AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among NYSE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., CBR ACQUISITION CORP. and NYFIX, INC. Dated as of August 26, 2009
Exhibit
2.1
by
and among
NYSE
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
CBR
ACQUISITION CORP.
and
NYFIX,
INC.
Dated
as of August 26, 2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
||
ARTICLE
I
|
THE
MERGER
|
2
|
1.1
|
Effective
Time of the Merger
|
2
|
1.2
|
Closing
|
2
|
1.3
|
Effects
of the Merger
|
2
|
1.4
|
Directors
and Officers of the Surviving Corporation
|
3
|
ARTICLE
II
|
CONVERSION
OF SECURITIES
|
3
|
2.1
|
Conversion
of Capital Stock
|
3
|
2.2
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
4
|
2.3
|
Company
Stock Options and Company Warrants
|
8
|
2.4
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
8
|
ARTICLE III
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
9
|
3.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Power
|
9
|
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
11
|
3.3
|
Subsidiaries
|
12
|
3.4
|
Authority;
No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents
|
13
|
3.5
|
SEC
Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided
|
15
|
3.6
|
No
Undisclosed Liabilities
|
18
|
3.7
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
18
|
3.8
|
Taxes
|
19
|
3.9
|
Owned
and Leased Real Properties
|
21
|
3.10
|
Intellectual
Property
|
22
|
3.11
|
Contracts
|
24
|
3.12
|
Litigation
|
27
|
3.13
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
27
|
3.14
|
Compliance
With Laws
|
29
|
3.15
|
Permits
|
30
|
3.16
|
Labor
Matters
|
30
|
3.17
|
Customers
and Suppliers
|
30
|
3.18
|
Insurance
|
31
|
3.19
|
Opinion
of Financial Advisors
|
31
|
3.20
|
Section
203 of the DGCL
|
31
|
3.21
|
Brokers
|
31
|
ARTICLE IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND THE MERGER SUB
|
32
|
4.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Power
|
32
|
4.2
|
Authority;
No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents
|
32
|
4.3
|
Information
Provided
|
33
|
4.4
|
Litigation
|
34
|
4.4
|
Operations
of the Merger Sub
|
34
|
i
4.5
|
Financing
|
34
|
4.6
|
Brokers
|
34
|
ARTICLE
V
|
CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS
|
34
|
5.1
|
Covenants
of the Company
|
34
|
5.2
|
Confidentiality
|
38
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
|
38
|
6.1
|
No
Solicitation
|
38
|
6.2
|
Proxy
Statement; Other Filings
|
42
|
6.3
|
NASDAQ
|
43
|
6.4
|
Access
to Information
|
43
|
6.5
|
Stockholders
Meeting
|
44
|
6.6
|
Legal
Conditions to the Merger
|
44
|
6.7
|
Public
Disclosure
|
46
|
6.8
|
Indemnification
|
47
|
6.9
|
Notification
of Certain Matters
|
47
|
6.10
|
Employee
Matters
|
48
|
6.11
|
FIRPTA
Tax Certificates
|
48
|
6.12
|
Pre-Closing
Transaction
|
48
|
6.13
|
WARN
Notice
|
49
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
CONDITIONS
TO MERGER
|
49
|
7.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger
|
49
|
7.2
|
Additional
Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer and the Merger Sub
|
50
|
7.3
|
Additional
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
|
51
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
TERMINATION
AND AMENDMENT
|
52
|
8.1
|
Termination
|
52
|
8.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
53
|
8.3
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
54
|
8.4
|
Amendment
|
55
|
8.5
|
Extension;
Waiver
|
55
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
55
|
9.1
|
Nonsurvival
of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
|
55
|
9.2
|
Notices
|
56
|
9.3
|
Entire
Agreement
|
57
|
9.4
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
57
|
9.5
|
Assignment
|
57
|
9.6
|
Severability
|
57
|
9.7
|
Counterparts
and Signature
|
58
|
9.8
|
Interpretation
|
58
|
9.9
|
Governing
Law
|
58
|
9.10
|
Remedies
|
58
|
9.11
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction
|
59
|
9.12
|
Disclosure
Letters
|
59
|
9.13
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
|
59
|
ii
TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
TERMS
|
|
REFERENCE
IN AGREEMENT
|
Acquisition
Proposal
|
Section 6.1(g)(i)
|
|
Affiliate
|
Section 3.2(e)
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Alternative
Acquisition Agreement
|
Section 6.1(b)(ii)
|
|
Antitrust
Counsel Only Material
|
Section 6.6(a)
|
|
Antitrust
Laws
|
Section 6.6(b)
|
|
Antitrust
Order
|
Section 6.6(b)
|
|
Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception
|
Section
3.4(a)
|
|
Breakup
Fee
|
Section 8.3(b)(i)
|
|
Business
Day
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Buyer
|
Preamble
|
|
Buyer
Disclosure Letter
|
Article
IV
|
|
Buyer
Employee Plan
|
Section 6.10
|
|
Buyer
Material Adverse Effect
|
Section 4.1
|
|
Buyer’s
Knowledge
|
Section
4.4
|
|
Calculation
|
Section 2.5(a)
|
|
Certificate
|
Section 2.1(b)(i)
|
|
Certificate
of Designations
|
Section
3.1
|
|
Certificate
of Merger
|
Section 1.1
|
|
Change
of Board Recommendation
|
Section
6.1(c)
|
|
Closing
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Closing
Date
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Code
|
Section 2.2(f)
|
|
Common
Stock Exchange Fund
|
Section 2.2(a)(i)
|
|
Common
Stock Merger Consideration
|
Section 2.1(b)(i)
|
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
|
Company
Balance Sheet
|
Section 3.5(b)
|
|
Company
Board
|
Recitals
|
|
Company
Board Recommendation
|
Section 3.4(a)
|
|
Company
Common Stock
|
Section 2.1(a)
|
|
Company
Disclosure Letter
|
Article
III
|
|
Company
Employee Plans
|
Section 3.13(a)
|
|
Company
Intellectual Property
|
Section 3.10(a)
|
|
Company
Leases
|
Section 3.9(b)
|
|
Company
Material Adverse Effect
|
Section 3.1
|
|
Company
Material Contracts
|
Section 3.11(a)
|
|
Company
Meeting
|
Section 3.4(d)
|
|
Company
Permits
|
Section 3.15
|
|
Company
SEC Reports
|
Section 3.5(a)
|
|
Company
Series A Preferred Stock
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
Company
Series B Preferred Stock
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
Company
Series C Preferred Stock
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
Company
Stock Options
|
Section 2.3(a)
|
iii
TERMS
|
REFERENCE
IN AGREEMENT
|
|
Company
Stock Plans
|
Section 2.3(a))
|
|
Company
Stockholder Approval
|
Section 3.4(a)
|
|
Company
Voting Proposal
|
Section 3.4(a)
|
|
Company
Warrants
|
Section 2.3(c)
|
|
Company’s
Knowledge
|
Section 3.5(e)
|
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
Section 5.2
|
|
Continuing
Employees
|
Section 6.10
|
|
Daily
Per Share Price
|
Section 2.1(b)(i)
|
|
DGCL
|
Recitals
|
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
Section 2.4(a)
|
|
Draft
19b-4 Submission
|
Section
6.2(c)
|
|
Effective
Time
|
Section 1.1
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plan
|
Section 3.13(a)(i)
|
|
ERISA
|
Section 3.13(a)(ii)
|
|
ERISA
Affiliate
|
Section 3.13(a)(iii)
|
|
Exchange
Act
|
Section 3.4(c)
|
|
Exchange
Agent
|
Section 2.2(a)(i)
|
|
Exchange
Fund
|
Section 2.2(a)(ii)
|
|
FIRPTA
Certificate
|
Section
6.11
|
|
GAAP
|
Section 3.5(b)
|
|
Governmental
Entity
|
Section 3.4(c)
|
|
HSR
Act
|
Section 3.4(c)
|
|
Indemnified
Parties
|
Section 6.8(a)
|
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Section 3.10(a)
|
|
IRS
|
Section 3.13(b)
|
|
Judgment
|
Section 3.12
|
|
Law
|
Section 3.14
|
|
Liens
|
Section 3.4(b)
|
|
Maximum
Premium
|
Section 6.8(b)
|
|
Measurement
Date
|
Section
3.2(a)
|
|
Merger
|
Recitals
|
|
Merger
Sub
|
Preamble
|
|
Notice
Period
|
Section 6.1(c)(i)
|
|
Ordinary
Course of Business
|
Section
3.6
|
|
Outside
Date
|
Section 8.1(b)
|
|
Permitted
Liens
|
Section
3.9(b)
|
|
Person
|
Section 2.2(e)
|
|
Pre-Closing
Period
|
Section 5.1
|
|
Preferred
Certificate
|
Section 2.2(b)(ii)
|
|
Preferred
Stock
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
Preferred
Stock Exchange Fund
|
Section 2.2(a)(ii)
|
|
Preferred
Stock Merger Consideration
|
Section 2.1(b)(ii)
|
|
Proceeding
|
Section 3.12
|
|
Proxy
Statement
|
Section 3.5(c)
|
|
PTO
|
Section 3.10(b)
|
iv
TERMS
|
REFERENCE
IN AGREEMENT
|
|
Registered
Company Intellectual Property
|
Section 3.10(b)
|
|
Reimbursable
Loss
|
Section 6.12
|
|
Related
Party Transaction
|
Section 3.11(a)(xiv)
|
|
Representatives
|
Section 6.1(a)
|
|
Required
Company Stockholder Vote
|
Section 3.4(d)
|
|
RSU
|
Section 2.1(e)
|
|
SEC
|
Section 3.4(c)
|
|
Securities
Act
|
Section 3.2(e)
|
|
Self-Regulatory
Organization
|
Section 3.4(c)
|
|
Series
B Per Share Amount
|
Section
2.1(b)(ii)
|
|
Software
|
Section 3.10(a)
|
|
SOX
|
Section
3.5(e)
|
|
Special
Committee
|
Recitals
|
|
Specified
Time
|
Section 6.1(a)
|
|
Subsidiary
|
Section 3.3(a)
|
|
Superior
Proposal
|
Section 6.1(g)(ii)
|
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
Section 1.3
|
|
Tax
Returns
|
Section 3.8(o)
|
|
Taxes
|
Section 3.8(o)
|
|
Voting
Agreement
|
Recitals
|
|
Waiver
|
Recitals
|
v
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER (this “Agreement”) is
entered into as of August 26, 2009, by and among NYSE Technologies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Buyer”), CBR
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Buyer (the “Merger
Sub”), and NYFIX, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, it is proposed that
the Buyer acquire the Company through a merger (the “Merger”) of the
Merger Sub with and into the Company, in accordance with the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the “DGCL”),
as a result of which the separate corporate existence of the Merger Sub shall
cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving entity in the
Merger;
WHEREAS, a Special Committee
of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Special Committee”)
has determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the
holders of the Company Common Stock;
WHEREAS, the Board of
Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”),
acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, has
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the
Company;
WHEREAS, the members of the
Company Board voting have unanimously adopted resolutions approving the
acquisition of the Company by the Buyer, the execution of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and recommending that the
Company’s stockholders adopt the “agreement of merger” (as such term is used in
Section 251 of the DGCL) contained in this Agreement and approve the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Boards of
Directors of the Buyer and the Merger Sub have each approved, and the Board of
Directors of the Merger Sub has declared it advisable for the Merger Sub to
enter into, this Agreement providing for the Merger in accordance with the DGCL,
in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement, as a condition and inducement to the Buyer’s
willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company
have entered into a Voting Agreement as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the
“Voting
Agreement”) and a Waiver as set forth on Exhibit B hereto (the
“Waiver”);
and
WHEREAS, the Buyer, the Merger
Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Buyer, the Merger
Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
THE
MERGER
1.1 Effective Time of the
Merger. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, prior to
the Closing, the Buyer and the Company shall jointly prepare, and on the Closing
Date the Surviving Corporation and the Company shall cause to be filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, a certificate of merger (the “Certificate of
Merger”) in such form as is required by, and executed by the Company in
accordance with, the relevant provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other
filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger shall
become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware or at such later time as is established by the
Buyer and the Company and set forth in the Certificate of Merger (the “Effective
Time”).
1.2 Closing. The
closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take
place at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on a date to be specified by the Buyer and
the Company (the “Closing Date”), which
shall be no later than the third Business Day after satisfaction or waiver (by
the party entitled to grant such waiver) of the conditions set forth in Article
VII (other than delivery of items to be delivered at the Closing and other than
satisfaction of those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain
subject to the delivery of such items and the satisfaction or waiver of such
conditions at the Closing), at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx &
Xxxx, 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 (or remotely via the exchange of
documents and signatures), unless another date, place or time is agreed to in
writing by the Buyer and the Company. For purposes of this Agreement,
a “Business
Day” shall be any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday or (b) a day on
which banking institutions located in New York, New York are permitted or
required by Law, executive order or governmental decree to remain
closed.
1.3 Effects of the
Merger. At the Effective Time, the separate existence of the
Merger Sub shall cease and the Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company (the Company following the Merger is sometimes referred to herein as the
“Surviving
Corporation”). Subject to Section 6.8(a), the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation immediately following the
Effective Time shall be the same as the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that the name of the
Surviving Corporation set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the
Company, until amended in accordance with the DGCL. Subject to
Section 6.8(a), the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation immediately
following the Effective Time shall be the same as the By-Laws of the Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that the name of the Surviving
Corporation set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Company, until
amended in accordance with the DGCL. The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.
- 2
-
1.4 Directors and Officers of
the Surviving Corporation.
(a) The
directors of the Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in
accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) The
officers of the Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance
with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation.
ARTICLE
II
CONVERSION
OF SECURITIES
2.1 Conversion of Capital
Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of the capital stock
of the Company or capital stock of the Merger Sub:
(a) Cancellation of Treasury
Stock and Buyer-Owned Stock. All shares of common stock,
$0.001 par value per share, of the Company (“Company Common
Stock”) that are owned by the Company as treasury stock and any shares of
Company Common Stock owned by the Buyer or the Merger Sub immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor. Each share of
Company Common Stock owned by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or of
the Buyer (other than the Merger Sub) immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares (or
fractions thereof) of Surviving Corporation stock that preserves the relative
ownership interest represented by such share of Company Common Stock immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
(b) Merger
Consideration. Subject to Section 2.2:
(i) Each
share of Company Common Stock (other than any Dissenting Shares and/or shares to
be cancelled or converted into shares of Surviving Corporation stock in
accordance with Section 2.1(a)) issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into the right to receive,
upon surrender of the Certificate representing such share of Company Common
Stock in the manner provided in Section 2.2, $1.675 per share in cash,
without interest (the “Common Stock Merger
Consideration”); provided, that to the
extent that the aggregate Common Stock Merger Consideration to be paid to any
holder of shares of Company Common Stock for all such holder’s shares of Company
Common Stock held in a single account would result in such shareholder being
entitled to a fraction of a cent in cash with respect to the shares of Company
Common Stock held in such account, such aggregate amount shall be rounded down
to the nearest whole cent. As of the Effective Time, all such shares
of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically
be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
representing an outstanding share of Company Common Stock or for which an entry
has been made in the records of the Company or its transfer agent with respect
to such holder’s outstanding share of Company Common Stock (such certificate or
book-entry interest, a “Certificate”) shall
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
Common Stock Merger Consideration pursuant to this
Section 2.1(b)(i).
- 3
-
(ii) Each
share of Company Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into the right to
receive cash in an amount equal to the Series B Per Share Amount, without
interest, (the “Preferred Stock Merger
Consideration”), upon surrender of the certificate representing such
share of Company Series B Preferred Stock in the manner provided in
Section 2.2. As of the Effective Time, all such shares of
Company Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a
certificate representing any such shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive
the Preferred Stock Merger Consideration pursuant to this
Section 2.1(b)(ii). The “Series B Per Share
Amount” means $50.134.
(c) Common Stock of the Merger
Sub. Each share of the common stock of the Merger Sub issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
and become one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(d) Adjustments. The
Common Stock Merger Consideration shall be adjusted to reflect fully the effect
of any reclassification, stock split, reverse split, stock dividend (including
any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Company Common
Stock), reorganization, recapitalization or other like change with respect to
Company Common Stock occurring (or for which a record date is established) after
the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time; provided, that
nothing in this Section 2.1(d) shall be construed to permit the Company to
take any action with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms
of this Agreement.
