PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN JASON W. KINCAID AND ZONE MINING LIMITED
Exhibit
2.1
BY
AND
BETWEEN
XXXXX
X.
XXXXXXX
AND
ZONE
MINING LIMITED
DATED AS OF JANUARY 31, 2007
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
|
||
ARTICLE
I
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
Section
1.1
|
Defined
Terms
|
1
|
Section
1.2
|
Interpretation
|
8
|
ARTICLE
II
|
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS; CLOSING CONSIDERATION; ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATION
|
9
|
Section
2.1
|
Purchase
and
Sale of Membership Interests; Closing
|
9
|
Section
2.2
|
Closing
and Delivery of Membership Interests
|
9
|
Section
2.3
|
Consideration
for Membership Interests
|
9
|
Section
2.4
|
Additional
A/R
Consideration; Additional Cash Payment
|
10
|
ARTICLE
III
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE MEMBER
|
12
|
Section
3.1
|
Organization
and Good Standing; Qualification
|
12
|
Section
3.2
|
Authorization
and Enforceability
|
12
|
Section
3.3
|
Non-Contravention;
No Consents
|
12
|
Section
3.4
|
Consents
|
13
|
Section
3.5
|
Capitalization;
Title to Membership Interests
|
13
|
Section
3.6
|
Financial
Statements
|
13
|
Section
3.7
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
14
|
Section
3.8
|
Material
Contracts and Other Agreements
|
14
|
Section
3.9
|
Real
Property
|
16
|
Section
3.10
|
Compliance
with
Laws
|
16
|
Section
3.11
|
Licenses
|
16
|
Section
3.12
|
Litigation;
Restriction on Business Activities
|
17
|
Section
3.13
|
Taxes
|
17
|
Section
3.14
|
ERISA
|
18
|
Section
3.15
|
Proprietary
Rights
|
19
|
Section
3.16
|
Insurance
|
19
|
Section
3.17
|
Accounts
Receivables
|
20
|
Section
3.18
|
Environmental
and OSHA Matters
|
20
|
Section
3.19
|
Labor
Matters
|
20
|
Section
3.20
|
Related-Party
Transactions
|
21
|
Section
3.21
|
Brokers;
Certain Expenses
|
22
|
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
|
||
Section
3.22
|
Certain
Payments
|
22
|
Section
3.23
|
Disclosure
|
22
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
|
22
|
Section
4.1
|
Organization;
Good Standing; Authorization and Enforceability
|
22
|
Section
4.2
|
Authorization
and Enforceability
|
23
|
Section
4.3
|
Consents
|
23
|
Section
4.4
|
No
Conflicts
|
23
|
Section
4.5
|
Capitalization
of Purchaser
|
23
|
Section
4.6
|
Brokers;
Certain Expenses
|
24
|
Section
4.7
|
Litigation
|
24
|
ARTICLE
V
|
CONDUCT
AND ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE CLOSING
|
24
|
Section
5.1
|
Affirmative
Covenants of the Member
|
24
|
Section
5.2
|
Negative
Covenants of the Member
|
25
|
Section
5.3
|
Consents
and
Approvals
|
26
|
Section
5.4
|
Cooperation
|
27
|
Section
5.5
|
Notice
|
27
|
Section
5.6
|
Access
to Information
|
27
|
Section
5.7
|
Publicity
|
27
|
Section
5.8
|
Prohibition
on
Trading in Common Stock
|
28
|
Section
5.9
|
Confidentiality
|
28
|
Section
5.10
|
Negotiation
with Others; Disposition and Voting of Securities
|
28
|
Section
5.11
|
Delivery
of
Requisite Information
|
29
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
|
30
|
Section
6.1
|
Conditions
to
Obligations of the Parties
|
30
|
Section
6.2
|
Conditions
to
Obligations of the Purchaser
|
30
|
Section
6.3
|
Conditions
to
Obligations of the Member
|
32
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
32
|
Section
7.1
|
Survival
Provisions; Assertion of Claims
|
32
|
Section
7.2
|
General
Indemnification
|
33
|
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
|
||
Section
7.3
|
Limitations
on
Indemnification.
|
34
|
Section
7.4
|
Defense
of Indemnitee Against Claims by Third Parties
|
35
|
Section
7.5
|
Right
of Set-Off
|
36
|
Section
7.6
|
Adjustments
to
Purchase Price
|
36
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
|
36
|
Section
8.1
|
Post
Closing Covenants
|
36
|
Section
8.2
|
Confidentiality
and Noncompetition
|
36
|
Section
8.3
|
Books
and Records of the Company
|
39
|
Section
8.4
|
Tax
Matters.
|
39
|
Section
8.5
|
Restrictions
on
Transferability; Restrictive Legends
|
40
|
Section
8.6
|
Grant
of Options
|
42
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
TERMINATION
|
42
|
Section
9.1
|
Termination
|
42
|
Section
9.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
43
|
ARTICLE
X
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
43
|
Section
10.1
|
Notices
|
43
|
Section
10.2
|
Entire
Agreement
|
44
|
Section
10.3
|
Amendments
and
Waivers
|
44
|
Section
10.4
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
44
|
Section
10.5
|
Further
Assurances
|
45
|
Section
10.6
|
Dollar
Amounts
|
45
|
Section
10.7
|
Successors
and
Assigns
|
45
|
Section
10.8
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
45
|
Section
10.9
|
Jurisdiction
|
45
|
Section
10.10
|
Dispute
Resolution
|
45
|
Section
10.11
|
No
Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
46
|
Section
10.12
|
Severability
|
46
|
Section
10.13
|
Specific
Performance
|
47
|
Section
10.14
|
Counterparts;
Facsimile Signatures
|
47
|
iii
TABLE
OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
Exhibits
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Employment Agreement
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Investment Representation Letter
|
Schedules
|
|
Schedule
3.5
|
Capitalization;
Title to Membership Interests
|
Schedule
3.6(b)
|
Liabilities
|
Schedule
3.7
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
Schedule
3.8
|
Material
Contracts and Other Agreements
|
Schedule
3.9
|
Leased
Real Property
|
Schedule
3.10
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
Schedule
3.11
|
Licenses
|
Schedule
3.12
|
Litigation;
Restriction on Business Activities
|
Schedule
3.13
|
Taxes
|
Schedule
3.14
|
Employee
Benefits
|
Schedule
3.15
|
Proprietary
Rights
|
Schedule 3.16
|
Insurance
|
Schedule
3.17
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
Schedule
3.18
|
Environmental
and OSHA Matters
|
Schedule
3.19
|
Labor
Matters
|
Schedule
3.20
|
Related-Party
Transactions
|
Schedule 3.21
|
Brokers’
and Finders’ Fees
|
Schedule
4.5
|
Capitalization
of Parent
|
Schedule
4.6
|
Brokers’
and Finders’ Fees
|
Schedule
5.2
|
Exceptions
to Negative Covenants of the Member
|
Schedule
6.2(c)
|
Consents
|
Schedule
8.6
|
Options
to be Granted
|
iv
THIS
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of January 31, 2007 (this “Agreement”),
is
entered into between Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, the sole member (the “Member”)
of
Reliant Partners LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”),
and
Zone Mining Limited, a Nevada corporation (the “Purchaser”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Company is engaged in the business of direct marketing, sales of student
loans, student loan consolidation and related services (the “Business”);
WHEREAS,
the Member owns all of the outstanding limited liability company interests
of
the Company (the “Membership
Interests”);
WHEREAS,
the Purchaser desires to acquire the Membership Interests from the Member,
and
the Member desires to sell the Membership Interests to the
Purchaser.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and such
other consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1 Defined
Terms.
As used
in this Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, the following definitions will apply:
“AAA”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 10.10.
“Accounts
Receivables”
means
all notes, deposits and accounts receivable in favor of the Company (whether
billed or unbilled, including unbilled amounts for which the Company has
performed services and/or delivered goods but has not yet rendered an invoice
or
other statement to the customer, whether or not such amounts constitute accounts
receivable under GAAP) and all notes, bonds and other evidence of Indebtedness
of and rights to receive payments from any Person in favor of the Company,
in
each case related to the Business.
“Acquired
Businesses”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.8(a)(i).
“Action”
means
any action, claim, complaint, petition, investigation, suit or other proceeding,
whether administrative, civil or criminal, in Law or in equity, or before any
arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
“Additional
A/R Consideration”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
2.4.
“Additional
Cash Payment”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(c).
1
“Additional
Company Information”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
5.11(b).
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, (i) a director, officer or stockholder of such
Person, (ii) a spouse, parent, sibling or descendant of any natural Person
(or
spouse, parent, sibling or descendant of any director or executive officer
of
such natural Person), and (iii) any other Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including, with
correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”),
as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of
the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract
or otherwise.
“Agreement”
has
the
meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Applicable
Laws”
means
all applicable provisions of all (a) constitutions, treaties, statues, Laws
(including the common law), rules, regulations, ordinances, codes or Orders
of
any Governmental Authority, (b) Consents of any Governmental Authority and
(c)
Orders, decisions, injunctions, judgments, awards and decrees of or agreements
with any Governmental Authority.
“Arbitration
Firm”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.4(b)(i).
“Arbitrator”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 10.10.
“A/R
Payment Date”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section
2.4(a)(ii).
“Audited
Financial Statements”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
5.11(a).
“Benefit
Plan”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.14(a).
“Books
and Records”
means
the Company’s books, ledgers, files, records, manuals, and other materials (in
any form or medium, including electronic and computer files), including, but
not
limited to, all correspondence, personnel records, payroll records, purchasing
materials and records, vendor lists, operation and quality control records
and
procedures, research and development files, Intellectual Property disclosures
and documentation, sales order files, purchase order files, advertising
materials, catalogs, product brochures, mailing lists, customer files, customer
lists, distribution lists, sales and promotional materials, and all other
records utilized by the Company and all computer software and data files
necessary to access or review or continue to compile or utilize any of the
foregoing.
“Business”
has
the
meaning given to such term in the recitals.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions
in
Los Angeles, CA are not required to be open.
“Closing”
or
“Closing
Date”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.2.
“Closing
Consideration”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.
2
“Closing
Date A/R”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b)(i).
“Closing
Date A/R Notice of Disagreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b)(i).
“Closing
Date A/R Review Period”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b)(i).
“Closing
Date A/R Payment”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(a)(ii).
“Closing
Date A/R Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b)(i).
“COBRA”
shall
collectively mean Section 4980B of the Code, Title I, Subtitle B, Part ERISA,
and applicable state insurance laws.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, together with all rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Company”
has
the
meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Company
Employees”
means
collectively, any and all current, former and retired employees of the
Company.
“Common
Stock”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.
“Confidential
Information”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 8.2(a).
“Consent”
means
any consent, approval, authorization, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, License,
exemption or Order of, any registration, certificate, qualification, declaration
or filing with, or any notice to, any Person, including, without limitation,
any
Governmental Authority.
“Contracts”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.8(a).
“Covenant
Period”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 8.2(b).
“Employment
Agreement”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 6.2(h).
“Environmental
Liability”
means
any and all Liabilities, obligations to conduct cleanup, expenses, damages,
deficiencies, fines, penalties, sanctions and costs of any kind or nature
whatsoever arising out of, relating to or directly or indirectly associated
with, the compliance with any Environmental Protection Law.
