedings in respect thereof. If
the Indemnifying Party is defending any Asserted Liability, the
Indemnitee will make available to the Indemnifying Party any books,
records or other documents within its control that are necessary or
appropriate for such defence. All the parties hereto will cooperate in
the defence or prosecution of an Asserted Liability and will furnish
such records, information and testimony, as may be reasonably
requested in connection therewith. For the purposes of Section 8, the
Sellers agree to act through Xx Xxxxxxx who has authority to represent
each of them in matters the subject of this Section 8.
8.4 CLAIMS PERIOD. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Claims Period"
shall be the period after Closing Date during which a claim for indemnification
may be asserted under this Agreement by an Indemnified Party. The Claims
Periods under this Agreement will terminate as follows:
8.4.1 with respect to all Purchaser Losses arising under
this Agreement, the Claims Period will terminate on the first
anniversary of Closing except with respect to
8.4.1.1 taxes (Section 5.15), which will be for a
period of seven years from Closing;
8.4.1.2 Computer software and hardware
(Section 5.8.6), which will be for a period of five
years from Closing;
8.4.1.3 Year 2000 (Section 5.23), which will be for
a period of two years from Closing; and
8.4.1.4 Section 4 and Sections 5.5 and 5.25 which
will be without time limit; and
8.4.2 with respect to all Seller Losses arising under this
Agreement, the Claims Period will terminate on the first anniversary
of Closing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if prior to the close of business on the
last day of the applicable Claims Period, an Indemnifying Party will have been
properly notified of a claim for indemnity hereunder and such claim will not
have been finally resolved or disposed of at such date, such claim will
continue to survive and will remain a basis for indemnity hereunder until such
claim is finally resolved or disposed of in accordance with the terms hereof.
8.5 LIMITATIONS. The indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is subject to the following additional limitations:
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8.5.1 The Sellers will not be obligated to pay any amounts
for indemnification under this Section 8 (except those based upon
Section 4 and Sections 5.5, (the "Basket Exclusion")), until the
aggregate amounts for indemnification under this Section 8, exclusive
of those based on the Basket Exclusions, equals 25,000 pounds sterling
(the "Basket Amount"), whereupon, subject to the other limitations
contained in this Section 8, the Sellers will be obligated to pay all
such amounts, including the Basket Amount.
8.5.2 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Sellers will not be obligated under any circumstance to
make any payment for indemnification under this Section 8 and the Tax
Deed (in aggregate) or otherwise (except those based upon the Basket
Exclusion) in excess in the aggregate of $2,803,293 pounds sterling.
8.5.3 The liability of the Indemnifying Party will be net
of any insurance benefits received by Indemnitee (or in the case of
indemnification by the Sellers, of insurance benefits received by the
Company or the Purchaser) and any tax benefits received by Indemnitee
(or in the case of indemnification by the Sellers, of tax benefits
received by the Company or the Purchaser) in respect of the loss
giving rise to the claim for indemnification; provided, that if claims
for insurance by Indemnitee are pending but have not been received by
Indemnitee as of a date on which the Indemnitor is otherwise obligated
to make payment under this Section 8, then the Indemnifying Party will
make such payment and Indemnitee will concurrently assign such claims
for insurance to the Indemnifying Party or, if such assignment is
prohibited, will enforce such claims on the Sellers behalf at the
Sellers direction (with the Sellers bearing the reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of such enforcement) and remit such insurance
to the Indemnifying Party within three business days of receipt of
such insurance.
8.6 RETROSPECTIVE CHANGES. No liability shall attach to the Sellers
in respect of a claim under this Agreement for Purchaser Losses to the extent
that:
8.6.1 such claim arises or is increased as a consequence of
a change in the law or a change or withdrawal of any previously
published practice or concession of any tax authority after the date
hereof;
8.6.2 such claim or the events giving rise to such claim arise
or such claim is increased as a result of an act, omission or
transaction by or at the request of or with the approval of the
Purchaser or the Company or any of their respective directors, officers
or employees effected after Completion, otherwise than in the ordinary
course of business as presently carried on by the Company, where the
Purchaser or the Company as the case may be was aware that the act,
omission or transaction would give rise to such a claim;
8.7 DUTY TO MITIGATE. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
relieve the Indemnitee from any common law duty to mitigate any loss or damage
incurred by it.