(e) Restricted Stock
Units. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each
restricted stock unit (“RSU”) denominated in
shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to any of the Company Stock Plans, and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of this
Agreement, be vested and cancelled and converted into the right to receive from
the Company in exchange the Common Stock Merger Consideration in accordance with
Section 2.1(b)(i) hereof, which amount shall be paid by the Company to the
holders of such RSU at or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective
Time, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the Effective
Time.
2.2 Exchange of
Certificates. The procedures for exchanging outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock for Common Stock Merger Consideration or Company Series
B Preferred Stock for Preferred Stock Merger Consideration pursuant to the
Merger are as follows:
(a) Exchange
Agent.
(i)
Simultaneously with the Effective Time, the Buyer shall deposit with a transfer
agent or another bank or trust company designated by the Buyer (and reasonably
acceptable to the Company) (the “Exchange Agent”) for
the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time, for exchange in accordance with this
Section 2.2, the Common Stock Merger Consideration required to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) (the “Common Stock Exchange
Fund”).
- 4
-
(ii)
Simultaneously with the Effective Time, the Buyer shall deposit with the
Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Series B
Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, for
exchange in accordance with this Section 2.2, the Preferred Stock Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii) in exchange for all of the
outstanding shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Exchange
Fund,” and together with the Common Stock Exchange Fund, the “Exchange
Fund”).
(b) Exchange
Procedures.
(i) As
soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Buyer shall cause
the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate whose
shares of Company Common Stock were converted into the right to receive the
Common Stock Merger Consideration and whose shares of Company Common Stock have
not previously been surrendered, (i) a letter of transmittal which shall specify
that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
shall pass, only upon delivery of Certificates which are free and clear of all
Liens to the Exchange Agent (and shall be in customary form) and (ii)
instructions for effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the
Common Stock Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate
which is free and clear of all Liens for cancellation to the Exchange Agent,
together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such
Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Common Stock
Merger Consideration that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the
provisions of this Article II, and the Certificate so surrendered shall
immediately be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the
cash payable upon the surrender of the Certificates. In the event of
a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the
transfer records of the Company, any cash to be paid upon due surrender of the
Certificate formerly representing such shares of Company Common Stock may be
paid to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so
surrendered is registered, if such Certificate is presented to the Exchange
Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such
transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been
paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2,
each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Common Stock Merger
Consideration into which the Company Common Stock shall have been converted
pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i).
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(ii) As
soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Buyer shall cause
the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a certificate that
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of
Company Series B Preferred Stock (each, a “Preferred
Certificate”) and whose shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock were
converted into the right to receive the Preferred Stock Merger Consideration and
whose shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock have not previously been
surrendered, (i) a letter of transmittal which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Preferred Certificates shall
pass, only upon delivery of the Preferred Certificates which are free and clear
of all Liens to the Exchange Agent (and shall be in customary form) and (ii)
instructions for effecting the surrender of the Preferred Certificates in
exchange for the Preferred Stock Merger Consideration receivable with respect
thereto. Upon surrender of a Preferred Certificate which is free and
clear of all Liens for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with such
letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Preferred Certificate
shall receive in exchange therefor the Preferred Stock Merger Consideration that
such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article
II, and the Preferred Certificate so surrendered shall immediately be
cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash payable
upon the surrender of the Preferred Certificates. In the event of a
transfer of ownership of Company Series B Preferred Stock that is not registered
in the transfer records of the Company, the Preferred Stock Merger Consideration
may be received by a person other than the person in whose name the Preferred
Certificate so surrendered is registered, if such Preferred Certificate is
presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to
evidence and effect such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock
transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by
this Section 2.2, each Preferred Certificate shall be deemed at any time
after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such
surrender the Preferred Stock Merger Consideration into which the Company Series
B Preferred Stock shall have been converted pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)(ii).
(c) No Further Ownership Rights
in Company Common Stock or Company Series B Preferred Stock.
(i) All
Common Stock Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of
Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been
paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company
Common Stock, and from and after the Effective Time the register of stockholders
of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of
transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares
of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent for any reason, they shall be
cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article II, subject to applicable
Law in the case of Dissenting Shares.
(ii) All
Preferred Stock Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of
Preferred Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to
have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of
Company Series B Preferred Stock, and from and after the Effective Time there
shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the
Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after
the Effective Time, Preferred Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation or the Exchange Agent for any reason, they shall be cancelled and
exchanged as provided in this Article II.
(d) Termination of Exchange
Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds
of any investments thereof) that remains undistributed to the holders of Company
Common Stock or Company Series B Preferred Stock for six (6) months after the
Effective Time shall be delivered to the Buyer, upon demand, and any holder of
Company Common Stock or Company Series B Preferred Stock who has not previously
complied with this Section 2.2 shall be entitled to receive only from the
Buyer (subject to abandoned property, escheat or other similar Laws) but only as
general creditors thereof, payment of its claim for the Common Stock Merger
Consideration or Preferred Stock Merger Consideration, as applicable, and in
each case, without any interest thereon.
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(e) No
Liability. None of the Buyer, the Merger Sub, the Company or
the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company
Common Stock or Company Series B Preferred Stock, as the case may be, for any
Common Stock Merger Consideration or Preferred Stock Merger Consideration
delivered from the Exchange Fund or otherwise to a public official pursuant to
any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any
Certificates or Preferred Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to
six (6) years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date as shall be
immediately prior to the date that such unclaimed funds would otherwise become
subject to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law), any such unclaimed
funds payable with respect to such Certificates or Preferred Certificates shall,
to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving
Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously
entitled thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Person” shall have a
broad meaning and shall include any individual, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association, trust, estate or other entity or
organization.
(f) Withholding
Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, the Buyer and the
Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as it is
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any other
applicable state, local or foreign tax Law. To the extent that
amounts are so deducted or withheld by the Exchange Agent, the Surviving
Corporation or the Buyer, as the case may be, such withheld or deducted amounts
shall (i) be remitted by the Exchange Agent, the Buyer or the Surviving
Corporation, as the case may be, to the applicable Governmental Entity, and (ii)
be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to such Person
in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
(g) Lost
Certificates. If any Certificate or Preferred Certificate
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of
that fact by the person claiming such Certificate or Preferred Certificate to be
lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the
posting by such person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Surviving
Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
it with respect to such Certificate or Preferred Certificate, the Exchange Agent
shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate or
Preferred Certificate the Common Stock Merger Consideration or the Preferred
Stock Merger Consideration, as applicable, deliverable in respect thereof
pursuant to this Agreement.
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2.3 Company Stock Options and
Company Warrants.
(a) At
the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase Company Common Stock
(“Company Stock
Options”), whether vested or unvested, granted under the stock
option plans or other equity-related plans of the Company identified on
Section 2.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “Company Stock Plans”)
shall be fully vested and cancelled and shall solely represent the right to
receive from the Company in exchange, at the Effective Time or as soon as
practicable thereafter, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any,
of the Common Stock Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option. The
Company shall pay to the holders of Company Stock Options the cash payments
described in this Section 2.3(a) at or as soon as reasonably practicable
after the Effective Time, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days
following the Effective Time.
(b) The
Company Stock Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time, and any and all
rights under any provisions in any other plan, program or arrangement, including
any Company Employee Plan, providing for the issuance or grant of any other
interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company (other than the right to
receive the payment contemplated by Sections 2.2(d), 2.3(a) or 2.3(c)) shall be
cancelled as of the Effective Time, except that all administrative and other
rights and authorities granted under the Company Stock Plans to the Company, the
Company Board or any committee or designee thereof shall remain in effect and
shall reside with the Company following the Effective Time.
(c) At
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger, each outstanding warrant or other
right (other than Company Stock Options) to purchase shares of Company Common
Stock (such outstanding warrants or other rights, the “Company Warrants”)
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the
occurrence of the Effective Time and without any action on the part of the
Buyer, the Company or the holder thereof, be cancelled and shall solely
represent the right to receive from the Company in exchange, at the Effective
Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, an amount in cash equal to the
product of (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such
Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the
excess, if any, of the Common Stock Merger Consideration over the price per
share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Warrant. The
Company shall pay to the holders of Company Warrants the cash payments described
in this Section 2.3(c) at or as soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the
Effective Time.
(d) The
Buyer shall at all times from and after the Effective Time maintain sufficient
liquid funds to satisfy its obligations to holders of Company Stock Options and
Company Warrants pursuant to this Section 2.3.
2.4 Dissenting
Shares.
(a)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, shares of
Company Common Stock held by a holder who has made a demand for appraisal of
such shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the DGCL (any such shares
being referred to as “Dissenting Shares”
until such time as such holder fails to perfect, effectively withdraws or
otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the DGCL with respect to
such shares) shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive
Common Stock Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1, but shall
be entitled only to such rights as are granted by the DGCL to a holder of
Dissenting Shares.
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(b) If
any Dissenting Shares shall lose their status as such (through failure to
perfect, effective withdrawal or otherwise), then, as of the later of the
Effective Time or the date that such right to appraisal shall have been
irrevocably lost, withdrawn or expired, such shares shall automatically be
converted into and shall represent only the right to receive Common Stock Merger
Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1, without interest thereon,
upon surrender of the Certificate formerly representing such
shares.
(c) The
Company shall give the Buyer and the Merger Sub: (i) prompt written
notice of any demands for appraisal received by the Company prior to the
Effective Time pursuant to the DGCL, any withdrawal or attempted withdrawal of
any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the
Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the DGCL that relate to such
demand or to the right to be paid the “fair value” of Dissenting Shares, as
provided in Section 262 of the DGCL; and (ii) the opportunity to
participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demand,
notice or instrument. The Company shall not make any payment, settle
or offer to settle or approve any withdrawal with respect to any such demand,
notice or instrument unless the Buyer shall have given its written consent to
such payment, settlement offer or withdrawal.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The
Company represents and warrants to the Buyer and the Merger Sub that the
statements contained in this Article III are true and correct, except as,
subject to Section 9.12, set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by the
Company to the Buyer and the Merger Sub and dated as of the date of this
Agreement (the “Company Disclosure
Letter”).
3.1 Organization, Standing and
Power. The Company 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 assets and to carry on its business as now being
conducted. The Company is duly qualified to do business and, where
applicable as a legal concept, is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties it owns, operates or
leases or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary,
except for such failures to be so qualified or in good standing, individually or
in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
agreed or is obligated to make, or is bound by any contract or agreement under
which it may become obligated to make, any future equity or similar investment
in or capital contribution to any other Person. The Company has made
available to the Buyer a correct and complete copy of, the Certificate of
Designations, Number, Voting Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock and Series C Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock
of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
October 12, 2006 (the “Certificate of
Designations”), the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or similar
organizational documents), each as amended to date, of the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries, as currently in effect.
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For
purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company Material Adverse
Effect” means any (i) material adverse change, event, circumstance,
condition, occurrence or development with respect to, or material adverse effect
on, the business, assets, liabilities, capitalization, condition (financial or
otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole and (ii) change, event, circumstance, condition, occurrence or
development that materially adversely affects the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under and consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement; provided, however, that none of
the following, in and of itself or themselves, shall constitute, or shall be
considered in determining whether there has occurred, a Company Material Adverse
Effect:
(a) any
change that is the result of economic factors affecting the national, regional
or world economy or acts of war or terrorism (except in each case where the
Company and its Subsidiaries are materially disproportionately adversely
affected thereby);
(b) any
change that is the result of factors generally affecting the industries or
markets in which the Company operates (except in each case where the Company and
its Subsidiaries are materially disproportionately adversely affected
thereby);
(c) any
adverse change, effect or circumstance to the extent resulting from the pendency
or announcement of the Merger, including actions of competitors or losses of
employees or customers;
(d) any
required action taken pursuant to this Agreement or any action taken at the
written request of the Buyer (including actions taken pursuant to Section 6.12
at the request of the Buyer);
(e) the
pendency of any stockholder litigation arising from or relating to the Merger;
and
(f) any
change in the price or trading volume of the Company Common Stock, it being
understood that the underlying reason for such change shall not be disregarded
from the determination of Company Material Adverse Effect by virtue of this
clause;
Notwithstanding
anything in the foregoing, a decrease as of the date immediately prior to the
Closing Date of 33 1/3% or more in either (A) the number of order routing
channels of the Company and its Subsidiaries in place as of July 31, 2009 or (B)
the aggregate monthly run-rate recurring revenue generated by the Company and
its Subsidiaries’ order routing and indication of interest channels from the
amount generated during the month of July 2009 shall be deemed to be a “Company
Material Adverse Effect.” Solely for purposes of determining the
“date immediately prior to the Closing Date” for purposes of the preceding
sentence, such date shall be deemed to have occurred on the second Business Day
following the date when all conditions in Article VII have been satisfied, other
than any conditions that would fail to be satisfied due to the occurrence of a
Company Material Adverse Effect resulting from a 33 1/3% or more decrease
referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, and other than delivery of
items to be delivered at the Closing and satisfaction of those conditions that
by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing. The Company and
its Subsidiaries had 9,766 order routing channels in place on July 31, 2009 and
the recurring revenue generated by the Company and its Subsidiaries’ order
routing and indication of interest channels during the month of July 2009 was
$4.7 million.
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3.2 Capitalization.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Company as of the date of this Agreement
consists of 100,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which 100,000 shares are
designated as Series A Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the “Company Series A Preferred
Stock”), 1,500,000 shares are designated as Series B Voting Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Company Series B Preferred
Stock”) and 500,000 shares are designated as Series C Non-Voting
Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Company Series C Preferred
Stock”) (collectively, the “Preferred
Stock”). The rights and privileges of each class of the
Company’s capital stock are as set forth in the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation and Certificate of Designations. As of the date of this
Agreement (the “Measurement Date”),
(i) 39,319,820 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii)
923,108 shares of Company Common Stock were held in the treasury of the Company,
(iii) no shares of Company Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding,
(iv) 1,500,000 shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding, and (v) no shares of Company Series C Preferred Stock were issued
and outstanding. Since such date, the Company has not issued any
Company Common Stock or Preferred Stock, has not granted any options, restricted
stock or RSUs, warrants or rights or entered into any other agreements or
commitments to issue any Company Stock, Preferred Stock or derivatives of
Company Stock or Preferred Stock, and has not split, combined or reclassified
any of its shares of capital stock. No Subsidiary of the Company owns
any shares of capital stock of the Company.
(b)
Section 3.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all RSUs as of the
Measurement Date, indicating the name of the applicable holder.
(c)
Section 3.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and
accurate list, as of the Measurement Date, of: (i) the Company Stock
Plans, indicating for each Company Stock Plan, as of such date, the number of
shares of Company Common Stock subject to outstanding awards under such Plan;
and (ii) all outstanding Company Stock Options indicating with respect to each
such Company Stock Option the name of the holder thereof, the number of shares
of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, the exercise price
and the date of grant. The Company has made available to the Buyer
complete and accurate copies of all Company Stock Plans and the forms of all
stock option agreements evidencing Company Stock Options.
(d) Section
3.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter shows the number of shares of Company
Common Stock reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Company Warrants
outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and the agreement or other document
under which such Company Warrants were granted and sets forth a complete and
accurate list of all holders of Company Warrants indicating the number of shares
of Company Common Stock subject to each Company Warrant, the exercise price, the
date of grant and the expiration date thereof. The Company has made
available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of the forms of agreements
evidencing all Company Warrants.
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(e)
Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, (A) there are no equity securities of
any class of the Company, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for
such equity securities, voting securities or ownership interests in the Company,
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and (B) there are no options,
warrants, equity securities, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any
character to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to issue, exchange, transfer, deliver or sell, or cause to be
issued, exchanged, transferred, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital
stock or other equity interests, voting securities or other ownership interests
of the Company or any security or rights convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any such shares or other equity interests, voting securities or
other ownership interests, or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, otherwise modify or amend or enter
into any such option, subscription, warrant, equity security, call, right,
commitment or agreement. The Company does not have any outstanding
stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, performance based rights or similar
rights or obligations. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates
is a party to or is bound by any agreements or understandings with respect to
the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) or sale or transfer (including
agreements imposing transfer restrictions) of any shares of capital stock or
other equity interests of the Company. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Affiliate” when used
with respect to any party shall mean any person who is an “affiliate” of that
party within the meaning of Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”). There are no registration rights, and there is no
rights agreement, “poison pill” anti-takeover plan or other similar agreement or
understanding to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which it or they are bound with respect to any equity security of any class of
the Company.