“Environmental
Permit”
means
any License required by or pursuant to any Environmental Protection
Laws.
3
“Environmental
Protection Laws”
means
all Applicable Laws, statutes, regulations decrees, judgments and Orders now
or
hereafter in effect relating to the protection of human health or the
environment, or occupational health and safety or to regulate, respond to,
cleanup or xxxxx, investigate, remove or remediate, any emission, discharge,
generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, processing, handling,
use, existence, spill, release, or threatened release, of any Hazardous
Substances, including, without limitation, (a) the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. §9601
et seq. (“CERCLA”);
(b) the Resource Conservation and Xxxxxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. §0000 et seq., as
amended (“RCRA”);
(c) the Hazardous Materials Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.;
(d) the Clean Xxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42
U.S.C. §7401 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Xxxxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. §0000 et seq.;
(e) the OSHA Laws; and (f) all other Applicable Laws, statutes,
regulations, decrees, judgments and Orders (whether foreign or domestic, or
federal, state or local) that are intended to protect human health, safety
or
the environment or classify, regulate, list or define hazardous substances,
materials, wastes, contaminants, pollutants and/or the Hazardous
Substances.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Final
Closing Date A/R”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b)(ii).
“Financial
Statements”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.6(a).
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently
applied, in effect from time to time.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof,
any
entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government, including, without limitation, any
governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality
of the United States, any State of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof, and any tribunal or arbitrator(s) of competent
jurisdiction, and any self-regulatory organization.
“Hazardous
Substance”
means
any chemical, compound, pollutant, contaminant, material or substance now or
hereafter regulated under any Environmental Protection Laws, including, without
limitation, any “hazardous substance” or “pollutant or contaminant,” as those
terms are defined in CERCLA, any “hazardous waste” as such term is defined in
RCRA, and any other hazardous or toxic wastes, substances or materials, the
presence, existence or threat of which may at any time give rise to any
Environmental Liability, including, without limitation,
(a) trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, perchloroethylene and other
chlorinated solvents, (b) any petroleum products or fractions thereof,
(c) asbestos in any form, (d) polychlorinated biphenyls,
(e) flammables (f) explosives, (g) urea formaldehyde and
(h) radioactive materials and wastes.
“Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any Person at any date, without duplication: (a) all obligations
of such Person for borrowed money or in respect of loans or advances, (b) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, mortgages
or
similar instruments (including, without limitation, any seller notes issued
in
connection with any acquisition undertaken by the Company), (c) all capitalized
lease liabilities of such Person; (d) obligations issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding obligations to
creditors for inventory, services and supplies incurred in the ordinary course
of business), (e) indebtedness of the type described in the foregoing clauses
(a) through (d) guaranteed, directly or indirectly, in any manner by the
Company, (f) interest expense accrued but unpaid on or relating to any of the
foregoing and (g) any prepayment premiums or penalties or other costs or
expenses related to any of the foregoing.
4
“Indemnitee”
means
either a Purchaser Indemnitee or a Member Indemnitee.
“Indemnitor”
means
any Person required to provide indemnification pursuant to the provisions of
Article VII
of this
Agreement.
“Initial
Cash Payment”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all of the intellectual property rights owned or licensed to the Company or
in
which the Company has any right or interest, including, without limitation,
the
Company’s (a) common law, state, provincial, federal, international and
statutory rights in any trademarks, trademark registrations and applications,
service marks, trade names, corporate names and fictitious names, copyrights,
copyright registrations, patents, patent applications, industrial design
registrations and applications, integrated circuit topography applications
and
registrations, design rights, inventions, trade secrets, data, technical
information, confidential information, designs, plans, specifications, formulas,
processes, methods, shop rights, know-how, show-how, and other business or
technical confidential information in each case whether or not such rights
are
patentable, copyrightable, or registerable; (b) computer software and
hardware programs and systems, source code, object code, know-how, show-how,
processes, formula, specifications and designs, databases, and documentation
relating to the foregoing; (c) all domain names and Internet addresses, and
content with respect to Internet websites, including such content in its
electronic form; and (d) other proprietary information owned, controlled,
created, under development or used by or on behalf of the Company in whole
or in
part in which the Company has any interest whatsoever, whether or not
registered, including rights or obligations under any license agreement or
other
agreement with any other person.
“Inventory”
means
the inventories of raw materials, work in process, finished products, goods,
spare parts, replacement and component parts, and/or other goods held for sale
in the ordinary course of business in the custody or possession (actual or
constructive) of the Company, including Inventory held at any location
controlled by the Company and Inventory previously purchased and in transit
to
the Company.
“Investment
Representation Letter”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 6.2(i).
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“JAMS”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 10.10.
“Knowledge
of the Company”
means
(i) the actual knowledge of the Member after reasonable inquiry, (ii) the actual
knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company, and (iii) that knowledge
of the individuals in (ii) which such individuals should have known as a result
of discharging their duties in a reasonable and prudent manner consistent with
sound business practices and industry standards.
“Latest
Balance Sheet”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.6(a).
5
“Latest
Balance Sheet Date”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.6(a).
“Law”
means
all laws of any nation or political subdivision thereof, including, without
limitation, all federal, state, provincial, local, or foreign statutes,
regulations, ordinances, Orders, decrees, or any other laws, common law
theories, or reported decisions of any state, provincial, federal or other
court
or tribunal.
“Leased
Real Property”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.9.
“Leases”
means
all leases, subleases, or other occupancy agreements, licenses, and lease
agreements for equipment, machinery, furnishings, vehicles or tools, together
with all amendments, supplements and nondisturbance agreements pertaining
thereto, under which the Company subleases, licenses, occupies or uses any
real
or personal property.
“Liabilities”
means
liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature, whether fixed, absolute,
contingent or otherwise and whether liquidated, matured or unmatured, known
or
unknown and regardless of whether such liability, obligation or commitment
is
immediately due and payable.
“License”
means
any license, permit, franchise, authorization, consent, right, privilege,
variance, exemption, Order or approval issued or granted by any Governmental
Authority.
“Lien”
means
any lien, pledge, mortgage, claim, covenant, restriction, security interest,
charge, title defect, transfer restriction, easement, rights of first refusal,
preemptive right or other restriction or encumbrance of any kind.
“List”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 10.10.
“Losses”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 7.2(a).
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means,
with respect to the Company, a material adverse effect on, or any event, fact,
circumstance or condition that is reasonably likely to result in a material
adverse effect on, the business, operations, assets, financial condition,
operating results, liabilities or business prospects of the Company or the
Business, taken as a whole, or the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby in all material respects.
“Member”
has
the
meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Member
Trust”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.
“Member
Indemnitees”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 7.2(b).
“Membership
Interests”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Order”
means
any decision, directive, judgment, consent, order, writ, injunction, decree,
ruling, subpoena, award or determination of any Governmental
Authority.
6
“OSHA
Laws”
means
the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. §651 et seq., each state law
corresponding thereto and all Applicable Laws, now or hereafter in effect
relating thereto.
“Permitted
Liens”
means
(i) Liens for current Taxes or other governmental charges not yet due and
payable or being contested in good faith, (ii) carriers’, warehousemen’s,
mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and other similar Liens if
payment is not yet due on the underlying obligation incurred in the ordinary
course of business for sums not overdue, payable without penalty or being
contested in good faith, (iii) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other
social security laws or regulations, (iv) Liens related to any interest or
title
of a vendor or lessor in property subject to a capital or operating lease and
vendors’ Liens on inventory arising in the ordinary course of business, and (v)
with respect to any owed or leased real property, easements, reservations,
rights of way, restrictions, covenants and other restrictions of
record.
“Person”
means
any natural person, trust, business, corporation, partnership, association,
limited liability company, joint venture, business enterprise, trust,
Governmental Authority or other entity.
“PLP
Loan Application A/R”
means
revenue received by the Company or the Purchaser after the Closing Date in
respect of completed student loan applications generated by the Company within
the sixty (60) day period prior to the Closing Date considered to be in process
with PLP, Inc. as of the Closing Date and for which the Company had not yet
received payment, or was not accounted for as an Account Receivable in the
Final
Closing Date A/R.
“Potential
Transaction”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section
5.10(a).
“Pre-Closing
Period”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section
5.1.
“Property”
means
any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed,
and whether tangible or intangible of the Company.
“Proprietary
Rights”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 3.15.
“Purchase
Price”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section
2.4.
“Purchaser”
has
the
meaning given to such term in the preamble.
“Purchaser
Indemnitees”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 7.2(a).
“Real
Property”
means
any real property currently or formerly operated, leased or occupied by the
Company (or any predecessor).
“Related
Documents”
means
the Employment Agreement and all other agreements and documents contemplated
hereunder or thereunder, and any and all amendments or modifications
thereto.
7
“Representative”
means,
with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, employee, agent,
consultant, advisor or other representative of such Person, including legal
counsel, accountants and financial advisors.
“Restricted
Securities”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 8.7(b).
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
“SLX
Loan Application A/R”
means
revenue to be received by the Company or the Purchaser after the Closing Date
in
respect of completed student loan applications generated by the Company
considered to be in process as of the Closing Date with Student Loan Xpress,
Inc. and for which the Company has not yet received payment, or was not
accounted for as an Accounts Receivable in the Final Closing Date A/R.
“SLX
Loan Application A/R Payment”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4(a)(i).
“Stock
Consideration”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.
“Survival
Date”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 7.1(a).
“Tax”
or
“Taxes”
means
any United States federal, state or local or non-U.S. income, alternative
minimum, add-on minimum, gross receipts, sales, use, transfer, registration,
ad
valorem, value added, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, social
security, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, real
property, personal property, windfall profit, natural resources, environmental,
capital stock, net worth, intangibles, customs, duties, or other tax,
governmental fee or other like levy, assessment or charge of any kind
whatsoever, including any interest, penalties, or additions to tax in respect
of
the foregoing.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return, report, information return, registration form or other document
(including any related or supporting information) related to the obligations
of
any Person filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority in
connection with the determination of any Tax or the administration of any Laws,
regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.
“Transfer
Taxes”
has
the
meaning given to such term in Section 8.4(d).
Section
1.2 Interpretation.
8
(a) Words
denoting the singular number shall also include the plural and vice versa as
the
context demands. Words denoting any gender include all genders and words
denoting persons shall include firms and corporations and vice versa as the
context demands. Unless otherwise indicated herein, any reference in this
Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule shall mean the applicable
article, section, exhibit or schedule of or to this Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the terms (i) “include”, “includes” or “including” means “including
without limitation”; (ii) “herein”, “hereof” and other similar terms refers to
this Agreement taken as a whole and not to a particular Section; (iii) “party”
or “parties” means the applicable party or parties to this Agreement (unless
otherwise provided) and (iv) “liabilities” or “obligations” means liabilities,
obligations or commitments of any nature, whether fixed, absolute, contingent
or
otherwise and whether liquidated, matured or unmatured, known or unknown and
regardless of whether such liability, obligation or commitment is immediately
due and payable. The parties and their respective legal counsel have
participated jointly in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. In
the
event that an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this
Agreement shall not be construed against (and no presumption or burden of proof
shall arise favoring or disfavoring) any party.
(b) When
a
reference is made in this Agreement to Articles or Sections, such reference
shall be to an Article or a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated.