8.8 PRO-RATA LIABILITY. Without prejudice to the joint and several
character of the liability of the Sellers towards the Purchaser under this
Agreement the liability of any one Seller towards the Purchaser under this
Agreement shall be limited to the proportion of the Cash
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Consideration payable to that Seller under this Agreement. In addition the
Purchaser agrees that if it brings proceedings in relation to Purchaser's
Losses it will bring the claim against all of the Sellers.
8.9 EXCLUSIVITY. Following Closing, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, the indemnities set forth in this Section 8 will be the
exclusive remedies of Purchaser and the Sellers and their respective
shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents,
representatives and advisors and each of the heirs, executors, successors and
assigns of any of the foregoing for any misrepresentation, breach of warranty
or breach of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, and the
parties will not be entitled to a rescission of this Agreement or to any
further indemnification rights or claims or remedies of any nature whatsoever
in respect thereof, all of which the parties hereto hereby waive.
SECTION 9. NOTICES.
All notices, communications and deliveries required or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing signed by the party making the
same, shall specify the Section hereunder pursuant to which it is given or
being made, and shall be delivered personally or by telefacsimile transmission
or sent by registered or certified mail or by any express mail or courier
delivery service (with postage and other fees prepaid) as follows:
To Purchaser: ISS Group, Inc.
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, CFO
0000 Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx Xxxx,
000 Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a required, simultaneous King & Spalding
copy to: Attn.: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Telephone No.: (0000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile No.: (0000) 000-0000
To the Sellers or the Company: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxx XX0 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX00 0XX
Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxx XX0 0XX
Dr. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Walnut Tree Cottage, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx XX00 0XX
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Wakelin, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX00 0XX
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Iona, Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx
XX0 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX00 0XX
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
XX00 0XX
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
0 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
XX00 0XX
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX
with a required, simultaneous Pitmans
copy to: Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx XX0 0XX
or to such other representative or at such other address of a party of which a
party hereto may give notice to the other parties in writing. Notices shall be
effective upon the date of delivery or refusal of delivery, if sent by personal
delivery, registered, certified or express mail or courier delivery, or upon
transmission by telefacsimile transmission, if the request confirms by
telephone or electronic means that the telefacsimile in question was received
in legible form.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS.
10.1 INCORPORATION. All Schedules to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter
and Exhibits attached hereto are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and
made a part hereof as if set out in full in this Agreement.
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10.2 ASSIGNMENT; Successors in Interest. Neither this Agreement nor
the rights or obligations of either party hereto are assignable, by operation
of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party, and
any such attempted assignment in violation of this Agreement will be null, void
and of no force or effect; provided, however, that Purchaser may assign its
rights hereunder to any wholly owned subsidiary. This Agreement will be binding
upon and will inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, in the case of
the Company and Purchaser, each of their respective successors and permitted
assigns and, in the case of any Seller, such Seller's heirs, beneficiaries and
permitted assigns, and any reference hereto shall also be a reference to a
permitted successor or assign.
10.3 NUMBER; GENDER. Whenever the context so requires, the singular
number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular, and the gender
of any pronoun includes the other genders.
10.4 INTERPRETATION. The titles, captions and table of contents
contained in this Agreement are inserted herein only as a matter of convenience
and for reference and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope of
this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof. Unless otherwise
specified to the contrary, all references to Sections are references to
Sections of this Agreement, and all references to Schedules and Exhibits are
references to Schedules to the Sellers' Disclosure Letter and Exhibits to this
Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in
this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." Whenever "or" is used in this Agreement, it will be construed in
the nonexclusive sense. The words "herein," "hereby", "hereof," "hereto,"
"hereunder" and words of similar import refer to this Agreement.
10.5 CONTROLLING LAW; INTEGRATION; AMENDMENT; CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION
RULES. This Agreement shall be governed by English Law and for the benefit of
the Purchaser the other parties hereto submit to the jurisdiction of the
English Courts. This Agreement supersedes all negotiations, agreements and
understandings among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and
this Agreement, the agreements referred to herein or attached hereto and any
agreements entered into on or subsequent to the date hereof, constitutes the
entire agreement among the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be amended,
modified or supplemented except by a written agreement of the parties. No
provision of this Agreement will be construed against or interpreted to the
disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial
authority or by any board of arbitrators by reason of such party's or such
Person's counsel having or being deemed to have structured or drafted such
provision.
10.6 SEVERABILITY. Any provision hereof which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in
any jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in
any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by law, the parties hereto
waive any provision of law which renders any such provision prohibited or
unenforceable in any respect.