(f) All
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and all shares of Company Common
Stock subject to issuance as specified in Section 3.2(c) above, upon issuance on
the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are
issuable, will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option,
right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar
right under any provision of the DGCL, any securities or other Laws, the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws or Certificate of Designations,
or any agreement to which the Company is a party or is otherwise
bound.
(g) There
are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company
Common Stock or the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
to provide funds to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
3.3 Subsidiaries.
(a)
Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth for each Subsidiary of
the Company: (i) its name, (ii) the number and type of outstanding equity
securities and a list of the holders thereof, and (iii) the jurisdiction of
organization. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Subsidiary” means,
with respect to any party, any corporation, partnership, trust, limited
liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which such party
(or another Subsidiary of such party) holds stock or other ownership interests
representing (A) more than 50% of the voting power of all outstanding stock or
ownership interests of such entity or (B) the right to receive more than 50% of
the net assets of such entity available for distribution to the holders of
outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a liquidation or dissolution of
such entity.
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(b) Each
Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing (to the extent such concepts are applicable) under the Laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on
its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be
conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation (to the extent such
concepts are applicable) in each jurisdiction where the character of its
properties owned, operated or leased or the nature of its activities makes such
qualification necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or in good
standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All of the outstanding shares
of capital stock and other equity securities or interests of each Subsidiary of
the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights and all such shares are owned, of record and
beneficially, by the Company or another of its Subsidiaries free and clear of
all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements, limitations in the
Company’s rights with respect to its disposition rights, voting rights, charges
or other encumbrances. There are no outstanding or authorized
options, warrants, rights, agreements or commitments to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or which are binding on any of them providing for
the issuance, disposition or acquisition of any capital stock of any Subsidiary
of the Company. There are no outstanding stock appreciation, phantom
stock or similar rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the
Company. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary
of the Company.
(c)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly controls
or has any direct or indirect interest in any Person which is not a Subsidiary
of the Company.
3.4 Authority; No Conflict;
Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The
Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and, subject to the adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby (the “Company Voting
Proposal”) by the Company’s stockholders under the DGCL (the “Company
Stockholder Approval”), to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (A) the
Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held has, acting upon the unanimous
recommendation of the Special Committee, unanimously (other than with respect to
a single director who recused himself from deliberations concerning, and voting
with the Company Board on, this transaction) (i) determined that this Agreement,
the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby are fair and in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and
declared its advisability in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL, (iii)
directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for
their adoption and resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company
vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, and (iv) to the extent applicable, irrevocably adopted a
resolution having the effect of causing the Company not to be subject to any
“moratorium,” “control share,” “fair price,” or other anti-takeover law or
regulation or similar law or regulation that might otherwise apply to the Merger
and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the recommendation of
the Company Board that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt this
Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby being referred to
herein as the “Company
Board Recommendation”) and (B) the Special Committee, at a meeting duly
called and held, has unanimously determined that this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are advisable and fair
to and in the best interests of the holders of the Company Common
Stock. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Company
have been duly authorized by the Company Board and all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company has been taken, subject only to the required
receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (the “Bankruptcy and Equity
Exception”).
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(b) The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with, or
result in any violation or breach of, any provision of the Certificate of
Designations, Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or of the
charter, by-laws, or other organizational document of any Subsidiary of the
Company, (ii) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default (or give
rise to a right of termination, modification, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or loss of any benefit) under, require a consent or waiver under,
constitute a change in control under, require the payment of a penalty under or
result in the imposition of any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien,
charge or encumbrance (“Liens”)
on the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any lease, license, contract or other agreement,
instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be bound,
or (iii) subject to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval and compliance
with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (viii) of Section
3.4(c), conflict with or violate any permit,
concession, franchise, license, judgment, injunction, order, decree, statute,
Law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective properties or assets, except in
the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 3.4(a) for any such conflicts, violations,
breaches, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations, losses,
penalties or Liens, and for any consents or waivers not obtained, that would not
be and would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate,
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or which would
not prevent or materially delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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(c) No
consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration, notice or filing with, any court, arbitrational tribunal,
administrative agency or commission or other governmental or regulatory
authority, agency or instrumentality or Self-Regulatory Organization (each, a
“Governmental
Entity”), or The NASDAQ Capital Market is required by or with respect to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the pre merger
notification requirements under the Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) or other
Antitrust Laws, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware
Secretary of State and appropriate corresponding documents with the appropriate
authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business, (iii) the filing of the Proxy Statement with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in accordance
with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (iv)
the filing of such reports, schedules or materials under Section 13 of or Rule
14a-12 under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (v) SEC approval under
Section 19 of the Exchange Act or exemption under Section 36 of the Exchange
Act, (vi) any approval, exemption or waiver of, or any notice or filing with, as
applicable, the U.K. Financial Services Authority or any Self-Regulatory
Organization, (vii) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable
state securities laws which, if not obtained or made, has not had and would not
be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, and (viii) such other consents, approvals, licenses,
permits, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and
filings which, if not obtained or made, has not had and would not be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The term “Self-Regulatory
Organization” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 3(a)(26) of
the Exchange Act.
(d) The
affirmative vote for adoption of the Company Voting Proposal by the holders of
at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, including
the shares of Company Common Stock into which the outstanding shares of Company
Series B Preferred Stock are then convertible at the time of the record date, on
the record date for the meeting of the Company’s stockholders (the “Company Meeting”) to
consider the Company Voting Proposal (the “Required Company Stockholder
Vote”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the
Company’s capital stock or other securities necessary for the adoption of this
Agreement and for the consummation by the Company of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. There are no bonds, debentures, notes
or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible
into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters
on which stockholders of the Company may vote.
3.5 SEC Filings; Financial
Statements; Information Provided.
(a) The
Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, all registration statements,
forms, reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the
SEC since January 1, 2006. All such registration statements, forms,
reports and other documents (including all amendments or supplements thereto and
those that the Company may file or furnish after the date hereof until the
Closing) are referred to herein as the “Company SEC
Reports.” The Company SEC Reports (i) were or will be filed or
furnished on a timely basis, (ii) at the time filed or furnished, complied, or
will comply when filed or furnished, as to form in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the
case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to
such Company SEC Reports and (iii) including any financial statements or
schedules included or incorporated by reference therein, did not or will not at
the time they were or are filed or furnished contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such
Company SEC Reports or necessary in order to make the statements in such Company
SEC Reports, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. No executive officer of the Company has failed to make
the certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or 906 of SOX with
respect to any Company SEC Reports. No Subsidiary of the Company is
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.
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(b) Each
of the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements (including, in
each case, any related notes and schedules) contained (or incorporated by
reference) or to be contained (or incorporated by reference) in the Company SEC
Reports at the time filed (i) complied or will comply as to form in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) were or will be prepared in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited interim
financial statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange
Act), and (iii) fairly presented or will fairly present in all material respects
the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of
the dates indicated and the consolidated income, stockholders’ equity, results
of its operations and changes in consolidated financial position or cash flows
for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial
statements were or are subject to normal and recurring year end adjustments that
are not expected to be material in amount or effect. All of the
Company’s Subsidiaries are consolidated for accounting purposes. The
consolidated, unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2009 is
referred to herein as the “Company Balance
Sheet.”
(c) The
information to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion in the
proxy statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company (the “Proxy Statement”) in
connection with the Company Meeting, including all information about or relating
to the Company, the Company Board Recommendation, the Company Voting Proposal
and the Company Meeting, shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first
mailed to stockholders of the Company, or at the time of the Company Meeting or
at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not false or misleading; or omit to state any material fact
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies for the Company Meeting which has become false or
misleading. If at any time prior to the Company Meeting any fact or
event relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates which should be set forth
in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement should be discovered by
the Company, the Company shall promptly inform the Buyer of such fact or
event. The Proxy Statement and any other filings made by the Company
will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder.
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(d) The
Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or
15d-15 under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and
procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the
Company and its Subsidiaries is made known on a timely basis to the chief
executive officer and the chief financial officer and the individuals
responsible for the preparation of the Company’s filings with the SEC and other
public disclosure documents. The Company is, and has at all times
since January 1, 2009 been, in compliance with the applicable listing and other
rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Capital Market, and has not since January 1,
2009 received any notice from The NASDAQ Capital Market or any similar body
asserting any non-compliance with any of such rules and
regulations.
(e) To
the Company’s Knowledge, the Company’s outside auditor has at all times since
the date of enactment of 18 U.S.C. § 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act
of 2002 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (“SOX”)) been: (i) a
registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of SOX); (ii)
“independent” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Regulation S-X
under the Exchange Act; and (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, in compliance with
subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and related or companion rules and
regulations promulgated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
thereunder. The term “Company’s Knowledge”
means the actual knowledge of the individuals identified in Section 3.5(e) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, after reasonable inquiry by such
individuals.
(f) The
Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the
maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect
the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and that receipts
and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or
disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports
filed prior to the date hereof, since January 1, 2008, there have not been any
changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company has
disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the date of this
Agreement, to the Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the
Company Board (A) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls over financial
reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that would
reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud,
whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial
reporting. A true, correct and complete summary of any such
disclosures made by management to the Company’s auditors and audit committee is
set forth in Section 3.5(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
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(g)
Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement, and to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor its
independent auditors have (A) identified any material weakness in the design or
operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (all of
which have been or are currently being remediated), (B) identified any fraud,
whether or not material, that involves current management or other current
employees who have a role in the preparation of the financial statements of the
Company or the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, or (C)
received any claim or allegation regarding any of the
foregoing. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to
the Company’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or
representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received or
otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation,
assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or
auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including
any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing
practices. No attorney representing the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
has reported evidence of a material violation of federal or state securities
Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its
officers, directors, employees or agents to the Company Board or any committee
thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.
(h) There are no outstanding or unresolved comment letters
from the SEC or NASDAQ with respect to any of the Company SEC Reports or any
other matters. The Company has provided to the Buyer copies of all
material correspondence and written communications with the SEC or NASDAQ since
January 1, 2005, including any correspondence with respect to proceedings or
potential proceedings and any investigations related to stock options backdating
practices or investigations.
3.6 No Undisclosed
Liabilities. Except as expressly disclosed in the Company SEC
Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement or in the Company Balance
Sheet and except for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice (“Ordinary Course of
Business”) between the date of the Company Balance Sheet and the date of
this Agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries do
not have any liabilities of any nature (whether
known or unknown, accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise (including as may
be owing under indemnity or contribution arrangements) and without regard to
whether or not they are required to be reflected on the Company’s financial statements under GAAP) that would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
3.7 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports
filed prior to the date hereof, since the date of the Company Balance Sheet (a)
the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only
in the Ordinary Course of Business, (b) there has not been a Company Material
Adverse Effect or any fact, circumstance, event,
change or occurrence that has had or would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect and
(c) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not taken any other action or event
that would have required the consent of the Buyer under Section 5.1 of this
Agreement had such action or event occurred after the date of this
Agreement.
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3.8 Taxes.
(a) Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely filed all Tax Returns required to
be filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file), and
all such Tax Returns were true, correct and complete in all respects and were
prepared in compliance with all applicable Laws, except for any failure to file
or errors or omissions that, individually or in the aggregate, are not
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No claim
has been made in writing in the last six (6) years by a Governmental Entity in a
jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not currently
file Tax Returns that the Company or such Subsidiary is or may be subject to
taxation by that jurisdiction and to the Company’s Knowledge there is no basis
for such a claim.
(b) All
Taxes owed by each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on
any Tax Return) have been paid in full, except for any Taxes which the failure
to pay, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws
relating to the withholding and payment of Taxes, and has, within the time and
in the manner prescribed by Law, complied, in all material respects, with its
obligations to withhold and pay over to the proper taxing authorities all
amounts required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid
to, or owing to, any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or
other third party. There are no Liens on any of the assets of the
Company and each Subsidiary for Taxes, except Taxes that are not yet due and
payable or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for
which appropriate reserves have been recorded on the Company Balance
Sheet.
(c)
Except as set forth in Section 3.8(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there
are no pending audits, examinations or other reviews relating to Taxes of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no such
audits, examinations or other reviews are proposed. There is no claim
or assessment pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with regard to any Taxes or Tax
Return. There are no outstanding requests for Tax rulings,
determinations or information that could materially affect the Taxes or Tax
attributes of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
(d)
Section 3.8(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all federal, state, local,
and foreign Tax Returns filed with respect to each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 2004, indicates
those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that
currently are the subject of audit. The Company and its Subsidiaries
have made available to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all material Tax
Returns (together with all examination reports and statements of deficiencies
assessed against or agreed to by the Company or any Subsidiary) with respect to
any taxable period ending on or after December 31, 2005.
(e) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations in
respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax
assessment or deficiency other than waivers or extensions which are no longer in
effect and no request for any such waiver or extension is pending.
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(f)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a member of a group of
corporations with which it has filed any affiliated, consolidated, combined or
unitary federal, state, local or foreign Tax Return, other than a group of which
the Company is the common parent. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is now or has ever been a party to or bound by any contract,
agreement or other arrangement (whether or not written) that requires the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to indemnify any other Person with respect to
Taxes or make any material Tax payment to or for the account of any other
Person. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign Law.
(g) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby either solely as a result thereof or in
conjunction with any other events will result in, or constitute an event which,
with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both will result in the
accelerated vesting of, any payment or benefit to any employee, officer,
director or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No
amount paid or payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby either solely as a
result thereof or in conjunction with any other events will be an “excess
parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code nor will the
Company be required to “gross up” or otherwise reimburse any Person because of
the imposition of any excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(h)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any
material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from,
taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the
Closing Date as a result of any of the following with respect to the Company or
any Subsidiary: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable
period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date under Code
Section 481(c) (or any corresponding or similar provision of other income Tax
Law); (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Code Section 7121 (or any
corresponding or similar provision of other income Tax Law) executed on or prior
to the Closing Date; or (iii) an installment sale or open transaction
disposition made, or prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing
Date.
(i)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a
“reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.6011-4(b).
(j) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another
corporation in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed by
Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(k)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested or received any
written ruling of a Governmental Entity relating to Taxes or entered into a
“closing agreement” as described in Code Section 7121 (or any corresponding or
similar provision of other income Tax Law) that would have a
continuing effect after the Closing Date. No power of attorney currently
in force has been granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning
any Tax matter.
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(l)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has been, a United States
real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the
Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the
Code.
(m) Since January 1, 2002, the Company has not
undergone any “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the
Code. Other than solely as a result of the transaction contemplated
by this Agreement, the utilization of any net operating loss carryforwards of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that arose since January 1, 2002, is not
subject to any limitations pursuant to Sections 382, 383, or 384 of the
Code.
(n) As of
the Effective Time, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not have “substantial
nonbusiness assets” within the meaning of Section 382(1)(4) of the
Code. For purposes of this representation, the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries shall be characterized as business assets or non-business
assets, as applicable, without taking into account the Buyer’s plans or
intentions with respect to such assets following the Effective
Time.
(o) For
all purposes of this Agreement: “Tax” or “Taxes” means all
taxes, assessments, duties, levies or other assessments or other charges imposed
by any Governmental Entity, including income, gross receipts, ad valorem,
premium, value added, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use,
services, transfer, withholding, employment, unemployment, payroll,
telecommunications and franchise taxes, and federal or state universal service
fund charges together with any interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or
additional amounts. “Tax Return” means all
returns, declarations, reports, estimates, statements, forms and other documents
filed with or supplied to or required to be filed with or supplied to a
Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment
thereto and any amendment thereof.
3.9 Owned and Leased Real
Properties.
(a)
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns any real property.