(c) The
table
of contents, titles, captions and headings of the Articles and Sections herein,
and the use of a particular gender, are for convenience of reference only and
are not intended to be a part of or to affect or restrict the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(d) The
Exhibits and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein
by
reference and made a part hereof.
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS; CLOSING CONSIDERATION; ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATION
Section
2.1 Purchase
and Sale of Membership Interests; Closing.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Member shall
transfer and deliver to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase and
accept from the Member, as of the Closing Date, all of the right, title and
interest in and to the Membership Interests which collectively will represent
all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the
Company.
Section
2.2 Closing
and Delivery of Membership Interests.
Subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
VIII,
the
closing of the purchase and sale of the Membership Interests (the “Closing”)
shall
take place on the second (2nd)
Business Day after satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article
VIII
at the
offices of Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, or (a) on such other date upon which all of the conditions
precedent set forth in Article VIII
shall
have been satisfied or waived or (b) at such other date and place as the
Purchaser and the Company may otherwise mutually agree (the “Closing
Date”).
On
the Closing Date, and against payment of the Closing Consideration pursuant
to
Section
2.3,
the
Member shall deliver to the Purchaser any instruments reasonably necessary
to
transfer all right, title and interest in and to the Membership Interests to
the
Purchaser.
Section
2.3 Consideration
for Membership Interests.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, as consideration for
the
sale, transfer, assignment and delivery of the Membership Interests to the
Purchaser, at the Closing, the Purchaser shall (a) issue certificates
representing 1,000,000 shares (the “Stock
Consideration”)
of the
Purchaser’s common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (the “Common
Stock”)
in the
name of “The Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Trust, dated June 20, 2005” (the “Member
Trust”)
and
(b) make a cash payment to the Member of $100,000 (the “Initial
Cash Payment”,
and
together with the Stock Consideration, the “Closing
Consideration”)
. For
purposes of this Agreement, the Stock Consideration shall be valued at a price
of $1.00 per share of Common Stock. The Member hereby authorizes that the Stock
Consideration be payable to the Member Trust rather than to the
Member.
9
Section
2.4 Additional
A/R Consideration; Additional Cash Payment.
As
additional consideration for the Membership Interests, the Member will be
eligible to receive from the Purchaser additional payments, in accordance with
this Section
2.4,
with
respect to (a) the SLX Loan Application A/R, the PLP Loan Application A/R and
the Closing Date A/R (collectively, the “Additional
A/R Consideration”),
and
(b) the Additional Cash Payment. The amount of the final consideration in
respect of the Membership Interests shall be sum of (i) the Closing
Consideration, plus
(ii) the
Additional A/R Consideration payable pursuant to Sections
2.4(a)
and
2.4(b),
plus
the
Additional Cash Payment payable pursuant to Section
2.4(c)
(such
aggregate amount, the “Purchase
Price”).
(a) Additional
A/R Consideration.
Following the Closing, the Closing Consideration shall be adjusted in respect
of
Additional A/R Consideration as follows (any payment made pursuant to this
Section
2.4(a)
shall
constitute Additional A/R Consideration):
(i) SLX
Loan Application A/R Payment.
Within
five (5) calendar days of the Closing Date, upon receipt from Student Loan
Xpress, Inc. of an affidavit, certificate or other form reasonably acceptable
to
the Purchaser as to the amount of SLX Loan Application A/R, the Purchaser shall
make a cash payment to the Member in an amount equal to the SLX Loan Application
A/R.
(ii) PLP
Loan Application A/R Payment.
Within
five (5) calendar days of the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall make a cash
payment to the Member in an amount equal to the product of (a) the PLP Loan
Application A/R and (b) 60%.
(iii) Closing
Date A/R Payment.
Within
five (5) calendar days of the date of determination of the Final Closing Date
A/R as provided in Section
2.4(b)
(the
“A/R
Payment Date”),
the
Purchaser shall make a cash payment to the Member, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, in an amount equal to the amount of the Final
Closing Date A/R (the amount of any such payment, the “Closing
Date A/R Payment”).
(b) Determination
of Final Closing Date A/R.
Final
Closing Date A/R shall be determined as follow:
10
(i) Within
thirty (30) calendar days after the Closing, the Purchaser shall prepare and
deliver to the Member a statement of the actual Accounts Receivables as of
the
Closing Date (the “Closing
Date A/R”),
prepared in accordance with GAAP (the “Closing
Date A/R Statement”).
During such thirty (30) day period, the Member shall provide the Purchaser
and
its Representatives with reasonable access to all relevant records and work
papers necessary to compute and verify the Closing Date A/R in a manner not
unreasonably interfering with the business of the Purchaser. The Member shall
have a period commencing upon delivery by the Purchaser to the Member of the
Closing Date A/R Statement and expiring fifteen (15) days thereafter (the
“Closing
Date A/R Review Period”)
to
review the Closing Date A/R Statement. In the event the Member disputes the
Closing Date A/R, the Member shall, within the Closing Date A/R Review Period,
deliver a written notice to the Purchaser (the “Closing
Date A/R Notice of Disagreement”),
setting forth in reasonable detail the items contained in the Closing Date
A/R
Statement that the Member disputes and the basis for such dispute. If the Member
fails to deliver a Closing Date A/R Notice of Disagreement in writing to the
Purchaser prior to the expiration of the Closing Date A/R Review Period, then
the Closing Date A/R set forth in the Closing Date A/R Statement shall be final,
conclusive and binding on the Purchaser and the Member. If a Closing Date A/R
Notice of Disagreement is delivered to the Purchaser within the Closing Date
A/R
Review Period, then the Purchaser and the Member shall negotiate in good faith
to resolve the disputed items within fifteen (15) days after delivery of the
Closing Date A/R Notice of Disagreement to the Purchaser. If the Purchaser
and
the Member are unable to resolve the dispute within such fifteen (15) day
period, then the Purchaser and the Member jointly shall engage a nationally
recognized independent public accounting firm as may be mutually agreed upon
by
the Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Member, on the other hand, in writing
(the “Arbitration
Firm”),
to
resolve such disputed items in accordance with the standards set forth in this
Section
2.4(b)(i).
The
Purchaser and the Member shall make available to the Arbitration Firm all work
papers and all other information and material in their possession relating
to
the matters in the Closing Date A/R Notice of Disagreement. The Arbitration
Firm
shall be instructed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver its
determination as promptly as practicable after such submission of the dispute
to
the Arbitration Firm and in any event no later than thirty (30) days after
the
engagement of the Arbitration Firm. The scope of the disputes to be resolved
by
the Arbitration Firm will be limited to whether the items in dispute that were
properly included in the Closing Date A/R Notice of Disagreement were prepared
in accordance with GAAP and the Arbitration Firm shall determine, on such basis,
the amount of the Closing Date A/R. The Arbitration Firm shall not make any
other determination. The Arbitration Firm’s decision will be based solely on
written submissions by the Member and its Representatives and written
submissions by the Purchaser and its Representatives and not by independent
review. The Arbitration Firm shall address only those items in dispute and
may
not assign a value greater than the greatest value for any such item claimed
by
either the Purchaser, on the one hand, or the Member, on the other hand, or
smaller than the smallest value for any such item claimed by either the
Purchaser, on the one hand, or the Member, on the other hand. All determinations
made by the Arbitration Firm will be final, conclusive and binding on the
Purchaser and the Member and judgment may be entered upon the determination
of
the Arbitration Firm in any court having jurisdiction over the party against
which such determination is to be enforced. The fees and expenses of the
Arbitration Firm shall be borne by the Member, on the one hand, and the
Purchaser, on the other hand, based on the percentage which the portion of
the
contested amount not awarded to the Member or the Purchaser bears to the amount
actually contested by the Member or the Purchaser.
(ii) The
Closing Date A/R Statement and the Closing Date A/R shall become final and
binding on the parties on the earliest to occur of: (A) the Member notifying
the
Purchaser that it does not object to the Closing Date A/R Statement and the
Closing Date A/R, (B) the end of the Closing Date A/R Review Period if no
Closing Date A/R Notice of Disagreement has been delivered to the Purchaser
prior to the expiration of such period in accordance with Section
2.4(b)(i),
(C) the
mutual agreement of the Purchaser and the Member as to the Closing Date A/R
in
accordance with Section
2.4(b)(i)
or (D)
the determination of the Arbitration Firm as to the Closing Date A/R pursuant
to
Section
2.4(b)(i)
(such
determination of the Closing Date A/R, the “Final
Closing Date A/R”).
11
(c) Additional
Cash Payment.
On or
prior to the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall
make a cash payment to the Member equal to $400,000 (the “Additional
Cash Payment”).
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE MEMBER
The
Member hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:
Section
3.1 Organization
and Good Standing; Qualification.
The
Company is a limited liability company, duly formed, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of California, and has all requisite
power and authority to own and lease the its assets and properties, and carry
on
the Business as now conducted. The Company is duly qualified or duly licensed
to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
nature of the Business makes such qualification necessary.
Section
3.2 Authorization
and Enforceability.
The
Member has the full power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform
this
Agreement and the Related Documents to which it is or will be a party and to
carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement
and
the Related Documents to which the Member will be a party entered into as of
the
Closing Date have been duly executed and delivered by the Member, and,
constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Member enforceable
against the Member in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting
creditors’ rights and remedies generally.
Section
3.3 Non-Contravention;
No Consents.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Member of this Agreement and the
Related Documents, does not, and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (including the effective sale, transfer and
delivery of the Membership Interests) will not (i) contravene or conflict with
or constitute a violation of any provision of any Order binding upon or
applicable to the Member or the Company, (ii) require any action by or in
respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority, (iii) conflict with,
or
result in any violation of, or default under (with or without notice or lapse
of
time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation,
modification or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit under
(A)
any organizational document of the Company, including its articles of
organization or operating agreement, (B) any Contract or (C) any Law applicable
to the Member or the Company or the Company’s properties or assets, (iv) require
any notice under any Contract to which the Member or the Company is a party
or
by which the Member or the Company is bound or to which the Member’s or the
Company’s assets or properties are subject (or result in the imposition of any
Lien upon any of the Member’s assets, including the Membership
Interests).
12
Section
3.4 Consents.
No
Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with any Governmental
Authority or any third party, including a party to any agreement with the
Company (so as not to trigger any conflict), is required by or with respect
to
the Member or the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of
this
Agreement and the Related Documents to which the Member or the Company is a
party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
(including the effective sale, transfer and delivery of the Membership
Interests).
Section
3.5 Capitalization;
Title to Membership Interests.
All
issued and outstanding Membership Interests of the Company are held of record
by
the Member, free and clear of any Liens whatsoever and with no restriction
on
the voting rights and other incidents of record and beneficial ownership
pertaining thereto. Except for this Agreement, there are no outstanding
agreements, contracts or understandings between the Member and any other Person
with respect to the acquisition, disposition or voting of or any other matters
pertaining to the Membership Interests. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.5,
there
are no outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, or securities
or
rights convertible into, units or shares or evidencing ownership of the
Company’s limited liability company interests or contracts, commitments,
understandings, or arrangements by which the Company is bound to issue
additional membership interests or certificates evidencing ownership of the
Company or otherwise entitling any Person to consideration in respect of the
sale of any equity interests of the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.5,
there
are no voting trusts, proxies or similar voting arrangements with respect to
the
Membership Interests. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.5,
the
Company does not, directly or indirectly, own or control any equity interest
or
other ownership interest in any Person.