10.7 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will
constitute one and the same agreement.
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10.8 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. Nothing expressed or implied in this
Agreement is intended, or will be construed, to confer upon or give any person,
firm or corporation other than the parties hereto, and their successors or
permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by
reason of this Agreement, or result in such person, firm or corporation being
deemed a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
10.9 WAIVER. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party. A waiver by one party of the performance of any
covenant, agreement, obligation, condition, representation or warranty will not
be construed as a waiver of any other covenant, agreement, obligation,
condition, representation or warranty. A waiver by any party of the performance
of any act will not constitute a waiver of the performance of any other act or
an identical act required to be performed at a later time.
10.10 ARBITRATION; LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
10.10.1 Any controversy, claim or question of interpretation
in dispute between Purchaser, on one hand, and the Sellers, on the
other hand (Purchaser, on one hand, and the Sellers, on the other
hand, each being referred to in this Section 8.10 as a "party")
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or a breach thereof, will
be finally settled by arbitration in London, United Kingdom. The
arbitration will be conducted pursuant to the Arbitration Xxx 0000,
save that the parties expressly agree that they will give discovery in
accordance with English law. Judgment on the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The award
rendered by the arbitrators will be final and binding on the parties
and not subject to further appeal. An arbitration will be commenced by
written notice by either party (the "Claimant") to the other party,
which notice will identify the Claimant's selected arbitrator. The
party receiving such notice (the "Respondent") will identify its
arbitrator within ten (10) business days following its receipt of such
notice. The arbitrator selected by the Claimant and the arbitrator
selected by the Respondent will, within ten (10) business days of
their appointment, select a third neutral arbitrator. If they are
unable to do so, either party may request the President for the time
being of the Law Society of England and Wales to appoint the third
neutral arbitrator. The arbitrators will have the authority to award
any remedy or relief that is available under the Arbitration Xxx 0000,
including specific performance of any obligation created under this
Agreement, the grant of injunctive or other provisional relief, or the
imposition of penalties for abuse or frustration of the arbitration
process. The arbitration award will be in writing and specify the
factual and legal basis for the award.
10.10.2 It is the intention of the parties that any
arbitration will be concluded as quickly as reasonably practicable.
Subject to the availability of the arbitrators, once commenced, the
hearing on the disputed matters will be held four days a week until
concluded, with each hearing date to begin at 9:00 a.m. and to
conclude at 5:00 p.m. The arbitrators will use all reasonable efforts
to issue the final award or awards within a period of five business
days after the end of the proceedings. Failure of the arbitrators to
meet the time limits of this Section 14.10.2 shall not be a basis for
challenging the award.
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10.10.3 The arbitrators will instruct the unsuccessful party
to pay all costs of the proceedings, including the fees and expenses
of the arbitrators and the reasonable lawyers' fees and expenses of
the successful party. If the arbitrators determine that there is not a
successful party, they shall direct that each party will be instructed
to bear its own costs and to pay one-half of the fees and expenses of
the arbitrators.
10.11 COSTS AND EXPENSES. Each of the parties hereto will be
responsible for their own costs and expenses incurred by them in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
10.12 PRESS RELEASES. The parties will consult with each other in
preparing any press release, public announcement, news media response or other
form of release of information concerning this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby that is intended to provide such information to the news
media or the public (a "Press Release"). No party will issue or cause the
publication of any such Press Release without the prior consent of the other
parties; except that nothing herein will prohibit any party from issuing or
causing publication of any such Press Release to the extent that such action is
required by applicable law or the rules of any national stock exchange
applicable to such party or its affiliates, in which case the party wishing to
make such disclosure will use its reasonable best efforts to notify the other
parties of the proposed time of issuance of such Press Release and consult with
and allow the other parties reasonable time to comment on such Press Release in
advance of its issuance.
AS WITNESS the hands of the parties hereto or their duly authorised
representatives the day and year first before written.
SIGNED by )
for and on behalf of )
MARCH INFORMATION )
SYSTEMS LIMITED )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
for and on behalf of )
ISS GROUP INC. )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX )
PUDWELL )
in the presence of: )
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SIGNED by )
XXXXXX XXXXXX )
XXXXXXXX )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXX XXXXXXX WAKELIN )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
DR. XXXXXXX XXXXXX )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXX XXXXXX )
XXXXXXXX )
in the presence of: )
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SIGNED by )
XXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXX )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX )
WOOD )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX )
CONNOR )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX )
in the presence of: )
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