(b) Section
3.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list
as of the date of this Agreement of all real property leased, subleased or
licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively “Company Leases”) and
the location of such premises. Except as would not have or reasonably
be likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the
Company’s Knowledge, any other party to any Company Lease is in default under
any of the Company Leases, (ii) no termination event or condition or uncured
default of a material nature on the part of the Company or, if applicable, its
Subsidiary or, to the Company’s Knowledge, the landlord thereunder, exists under
any Company Lease, (iii) each Company Lease is valid, binding and in full force
and effect except to the extent it has previously expired in accordance with its
terms and (iv) each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has a good and
valid leasehold interest in each parcel of real property leased by it free and
clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries leases, subleases or licenses any real property to
any Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company
has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of all Company
Leases. “Permitted Liens”
means (i) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, materialmen, workmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by Law made
in the Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) defects or imperfections of title,
easements, covenants, rights of way, restrictions and any other
charges or encumbrances that do not impair, and could not reasonably be expected
to impair, the value, marketability or continued use of the property of the
Company.
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3.10 Intellectual
Property.
(a) The
Company and its Subsidiaries own, license, sublicense or otherwise possess
legally enforceable rights to use all Intellectual Property used in the business
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, other than
such Intellectual Property that is not material to the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the “Company Intellectual
Property”), free and clear of all Liens, other than non-exclusive
licenses granted to the Company’s licensees in the Ordinary Course of
Business. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Intellectual
Property” means all worldwide rights in, arising from or associated with
the following, whether protected, created or arising under the Laws of the
United States or any other jurisdiction or under any international convention:
(i) patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights,
designs, trade dresses, logos, business names and trade secrets, (ii)
applications for and registrations of such patents, trademarks, service marks,
trade names, domain names, uniform resource locators, copyrights and designs,
including all reissues, divisions, re-examinations, renewals, extensions,
provisionals, substitutions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof,
and equivalent or similar rights anywhere in the world in inventions and
discoveries including, invention disclosures, (iii) processes, formulae,
methods, schematics, technology, know-how, computer software programs and
applications, (iv) computer programs (whether in source code, object code, or
other form), databases, compilations and data, technology supporting the
foregoing, and all documentation, including user manuals and training materials
relating to the foregoing (“Software”), (v) other
tangible or intangible proprietary or confidential information, materials and
know-how, whether or not reduced to writing or any other tangible form, in each
case, whether registered or unregistered and (vi) moral rights and rights of
attribution.
(b) Section
3.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all Company Intellectual Property
that is owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and that has been
registered or applied for in any jurisdiction, including the record owner of
such Company Intellectual Property and the jurisdictions in which each such
Company Intellectual Property has been issued or registered or in which any such
application for issuance or registration has been filed (the “Registered Company
Intellectual Property”) and all Software (other than commercially
available software) material to the operation of the Company’s
business. Section 3.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter also lists
any inter partes proceedings or actions before any Governmental Entity
(including the United States Patent and Trademark Office or equivalent authority
anywhere in the world) related to any Company Intellectual Property or any
Company Intellectual Property that is owned by the Company.
(c) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by
the Company of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby will not
result in the breach of, or create on behalf of any third party, the right to
terminate or modify, will not cause the forfeiture or give rise to a right of
first offer, forfeiture or termination, impair the right of the Buyer to make,
use, sell, license or dispose of, or to bring any action for the infringement
of, or violate or conflict with, (i) any license, sublicense, instrument or
other agreement relating to any Company Intellectual Property, or (ii) any
license, sublicense, instrument or other agreement as to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party that concerns any Company Intellectual
Property.
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(d) All
Company Intellectual Property are subsisting and have not expired or been
cancelled. To the Company’s Knowledge, there exists no prior act or
current use by any third party that infringes, violates or misappropriates any
of the Company Intellectual Property.
(e) To
the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
performed prior acts or is engaged in current conduct or use and to the
Company’s Knowledge there exists no prior act or current use by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries that infringes, violates or constitutes a
misappropriation of any Intellectual Property of any third party or would void
or invalidate any Company Intellectual Property.
(f) To
the Company’s Knowledge, each item of Registered Company Intellectual Property
is valid and subsisting. All necessary registration, maintenance and
renewal fees currently due in connection with such Company Intellectual Property
have been paid and all necessary documents and certificates in connection with
such Company Intellectual Property have been filed with the relevant patent,
copyright, trademark or other authorities in the United States or foreign
jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of maintaining such
Registered Company Intellectual Property Rights.
(g) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to
maintain their rights in the Registered Company Intellectual
Property.
(h) No
written claim of invalidity or conflicting ownership rights with respect to any
Company Intellectual Property has been made by a third party to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries and no such Company Intellectual Property is the subject
of any pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened action, suit, claim,
investigation, arbitration, interference, opposition or other
proceeding.
(i) No
Person has given written notice to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
that the use of any Company Intellectual Property by the Company, any Subsidiary
of the Company or any licensee, or that any other activity by any of the
foregoing, is or may be infringing, or has or may have infringed any domestic or
foreign registered patent, trademark, service xxxx, trade name, trade dress,
copyright or design right, or that the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or
any licensee has misappropriated or improperly used or disclosed any trade
secret, confidential information or know-how. To the Company’s
Knowledge, the making, using, selling, manufacturing, marketing, licensing,
reproduction, distribution, or publishing of any process, machine, manufacture
or product related to any Company Intellectual Property, or any other activity
undertaken by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (A) does not infringe
any domestic or foreign registered patent, trademark, service xxxx, trade name,
trade dress, copyright or other Intellectual Property right of any third party,
and (B) does not involve the misappropriation or improper use or disclosure of
any trade secrets, confidential information or know-how of any third
party.
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(j) In
each case in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has acquired ownership
of any Company Intellectual Property from any Person, the Company has obtained a
valid and enforceable written assignment sufficient to irrevocably transfer all
such Company Intellectual Property to the Company. The Company has no
reason to believe that the owners of Intellectual Property licensed to the
Company have not taken reasonable steps to maintain and protect such
Intellectual Property.
(k) All
employees and consultants of the Company who in the normal course of his or her
duties is involved in the creation of Company Intellectual Property have entered
into one or more agreements with the Company, or otherwise has a legal duty,
sufficient to vest title in the Company of all Intellectual Property created by
such employee or consultant in the scope of his or her employment or
consultancy, as the case may be, with the Company.
(l) None
of the Company’s employees are obligated under any contract (including licenses,
covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any
judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would
interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of
the Company or that would conflict with the Company’s business as presently
conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.
(m) It
is not and will not be necessary for the Company to utilize any inventions of
any of its employees (or people it or they currently intend to hire) made prior
to their employment by the Company or any Subsidiary in order for the Company to
operate its business as currently conducted or as contemplated to be
conducted.
(n) With
respect to the use, operation, implementation and delivery of the Software in
the business of the Company, (i) no capital expenditures are necessary with
respect to such use other than capital expenditures in the Ordinary Course of
Business, (ii) the Company has not experienced any material defects in such
Software, including any material error or omission in the processing of any
transactions other than defects which have been corrected, and (iii) no such
Software (x) contains any device or feature designed to disrupt, disable, or
otherwise impair the functioning of any Software or (y) is subject to the terms
of any “open source” or other similar license that provides for the source code
of the Software to be publicly distributed or dedicated to the
public. Since August 30, 2006, (i) there have been no material
security breaches in the Company’s information technology systems, and (ii)
there have been no disruptions in any of the Company’s information technology
systems that have adversely affected in any material respect the Company’s
business or operations.
3.11
Contracts.
(a) Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter
sets forth a complete and accurate list of all contracts, agreements,
commitments, arrangements, leases and other instruments (including all
amendments or modifications) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party or by which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets is bound, as of the date of this Agreement,
that:
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(i)
are material to the business, financial condition or results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including any “material
contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the
SEC) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries and any contract that
would be required to be disclosed by the Company on a Current Report on Form
8-K;
(ii)
contain covenants that limit the ability of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (or which, following the consummation of the Merger, could restrict
the ability of the Surviving Corporation or any of its Affiliates (whether
controlled or uncontrolled) to compete in any business or with any Person or in
any geographic area, or to sell, supply, purchase or distribute any service or
product, or to acquire any Person;
(iii) with
respect to a joint venture, alliance agreement, resale agreement, partnership,
shareholder agreement, limited liability or other similar agreement or
arrangement, relating to the formation, creation, operation, management or
control of any partnership or joint venture that is material to the business of
the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iv) involve
any exchange traded, over-the-counter or other swap, cap, floor, collar, futures
contract, forward contract, option or any other derivative financial instrument
or contract, based on any commodity, security, instrument, asset, rate or index
of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible, including
commodities, emissions allowances, renewable energy credits, currencies,
interest rates, foreign currency and indices;
(v) relate
to (A) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property and having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $250,000 or
(B) conditional sale arrangements, the sale, securitization or servicing of
loans or loan portfolios, in each case in connection with which the aggregate
actual or contingent obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under such
contract are greater than $250,000;
(vi) were
entered into after December 31, 2007 or not yet consummated, and involve the
acquisition from another Person or disposition to another Person, directly or
indirectly (by merger or otherwise), of assets or capital stock or other equity
interests of another Person for aggregate consideration under such contract in
excess of $250,000 (other than acquisitions or dispositions of assets in the
Ordinary Course of Business, including acquisitions and dispositions of
inventory);
(vii) by
their terms call for aggregate payment or receipt by the Company and its
Subsidiaries under such contract of more than $250,000 over the remaining term
of such contract;
(viii)
relate to an acquisition, divestiture, merger or similar transaction that
contains representations, covenants, indemnities or other obligations (including
indemnification, “earn-out” or other contingent obligations), that are still in
effect and, individually or in the aggregate, could result in payments in excess
of $250,000;
(ix) contain
restrictions with respect to payment of dividends or any distributions in
respect of the capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries;
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(x) obligate
the Company to make any capital commitment or expenditure (including pursuant to
any joint venture) in excess of $250,000;
(xi) relate
to any guarantee or assumption of other obligations or reimbursement of any
maker of a letter of credit, except for agreements entered into in the Ordinary
Course of Business, which agreements relate to obligations which do not exceed
$250,000 in the aggregate for all such agreements;
(xii) relate
to the purchase or sale of material real property or is a Company
Lease;
(xiii) is
a license agreement pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
licenses in material Intellectual Property rights of the Company, other than
commercially available software, or licenses out Company Intellectual Property,
other than agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; provided, that
certain of those license agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries licenses out
Company Intellectual Property are set forth in Section 3.11(a)(xiii)(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter and are, for the avoidance of doubt “Company Material
Contracts.” All other agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course
of Business pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries licenses
out Company Intellectual Property are entered into with such licensees in forms
substantially similar to the agreement set forth on Section 3.11(a)(xiii)(b) of
the Company Disclosure Letter;
(xiv) has
as a party any current or former director, officer, partner, employee or
Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who
beneficially owns 5% or more of the capital stock of the Company (or any of such
Person’s immediate family members or Affiliates), except for employment
contracts, agreements or arrangements entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business (a “Related
Party Transaction”);
(xv) any
employment or consulting agreement with any executive officer of the
Company;
(xvi) all
agreements under which any licensee is entitled to receive, or, upon the
occurrence of specified conditions, may become entitled to receive, source code
for any of the Company's Software; or
(xvii) other
than as listed in clauses (i) through (xvi) above, that is material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Each
contract of the type described in clauses (i) through (xvii) above is referred
to herein as a Company Material Contract. The Company has made
available to the Buyer a complete and accurate copy of each Company Material
Contract.
(b) Each
Company Material Contract is in full force and effect except to the extent it
has previously expired in accordance with its terms or where the failure to be
in full force and effect is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to
any Company Material Contract is in violation of or in default under (nor does
there exist any condition which, upon the passage of time or the giving of
notice or both, would cause such a violation of or default under) any Company
Material Contract and the Company and its Subsidiaries have performed and
complied with all obligations required to be performed or complied with by them
under each Company Material Contract, except for violations or defaults that,
individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Except
as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any
transaction with any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
transaction that would be subject to proxy statement disclosure pursuant to Item
404 of Regulation S-K.
3.12
Litigation. Except
as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement: (a) there is no Proceeding pending or, to the Company’s
Knowledge, threatened against (including against the Company or its
Representatives with respect to any shareholder or derivative Proceeding) or
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or assets that, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably
likely to (i) have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) result in liability
(including attorney and advisor fees) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
of an amount in excess of $100,000 or (iii) seeks injunctive relief; and (b)
there are no material Judgments outstanding against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. To the Company’s Knowledge, no officer or director of
the Company or its Subsidiaries is a defendant in any Proceeding in connection
with his or her status as an officer or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. There are no Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s
Knowledge, threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Judgment”
shall mean any order, writ, injunction, citation, award, decree or other
judgment of any nature of any Governmental Entity; and “Proceeding” shall
mean any demand, claim, suit, action, litigation, investigation, arbitration,
administrative hearing, audit or other proceeding of any nature (including any
civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or appellate
proceeding).
3.13 Employee Benefit
Plans.
(a) Section
3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list
as of the date of this Agreement of all Employee Benefit Plans sponsored,
maintained, or contributed to, by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries
or any of their ERISA Affiliates (together, the “Company Employee
Plans”). For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings: (i) “Employee Benefit Plan” means
any (x) “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA),
(y) “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), and
(z) other material written or oral plan, agreement or arrangement involving
direct or indirect compensation (other than salary as compensation for services
rendered), including insurance coverage, severance benefits, disability
benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses, stock options, stock purchase,
restricted stock unit, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive
compensation or post-retirement compensation, vacation or fringe benefit plan,
program or policy and all unexpired employment, severance and change of control
agreements, for the benefit of, or relating to, any current or former employee
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an ERISA Affiliate; (ii) “ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations
promulgated thereunder; and (iii) “ERISA Affiliate”
means any entity, trade or business that is a member of (A) a controlled group
of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (B) a group of
trades or businesses under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the
Code), or (C) an affiliated service group (as defined under Section 414(m) of
the Code or the regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code), any of which
includes or included the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.
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(b) With
respect to each Company Employee Plan, the Company has made available to the
Buyer a complete and accurate copy of (i) such Company Employee Plan, (ii) the
annual reports (Form 5500) filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the past
three (3) years, (iii) the most recent IRS determination (or opinion) letter for
each Company Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a)
of the Code, and (iv) each trust agreement, group annuity contract and summary
plan description, if any, relating to such Company Employee
Plan. Except as specifically provided in documents made available to
the Buyer, there are no amendments to any Company Employee Plan that have been
adopted or approved nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries undertaken to
make any such amendment or to adopt or approve any new Company Employee
Plan.
(c) Each
Company Employee Plan is being administered in compliance with ERISA, the Code
and all other applicable laws and the regulations thereunder and in accordance
with its terms, except for such failures to comply that, individually or in the
aggregate, are not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries. All
the Company Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code have received determination letters from the IRS to the
effect that such Company Employee Plans are qualified and the plans and trusts
related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and
501(a), respectively, of the Code, and no such determination letter has been
revoked and revocation has not been threatened. No Company Employee
Plan is presently under audit or examination (nor has notice been received of a
potential audit or examination) by the IRS, Department of Labor or any other
Governmental Entity, and no matters are pending with respect to any Company
Employee Plan under any IRS program. Neither the Company, any of the
Company’s Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has (i) ever sponsored
or maintained a Company Employee Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or (ii) has
any liability with respect to or has ever been obligated to contribute to a
“multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA). The
Company does not contribute to or have any liability with respect to a plan,
which has two or more contributing sponsors, within the meaning of Section 4063
of ERISA. There are no material actions, suits or claims pending
(other than routine claims for benefits) or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened or anticipated with respect to such Company Employee Plan, any
fiduciaries of such Company Employee Plan with respect to their duties to any
Company Employee Plan, or against the assets of such Company Employee Plan or
any trust maintained in connection with such Company Employee Plan.
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(d)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any oral or
written (i) agreement with any stockholders, director, executive officer or
other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (A) the benefits of
which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the
occurrence of a transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
the nature of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B)
providing any term of employment or compensation guarantee or (C) providing
severance benefits or other benefits after the termination of employment of such
director, executive officer or key employee; or (ii) agreement or plan binding
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any stock option plan, stock
appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan or severance
benefit plan, any of the benefits of which shall be increased, or the vesting or
payment of the benefits of which shall be accelerated, by the occurrence of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of the
benefits of which shall be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
(either alone or in conjunction with any other event) result in any limitation
on the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to amend, merge,
terminate or receive a reversion of assets from any Company Employee Plan
holding plan assets or related trust.