Section
3.6 Financial
Statements.
(a) The
Member has caused the Company to deliver to the Purchaser financial statements
of the Company, including (i) unaudited balance sheets as of December 31,
2005 and December 31, 2004 and related statements of operations and statements
of member’s equity and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended, and the
related notes thereto and (ii) an unaudited balance sheet (the
“Latest
Balance Sheet”)
as of
November 30, 2006 (the “Latest
Balance Sheet Date”)
and
related unaudited statement of operations and statement of member’s equity and
cash flows for the eleven-month period then ended (collectively, the
“Financial
Statements”).
The
Financial Statements (i) have been prepared from and are consistent with
the books and records of the Company, which books and records are correct and
complete in all material respects, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with
GAAP and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the financial position
and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods
then ended.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.6(b),
there
are no Liabilities of the Company other than (i) Liabilities which are fully
accrued on the face of the Latest Balance Sheet, (ii) Liabilities which have
arisen since the Latest Balance Sheet Date under contracts which have arisen
in
the ordinary course of business (none of which relates to a breach of contract),
and (iii) Liabilities which have arisen since the Latest Balance Sheet Date
in
the ordinary course of business (none of which is a Liability resulting from,
arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by any breach of
contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, violation of law,
environmental matter, grievance or lawsuit).
13
Section
3.7 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events.
Since
December 31, 2005 except as set forth on Schedule 3.7,
the
Member has caused the Company to conduct its Business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice, and the Member has caused the Company not
to:
(a) merge
or
consolidate with any other Person or acquired any material assets of any other
Person (other than the acquisition of inventory in the ordinary
course);
(b) sell
or
license any Intellectual Property other than in connection with product sales
in
the ordinary course;
(c) create
or
assume any Lien on any material asset other than Permitted Liens;
(d) other
than in the ordinary course of business, incur, assume or guarantee any
Indebtedness;
(e) enter
into any Contract involving an amount that would be material to the Company;
(f) make
any
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person
other than loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(g) amend
any
existing or enter into any new employment, severance or termination agreement
with any director or officer of the Company;
(h) increase
the compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to officers and employees
of
the Company other than in the ordinary course, consistent with past
practice;
(i) adopt
any
new Benefit Plan, program or arrangement or amend or modify, any existing
Benefit Plan or benefit arrangement in any material respect except to the extent
required by Applicable Law;
(j) change
any method of accounting or any accounting principle or practice used by the
Company, except for any such change required by reason of a change in
GAAP;
(k) incur
or
commit to any obligation to make any capital expenditure (or series of capital
expenditures) in excess of $10,000 individually or $25,000 in the aggregate;
(l) commit
to
do any of the foregoing.
Section
3.8 Material
Contracts and Other Agreements.
(a) Schedule 3.8(a)
sets
forth, as of the date hereof, whether written or oral, together with all
amendments and modifications thereto:
(i) all
contracts, agreements and commitments whether or not fully performed pursuant
to
which the Company has acquired, sold or transferred all or any portion of the
business, assets (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business),
properties or equity interests of any Person (including the Company) (whether
through purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) (the “Acquired
Businesses”)
which
provided for an aggregate purchase price in excess of $25,000;
14
(ii) all
agreements containing covenants not to compete on the part of the Company or
otherwise restricting the ability of the Company in any way to engage in the
Business;
(iii) all
notes, mortgages, indentures, letters of credit, guarantees, performance bonds
and other obligations and agreements and other instruments for or relating
to
any lending or Indebtedness (including assumed Indebtedness) entered into by
the
Company or pursuant to which any Properties are pledged or mortgaged as
collateral;
(iv) any
employment or consulting agreement;
(v) all
contracts, agreements, commitments or other arrangements with any Affiliate
of
the Company or the Member;
(vi) all
contracts, agreements, commitments or other arrangements for the purchase or
sale of goods or services by or from the Company, each of which requires a
payment or payments by or to the Company, in the aggregate, of more than $50,000
in any given year;
(vii) all
contracts, agreements, commitments or other arrangements relating to payment
and/or performance bonds in respect of services provided by the
Company;
(viii) all
other
contracts, agreements or commitments involving aggregate payments of more
$10,000 during the term thereof or with a term of more than one (1) year,
including all extensions thereof, at the option of any party other than the
Company;
(ix) all
licenses and agreements with respect to Proprietary Rights; and
(x) all
other
contracts, agreements and commitments which are material to the
Company
each
of
the foregoing described under clauses (i) through (x), including each of the
same listed on Schedule 3.8(a),
collectively referred to as the “Contracts.”
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.8(b),
with
respect to each Contract, (i) such Contract is valid, binding and
enforceable against the Company and against each other party thereto, and is
in
full force and effect and will remain enforceable in such manner and be in
full
force and effect after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement and the Related Documents, (ii) neither the Company nor any other
party to such Contract is in material breach thereof or material default
thereunder, (iii) there does not exist any event that, with the giving of notice
or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a material breach of or a
material default by the Company or any other party to such Contract under such
Contract, and none of the Company or any Affiliate thereof has received or
given
notice of any such breach, default or event, (iv) true, complete and
correct copies of each Contract have been delivered or made available to the
Purchaser or its representatives, (v) the Company has not waived any
material rights under any Contract, (vi) the Company is not aware of any
material defense to the validity or enforceability of any Contract,
(vii) the Company has not received or given notice of any breach or default
in connection with any Contract and (viii) the Company has no existing Liability
(contingent or otherwise), including with respect to any indemnification or
guarantee obligation, with respect to any Acquired Business.
15
Section
3.9 Real
Property.
The
Company does not own, nor has it ever owned, any real property. Schedule
3.9
contains
a complete and correct list of all real property leases, warehouse leases,
subleases, licenses and occupancy agreements pursuant to which the Company
is a
lessor, lessee, sublessor, sublessee, licensor or licensee of real property,
setting forth the address, landlord and tenant for each (the “Leased
Real Property”).
The
Member has caused the Company to deliver to the Purchaser correct and complete
copies of each of the agreements set forth in Schedule
3.9,
including all amendments thereto and all nondisturbance agreements in connection
therewith. Each lease, sublease, license or other agreement set forth in
Schedule
3.9
is
legal, valid, binding and in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance
with its terms. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.9,
the
Company is not and no other party thereto is in default, violation or breach
in
any material respect under any of the same, and no event has occurred and is
continuing thereunder that constitutes or, with notice or the passage of time
or
both, would constitute a default, violation or breach in any material respect
thereunder. The Company has good and valid title to the leasehold estate under
each lease, sublease, license or other agreement set forth in Schedule
3.9,
free
and clear of all Liens. The Company enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession
under the same. All of the improvements situated in whole or in part at any
Leased Real Property are in good operating condition, in a state of good
maintenance and repair and are adequate and suitable for the purposes of which
they are presently being used.
Section
3.10 Compliance
with Laws.
Except
as disclosed on Schedule
3.10,
the
Company is, and all of its assets and Properties are, in compliance in all
material respects with all Applicable Laws and other requirements of all federal
and foreign Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over the Company or
its
assets and Properties, and the Company has no Liability under, any Laws,
including, without limitation, any applicable franchise, building, zoning,
Environmental Protection Laws, employment or labor relations Law.
Section
3.11 Licenses.
Schedule
3.11
contains
a complete and accurate list of all Licenses held by the Company necessary
to
conduct the Business as it is now being conducted by the Company. Except as
set
forth on Schedule
3.11,
(i) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
claims or proceedings challenging the validity of or seeking to revoke or
discontinue (other than expiration according to each respective License’s
terms), any of the Licenses, (ii) there are no defaults by the Company which
but
for notice of lapse of time or both would constitute a default under the
Licenses, and (iii) each such License is in full force and effect. Except as
set
forth on Schedule
3.11,
the
Company solely possesses all such Licenses. The Company is in compliance with
the terms and conditions of such Licenses and neither the Company nor the Member
has received any notices that the Company is in violation of any of the terms
or
conditions of such Licenses.
16
Section
3.12 Litigation;
Restriction on Business Activities.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.12,
there
are no Actions, arbitrations, grievances, unfair labor practice or employment
discrimination charges or complaints, or investigations pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened (i) against, relating to, affecting or
involving the Member, the Company or the Business before any Governmental
Authority in connection with the business and affairs of the Member or the
Company, as applicable, or (ii) that challenge or question the legal right
of
the Company or the Member to conduct the operations of the Business as presently
conducted. Neither the Member, the Company nor any of their respective assets
or
Properties, is subject to any Order, indictment or civil investigative demand,
plea agreement or stipulation (whether rendered by a Governmental Authority,
commission, arbitration tribunal, or judicial, governmental or administrative
department, body, agency, administrator or official, grand jury or any other
forum for the resolution of grievances, or administrative body, United States
or
foreign) which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to impact the ability of the Member to perform his obligations under, and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.
(b) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, there is no agreement (noncompete or otherwise) or
Order to which the Member or the Company is a party or that otherwise could
be
binding upon the Member, the Company or the Business which has or would
reasonably have the effect of prohibiting or impairing the Purchaser’s ability
to use the Company’s assets or Properties or operate the Business in the manner
the Business is currently being operated by the Company. Neither the Company
nor
the Member has entered into any agreement under which the Business is restricted
from providing services to, customers or potential customers or any class of
customers, in any geographic area, during any period of time or in any segment
of the market.
Section
3.13 Taxes.
(a) The
Company has filed all material Tax Returns that it was required to file. All
such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects. All Taxes
owed by the Company or the Member have been or will be paid prior to the Closing
or accrued on the Financial Statements, or on the books of the Company after
the
date of the most recent Financial Statements through the Closing Date in
accordance with the Company’s past practices and GAAP as a Tax liability or
payable or as part of the Tax reserve. There are no Liens on any of the assets
of any of the Company that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged
failure) to pay any Tax, except for any Tax, the payment of which is not
delinquent and not subject to penalties or which is being contested in good
faith.
(b) There
is
no dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of the Company or the Member
claimed or raised by any Governmental Authority in writing delivered to the
Company or the Member. There is no audit, examination, or similar proceeding
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, proposed or threatened, with
respect to Taxes of the Company. The Member has cause the Company to deliver
or
make available to the Purchaser correct and complete copies of all federal
income Tax Returns and all examination reports, and statements of deficiencies
assessed against or agreed to by the Company for all periods beginning after
January 1, 2003.
17
(c) The
Member has not caused the Company to waive any statute of limitations in respect
of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment
or
deficiency.
(d) The
Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation within
the meaning of Code Sec. 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in
Code Sec. 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
(a) The
Company is not a party to any Tax allocation or sharing agreement.
Section
3.14 ERISA.
(a) Schedule
3.14
contains
a list identifying each “employee benefit plan”, as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA, and each other material employee benefit plan, policy or arrangement
currently being maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company for
the benefit of any current employee of the Company (each, an “Benefit
Plan”),
but
excluding in any case plans sponsored by any Governmental Authority. Copies
of
each Benefit Plan have been made available to the Purchaser and, with respect
to
each such Benefit Plan, copies of any amendments thereto and, if applicable,
related trust agreements, the most recent annual reports on Form 5500, and
any
favorable determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue
Service.