(e)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has the obligation to indemnify,
hold harmless or gross-up any individual with respect to any penalty tax or
interest under Section 409A of the Code. Each Company Employee Plan
that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined in Section
409A(d)(1)of the Code) is in documentary compliance with Section 409A of the
Code. Each nonqualified deferred compensation plan has been operated
since January 1, 2005 in good faith compliance with Section 409A of the Code
through January 1, 2009 and in compliance in all material respects thereafter,
or has been corrected in accordance with procedures permitted under Section 409A
of the Code. No equity grant awarded by the Company has any feature
for the deferral of compensation that could render the grant subject to Section
409A of the Code.
(f) No
Company Employee Plan provides benefits, including death or medical benefits
(whether or not insured), with respect to present or former employees or
beneficiary or covered dependent of a present employee or former employee or
directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or
other termination of service, other than (A) coverage mandated by applicable Law
or (B) benefits solely payable upon death. None of the Company
Employee Plans promises or provides retiree medical or other retiree welfare
benefits to any person, except as required by applicable law.
(g) The
Company does not maintain, have any obligation to contribute to or have any
liability, contingent or otherwise, with respect to, any benefit plan or
arrangement outside the United States and has never had any obligation or
liability with respect to any such benefit plan or arrangement.
3.14
Compliance With
Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in
compliance with, is not in violation of, and, since January 1, 2007, has not
received any written notice alleging any violation with respect to, any
applicable Law with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or
operation of its properties or assets, except for failures to comply or
violations that, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Law” shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign
or other law, statute, charter, constitution, treaty, principle of common law,
resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, guideline, ruling
or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise
put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental
Entity.
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3.15
Permits. Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, privileges,
orders, authorizations and franchises from Governmental Entities required to
own, lease and operate their properties and conduct their businesses as now
being conducted, except for such permits, licenses, privileges, orders,
authorizations and franchises the absence of which, individually or in the
aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect
(the “Company
Permits”). The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
with the terms of the Company Permits. To the Company’s Knowledge,
since January 1, 2007, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any
written notice from any Governmental Entity regarding or is aware of any
circumstances that would result in: (i) any actual or possible material
violation of or failure to comply in any material respect with any term or
requirement of any material Company Permit; or (ii) any actual or possible
revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination or modification of
any material Company Permit.
3.16
Labor
Matters. No labor organization or group of employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has made a pending demand for recognition or
certification, and there are no representation or certification proceedings or
petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or, to the
Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, with the National Labor
Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or
authority. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the
subject of any proceeding asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
has committed an unfair labor practice or is seeking to compel it to bargain
with any labor union or labor organization. There are no organizing
activities, labor strikes, disputes, walkouts, work stoppages, slow-downs,
lockouts, arbitrations or grievances pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge,
threatened against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that,
individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are
in compliance with all applicable local, state, federal and foreign Laws
relating to labor and employment and collective bargaining agreements respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages
and hours and occupational safety and health except for such failures to comply
that, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
3.17
Customers and
Suppliers. Since January 1,
2008, there has been no termination, cancellation or material curtailment of the
business relationship of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any
customer, or supplier or group of affiliated customers or suppliers
which individually or in the
aggregate would result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect nor has there been any written or to the Company’s
Knowledge, oral, notice of intent to so terminate, cancel or materially curtail
such business relationship which would have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Section 3.17 of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a
true and complete list of the Company’s (a) top customers representing twenty
percent (20%) of the Company’s revenue, during the last two (2) fiscal years and
for the current fiscal year to June 30, 2009, in each case, with respect to each
of the Company’s Fix Division, Transaction Services Division (including Euro
Millennium) and Order Management Systems Division, together with the revenue
from each for the corresponding periods and (b) top ten (10) vendors, during the
last two (2) fiscal years and for current fiscal year to June 30, 2009, together
with the expenditures to each for the corresponding
periods.
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3.18 Insurance. Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains insurance policies (which are in full force and effect) with
reputable insurance carriers against all risks of a character and in such
amounts as are usually insured against by similarly situated companies in the
same or similar businesses. With
respect to each such insurance policy (i) all premiums due thereon have been
paid, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach or
default in any material respect, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action which, with
notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default in any
material respect, or permit termination or material modification of, any such
policy and (iii) since January 1, 2007 through the date of this Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice
regarding any actual or threatened (a) cancellation or invalidation of any
insurance policy, (b) refusal of any coverage or rejection of any material claim
under any insurance policy, or (c) material adjustment in the amount of the
premiums payable with respect to any insurance policy. Since January
1, 2007, the Company’s directors’ and officers’ insurance policies and other
“claims’ made insurance policies have been in full force and effect during the
respective period(s) of coverage.
3.19
Opinion of Financial
Advisors. Evercore Partners, L.L.C. and Xxxxxxxxx & Co.,
LLC have each delivered to the Company Board an opinion, dated as of August
26, 2009, to the effect that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the
assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein, the Common Stock
Merger Consideration is fair to the holders of Company Common Stock from a
financial point of view and such opinion has not, as of the date hereof, been
withdrawn, revoked, waived, amended, modified or supplemented in any
respect. Xxxxxxxxx & Co., LLC has delivered to the Special
Committee an opinion, dated as of August 26, 2009, to the effect that, as of
such date and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and
limitations set forth therein, the Common Stock Merger Consideration is fair to
the holders of Company Common Stock from a financial point of view and such
opinion has not, as of the date hereof, been withdrawn, revoked, waived,
amended, modified or supplemented in any respect.
3.20
Section 203 of the
DGCL. The Company Board has taken all actions necessary so
that the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL applicable to a
“business combination” (as defined in Section 203) shall not apply to the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Merger.
3.21
Brokers. No
agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other similar firm or
third party is or shall be entitled, as a result of any action, agreement or
commitment of the Company or any of its Affiliates, to any broker’s, finder’s,
financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except Evercore Partners,
L.L.C. and Xxxxxxxxx & Co., whose fees and expenses shall be paid by the
Company. The Company has made available to the Buyer a complete and
accurate copy of all agreements pursuant to which Evercore Partners, L.L.C. and
Xxxxxxxxx & Co. are entitled to any fees and expenses in connection with any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Set forth on Section 3.21 of
the Company Disclosure Letter is the Company’s reasonable estimate
prepared in good faith, as of the date of this Agreement, of all fees and
expenses incurred or payable, or to be incurred or payable, by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby (including all financial advisory (other
than financial advisory fees described in the previous sentence), legal and
accounting fees and expenses).
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ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
AND
THE MERGER SUB
The Buyer
and the Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company that the statements
contained in this Article IV are true and correct.
4.1 Organization, Standing and
Power. Each of the Buyer and the Merger Sub is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on
its business as now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified to
do business and, where applicable as a legal concept, is in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character of the
properties it owns, operates or leases or the nature of its activities makes
such qualification necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or in
good standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely
to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Buyer Material Adverse
Effect” means any material adverse effect, change, event, circumstance,
condition, occurrence on or development with respect to the ability of the Buyer
or the Merger Sub to consummate the transactions and perform their respective
obligations contemplated by this Agreement.
4.2 Authority; No Conflict;
Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Each
of the Buyer and the Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Buyer and
the Merger Sub have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of each of the Buyer and the Merger Sub. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by each of the Buyer and the Merger Sub and
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of the Buyer and the Merger
Sub, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to
the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
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(b) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Buyer and the Merger Sub
do not, and the consummation by the Buyer and the Merger Sub of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with, or result in any
violation or breach of, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws of the Buyer or the Merger Sub, (ii) conflict with, or result in any
violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time,
or both) a default (or give rise to a right of termination, modification,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit) under,
require a consent or waiver under, constitute a change in control under, require
the payment of a penalty under or result in the imposition of any Lien on the
Buyer’s or the Merger Sub’s assets under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any lease, license, contract or other agreement, instrument or
obligation to which the Buyer or the Merger Sub is a party or by which any of
them or any of their properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) subject to
compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (vi) of
Section 4.2(c), conflict with or violate any permit, concession, franchise,
license, judgment, injunction, order, decree, statute, Law, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to the Buyer or the Merger Sub or any of its or their
respective properties or assets, except in the case of clause (ii) of this
Section 4.2(b) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults,
terminations, cancellations, accelerations, losses, penalties or Liens, and for
any consents or waivers not obtained, that would not result in and would not
reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Buyer
Material Adverse Effect or except in the case of clause (iii) of this
Section 4.2(b) for any such conflict or violation that would not be and
would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate,
material to the Buyer, taken as a whole or which would not materially prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(c) No
consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration, notice or filing with, any Governmental Entity or the New York
Stock Exchange is required by or with respect to the Buyer or the Merger Sub in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Buyer or the
Merger Sub or the consummation by the Buyer or the Merger Sub of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the pre-merger
notification requirements under the HSR Act or other Antitrust Laws,
(ii) SEC approval under Section 19 of the Exchange Act or
exemption under Section 36 of the Exchange Act, (iii) approval, exemption
or waiver, as applicable, of the Financial Services Authority, (iv) the filing
of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and
appropriate corresponding documents with the appropriate authorities of other
states in which the Company is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
business, (v) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as may be required under applicable state securities
laws which, if not obtained or made, has not had and would not be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse
Effect, and (vi) such other consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and filings which, if not
obtained or made, has not had and would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No
vote of the holders of any class or series of the Buyer’s capital stock or other
securities is necessary for the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
4.3 Information
Provided. The information to be supplied by or on behalf of
the Buyer or the Merger Sub for inclusion in the Proxy Statement to be sent to
the stockholders of the Company in connection with the Company Meeting shall
not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders of the
Company, at the time of the Company Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading;
or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any
earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the
Company Meeting which has become false or misleading. If at any time
prior to the Company Meeting any fact or event relating to the Buyer, the Merger
Sub or any of their Affiliates which should be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Proxy Statement should be discovered by the Buyer or the
Merger Sub or should occur, the Buyer shall, promptly after becoming aware
thereof, inform the Company of such fact or event.
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4.4 Litigation. There
is no Proceeding pending or, to the Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened against the
Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, is
reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. The term
“Buyer’s
Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of the individuals identified in
Section 4.4 of the Buyer’s Disclosure Letter, after reasonable inquiry by such
individuals.
4.5 Operations of the Merger
Sub. The Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of
engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has engaged in no
other business activities and has conducted its operations only as contemplated
by this Agreement.
4.6 Financing. The
Buyer and the Merger Sub will, as of the Closing Date, together have sufficient
funds to perform all of their respective obligations under this Agreement and to
consummate the Merger.
4.7 Brokers. No
agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other similar firm or
third party is or shall be entitled, as a result of any action, agreement or
commitment of the Buyer or any of its Affiliates, to any broker’s, finder’s,
financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except Citigroup Inc., whose
fees and expenses shall be paid by the Buyer, except as provided in Section
8.3.
ARTICLE
V
CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS
5.1 Covenants of the
Company. Except as expressly required or expressly
contemplated herein (including pursuant to a specific written request of the
Buyer under Section 6.12), as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure
Letter or as consented to in writing by the Buyer, during the period commencing
on the date of this Agreement and ending at the Effective Time or such earlier
date as this Agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms (the
“Pre-Closing
Period”), the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
(i) act and carry on its business in the
Ordinary Course of Business, and the Company will use, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve its
and each of its Subsidiary’s business organization, assets and properties and
preserve intact business relationships with customers, suppliers, landlords and others having business dealings
with it and its Subsidiaries; (ii) keep in full
force all insurance policies referred to in Section 3.18 (or replacement
policies on the same terms as such insurance policies); and (iii) promptly
notify the Buyer of any notice or other written communication received by the
Company from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be
required in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
except as expressly required or expressly contemplated herein (including
pursuant to a specific written request of the Buyer under Section 6.12), or as
set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, during the
Pre-Closing Period the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, do any of the following without the
prior written consent of the Buyer:
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(a) (i)
declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, securities or other property) in respect of, any of its
capital stock (other than dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent), (ii) split, combine or
reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any
other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its
capital stock or any of its other securities; or (iii) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire or amend the terms of, directly or indirectly, any shares of
its or its Subsidiaries capital stock or any other of its or its Subsidiaries
securities or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or
other securities;
(b)
except as permitted by Section 5.1(k), issue, deliver, sell, grant, pledge or
otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of its capital stock, any other
voting securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any
rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities or
convertible or exchangeable securities or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery, sale, grant, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of any of such
securities or securities of its Subsidiaries (other than the issuance of shares
of Company Common Stock upon the settlement or exercise of Company Stock Options
or RSUs outstanding on the date of this Agreement);
(c) amend
or propose to amend its or its Subsidiaries’ certificate of incorporation,
by-laws or other comparable charter or organizational documents;
(d) amend
or waive any of its rights under any provision of any of the Company Stock
Plans, Company Stock Options, Company Warrants, or RSUs, any provision of any
agreement evidencing any outstanding stock option, restricted stock award or
other equity agreement, or otherwise modify any of the terms of any outstanding
option, restricted stock award, warrant or other security or any related
contract or agreement, in each case with respect to the capital stock of the
Company (provided, that,
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company may take
such actions with respect to the Company Stock Plans, Company Stock Options,
Company Warrants and RSUs to comply with the requirements of this
Agreement);
(e)
acquire, agree to acquire or offer to make any acquisition (i) by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing all or a substantial portion of the assets
or any stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other
business organization or division thereof or (ii) of any assets that are
material, in the aggregate, to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole or that involve the payments in excess of $500,000 for all such
acquisitions in the aggregate (without prejudice to acquisitions permitted under
Section 5.1(i));
(f) sell,
lease, license, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any properties or
assets of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries other than in the Ordinary
Course of Business and involving the receipt of consideration not in excess of
$500,000 for all such sales, leases, licenses, pledges, encumbrances and other
dispositions in the aggregate;
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(g) adopt
or implement any stockholder rights or similar plan or take any action to render
inapplicable to any third party, or to exempt any third party from, the
provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL;
(h) (i)
incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for, or amend, modify,
refinance or prepay, any indebtedness for borrowed money (including the issuance
of any debt security) or assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any
such indebtedness of another Person other than in connection with equipment and
technology financing for capital expenditures permitted under Section 5.1(i),
(ii) issue, sell or amend any debt securities or warrants or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
guarantee any debt securities of another person, (iii) make any loans, advances
or capital contributions to, or investment in, any other person, other than the
Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries, provided,
however, that the Company may, in the Ordinary Course of Business, continue to
invest in Treasury bills issued by the U.S. government or money market funds
with Standard & Poor’s rating of AAAm, in each case, maturing not more than
ninety (90) days after the date of investment or (iv) enter into any hedging
agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect the
Company or its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in commodities prices or
exchange rates;
(i) (i)
make or enter into any agreements to make any capital expenditures or other
expenditures with respect to property, plant or equipment other than (A) in
amounts not in excess of $1,250,000 in the aggregate (without prejudice to
acquisitions permitted by Section 5.1(e)) in connection with capital or other
expenditures with respect to property, plant or equipment for the Company’s FIX
Division and (B) in amounts not in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate (without
prejudice to acquisitions permitted by Section 5.1(e)) in connection with
capital or other expenditures with respect to property, plant and equipment for
the Company’s other divisions, (ii) enter into any new line of business outside
of its existing business or (iii) discontinue any existing line of
business;
(j) make
any changes in financial accounting methods, principles or practices, or any of
the working capital policies applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries,
except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP;
(k)
except as required to comply with applicable Law or agreements, plans or
arrangements existing on the date hereof and except for the payments of bonuses
under the Company’s 2009 Annual Incentive Plan to the persons, and in the
amounts, set forth on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) adopt,
enter into, terminate or materially amend (except as required by Law) any
employment, severance or similar agreement or material benefit plan for the
benefit or welfare of any current or former director, officer or employee or any
collective bargaining agreement, (ii) increase in any respect the compensation
or fringe benefits of, or pay any bonus to, any director, officer or employee
(except, upon prior notice to the Buyer, to non-executive employees in
connection with retention prior to the Closing in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $500,000; provided, that any amount to be paid or agreed to be paid to
any non-executive employee in excess of $50,000 shall be subject to the Buyer’s
prior written consent), (iii) accelerate the payment, right to payment or
vesting of any material compensation or benefits, including any outstanding
options or restricted stock awards, other than as contemplated by this
Agreement, (iv) grant any stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock based
or stock related awards, performance units or restricted stock, or (v) take any
action other than in the Ordinary Course of Business to fund or in any other way
secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Company Employee Plan,
or (vi) hire any employee with total annual compensation in excess of $150,000
other than a non-executive officer employee hired in the Ordinary Course of
Business to replace an employee whose employment was terminated; provided,
however, that any such non-executive officer employee hired shall be provided
total annual compensation of not more than the lesser of (A) $250,000 and (B)
one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the total annual compensation provided to
the terminated employee that such employee is hired to replace;
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(l) except to the extent required by Law, (i) make or change
any material election, (ii) change an annual accounting period or adopt or
change any accounting method in any material respect, (iii) file any
material amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle or
compromise any material Tax claim or assessment or (iv) surrender any right to
claim a material refund of Taxes;
(m)
commence or settle any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding relating to Taxes,
which shall be governed by paragraph (l)) other than compromises, settlements or
agreements in the Ordinary Course of Business that involve only the payment of
monetary damages not in excess of $50,000 individually or $250,000 in the
aggregate, in any case without involving the imposition of any equitable relief
on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(n) renew
or enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment that restrains, limits
or impedes, in any material respect, the ability of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation to compete with or conduct
any business or line of business;
(o) enter
into, amend, modify, terminate or grant any release or relinquishment of any
rights under any contract or agreement with any customer which contract or
agreement is or would constitute a Company Material Contract, except for
amendments, modifications, terminations, releases and relinquishments in the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(p)
alter, allow to lapse or breach any Company Permit which is a regulatory
Permit;
(q)
change the Company’s independent public accounting firm;
(r) merge
or consolidate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person, alter the
corporate structure of ownership of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
otherwise restructure the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(s) adopt
a plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for a
complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or
other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(t) enter
into, amend, waive or terminate (other than termination in accordance with their
terms) any Related Party Transaction; or
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(u)
authorize any of, or commit or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of,
the foregoing actions.
5.2 Confidentiality. The
parties acknowledge that the Buyer and the Company have previously executed a
confidentiality agreement, dated as of March 24, 2009 (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”), which Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force
and effect in accordance with its terms, except as expressly modified
herein.
ARTICLE
VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
6.1 No
Solicitation.
(a) No Solicitation or
Negotiation. From the date hereof until the Effective Time or,
if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms
hereof (the “Specified
Time”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, and the
Company shall direct its directors, officers, employees, investment bankers,
attorneys, accountants and other advisors or representatives (such directors,
officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, other advisors
and representatives, collectively, “Representatives”) not
to, directly or indirectly:
(i)
solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by way of providing
information) any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that
constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition
Proposal; or
(ii)
engage, enter into, continue or otherwise participate in, cooperate with, assist
or facilitate any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
person any non-public information for the purpose of encouraging or
facilitating, any Acquisition Proposal.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if at any time following
the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the Required Company
Stockholder Vote, (i) the Company receives a written Acquisition Proposal that
the Company Board believes in good faith to be bona fide, (ii) the Company has
not breached this Section 6.1, (iii) the Company Board determines in good
faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel, that
such Acquisition Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a
Superior Proposal and (iv) after consultation with its outside counsel, the
Company Board determines in good faith that such action is necessary to comply
with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Company under applicable
Law, then the Company may, subject to compliance with Section 6.1(d), (A)
furnish information with respect to the Company to the Person (and the
Representatives of such Person) making such Acquisition Proposal, pursuant to a
confidentiality and standstill agreement that contains confidentiality and
standstill provisions that are no less restrictive of the other party than the
confidentiality and standstill provisions included in the Confidentiality
Agreement, (B) engage in discussions or negotiations (including solicitation of
a revised Acquisition Proposal) with such Person and its Representatives
regarding any such Acquisition Proposal and (C) promptly provide or make
available to the Buyer any non-public information concerning the Company or its
Subsidiaries provided or made available to such other Person which was not
previously provided or made available to the Buyer.
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(b) No Change in Recommendation
or Alternative Acquisition Agreement. Prior to the Specified
Time, the Company Board shall not:
(i)
except as set forth in this Section 6.1, withhold, withdraw or modify, in a
manner adverse to the Buyer, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board
with respect to the Company Voting Proposal;
(ii)
cause or permit the Company to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of
understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, share purchase
agreement, asset purchase agreement, share exchange agreement, option agreement,
merger agreement or similar agreement relating to any Acquisition Proposal or
enter into any agreement or agreement in principle requiring the Company to
abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or
breach any of its obligations under Section 6.1 or resolve, propose or agree to
do any of the foregoing (an “Alternative Acquisition
Agreement”) (other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in
Section 6.1(a) entered into in the circumstances referred to in Section 6.1(a));
or
(iii) except
as set forth in this Section 6.1, adopt, approve or recommend or publicly
propose to approve or recommend any Acquisition Proposal.
(c)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 6.1(b), the
Company Board may, at any time prior to obtaining the Requisite Shareholder
Vote, withhold, withdraw or modify its recommendation with respect to the
Company Voting Proposal (a “Change of Board
Recommendation”) if, the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal and the
Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel
and its financial advisors, that (x) such Acquisition Proposal constitutes or is
reasonably likely to constitute a Superior Proposal after giving effect to all
of the adjustments to the terms of this Agreement which may be offered by the
Buyer including pursuant to clause (ii) below and (y) such action would be
necessary to comply with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Company
under applicable Law; provided, however, that the
Company Board may not withhold, withdraw or modify its recommendation in a
manner adverse to the Buyer unless (A) the Company shall not have breached this
Section 6.1 and (B):
(i) the
Company shall have provided prior written notice to the Buyer, at least five (5)
Business Days in advance (the “Notice Period”), of
the Company’s intention to take such action with respect to such Acquisition
Proposal, which notice shall specify the material terms and conditions of any
such Acquisition Proposal (including the identity of the party making such
Acquisition Proposal), and shall have contemporaneously provided to the Buyer a
copy of the relevant proposed transaction agreements with the party making such
Acquisition Proposal, any Alternative Acquisition Agreement and other material
documents with respect to such Acquisition Proposal; and
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(ii)
prior to effecting any such Change of Board Recommendation, the Company shall,
and shall direct its financial and legal advisors to, during the Notice Period,
negotiate with the Buyer in good faith (to the extent the Buyer desires to
negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement so that such Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute or ceases to be
reasonably likely to constitute a Superior Proposal.
In the
event of any material revisions to such Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall
be required to deliver a new written notice to the Buyer and to comply with the
requirements of this Section 6.1(c) with respect to such new written
notice.
(d) Notices to the
Buyer. The Company shall promptly (within 24 hours) advise the
Buyer orally, with written confirmation to follow, of the Company’s receipt of
(i) any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) any request for information relating to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than requests for information in
ordinary course of business and unrelated to an Acquisition Proposal or (iii)
any inquiry or request for discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition
Proposal. The Company shall promptly provide the Buyer (within 24
hours) with the identity of such Person and a copy of such Acquisition Proposal,
inquiry or request (or, where no such copy is available, a written description
of such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry or request including the material terms
and conditions thereof). The Company shall keep the Buyer reasonably
informed (orally and in writing) on a prompt basis (and in any event no later
than 24 hours after the occurrence of any changes, developments, discussions or
negotiations) of the status of any such Acquisition Proposal, indication,
inquiry or request (including the material terms and conditions thereof and of
any modifications thereto), and any material developments, discussions and
negotiations, including furnishing copies of any written inquiries,
correspondence and draft documentation, and written summaries of any material
oral inquiries or discussions. Without limiting the foregoing, the
Company shall promptly (within 24 hours) notify the Buyer orally and in writing
if the Company determines to begin providing or making available information or
to engage in discussions or negotiations concerning an Acquisition Proposal
pursuant to Section 6.1(a). The Company shall not, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries not to, enter into any confidentiality agreement with any
Person subsequent to the date of this Agreement except with respect to a
confidentiality agreement as permitted or required pursuant to
Section 6.1(a), or any agreement that prohibits the Company from providing
or making available to the Buyer or the Merger Sub any information provided or
made available to any other Person pursuant to such confidentiality
agreement. The Company shall not, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries not to, terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of, or
grant permission or request under, any standstill or confidentiality agreement
to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, and the Company shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, enforce the provisions of any such
agreement.
(e) Cessation of Ongoing
Discussions. The Company shall, and shall direct its
Representatives to, cease immediately and cause to be terminated any and all
solicitations, discussions and negotiations with any Person that commenced prior
to the date of this Agreement regarding any proposal that constitutes, or could
reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal and direct any such
Person to return or destroy all confidential information provided by or made
available to such Person on behalf of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
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(f) Representatives. The
Company agrees that any violations of the restrictions set forth in this
Section 6.1 by any of its Representatives purporting to act on behalf of
the Company shall be deemed to be a material breach of this Agreement by the
Company.
(g) Definitions. For
purposes of this Agreement:
(i)
“Acquisition
Proposal” means (i) any proposal or offer or any indication of interest
in making an offer or proposal, made by a Person or group at any time which is
structured to permit such Person or group to acquire beneficial ownership of at
least 15% (inclusive of any interests then owned by such party or group) of the
assets of, equity interest in, or businesses of, the Company and its
Subsidiaries pursuant to a merger, consolidation, dissolution, sale of assets,
tender offer, exchange offer, sale of capital stock, recapitalization, share
exchange or other business combination or similar transaction, including any
single or multi-step transaction or series of related transactions involving the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) any proposal for the
issuance by the Company of over 15% of its equity securities (or, in the event
that a party or group has an interest in the Company, any issuance that would
result in such party or group being the beneficial owner of over 15% of the
Company’s equity securities, or if a party or group beneficially owns over 15%
of the Company’s equity securities, the issuance of any of the Company’s equity
securities to such party or group) or (iii) any proposal or offer to acquire in
any manner, directly or indirectly, over 15% of the equity securities (or, in
the event that a party or group has an interest in the Company, any proposal or
offer that would result in such party or group being the beneficial owner of
over 15% of the Company’s equity securities, or if a party or group beneficially
owns over 15% of the Company’s equity securities, any proposal or offer to
acquire any of Company’s equity securities) or consolidated total assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case other than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger); and
(ii)
“Superior
Proposal” means any unsolicited, bona fide written Acquisition Proposal
made by a third party (except the references therein to “15%” shall be replaced
by “greater than 50%”) (i) that includes consideration per share of Company
Common Stock that is greater than the Common Stock Merger Consideration
(including, only if the consideration per share of Common Stock is not all cash,
a good faith determination by the Company Board to such effect) and is otherwise
on terms which the Company Board determines in its good faith judgment to be
more favorable to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view than
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (after consultation with its
financial advisor and outside counsel), taking into account all the terms and
conditions and all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such
proposal and this Agreement (including any proposal by the Buyer to amend the
terms of this Agreement) and (ii) which the Company Board determines in its good
faith judgment (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside
counsel) is reasonably capable of being completed without undue delay on the
terms proposed, taking into account all financial, regulatory, legal and other
aspects of such proposal (including the financing requirements of such third
party).
(h) Certain Permitted
Disclosure. Section 6.1 shall not prohibit the Company Board
from disclosing to its stockholders a position with respect to a tender offer
contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act;
provided, however, that any
disclosure other than a “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the
type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act shall be deemed to be
a Change of Board Recommendation in a manner adverse to Buyer unless the Company
Board (x) expressly reaffirms its recommendation to its stockholders in favor of
adoption of this Agreement and (y) rejects such tender offer.
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6.2 Proxy Statement; Other
Filings.
(a) As
promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement (and in any event
within fifteen (15) days thereof), the Company shall prepare and file with the
SEC, subject to the prior review, comment and consent of the Buyer, (which
review, comment and consent shall be provided sufficiently timely to enable the
Company to file the Proxy Statement no later than the fifteenth (15th) day
from the date hereof) the Proxy Statement. Each of the Buyer and the
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as
practicable to any comments of the SEC, and the Company shall cause the Proxy
Statement to be mailed to its stockholders at the earliest practicable time
after clearing comments received from the SEC. Each of the Buyer and
the Company shall notify the other promptly upon the receipt of any comments
from the SEC and of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the
Proxy Statement or any filing pursuant to this Section 6.2 or for
additional information and shall supply the other with copies of all
correspondence between such party or any of its representatives, on the one
hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement, the
Merger or any filing pursuant to this Section 6.2. Each of the
Buyer and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all
documents that it is responsible for filing with the SEC or other Governmental
Entity under this Section 6.2 to comply in all material respects with all
applicable requirements of Law and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. Whenever any event occurs which is required to be set
forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or any filing
pursuant to this Section 6.2, the Buyer or the Company, as the case may be,
shall promptly inform the other of such occurrence and cooperate in filing with
the SEC or any other Governmental Entity, and/or mailing to stockholders of the
Company, such amendment or supplement. If, at any time prior to the
Company Meeting, any information relating to the Company, the Buyer, the Merger
Sub or any of their Subsidiaries, directors or officers should be discovered by
the Company or the Buyer or the Merger Sub, which should be set forth in an
amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or other filings so that the
Proxy Statement or the other filings shall not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party that
discovers such information shall promptly notify the other party, and an
appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be filed
with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the
stockholders of the Company in each case, as promptly as reasonably
practicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated above,
prior to filing or mailing the Proxy Statement or filing the other filings (or,
in each case, any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments
of the SEC with respect thereto, the party responsible for filing or mailing
such document shall provide the other party an opportunity to review and comment
on such document or response and shall include in such document or response
comments reasonably and timely proposed by the other party.
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(b) The
Buyer, the Merger Sub and the Company shall promptly make all necessary filings
with respect to the Merger under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act,
applicable state blue sky laws and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
(c) As
promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement (and in any event
within fifteen (15) days thereof), the Buyer shall, if required, prepare and
submit to the staff of the SEC a draft proposed rule change by a Self Regulatory
Organization under Rule 19b-4 of the Exchange Act (the “Draft 19b-4
Submission”). The Buyer shall afford the Company a reasonable
opportunity to review the Draft 19b-4 Submission and any related materials prior
to their submission and if the Draft 19b-4 Submission or such related materials
contain information as to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Buyer
shall not submit such Draft 19b-4 Submission or related materials without first
reviewing any comments proposed by the Company (which comments shall be provided
sufficiently timely to enable the Buyer to submit the Draft 19b-4 Submission no
later than the 15th day
from the date hereof and to make any submission of any related materials on a
timely basis). The Buyer shall keep the Company reasonably apprised
of the status of the Draft 19b-4 Submission.
6.3 NASDAQ. The
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to continue the listing of the
Company Common Stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market from the date hereof until the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Merger.