(b) Except
as
disclosed on Schedule
3.14(b)
or
except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each Benefit Plan has been
maintained, operated and administered, in all material respects, in compliance
with its terms and any related documents or agreements and the applicable
provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable laws, except in any case
in
which any Benefit Plan is currently required to comply with a provision of
ERISA
or of the Code, but is not yet required to be amended to reflect such provision,
it has been administered in all material respects in accordance with such
provision of ERISA or of the Code.
(c) Except
as
disclosed on Schedule
3.14(c),
no
Benefit Plan is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of
ERISA. The Company has not received notice with respect to any Benefit Plan
that
is a multiemployer plan of (i) any failure by such plan to satisfy the minimum
funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code, (ii) any application for or
receipt of a waiver of such minimum funding requirements with respect to such
plan, or (iii) such plan’s insolvency, entry into reorganization within the
meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA, intention to terminate or proposed or
threatened termination.
(d) No
Benefit Plan provides, with respect to employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary, death or medical benefits beyond termination of service or
retirement other than (i) coverage mandated by law or (ii) benefits under an
Benefit Plan qualified under Code Section 401(a).
(e) All
contributions with respect to or on behalf of employees of the Company to any
Benefit Plan which is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA which have been required in accordance with the terms
of
such Benefit Plan have been timely made or accrued.
18
Section
3.15 Proprietary
Rights.
Schedule 3.15
sets
forth each federal, state, local or foreign trademark, servicemark, trade name,
copyright and patent registered by the Company or for which registration is
pending. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15,
the
Company owns exclusively or has the exclusive right to use, free and clear
of
any Liens, all Intellectual Property and other intangible assets and proprietary
rights, including, without limitation all material software applications
currently used by the Company in the operation of the Business (collectively,
“Proprietary
Rights”).
The
Proprietary Rights are adequate for the conduct of the business of the Company
as conducted on the date hereof and as proposed to be conducted. Except as
set
forth on Schedule 3.15,
no
Person has a right to receive from the Company a royalty or similar payment
in
respect of any Proprietary Rights whether or not pursuant to any contractual
arrangements entered into by the Company. The Proprietary Rights do not and
have
not infringed any rights of any third party and no infringement,
misappropriation or other violation of any intellectual property right of any
third party has occurred or resulted in any way from the conduct of the
Business. No proceedings have been instituted against or notices received by
the
Company or the Member alleging that the Company’s use of any Proprietary Rights
infringes upon or otherwise violates any rights of a third party in or to such
Proprietary Rights. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Proprietary
Rights is or has been infringed, misappropriated or used in an unauthorized
manner by any third party. All of the respective Proprietary Rights are valid
and enforceable rights of the Company and will not cease to be valid and in
full
force and effect by reason of the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement or any Related Document or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company has taken all reasonable and
appropriate steps to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all Proprietary
Rights not otherwise protected by patents or patent applications. All use,
disclosure or appropriation of any Proprietary Rights licensed by the Company
to
a third party or to the Company by a third party has been pursuant to the terms
of a written agreement between the Company and such third party. Schedule 3.15
sets
forth each license or other agreement relating to the Proprietary
Rights.
Section
3.16 Insurance.
The
Member has caused the Company to maintain and the Company has maintained for
each of the past five (5) years (i) insurance policies with good and reputable
insurers and with coverage customary for entities engaged in similar lines
of
business and (ii) insurance coverage in amounts equal to or in excess of all
contractual commitments. Schedule
3.16
contains
a complete and accurate list of all policies of insurance currently maintained
by, or on behalf of, the Company, setting forth the name of the insurer, the
holder of each such policy, the nature of coverage, the amount of such coverage,
and the expiration dates thereof. All such policies are in full force and effect
as of the date hereof, all premiums due under the policies identified on
Schedule
3.16
have
been paid and neither the Company nor any such insured has been issued or has
received any notice of cancellation, material modification or termination in
respect of any such policy or is in default thereunder. The Member has caused
the Company to be in full compliance in all material respects with the terms
and
conditions of all such policies and bonds under which it is the beneficiary.
The
Company has not failed to give any notice or to present any material claim
under
any such policy in a due and timely fashion. There is no claim by the Company
or
the Member pending under any of such policies or bonds as to which coverage
has
been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or
bonds or which could reasonably be expected to result in a material increase
in
the premiums payable for such insurance policies or insurance ratings of the
Company generally.
19
Section
3.17 Accounts
Receivables.
The
Member has caused the Company to deliver a complete and correct list of all
Accounts Receivables of the Company as of November 30, 2006, such list setting
forth the aging of such Accounts Receivables, a list of which is attached hereto
as Schedule 3.17.
The
Accounts Receivables are properly reflected on the books and records of the
Company and represent bona fide sales actually made or services actually
performed on or prior to such date in the ordinary course of business of the
Company and consistent with past practices. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17,
there
is no contest, claim or right of set-off contained in any oral or written
agreement with any account debtor relating to the amount or validity of any
Account Receivables, or any other account receivable created after November
30,
2006. The Accounts Receivables are valid and collectible at the recorded amounts
thereof in the ordinary course of business of the Company, subject to the bad
debt reserves contained in the Financial Statements.
Section
3.18 Environmental
and OSHA Matters.
Except
as disclosed on Schedule 3.18:
(a) Each
of
the Company, the Real Property and the Business is, and at all times has been,
in compliance with all, and has no liability under any, Environmental Protection
Laws or OSHA Laws.
(b) To
the
Knowledge of the Company (i) no material notice, notification, demand, request
for information, citation, summons or order has been received by the Company;
(ii) no material complaint has been filed against and received by the Company;
(iii) no material penalty has been assessed, and (iv) no material action or
review is pending or threatened before or by any Governmental Authority with
respect to any matters relating to the Company and arising out of any
Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.
(c) The
Member has caused the Company to provide the Purchaser with copies of all
documents, reports, site assessments, data, communications or other materials,
in the possession of the Company or prepared on behalf of the Company, which
contain any material information with respect to potential environmental
liabilities associated with the Real Property and relating to compliance with
Environmental Laws an Environmental Permits or the environmental condition
of
the Real Property.
(d) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, there are no events, conditions, circumstances,
incidents, actions or plans that may interfere with or prevent continued
compliance (i) by the Business and/or any Real Property with any Environmental
Protection Laws, give rise to any liability relating to the Business and/or
any
Real Property, or form the basis for any claim, action, suit or other proceeding
under any Environmental Protection Laws relating to the Business and/or any
Real
Property or (ii) by the Business with any OSHA Laws, give rise to any liability
relating to the Business, or form the basis for any claim, action, suit or
other
proceeding under any OSHA Laws relating to the Business.
Section
3.19 Labor
Matters.
(a) The
Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement. There are no
labor unions voluntarily recognized or certified to represent any bargaining
unit of employees at the Company. No work stoppage, labor strike or slowdown
against the Company is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.
The Company is not involved in or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
with any labor dispute or grievance, which has had or is reasonably likely
to
have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no
labor union or other similar organization currently attempting to organize
with
respect to any employees of the Company.
20
(b) Schedule
3.19(b)
contains
a list of (i) all employment agreements and severance agreements with any
officers, directors and employees of the Company and (ii) the names of all
of
the employees, independent contractors and temporary employees of the Company
with annual base salaries in excess of $50,000.
(c) The
Company is, and at all times prior to the Closing has been, in full compliance
in all material respects with all Applicable Laws respecting employment and
employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours,
welfare, health and safety and immigration and naturalization. The Company
is
not delinquent in payments to any of its employees for any wages, salaries,
commissions, bonuses, overtime, mean or break period penalty payments or other
direct compensation for any services performed by them or amounts required
to be
reimbursed to such employees. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.19(c),
no
claims are pending against the Company before the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission,
Department of Labor, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing or
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement,
or any
other administrative body or in any court asserting any violation of Title
VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 or 1983, the Americans with Disabilities
Act,
the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, the
California Unemployment Insurance Code
or any
other federal, state or local Law, statute or ordinance barring discrimination
in employment.
(d) Except
as
specified in Schedule 3.19(d),
none of
the Company Employees include any Persons who are not United States citizens.
All employees and independent contractors providing services to the Company
have
been properly classified by the Company prior to the Closing, and the Purchaser
will not incur any Liability for the improper classification by the Company
of
such employees, independent contractors or leased employees.
(e) Except
as
set forth in Schedule 3.19(e),
none of
the Company Employees is on long term disability leave, extended absence or
receiving benefits pursuant to workers’ compensation legislation or on leave of
absence, including any leave of absence by reason of disability or pursuant
to
the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the California Family Rights
Act,
the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities
Act
or
the
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. None of
the
Company Employees or any present or former spouse or child of any of the Company
Employees is receiving benefits under any Benefit Plan pursuant to COBRA or
is
entitled to elect COBRA coverage under any Benefit Plan as a result of an event
occurring prior to the Closing Date.
Section
3.20 Related-Party
Transactions.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.20,
no
officer, director or other Affiliate of the Company or the Member has any
(a) interest, directly or indirectly, in any lease, Lien, contract,
license, loan or other agreement or arrangement to which the Company is a party
or that relates in any way to any Property or any aspect of the Business,
(b) interest in any Properties, Liabilities or other obligations of the
Company or (c) employment relationship or other relationship as a director,
manager or similar such position with, or any interest (other than a passive
investment in equity securities of any Person if such equity securities are
registered under the Securities Act, provided that such equity investment does
not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity securities of such
Person), direct or indirect, in any competitor, supplier, vendor or customer
of,
or other Person having any business dealings or a business relationship with
the
Company (other than the maintenance of the Members’ passive investment and
ownership of minority interests in Mingle, LLC and West East, LLC, provided
the
Member may not increase the ownership interests in such entities or actively
participate in the management of such entities, or any other entities
constituting a competing business, in any capacity). Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.20,
no
Member or any Affiliate thereof will own, hold, possess or have any other right
or obligation with respect to any Property or other asset on or after the
Closing Date that is currently used in the business of the Company.
21
Section
3.21 Brokers;
Certain Expenses.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.21,
none of
the Company or the Member has paid or become obligated to pay any fee or
commission to any broker, finder, investment banker, lawyer or other
intermediary in connection with this Agreement or any of the Related
Documents.
Section
3.22 Certain
Payments.
Neither
the Company, the Member nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other
person acting on behalf of the Company or the Member, has (a) paid or
authorized any commission, bonus, “finders fee,” referral fee or other payment
or inducement relating to the Contracts, orders or Business of the Company
which
has not been properly recorded on the Company’s books of account;
(b) established or maintained any unrecorded account or funds for such
purposes, or (c) received any payment, gift, or other consideration from
any supplier, vendor or customer relating to business with the
Company.
Section
3.23 Disclosure.
To the
Knowledge of the Company, no representation or warranty made by the Company
or
the Member in this Agreement, any Schedule hereto, any Related Document, or
any
document or certificate furnished or to be furnished by or on behalf of the
Company or the Member to the Purchaser or its Affiliates and Representatives
in
connection with this Agreement and the Related Document or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby contains any untrue statement of a material
fact,
or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading. To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no fact that has not
been
disclosed in this Agreement or the Related Documents which could reasonably
be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
The
Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
Section
4.1 Organization;
Good Standing; Authorization and Enforceability.