6.4 Access to
Information. During the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall
(and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) afford to the Buyer’s officers,
employees, accountants, counsel and other representatives, reasonable access,
upon reasonable advance notice, during normal business hours and in a manner
that does not materially disrupt or materially interfere with business
operations to all of its and its Subsidiaries’ properties, books, contracts,
commitments, personnel and records (including Tax Returns) as the Buyer shall
reasonably request and cause the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective
Representatives to provide access to their work papers and such other
information as the Buyer or the Merger Sub may reasonably request, and, during
such period, the Company shall (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and its
and its Subsidiaries’ Representatives to) furnish promptly to the Buyer (a) a
copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed
or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or
state securities laws and (b) all other information (including financial and
operating data) concerning its and its Subsidiaries’ business, properties,
assets and personnel as the Buyer may reasonably request. The Buyer
will hold any such information which is nonpublic in confidence in accordance
with the Confidentiality Agreement. No investigation by any of the
parties or their respective Representatives shall modify, nullify, amend or
otherwise affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the
parties set forth herein. After expiration or termination of any
applicable waiting period under the HSR Act, the Company shall permit the Buyer
to appoint a representative to work at the Company to be involved (other than to
the extent prohibited by applicable Law) in planning the integration of the
Buyer and the Company, including with respect to the accounting and financial
matters at the Company. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
give the Buyer, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the
Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Closing. Each
of the Buyer and the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and its
Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
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6.5 Stockholders
Meeting. The Company, acting through the Company Board, shall
take all actions in accordance with applicable Law, its Certificate of
Incorporation, Certificate of Designations and By-laws and the rules of The
NASDAQ Capital Market to promptly and duly call, give notice of, convene and
hold as promptly as practicable (and in any event within thirty (30) days after
the SEC and SEC staff have no further comments on the Proxy Statement for the
purpose of obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Vote in connection with
this Agreement and the Merger) the Company Meeting for the purpose of
considering and voting upon the Company Voting Proposal. Subject to
Section 6.1, (a) the Company Board shall recommend adoption of the Company
Voting Proposal by the stockholders of the Company and include such
recommendation in the Proxy Statement, (b) the Company Board shall not withhold,
withdraw or modify, or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw or
modify in a manner adverse to the Buyer, the recommendation of the Company Board
that the Company’s stockholders vote in favor of the Company Voting Proposal,
and (c) the Company Board shall take all action that is both reasonable and
lawful to solicit proxies from its stockholders in favor of the Company Voting
Proposal and shall take all other action reasonably necessary or advisable to
secure the vote or consent of the stockholders of the Company required by the
rules of The NASDAQ Capital Market or the DGCL to obtain such
approvals. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the Company, after consultation with the Buyer, may adjourn or
postpone the Company Meeting to the extent that such adjournment or postponement
is required by applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement (including Section 6.1), unless this
Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms pursuant to Article
VIII, the Company shall submit this Agreement to its stockholders at the Company
Meeting even if the Company Board shall have withdrawn, modified or qualified
its recommendation thereof or otherwise effected a Change of Board
Recommendation or proposed or announced any intention to do so.
6.6 Legal Conditions to the
Merger.
(a)
Subject to the terms hereof, including Section 6.1 and Section 6.6(b),
the Company and the Buyer shall each use its reasonable best efforts
to:
(i) take,
or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable Law to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable;
(ii)
subject to Sections 6.6(b) through (d), as promptly as practicable, obtain from
any Governmental Entity or any other third party any consents, licenses,
permits, waivers, approvals (including approval, exemption or waiver, as
applicable, of the Financial Services Authority), authorizations, or orders
required to be obtained or made by the Company or the Buyer or any of their
Subsidiaries in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby;
(iii) as
promptly as practicable, make all necessary filings, and thereafter make any
other required submissions, with respect to this Agreement and the Merger
required under (A) the Exchange Act, and any other applicable federal or state
securities laws, (B) the HSR Act and any related governmental request
thereunder, and (C) any other applicable Law, in either case, including such
approvals listed in Schedule 3.4(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided,
that the Buyer shall bear the filing fee pursuant to the HSR Act;
and
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(iv) execute
or deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this
Agreement.
The
Company and the Buyer shall cooperate with each other in connection with the
making of all such filings, including providing copies of all such documents to
the non-filing party and its advisors prior to filing and, if requested,
accepting reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested in connection
therewith. The Company and the Buyer shall use their respective
reasonable best efforts to furnish to each other all information required for
any application or other filing to be made pursuant to the rules and regulations
of any applicable Law in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Buyer may participate or agree
to participate in any substantive meeting, telephone call or discussion with any
Governmental Entity in connection with the filings required under the HSR Act in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless it
consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent permitted by such
Governmental Entity, gives the other party the opportunity to attend such
meeting, telephone call or discussion. The Company agrees that the
Buyer shall be responsible for all meetings, telephone calls and communications
relating to any Antitrust Law with any Governmental Entity with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company and the Buyer may, as each deems advisable and necessary,
reasonably designate any competitively sensitive material provided to the other
under this Section 6.6(a) as “Antitrust Counsel Only
Material.” Such materials and the information contained therein shall
be given only to the outside antitrust counsel of the recipient and will not be
disclosed by such outside counsel to employees, officers or directors of the
recipient unless express permission is obtained in advance from the source of
the materials (the Buyer or the Company, as the case may be) or its legal
counsel. For the avoidance of doubt, the Buyer and the Company agree
that nothing contained in this Section 6.6(a) shall modify or affect their
respective rights and responsibilities under Sections 6.6(b) through
(d).
(b)
Subject to the terms hereof, the Buyer and the Company agree, and shall cause
each of their respective Subsidiaries, to cooperate and to use their respective
reasonable best efforts to obtain any government clearances or approvals
required for Closing under the HSR Act, the Xxxxxxx Act, as amended, the Xxxxxxx
Act, as amended, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and any other
federal, state or foreign Law, regulation or decree designed to prohibit,
restrict or regulate actions for the purpose or effect of monopolization or
restraint of trade (collectively “Antitrust Laws”), to
respond to any government requests for information under any Antitrust Law, and
to contest and resist any action, including any legislative, administrative or
judicial action, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree,
judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent) (an “Antitrust Order”)
that restricts, prevents or prohibits the consummation of the Merger or any
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Antitrust
Law. The parties hereto will consult and cooperate with one another,
and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with, and
provide to the other parties in advance, any analyses, appearances,
presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or
submitted by or on behalf of any party hereto in connection with proceedings
under or relating to any Antitrust Law.
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(c)
Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Buyer, the Merger Sub or any of
their respective Affiliates to agree (i) to limit in any manner whatsoever or
not to exercise any rights of ownership of any securities (including securities
of the Company), or to divest, dispose of or hold separate any securities or all
or a portion of their respective businesses, assets or properties or of the
business, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii)
to limit in any manner whatsoever the ability of such entities (A) to conduct
their respective businesses or own such assets or properties or to conduct the
businesses or own the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
or (B) to control their respective businesses or operations or the businesses or
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) Each
of the Company and the Buyer shall give (or shall cause their respective
Subsidiaries to give) any notices to third parties, and use, and cause their
respective Subsidiaries to use, their reasonable best efforts to obtain any
third party consents required in connection with the Merger that are (i)
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) disclosed or
required to be disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter, or (iii) required to
prevent the occurrence of an event that is reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect or a Buyer Material Adverse Effect prior to or after the
Effective Time, it being understood that neither the Company nor the Buyer shall
be required to make any payments in connection with the fulfillment of its
obligations under this Section 6.6 and without the prior written consent of
the Buyer, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall pay or commit to
pay to a Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other
consideration, make any commitment or incur any liability or other obligation
due to such Person. With regard to any Governmental Entity, the
Company shall not, without Buyer’s prior written consent, (x) discuss or agree
to any divestiture transaction, extension of any waiting period under any Law,
or agreement not to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(y) discuss or commit to alter in any way the businesses or commercial practices
of the Company, the Buyer or their respective Subsidiaries, or (z) otherwise
take or commit to take any action that limits the Buyer’s ability to retain, or
the Buyer’s freedom of action with respect to, any of the businesses, product
lines or assets of the Company, the Buyer or their respective Subsidiaries, or
the Buyer’s ability to receive the full benefits of this Agreement.
6.7 Public
Disclosure. Except as may be required by Law or stock market
regulations, (a) the press release announcing the execution of this Agreement
shall be issued only in such form as shall be mutually agreed upon by the
Company and the Buyer and (b) the Buyer and the Company shall each use their
respective reasonable best efforts to consult with the other party before
issuing any other press release or otherwise making any public statement with
respect to the Merger or this Agreement.
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6.8 Indemnification.
(a) From
the Effective Time through the sixth anniversary of the date on which the
Effective Time occurs, each of the Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall
jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless, and provide advancement of
expenses to, each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date
hereof, or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Indemnified
Parties”), against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments,
fines and reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and
disbursements, incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding
or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
arising out of or pertaining to the fact that the Indemnified Party is or was an
officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether asserted
or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the same extent provided
in the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company, or the articles
of organization, By-Laws or similar documents of any of the Company’s
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, on the date of this Agreement.
(b)
Subject to the next sentence, the Surviving Corporation shall maintain, and the
Buyer shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain, at no expense to the
beneficiaries, in effect for six (6) years from the Effective Time the current
policies (or policies with coverage that is no less favorable to the Persons
covered by the current policies) of the directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance maintained by the Company with respect to claims arising from facts or
events existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement), so long as the annual premium
therefor would not be in excess of the amount set forth on Section 6.8(b) of the
Company Disclosure Letter (such amount, the “Maximum
Premium”). If the Company’s existing insurance expires, is
terminated or canceled during such six-year period or exceeds the Maximum
Premium, the Surviving Corporation shall obtain, and the Buyer shall cause the
Surviving Corporation to obtain, as much directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance as can be obtained for the remainder of such period for an annualized
premium not in excess of the Maximum Premium; provided, that in
lieu of the foregoing insurance coverage, the Buyer may direct the Company to
purchase “tail” insurance coverage that provides coverage no less favorable than
the coverage described above (provided, that the
Company shall not be required to pay any amounts in respect of such coverage
prior to the Closing).
(c) The
provisions of this Section 6.8 are intended to be in addition to the rights
otherwise available to the current officers and directors of the Company by Law,
charter, statute, by-law or agreement, and shall operate for the benefit of, and
shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties, their heirs and their
representatives.
6.9 Notification of Certain
Matters. During the Pre-Closing Period, the Buyer shall give
prompt notice to the Company, and the Company shall give prompt notice to the
Buyer, of the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event, which occurrence or
failure to occur is reasonably likely to (a) cause any representation or
warranty (disregarding any materiality qualification contained therein) of such
party contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material
respect, in each case at any time from and after the date of this Agreement
until the Effective Time, (b) result in any material failure of the Buyer and
the Merger Sub or the Company, as the case may be, or of any officer, director,
employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement or (c)
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding the above,
the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.9 will not limit or
otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such
notice or the conditions to such party’s obligation to consummate the
Merger.
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6.10
Employee
Matters. Following the Effective Time, the Buyer will give
each employee of the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation or their respective
Subsidiaries who shall have been an employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Continuing
Employees”) full credit for prior service with the Company or its
Subsidiaries for purposes of (a) eligibility and vesting under any Buyer benefit
plans, (b) determination of benefit levels under any Buyer benefit plans or
policy relating to vacation or severance and (c) determination of “retiree”
status under any Buyer benefit plans, in each case for which the Continuing
Employee is otherwise eligible and in which the Continuing Employee is offered
participation, but except where such credit would result in a duplication of
benefits or with respect to benefit accruals under any of the Buyer’s
tax-qualified and non-qualified pension plans or with respect to newly
implemented plans for which prior service is not taken into account or with
respect to plans for which participation, service and/or benefit accrual is
frozen. In addition, the Buyer shall waive, or cause to be waived,
any limitations on benefits relating to pre-existing conditions to the same
extent such limitations are waived under any comparable plan of the Buyer and
recognize for purposes of annual deductible and out-of-pocket limits under its
medical and dental plans, deductible and out-of-pocket expenses paid by
Continuing Employees in the calendar year in which the Effective Time
occurs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
no provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to guarantee employment for any
period of time for, or preclude the ability of the Buyer or the Surviving
Corporation to terminate, any Continuing Employee for any
reason. Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the Buyer or the
Surviving Corporation to amend or terminate any of the Company Employee Plans or
Buyer benefit plans in accordance with their terms at any
time. Effective no later than the day preceding the Closing Date, to
the extent requested by the Buyer, the Company shall have taken formal action to
terminate any Company Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code that are defined contribution plans, as defined under
Section 3(34) of ERISA.
6.11
FIRPTA Tax
Certificates. At or prior to the Closing Date, the Company
shall deliver to the Buyer (a) a certification from the Company which complies
with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(c)(3), dated no more than 30 days
prior to the Closing Date and signed by a responsible corporate officer of the
Company, that no interest in the Company is a “United States real property
interest” (as defined in Section 897(c)(1) of the Code) (a “FIRPTA Certificate”),
and (b) proof reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer that the Company has provided
notice of such certification to the IRS in accordance with the provisions of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h)(2). If the Company fails
to deliver the documentation described in the preceding sentence,
notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Exchange Agent,
the Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the payments to be made pursuant to this Agreement any amounts required to
be withheld pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code.
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6.12
Pre-Closing
Transaction. Within thirty (30) days following the date
hereof, the Company shall prepare a good faith estimate of the amount of
“nonbusiness assets” (within the meaning of Section 382(l)(4) of the Code)
expected to be held by the Company and its Subsidiaries at the Effective Time
and shall provide such estimate to the Buyer. For purposes of this
estimate, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall characterize assets as business
assets or nonbusiness assets, as applicable, without taking into account the
Buyer’s plans or intentions with respect to such assets following the Effective
Time. If, based on such estimate, the Company and its Subsidiaries
are expected to have “substantial nonbusiness assets” (within the meaning of
Section 382(1)(4) of the Code) at the Effective Time, the Company and the Buyer
shall cooperate with each other to identify any actions or transactions that
would cause the Company and its Subsidiaries not to hold “substantial
nonbusiness assets” (within the meaning of Section 382(l)(4) of the Code) at the
Effective Time. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries
to, take any action reasonably agreed to by the Company and the Buyer in
writing, including the repayment of debt of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries using cash or cash equivalents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, that would have the effect of reducing the “nonbusiness assets”
(within the meaning of Section 382(l)(4) of the Code) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries; provided, however, that in the
event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1 (other than pursuant
to Section 8.1(e) or Section 8.1(f)), all costs, fees, expenses, losses,
damages, liabilities, obligations, demands, claims, suits, actions, proceedings
or assessments incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries primarily by
reason of any action or transaction taken by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to the fourth sentence hereof, which action or transaction
was taken at the prior written request or with the written consent of the Buyer
(a “Reimbursable
Loss”), shall be reimbursed in full to the Company by the Buyer within
two (2) Business Days of such termination (it being understood that the amount
of any debt repaid shall in no event be considered a Reimbursable
Loss). Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
any action or transaction taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pursuant to this Section 6.12 at the written request or with the written consent
of the Buyer shall not be treated as a breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement.
6.13
WARN
Notice. Within three (3) business days following
the date hereof (and two (2) business days following such subsequent dates as
the Buyer may request), the Company shall provide any applicable required
notices under state and/or federal plant closing Laws that the Buyer requests,
including notices to those employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries whose
employment the Buyer indicates it may terminate following the Closing Date, and
notices to applicable governmental entities. The form of the initial
notice to employees has been provided by the Buyer and agreed to by the Company
and is set forth on Section 6.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter. To
the extent that the Buyer requests that any additional notices be provided to
any additional employees (or follow up notices made to employees in receipt of
the initial notice), such notices will be prepared jointly by the Company and
the Buyer.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO MERGER
7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligation To Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of
each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Stockholder
Approval. The Company Voting Proposal shall have been duly
adopted at the Company Meeting, at which a quorum is present, by the Required
Company Stockholder Vote.
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(b) HSR
Act. The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement under the
HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.
(c) Governmental
Approvals. Other than the filing of the Certificate of Merger,
all authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings
with, or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental Entity in
connection with the Merger and the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the failure of which to file, obtain or occur is
reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect or a Company Material
Adverse Effect, shall have been filed, been obtained or occurred on terms and
conditions which would not reasonably be likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse
Effect or a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No
Injunctions. No Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any order,
executive order, stay, decree, judgment or injunction (preliminary or permanent)
or statute, rule or regulation which is in effect and which has the effect of
making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.2 Additional Conditions to
Obligations of the Buyer and the Merger Sub. The obligations
of the Buyer and the Merger Sub to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following additional
conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Buyer and
the Merger Sub:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the
Company contained in Section 3.2 (Capitalization) and Section 3.8(n) shall be
true and correct in all respects (provided, that for
purposes of this Section 7.2(a)(i) only, the representation in Section 3.2 shall
not be deemed to be untrue solely as a result of there being de minimis
differences in the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding and
underlying outstanding RSUs and Company Stock Options which differences shall
not, in the aggregate, exceed 10,000 shares of Company Common Stock (excluding,
for the purpose of such 10,000 share threshold, Company Stock Options with
exercise prices above the Common Stock Merger Consideration)) as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date
(except to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made
as of a particular date (in which case such representations and warranties shall
be true and correct as of such date)), (ii) the representations and warranties
of the Company contained in Section 3.1 (Organization, Standing and Power),
Section 3.4(a) (Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents), Section
3.19 (Opinion of Financial Advisors) and Section 3.21 (Brokers) shall be true
and correct in all material respects, in all cases without regard to any
materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect qualifications therein (except to
the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a
particular date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of such date), and (iii) the remaining
representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein shall be true and
correct (without regard to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect
qualifications therein), as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of such date (except (A) to the extent such
representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date (in
which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of
such date) and (B) where the failure to be true and correct, individually or in
the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect); and the Buyer shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or
the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect and such certificate
shall also certify the number of the Company and its Subsidiaries’ order routing
channels in place as of the date immediately prior to the Closing Date (as
interpreted in accordance with Section 3.1) and the aggregate monthly run-rate
revenue generated by the Company and its Subsidiaries’ order routing and
indication of interest channels in place as of the date immediately prior to the
Closing Date (as interpreted in accordance with Section 3.1).