The
Purchaser is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of its state of incorporation. The Purchaser has all
necessary corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties, and to carry on its business, as such is now being
conducted.
22
Section
4.2 Authorization
and Enforceability.
All
action on the part of each of the Purchaser necessary for the authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Related Documents to which the
Purchaser is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has
been taken. The Purchaser has the full power and authority to enter into and
perform this Agreement and the Related Documents to which it is a party and
to
carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement
and
each Related Document to which the Purchaser is a party has been duly executed
and delivered by the Purchaser, and constitutes the valid and legally binding
obligation of the Purchaser, to the extent it is a party thereto, enforceable
against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting
creditors’ rights and remedies generally and general principles of
equity.
Section
4.3 Consents.
No
Consent of any Governmental Authority or third party, including a party to
any
agreement with the Purchaser (so as not to trigger any conflict), is required
by
or with respect to the Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the Related Documents to which the Purchaser is a party
or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including
the effective assignment and assumption to the Purchaser of any of the Purchased
Assets).
Section
4.4 No
Conflicts.
(a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Related Documents to which
the
Purchaser is a party by the Purchaser does not, and, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the effective sale,
transfer and delivery of the Membership Interests) will not, conflict with,
or
result in any violation of, or default under (with or without notice or lapse
of
time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation,
modification or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit under:
(i)
any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Purchaser;
(ii)
any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument,
permit, concession, franchise or license to which the Purchaser is a party;
or
(iii) any Law applicable to the Purchaser or its respective properties or
assets.
(b) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Documents to which
the
Purchaser is or will be a party by the Purchaser, does not, and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the effective
sale, transfer and delivery of the Membership Interests) will not require any
notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other
arrangement to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is
bound
or to which any of its respective properties or assets is subject (or result
in
the imposition of any lien upon any of its assets).
Section
4.5 Capitalization
of Purchaser.
The
authorized capital stock of the Purchaser immediately after the consummation
of
the Closing shall consist of (a) 33,333,334 authorized shares of Common Stock
of
which 6,468,346 shall
be
issued and outstanding as provided on Schedule
4.5,
and (b)
100,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, $0.00001 par value per share,
of which none are outstanding. The Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement will, when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement,
(i) be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) based on the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Member Trust in the
Investment Representation Letter, be issued pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.5,
there
are no outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, or securities
or
rights convertible into, shares of the Purchaser’s capital stock or evidencing
ownership of the Purchaser’s capital stock, commitments, understandings, or
arrangements by which the Purchaser is bound to issue additional shares of
capital stock or certificates evidencing ownership of the Purchaser or otherwise
entitling any Person to consideration in respect of the sale of any equity
interests of the Purchaser. The Purchaser has sufficient authorized shares
of
Common Stock to issue and deliver certificates representing the Common Stock
issued as Closing Consideration to the Member pursuant to this Agreement.
23
Section
4.6 Brokers;
Certain Expenses.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.6,
the
Purchaser is not obligated to pay any fee or commission to any broker, finder,
investment banker or other intermediary in connection with this Agreement or
any
of the Related Documents.
Section
4.7 Litigation.
There
are no Actions, arbitrations, grievances, unfair labor practice or employment
discrimination charges or complaints, or investigations pending or, to the
knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened (a) against, relating to or affecting
the
Purchaser before any Governmental Authority, or (b) that challenge the validity
or propriety of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
of
the Related Documents.
ARTICLE
V
CONDUCT
AND ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE CLOSING
Section
5.1 Affirmative
Covenants of the Member.
From
and after the date of this Agreement until the Closing or the earlier
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.1
(the
“Pre-Closing
Period”),
except as otherwise consented to in writing by the Purchaser, the Member shall,
and shall cause the Company to:
(a) conduct
the operations of the Company according to the ordinary and usual course of
business consistent with past custom and practice (including the collection
of
receivables, the payment of payables and the maintenance of supplies) and use
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization,
keep available the services of officers and employees, and maintain satisfactory
relationships with suppliers, customers and others having business relationships
with them;
(b) maintain
the assets of the Company in customary repair, order and condition, replace
in
accordance with past practice inoperable or worn out assets with modern assets
of comparable quality and, in the event of a casualty, loss or damage to any
of
such assets or properties prior to the Closing Date for which the Company,
as
applicable, is insured or the condemnation of any assets or properties, either
repair or replace such assets or property or, if the Purchaser agrees, cause
the
Company to retain such insurance or condemnation proceeds;
24
(c) keep
in
full force and effect all Licenses relating to or pertaining to its business,
other than Licenses which are terminated in the ordinary course of business
and
consistent with past practices;
(d) continue
in force with good and responsible insurance companies adequate insurance
covering risks of such types and such amounts as are (i) customary for
well-insured corporations of similar size engaged in similar lines of business
and (ii) necessary to comply with all contractual commitments of the
Company;
(e) prepare
and file all Tax Returns of the Company when due in a manner consistent with
past practices in preparing or filing similar Tax Returns in prior periods
and
cause such Tax Returns when filed to be true, correct and complete in all
material respects, and, on any such Tax Return, not fail to take any position,
make any election, or adopt any method that is consistent with positions taken,
elections made or methods used in preparing or filing similar Tax Returns in
prior periods; and
(f) pay
all
Taxes or other debts when due in accordance with past custom and
practice.
Section
5.2 Negative
Covenants of the Member.
During
the Pre-Closing Period, except to the extent disclosed on Schedule
5.2
or as
otherwise consented to in writing by the Purchaser (which consent shall not
be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Member shall not, and shall
cause the Company not to:
(a) declare
or pay any dividends or distribution in respect of any the Membership Interests
or redeem the Membership Interests, if such dividends or distributions would
cause (i) the difference between the Company’s current assets and its current
liabilities to be less than $0 and (ii) the condition to Closing set forth
in
Section
6.2(j)
to be
unsatisfied;
(b) effectuate
any change in the Company’s current equity capitalization, whether by issuance
of additional limited liability company interests or similar equity securities,
or by sale, pledge or other transfer of the Membership Interests;
(c) acquire
(by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any Person or
other
business organization or division thereof or any equity interest
therein;
(d) sell,
lease, transfer or assign any of the properties or assets of the Company,
tangible or intangible, with an aggregate fair market value of greater than
$10,000;
(e) incur
any
Indebtedness (or become directly or indirectly responsible for the payment
of
any Indebtedness of any Person), guaranty or other obligations for borrowed
money or make any capital expenditures in excess of $10,000;
(f) make
any
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person,
other than reimbursement of expenses of employees of the Company in accordance
with written policies of the Company;
25
(g) delay
or
fail to make any capital expenditures contemplated by the Company’s budget for
capital expenditures;
(h) amend
or
modify or take any affirmative action to terminate, any Material Contract other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and
custom;
(i) enter
into any Contract (or series of related Contracts) or amendment of any Contract
involving an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000 other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past custom and practice;
(j) enter
into or amend any employment, severance, termination or other similar agreement,
adopt any new or amend any existing employee benefit plan, program, agreement
or
arrangement (except as may be required by applicable law), hire any employee
(except in connection with the hiring of any new employee earning less than
$25,000 per year), or make any loans to any of its officers, directors,
employees, agents or consultants (other than loans made under a Benefit Plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code), other than in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past custom and practice;
(k) increase
the compensation or benefits payable to its employees, officers, managers or
directors or adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan, except in
accordance with existing employment agreements, collective bargaining
agreements, or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(l) commence
any litigation or binding dispute resolution process or settle or compromise
any
pending or threatened suit, action, proceeding or claim;
(m) adopt
or
propose any amendment to its organizational documents, including its articles
of
organization or operating agreement;
(n) other
than as contemplated by this Agreement, enter into any transaction or agreement
with any officer, employee or Affiliate of the Company (or any director, officer
or employees of such Affiliate), other than ordinary course employment
arrangements entered into in accordance with past custom or
practice;
(o) change
its methods, policies or practices of accounting for purposes of either GAAP
or
Tax; or
(p) authorize
any of the foregoing or enter into any agreement to do the
foregoing.
Section
5.3 Consents
and Approvals.
During
the Pre-Closing Period, the Member shall use its commercially reasonable best
efforts, and the Member shall cause the Company to use its commercially
reasonable efforts, and the Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to: (i) promptly apply for and obtain prior to the Closing all necessary
consents, approvals, authorizations and clearances of other Persons and
Governmental Authorities required to consummate the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, (ii) provide such information and communications to Governmental
Authorities as they shall reasonably request, (iii) assist
and cooperate with each other’s efforts to obtain all such consents, approvals,
authorizations and clearances and any licenses and permits of Governmental
Authorities that each party reasonably deems necessary or appropriate, and
to
prepare any document or other information required of such party to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and (iv)
obtain all other consents necessary or advisable in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All regulatory filings or consent
payments and expenses, shall be deemed expenses of the Company and the
Member.
26
Section
5.4 Cooperation.
Each
party shall, and the Member shall cause the Company to, cooperate with the
other
parties and use its reasonable best efforts to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements to be entered into
as of
the Closing in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. In furtherance
of
the foregoing, the parties shall, and the Member shall cause the Company to,
at
any time and from time to time after the Closing, upon the request of the other
party, do, execute, acknowledge and deliver, and cause to be done, executed,
acknowledged and delivered, all such further acts, deeds, assignments,
transfers, conveyances, powers of attorney or assurances as may be reasonably
required to effectuate fully the intent and purposes of, and to consummate
the
transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.
Section
5.5 Notice.
Prior
to the Closing, the Member will give prompt notice to the Purchaser of the
occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event of which the Member has knowledge
and which he determines would cause any representation or warranty of the Member
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any respect at any
time from the date hereof to and including the Closing Date. Prior to the
Closing, the Purchaser shall give prompt notice to the Member of the occurrence,
or failure to occur, of any event of which the Purchaser has knowledge and
the
Purchaser determines would cause any representation or warranty of the Purchaser
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any respect at any
time from the date hereof up to the Closing Date.
Section
5.6 Access
to Information.
During
the Pre-Closing Period, the Member shall, and shall cause the Company to, afford
the Purchaser and its Representatives (a) reasonable access to the properties,
books, records (including Tax Returns filed and those in preparation) and
executive personnel of the Company in order to permit the Purchaser full
opportunity to make such investigation of the Company and their respective
operations as the Purchaser may reasonably require, (b) full access to the
audit
work papers and other records of the independent certified public accountants
of
the Company, (c) access to the suppliers, customers, and consultants of the
Company and (d) the opportunity to review such financial and operating data
and
other information with respect to the business of the Company as the Purchaser
may from time to time reasonably request.
Section
5.7 Publicity.
Except
as required by Law, neither the Member (and the Member shall cause the Company
not to) and his respective Affiliates, on the one hand, nor the Purchaser and
its respective Affiliates, on the other hand, shall either directly or
indirectly make any press release or other public communication after the date
hereof with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except as required
by law or as a result of the Purchaser’s status as a public reporting company
without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (in the case of the Member
and his Affiliates) or the Member (in the case of the Purchaser), which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
27
Section
5.8 Prohibition
on Trading in Common Stock.
The
Member acknowledges that information concerning the matters that are the subject
matter of this Agreement may constitute material non-public information under
United States federal securities laws, and that United States federal securities
laws prohibit any Person who has received material non-public information
relating to the Purchaser from purchasing or selling securities of the
Purchaser, or from communicating such information to any Person under
circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such Person is likely
to purchase or sell securities of the Purchaser. Accordingly, until such time
as
any such non-public information has been adequately disseminated to the public
(such period being at least one hundred and eighty (180) days from the Closing),
the Member shall not purchase or sell any securities of the Purchaser,
communicate such information to any other Person, or resell the securities
on
any United States stock exchange or over-the-counter market.
Section
5.9 Confidentiality.
During
the Pre-Closing Period and following the Closing, the parties hereto will abide
by all terms and conditions relating to their respective confidentiality
obligations contained in paragraph 9 of that certain Letter of Intent executed
by and among the Company, the Purchaser and the Member as of December 13, 2006.
Section
5.10 Negotiation
with Others; Disposition and Voting of Securities.
(a) Until
the
later of (i) the expiration of the Pre-Closing Period and (ii) March 13, 2007,
the Member shall, and shall cause the Company, and their respective
representatives to deal exclusively with the Purchaser regarding the acquisition
of or investment in the Company, whether by way of merger, purchase of
Membership Interests, purchase of assets or otherwise (a “Potential
Transaction”)
and,
without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, the Member shall not and
shall cause the Company not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, encourage,
initiate or otherwise facilitate discussions or engage in negotiations with
any
Person, other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates or a party designated by
the
Purchaser, relating to a Potential Transaction, (ii) provide any non-public
financial or other confidential information or documentation with respect to
the
Company to any Person, other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates or a party
designated by the Purchaser, relating to a Potential Transaction or (iii) enter
into an agreement with any Person, other than the Purchaser or any Affiliate
thereof, providing for any Potential Transaction.
(b) The
Member shall, and shall cause the Company to: (i) immediately cease and cause
to
be terminated any existing activities, discussion or negotiations with any
parties conducted heretofore with respect to a Potential Transaction, (ii)
promptly request each Person (other than the Purchaser and its representatives)
that has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with
such
Person’s consideration of a Potential Transaction with the Company to return to
the Company all confidential information heretofore furnished to such Person
by
or on behalf of the Company and (iii) take the necessary steps to promptly
inform its representatives of the obligations undertaken in this Section
5.10.
If the
Member receives an unsolicited inquiry, offer or proposal relating to any of
the
above, the Member shall. and shall cause the Company to, immediately notify
the
Purchaser thereof. The Member represents to the Purchaser that he is not bound
to negotiate a Potential Transaction with any other Person and that his
execution of this Agreement does not violate any agreement to which he is bound
or to which any of the assets of the Company are subject.
28
(c) During
the Pre-Closing Period, the Member shall not and shall cause the Company not
to:
(i) without
the prior written consent of the Purchaser, transfer, sell or assign to any
Person, or agree in any manner to transfer, sell or assign to any Person, or
pledge, encumber, deposit in a voting trust or grant a proxy with respect to,
any of the Membership Interests or any other similar securities or limited
liability company interests of the Company presently or hereafter owned or
controlled by him; and
(ii) vote
the
Membership Interests or other similar securities of the Company presently or
hereafter owned or controlled by the Member (or any other security which has
voting rights) in favor of any merger, consolidation, sale of assets,
reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or winding up of the Company,
other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
The
parties recognize and acknowledge that a breach by the Member of this
Section
5.10
will
cause irreparable and material loss and damage to the Purchaser as to which
it
will not have an adequate remedy at law or in damages. Accordingly, each party
acknowledges and agrees that the issuance of an injunction or other equitable
remedy is an appropriate remedy for any such breach. If the Closing does not
occur by April 13, 2007, the parties shall no longer be bound by the provision
of this Section
5.10.
Section
5.11 Delivery
of Requisite Information.
(a) Audited
Financial Information.
At the
Closing, the Member shall cause the Company to deliver to the Purchaser a
balance sheet at December 31, 2005 and income statements and statements of
cash
flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and
2004, audited
by an SEC-registered independent accountant, and shall have its balance sheets,
income statements and statements of cash flows for each interim period
subsequent to December 31, 2005, reviewed by an SEC-registered independent
accountant (collectively, the “Audited
Financial Statements”).
The
Audited Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) shall present fairly
in all material respects the financial position and results of operations and
cash flows of the Company at the dates or for the periods set forth therein,
in
each case in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout
the
periods involved and in accordance with all applicable SEC rules and regulations
(except as otherwise indicated therein). The Audited Financial Statements shall
be prepared from and in accordance with the books and records of the Company.
The Member shall cause the Company’s independent accountant to consent to the
Purchaser’s use of and reliance on the Audited Financial Statements as may be
required in connection with any filings made by the Purchaser under the United
States federal securities laws.
The
payment of the out of pocket fees and expenses of auditors and other third
parties incurred in connection with the preparation of the Audited Financial
Statements will be as provided in Section
10.4.
(b) Additional
Company Information.
At or
prior to the Closing, the Member shall cause the Company to deliver to the
Purchaser, written information regarding the Company, its business, properties,
liquidity and capital resources, officers, directors, the Member, material
pending litigation and any and all such other matters as the Purchaser shall
request (collectively, the “Additional
Company Information”)
and
that the Purchaser is required to file with the SEC under applicable United
States federal securities laws including, but not limited to, Items 2.01(f)
and
5.01(a)(8) of SEC Form 8-K.
29
ARTICLE
VI
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
Section
6.1 Conditions
to Obligations of the Parties.
The
obligations of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be subject to the condition that (a) no Order shall have been issued
by
any Governmental Authority that would restrain or prohibit any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Related Documents
or
that would impose damages as a result thereof and (b) no Action shall be pending
before any Governmental Authority or instrumentality of competent jurisdiction
in which any Person seeks such a remedy (if, in the opinion of counsel to any
party, there exists a reasonable risk of a materially adverse result in such
pending action or proceeding).
Section
6.2 Conditions
to Obligations of the Purchaser.
The
obligations of the Purchaser to effect the Closing as contemplated hereby shall
be subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of
each
of the following conditions (any one or more of which may be waived by the
Purchaser in writing):
(a) Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties.
Each of
the representations and warranties made by the Member in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct in all respects (in the case of any such representation and
warranty that contains any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification)
or in all material respects (in the case of any such representation and warranty
that does not contain any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification)
as of the date made and as of the Closing Date, with the same effect as though
such representations and warranties were made at and as of the Closing Date
(except for representations and warranties made as of a specified date, the
accuracy of which will be determined as of the specified date), and the Company
and the Member shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate certifying
as
to the matters described in this Section 6.2(a),
which
in the case of the Company shall be signed by the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer.
(b) Performance
of Covenants.
The
Member shall have performed and satisfied, and shall have caused the Company
to
perform and satisfy, their respective obligations required or contemplated
by
this Agreement and the Related Documents to be performed and satisfied prior
to
the Closing Date, including, without limitation, the delivery of the Audited
Financial Statements and the Additional Company Information as provided in
Section
5.11,
and the
Member shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate certifying as to
the
matters described in this Section 6.2(b).
(c) Consents.
The
Member shall have caused the Company to obtain and deliver to the Purchaser
all
Consents and/or Consents of Governmental Authorities set forth on Schedule
6.2(c).
30
(d) Permits.
The
Purchaser shall have obtained all Permits necessary for the Purchaser to conduct
the Business as of the Closing.
(e) Contracts.
The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related
Documents shall not result in a material breach, default or adverse change
of
the rights of the parties under any Contract or under any Applicable Law or
regulation.
(f) No
Material Adverse Effect.
Since
December 31, 2005, no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred, and no event,
fact or circumstance shall have occurred or become known that is reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Closing
Documents.
The
Member shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Purchaser at
or
prior to the Closing the following documents:
(i) the
Transfer Documents, with all necessary signatures thereto;
(ii) a
certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser,
duly executed by the Secretary or other authorized officer of the Company,
dated
the Closing Date, annexing and certifying as true and complete: (A) a copy
of
the articles of organization of the Company, and (B) the operating agreement
of
the Company;
(iii) a
good
standing certificate (including tax good standing certificates, if available
from such state) dated as of a recent date prior to the Closing Date for the
Company certified by the Secretary of State and relevant taxing authority of
the
state of its incorporation and each of the states in which it is qualified
to do
business as a foreign corporation; and
(iv) a
certification of the non-foreign status of the Company in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser, in accordance with Treasury
Regulations § 1.1445-2(b)(2).
(h) Employment
Agreement.
The
Member and the Company shall execute an employment agreement in substantially
the form of Exhibit
A
attached
hereto, providing for a one (1) year term at an annual salary of $200,000,
plus
standard benefits offered by the Purchaser to its other employees, such
agreement to be renewable for additional one-year terms upon the mutual written
consent of the Company and the Member (the “Employment
Agreement”).
(i) Investment
Representation Letter.
The
Member Trust shall have executed and delivered an investment representation
letter in substantially the form of Exhibit
B
attached
hereto, pursuant to which the Member Trust shall make certain representations
and warranties to the Purchaser in respect of the Member Trust’s receipt of the
Stock Consideration (the “Investment
Representation Letter”).
(j) Operating
Expenses.
At the
Closing the Company shall have $781,370.41 in cash available in its bank
accounts and the Seller shall have delivered evidence reasonably satisfactory
to
the Purchaser evidencing the availability of such amount to the Company,
including a certificate of the Seller to such effect.
31
Section
6.3 Conditions
to Obligations of the Member.
The
obligations of the Member to effect the Closing as contemplated hereby shall
be
subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each
of
the following conditions (any one or more of which may be waived by the Company
in writing):
(a) Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties.
Each of
the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in this Agreement
shall
be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any such representation
and
warranty that contains any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification)
or in all material respects (in the case of any such representation and warranty
that does not contain any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification)
as of the date made and as of the Closing, with the same effect as though such
representations and warranties were made at and as of the Closing (except for
representations and warranties made as of a specified date, the accuracy of
which will be determined as of the specified date), and the Purchaser shall
have
delivered to the Company a certificate certifying as to the matters described
in
this Section 6.3(a),
signed
by the President, Chief Executive Officer or other senior executive officer
of
the Purchaser.
(b) Performance
of Covenants.
The
Purchaser shall have performed and satisfied its obligations required or
contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents to be performed and
satisfied prior to the Closing, and the Purchaser shall have delivered to the
Company a certificate certifying as to the matters described in this
Section 6.3(b),
signed
by the President, Chief Executive Officer or other senior executive officer
of
the Purchaser.
(c) Corporate
Proceedings.
All
corporate and other proceedings of the Purchaser in connection with this
Agreement, the Related Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including, without limitation, the approval of the board of directors
of the Purchaser, shall have been taken and shall be reasonably satisfactory
in
form and substance to the Company.
(d) Closing
Consideration.
The
Closing Consideration shall have been paid as provided in Sections
2.3.
(e) Good
Standing Certificate.
The
Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a good standing certificate for
the Purchaser certified by the Secretary of State of its state of incorporation
dated as a recent date prior to the Closing Date.
ARTICLE
VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
7.1 Survival
Provisions; Assertion of Claims.