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(b) Performance of Obligations
of the Company. The Company shall have performed in all
material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this
Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date; and the Buyer shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or
the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
(c) Absence of a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement
there shall not have been any event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Appraisal. The
aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the
Effective Time, the holders of which have demanded appraisal of their shares
from the Company in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL, shall not equal
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
as of the record date for the Company Meeting.
(e) Voting Agreement and
Waiver. The Person listed in Section 7.2(e) of the Company
Disclosure Letter shall have entered into the Voting Agreement and the Waiver
and the Voting Agreement and the Waiver shall be valid and binding on the party
listed on such Section of the Disclosure Letter and in full force and effect and
the parties to the Voting Agreement and the Waiver (other than the Buyer) shall
have complied with all obligations required to be performed or complied with by
them under the Voting Agreement and the Waiver.
(f) No
Restraints. There shall not be instituted or pending any
action or proceeding in which a Governmental Entity is (i) challenging or
seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger or any of the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) seeking to prohibit or
limit in any material respect the Buyer’s ability to vote, transfer, receive
dividends with respect to or otherwise exercise ownership rights with respect to
the stock of the Surviving Corporation.
7.3 Additional Conditions to
Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to
effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the
Closing Date of each of the following additional conditions, either of which may
be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Company:
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(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Buyer
and the Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement that are qualified by terms such
as “material” shall be true and correct (as so qualified) and the remaining
representations and warranties of the Buyer and the Merger Sub set forth herein
that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in
each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though
made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and
warranties are specifically made as of a particular date (in which case such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date); and
the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Buyer by
the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Buyer to such
effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations
of the Buyer and the Merger Sub. The Buyer and the Merger Sub
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date; and the
Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Buyer by the
chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Buyer to such
effect.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
AND AMENDMENT
8.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time (with
respect to Sections 8.1(b) through 8.1(h), by written notice by the terminating
party to the other party), whether before or, subject to the terms hereof, after
approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company:
(a) by
mutual written consent of the Buyer, the Merger Sub and the Company;
or
(b) by
either the Buyer or the Company, if the Merger shall not have been consummated
by February 26, 2010 (the “Outside Date”) (provided, that the
right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be
available to any party whose failure to materially fulfill any obligation under
this Agreement has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the
Merger to occur on or before the Outside Date); or
(c) by
either the Buyer or the Company, if a Governmental Entity of competent
jurisdiction shall have issued a nonappealable final order, decree or ruling or
taken any other nonappealable final action, in each case having the effect of
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger or any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Governmental Entity shall
have finally and non-appealably declined to grant any of the approvals of any
Governmental Entity the receipt of which is necessary to satisfy the condition
in Section 7.1(c); provided, that the
party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c)
shall have used its reasonable best efforts to contest, appeal and remove such
order, decree, ruling or action in accordance with Section 6.6;
or
(d) by
either the Buyer or the Company, if at the Company Meeting at which a vote on
the Company Voting Proposal is taken, the Required Company Stockholder Vote in
favor of the Company Voting Proposal shall not have been obtained;
or
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(e) by
the Buyer, if: (i) the Company Board shall have failed to recommend approval of
the Company Voting Proposal in the Proxy Statement or shall have withdrawn or
modified its recommendation of the Company Voting Proposal in a manner adverse
to the Buyer; (ii) the Company Board shall have approved, endorsed or
recommended to the stockholders of the Company an Acquisition Proposal (other
than the Merger); (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock shall have been commenced (other than by the Buyer or an
Affiliate of the Buyer) and the Company Board recommends that the stockholders
of the Company tender their shares in such tender or exchange offer or, within
five (5) Business Days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer,
the Company Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such offer; (iv) the
Company fails to issue a press release that reaffirms the Company Board
Recommendation following written request by the Buyer to provide such
reaffirmation following an Acquisition Proposal that is published or sent or
given to the stockholders of the Company (other than the Merger) within five (5)
Business Days following any such request; (v) the Company shall have breached
any of its obligations under Section 6.1 (No Solicitation) or Section 6.5
(Stockholders Meeting); or (vi) the Company or the Company Board shall authorize
or publicly propose any of the foregoing; or
(f) by
the Buyer, if there has been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements, or
failure to be true of any representation or warranty, on the part of the Company
set forth in this Agreement (except the covenants and agreements in Section 6.1
and Section 6.5), which breach or failure to be true, either individually or in
the aggregate and, in the case of the representations and warranties, measured
on the date of this Agreement or as of any subsequent date (as if made on such
date), (i) would cause the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a), 7.2(b)
or 7.2(c) not to be satisfied, and (ii) shall not have been cured within the
earlier of the Outside Date and 20 days following receipt by the Company of
written notice of such breach or failure to be true from the Buyer, or which by
its nature or timing cannot be cured within such time period; or
(g) by
the Company, if there has been a breach of any of the covenants or agreement, or
failure to be true of any representation or warranty, on the part of the Buyer
or the Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to be
true, either individually or in the aggregate and, in the case of the
representations and warranties, measured on the date of this Agreement or as of
any subsequent date (as if made on such date), (i) would cause the conditions
set forth in Section 7.3(a) or 7.3(b) not to be satisfied, and (ii) shall
not have been cured within the earlier of the Outside Date and twenty (20) days
following receipt by the Buyer of written notice of such breach or failure to be
true from the Company, or which by its nature or timing cannot be cured within
such time period; or
(h) by
the Buyer, if since the date of this Agreement, there shall have been a Company
Material Adverse Effect that cannot be cured by the Outside Date.
8.2 Effect of
Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as
provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall immediately become void and
there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of the Buyer, the Company,
the Merger Sub or their respective officers, directors, stockholders or
Affiliates; provided, that (a)
any such termination shall not relieve any party from liability for any willful
breach of this Agreement and (b) the provisions of Sections 5.2
(Confidentiality) and 8.3 (Fees and Expenses), this Section 8.2 (Effect of
Termination) and Article IX (Miscellaneous) of this Agreement and the
Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and survive any
termination of this Agreement.
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8.3 Fees and
Expenses.
(a)
Except as set forth in this Section 8.3 and in Section 6.6(a)(iii),
all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such fees
and expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) If
(A) the Buyer terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e), then
the Company shall pay to the Buyer $5,000,000 (the “Breakup Fee”) within
two (2) Business Days after such termination;
(ii) If
(I) (A) the Buyer or the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1(d) and, at any time after the date hereof, an Acquisition Proposal shall
have been publicly disclosed or otherwise communicated to the senior management
of the Company or the Company Board (or a committee thereof) or (B) the Buyer
terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(f) and, at any time after
the date hereof, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly disclosed or
otherwise communicated to the senior management of the Company or the Company
Board (or a committee thereof) and (II) within twelve (12) months after this
termination, the Company enters into an agreement in respect of such Acquisition
Proposal or a transaction in respect of such Acquisition Proposal is
consummated, then the Company shall pay to the Buyer the Breakup Fee (minus any
amount of expenses previously paid in accordance with Section 8.3(b)(iv)),
by wire transfer of same day funds, on the date of entry into the agreement in
respect of the Acquisition Proposal, or, if earlier, consummation of the
transaction in respect of the Acquisition Proposal, as applicable; provided, that for
purposes of this Section 8.3(b)(ii), the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term, except that the references to “15%”
shall be deemed to be references to “50%”;
(iii)
The Buyer shall pay the Company up to $1,500,000 as reimbursement for the
Company’s reasonably documented expenses actually incurred by it relating to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement prior to termination (including
reasonable fees and expenses of the Company’s and Special Committee’s counsel,
accountants and financial advisors but excluding any success fees paid to such
financial advisors), in the event of termination of this Agreement (A) by the
Company or the Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(b) as a result of the failure
of the Buyer to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 7.3(b) or (B) by the
Company pursuant to Section 8.1(g) as a result of the failure of the Buyer to
satisfy the condition set forth in Section 7.3(b), in each case by wire transfer
of same day funds, within two (2) Business Days after such
termination;
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(iv) The
Company shall pay the Buyer up to $1,500,000 as reimbursement for the Buyer’s
and the Merger Sub’s reasonably documented expenses actually incurred by them
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement prior to termination
(including reasonable fees and expenses of the Buyer’s counsel, accountants and
financial advisors but excluding any success fees paid to such financial advisors), in
the event of termination of this Agreement (A) by the Buyer or the Company
pursuant to Section 8.1(b) as a result of the failure of the Company to satisfy
the condition set forth in Section 7.2(b) or (B) by the Buyer pursuant to
Section 8.1(f) as a result of the failure of the Company to satisfy the
condition set forth in Section 7.2(b), in each case by wire transfer of same day
funds, within two (2) Business Days after such termination; provided, that the
payment by the Company of such expenses shall not relieve the Company of any
obligation to pay the Breakup Fee pursuant to Section 8.3(b)(ii).
(c) The
parties acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 8.3 are
an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that,
without these agreements, the parties would not enter into this
Agreement. Payment of the fees and expenses described in this
Section 8.3 shall not be in lieu of damages incurred in the event of a
breach of this Agreement described in clause (a) of Section 8.2, but
otherwise shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedy of the parties in
connection with any termination of this Agreement.
8.4 Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by
their respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after approval of
the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the stockholders of any
party, but, after any such approval, no amendment shall be made which by Law
requires further approval by such stockholders without such further
approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
8.5 Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties
hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors,
may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the performance of
any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein by any other
applicable party or in any document delivered pursuant hereto by any other
applicable party and (iii) waive compliance by any other party with any of the
agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part
of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set
forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party. Such
extension or waiver shall not be deemed to apply to any time for performance,
inaccuracy in any representation or warranty, or noncompliance with any
agreement or condition, as the case may be, other than that which is specified
in the extension or waiver. The failure of any party to this
Agreement to assert any of its rights or to exercise any power or remedy
provided under this Agreement or otherwise or to insist upon compliance by any
other party hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of
the parties at variance with the terms hereof, shall not constitute a waiver of
such or other rights, powers or remedies or to demand such
compliance.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Nonsurvival of
Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the
representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective
Time, except for the agreements contained in Article II, Sections 6.8 and 6.10
and this Article IX.
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9.2 Notices. All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed duly delivered (i) four (4) Business Days after being sent by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (ii) one
(1)Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid,
via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service, or (iii) on the date of
confirmation of receipt (or, the first Business Day following such receipt if
the date of such receipt is not a Business Day) of transmission by facsimile, in
each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:
(a) if to
the Buyer or the Merger Sub, to:
NYSE
Euronext
00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy to:
Wachtell,
Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx
00 Xxxx
00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx
X. Xxxx, Esq.
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
(b) if to
the Company, to:
NYFIX,
Inc.
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
Any party
to this Agreement may give any notice or other communication hereunder using any
other means (including personal delivery, messenger service, telex, ordinary
mail or electronic mail), but no such notice or other communication shall be
deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received by the
party for whom it is intended. Any party to this Agreement may change
the address to which notices and other communications hereunder are to be
delivered by giving the other parties to this Agreement notice in the manner
herein set forth.
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9.3 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (including the Schedules and
Exhibits hereto and the documents and instruments referred to herein that are to
be delivered at the Closing, including the Voting Agreement and the Waiver)
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement and
supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among
the parties hereto, or any of them, written or oral, with respect to the subject
matter hereof, and the parties hereto specifically disclaim reliance on any such
prior understandings, agreements or representations to the extent not embodied
in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Confidentiality
Agreement shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.
9.4 No Third Party
Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.8 (with
respect to which the Indemnified Parties shall be third party beneficiaries),
this Agreement is not intended, and shall not be deemed, to confer any rights or
remedies upon any person, other than the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, to create any agreement of employment with any
person or to otherwise create any third-party beneficiary hereto. The
Buyer shall pay all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that may be
incurred by the persons referred to in Section 6.8 in connection with their
enforcement of their rights provided in Section 6.8; provided, however, that the
payment of such expenses shall not be made unless a final nonappealable judicial
determination has been made that such person is entitled to be indemnified
pursuant to Section 6.8 for the losses for which it sought indemnification in
connection with the request for reimbursement of such expenses.
9.5 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law
or otherwise by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of
the other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent
shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
9.6 Severability. Any
term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any
situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of
the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or
unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination
shall have the power to limit the term or provision, to delete specific words or
phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a
term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to
expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and
this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. In the event such
court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the
parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision
with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent
possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or
unenforceable term.
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9.7 Counterparts and
Signature. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and
delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not
sign the same counterpart. This Agreement may be executed and
delivered by facsimile transmission.
9.8 Interpretation. When
reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or a Section, such reference
shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise
indicated. The table of contents, table of defined terms and headings
contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not
affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no
rule of strict construction shall be applied against any
party. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this
Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms,
and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice
versa. Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute
or Law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. Whenever the words
“include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Whenever any
disclosure is qualified by disclosure in the Company SEC Reports, such
qualification should (i) exclude any risk factor disclosures contained in such
documents under the heading “Risk Factors” and any disclosure of risks included
in any “forward-looking” statements disclaimer or other statements that are
similarly non-specific and are predictive or forward-looking in nature and (ii)
only apply if the relevance of such disclosure as an exception to any disclosure
herein is reasonably apparent. No summary of this Agreement prepared
by any party shall affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
9.9 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal Laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect
to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of
Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of
any jurisdictions other than those of the State of Delaware.
9.10
Remedies. Except
as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred
upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other
remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise
by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other
remedy. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur
in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
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9.11
Submission to
Jurisdiction. Each of the parties to this Agreement (a)
consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any state or federal
court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in any action or proceeding arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding
may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) agrees that it shall not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request
for leave from any such court, and (d) agrees not to bring any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any other court. Each
of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety
or other security that might be required of any other party with respect
thereto. Any party hereto may make service on another party by
sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the
address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in
Section 9.2. Nothing in this Section 9.11, however, shall
affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner
permitted by Law.
9.12
Disclosure
Letters. The Company Disclosure Letter shall be arranged in
Sections corresponding to the numbered Sections contained in Article III and the
disclosure in any Section shall qualify (a) the corresponding
Section in Article III and (b) the other Sections in Article III solely to
the extent that it is reasonably apparent from a reading of such disclosure that
it also qualifies or applies to such other Sections. The inclusion of
any information in the Company Disclosure Letter or in any update thereto, shall
not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment, in and of itself, that such
information is required by the terms hereof to be disclosed, is material, has
resulted in or would result in a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Buyer
Material Adverse Effect, or is outside the Ordinary Course of
Business.
9.13
WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL. EACH
OF THE BUYER, THE MERGER SUB AND THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON
CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE BUYER, THE MERGER SUB OR
THE COMPANY IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF
THIS AGREEMENT.
[Signature
Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer,
the Merger Sub and the Company have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written
above.
NYSE
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title: Assistant
Secretary
|
|
CBR
ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title: Vice
President and Secretary
|
|
NYFIX,
INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxx
Xxxxxx
|
Name: Xxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Title: Chairman
|
Whenever
in this Agreement performance of or compliance with a covenant or obligation is
expressed to be required by the Buyer or Merger Sub, NYSE Euronext
shall cause the Buyer or Merger Sub to perform or comply with such
covenant or obligation, such that any failure of the Buyer or Merger Sub to
perform or comply with any such covenant or obligation shall be deemed to be a
breach of such covenant or obligation by NYSE Euronext.
NYSE
EURONEXT
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|
Title: Chief
Financial Officer
|