(a) The
representations and warranties of the parties contained in this Agreement shall
survive the Closing for the period of twenty four (24) months following the
Closing Date; provided,
however,
that
(i) (A) the representations and warranties of the Member contained in
Sections
3.1-3.5
and
3.21
shall
survive the Closing Date without any time limit and (ii) the representations
and
warranties of the Member set forth in Sections
3.13,
3.14
and
3.18
shall
survive the Closing until thirty (30) days following the expiration of the
statute of limitations, if any, applicable to the matters set forth therein.
The
covenants and other agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement shall
survive the Closing until they are otherwise terminated, whether by their terms
or as a matter of applicable law. For convenience of reference, the date upon
which any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein
shall terminate, if any, is referred to herein as the “Survival
Date”.
32
(b) No
claim
shall be brought under Section 7.2
unless
the Indemnitee, at any time prior to the applicable Survival Date, gives the
Indemnitor written notice of the existence of any such claim, specifying the
nature and basis of such claim and the amount thereof, to the extent known;
provided,
however,
that to
the extent any representation or warranty was given fraudulently, claims for
Losses arising therefrom may be made at any time. Upon the giving of such
written notice as aforesaid the Indemnitee shall have the right to commence
legal proceedings subsequent to the Survival Date for the enforcement of their
rights under Section 7.2.
Section
7.2 General
Indemnification.
(a) Indemnity
by the Member.
Subject
to Section 7.3
hereof,
the Member, shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser and its respective
officers, directors, managers, partners, agents, Affiliates and other
Representatives (“Purchaser
Indemnitees”)
from
and against, and shall reimburse each Purchaser Indemnitee on demand for, any
and all direct or indirect claims, suits, actions, proceedings, liabilities,
obligations, judgments, fines, penalties, claims, losses, damages, costs and
expenses of any kind (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel, accountants and other experts whether incurred in
connection with any of the foregoing or in connection with any investigative,
administrative or adjudicative proceeding, whether or not such Purchaser
Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto), together with any and all
reasonable costs and expenses associated with the investigation of the same
and/or the enforcement of the provisions hereof and thereof (collectively,
“Losses”),
which
may be incurred by such Purchaser Indemnitee relating to, based upon, resulting
from or arising out of:
(i) any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Member
in
this Agreement or any Related Document (or by the Member Trust in the Investment
Representation Letter) or any certificate delivered in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby at or before the
Closing;
(ii) the
failure of the Member to perform or observe, or cause the Company to perform
or
observe, any covenant, agreement, obligation or condition to be performed or
observed by the Member or the Company pursuant to this Agreement
or in
any Related Document;
(iii) the
assertion of any Losses against any Purchaser Indemnitee arising from or in
connection with any assertion by any current or former member, warrantholder,
optionholder or other securityholder of the Company or the heirs,
representatives or estate thereof, with respect to (A) any actions or
transactions of or involving the Company prior to or at the Closing Date and
(B)
the sale of the Membership Interests, or purported sale of all of the
outstanding limited liability company membership interests or other equity
interests of the Company, to the Purchaser as provided in this
Agreement;
or
33
(iv) any
sales, use or similar transfer Taxes imposed upon the Company or any of its
Affiliates in respect of the sale, transfer, use or delivery of any personal
property or other product or the performance of any service by, or on behalf
of,
the Company for any periods prior to and including the Closing Date, together
with any and all penalties and fines relating thereto and interest that may
accrue with respect to any such Taxes, penalties or fines.
(b) Indemnity
by the Purchaser.
The
Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Member and his agents and
representatives (the “Member
Indemnitees”)
from
and against any Losses that the Member Indemnitee shall incur or suffer, arising
out of or resulting from:
(i) any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Purchaser
in this Agreement or any Related Document or any certificate delivered in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby at or before
the
Closing;
(ii) the
failure of the Purchaser to perform or observe any covenant, agreement,
obligation or condition to be performed or observed by the Purchaser pursuant
to
this Agreement or in any Related Document; or
(iii) any
sales, use or similar transfer Taxes imposed upon the Company or any of its
Affiliates in respect of the sale, transfer, use or delivery of any personal
property or other product or the performance of any service by, or on behalf
of,
the Company for any periods following the Closing Date, together with any and
all penalties and fines relating thereto and interest that may accrue with
respect to any such Taxes, penalties or fines.
Section
7.3 Limitations
on Indemnification.
(a) The
sum
of all Losses pursuant to which indemnification is payable by the Member
pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(i)
shall
not exceed $2,000,000; provided,
however,
that in
no event shall the limitations set forth in this Section 7.3(a)
apply to
the rights of the Purchaser Indemnitees to be indemnified (i) pursuant to
Section 7.2(a)(i)
with
respect to the representations and warranties set forth in Sections
3.1-3.5,
3.13, 3.14, 3.18
and
3.21,
(ii)
pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(ii)-(iv)
and
(iii) for fraudulent or willful breaches.
(b) The
Purchaser Indemnitees shall not have the right to be indemnified pursuant to
Section 7.2(a)(i)
for
breaches of representations and warranties unless and until the Purchaser
Indemnitees shall have incurred on a cumulative basis since the Closing
aggregate Losses in an amount exceeding $25,000, in which event the right to
be
indemnified shall be for all Losses suffered; provided,
however,
that in
no event shall the limitations set forth in this Section 7.3(b)
apply to
the rights of the Purchaser Indemnitees to be indemnified (i) pursuant to
Section 7.2(a)(i)
with
respect to the representations and warranties set forth in Sections
3.1-3.5,
3.13, 3.14, 3.18
and
3.21,
(ii)
pursuant to Section 8.2(a)(ii)-(iv)
and
(iii) for fraudulent or willful breaches; provided,
further,
however,
that
any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained in the
representations and warranties in Articles
III
and
IV
shall
not be taken into account in determining the magnitude of the Losses caused
by a
breach of a representation and warranty for purposes of calculating this
amount.
34
Section
7.4 Defense
of Indemnitee Against Claims by Third Parties.
(a) If
any
Indemnitee shall receive notice of any third party Action giving rise to
indemnity under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall give the Indemnitor prompt
written notice of the same; provided, however, that failure to provide such
written notice shall not release the Indemnitor from any of its obligations
under this Article
VII,
except
to the extent (and only to the extent) the Indemnitor is materially prejudiced
by such failure. The notice to the Indemnitor shall specify, if known, the
amount or an estimate of the asserted Liability arising therefrom.
(b) The
Indemnitor may, but shall not be obligated to, upon prompt written notice
furnished to the Indemnitee, assume the defense of any such Action with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, if the Indemnitor acknowledges to
the
Indemnitee in writing its obligations to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect
to all elements of such claim. If the Indemnitor furnishes such written
acknowledgment, the Indemnitor will be entitled to assume and control the
defense of such Action. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own
counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel
shall be at the sole expense of the Indemnitee unless: (i) the Indemnitor shall
have authorized in writing employment of such counsel at the expense of the
Indemnitor; (ii) the Indemnitor shall not have employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee to defend such Action within 30 days after the
Indemnitor received notice pursuant to Section
7.4(a);
(iii)
the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded, based upon advice of counsel,
that there are defenses available to the Indemnitee that are different from
or
additional to those available to the Indemnitor (in which case the Indemnitor
shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Action on behalf of
the
Indemnitee with respect to such different defenses); or (iv) representation
of
such Indemnitee by the counsel retained by the Indemnitor would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnitee and
any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding, in any of which
events the fees and expenses of one additional counsel shall be borne by the
Indemnitor. The Indemnitor shall not settle or compromise any Action or consent
to the entry of a judgment that: (a) does not provide for the claimant to give
an unconditional release to the Indemnitee in respect of the asserted Liability;
(b) involves relief other than monetary Losses; (c) places restrictions or
conditions on the operation of the business of the Indemnitee or any of its
Affiliates; or (d) involves any finding or admission of Liability or of any
violation of Law. The Indemnitor shall not be liable for any settlement of
any
Action effected without its written consent; provided that such consent is
not
unreasonably withheld. After payment of any asserted Liability by the
Indemnitor, the Indemnitee, if requested by the Indemnitor, shall assign to
the
Indemnitor all rights the Indemnitee may have against any applicable account
debtor or other responsible Person in respect of the asserted Liability. If
the
Indemnitor chooses to defend any asserted Liability, the Indemnitee shall make
available to the Indemnitor any books, records or other documents within its
control that are necessary or appropriate for such defense. Any expenses of
any
Indemnitee for which indemnification is available hereunder shall be paid upon
written demand therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Indemnitee
determines in good faith that there is a reasonable probability that an Action
by a third party may adversely affect it or its Affiliates other than solely
as
a result of monetary damages for which it would be entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement, the Indemnitee may, by notice to the Indemnitor, assume
the exclusive right to defend, compromise, or settle such Action, and the
Indemnitor will indemnify the Indemnitee for the costs associated therewith.
The
Indemnitor will not be bound by any settlement of such an Action effected
without its consent (which will not be unreasonably withheld).
35
Section
7.5 Right
of Set-Off.
Upon
final resolution of an indemnification claim made by a Purchaser Indemnitee
pursuant to this Article
VII,
the
Purchaser shall have the right to setoff any such amounts against any amount
that may be owed to the Member with respect to the Additional A/R Consideration
or the Additional Cash Payment.
Section
7.6 Adjustments
to Purchase Price.
Any
payments made pursuant to this Article
VII
shall be
consistently treated as adjustments to Purchase Price for all Tax purposes
by
the parties.
ARTICLE
VIII
POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
Section
8.1 Post
Closing Covenants.
(a) Cooperation.
Each
party shall cooperate with the other parties and use its commercially reasonable
efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Related Documents in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
(b) Publicity.
At any
time on or after the Closing Date, no party hereto (nor any of its Affiliates)
shall, directly or indirectly, make any press release or other public
announcement with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or under
the
Related Documents without the prior written consent of the other parties, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided
that
each may make such disclosures as are necessary to comply with Applicable Laws
after making good faith efforts under the circumstances to consult in advance
with the other.
Section
8.2 Confidentiality
and Noncompetition.
(a) The
Member acknowledges that in its capacity as the sole member of the Company,
the
Member has occupied positions of trust and confidence with respect to the
Company. The Member agrees that he shall not disclose to others or use, and
shall prevent his currently existing and future Affiliates from disclosing
to
others or using, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information regarding
the Company or the Purchaser, the Business, the prospective business of the
Company, except as required in the course of the Member’s employment with the
Purchaser, following the Closing Date. “Confidential
Information”
shall
mean all Intellectual Property Rights or proprietary information of, about
or
created by the Company or the Business, including without limitation, (i)
information of, about or created by the clients, customers, suppliers and
vendors of the Company or the Business, (ii) information relating to the
prospective business of the Business or the Purchaser and (iii) any proprietary
knowledge, trade secrets, data, formulae, specifications, pricing, information,
plans (present and future), strategies, marketing concepts and information,
testing information and client and customer lists and all papers and other
records (including computer records) of the documents and other material
containing such Confidential Information. The Member represents and warrants
to
the Purchaser that as of the Closing Date he has surrendered to the Purchaser,
as applicable, all documents, work papers, lists, memoranda, records, computer
data and other data (including all copies) in its, his or her possession
constituting or pertaining in any way to the Confidential Information. The
Member acknowledges and agrees that such Confidential Information is
specialized, unique in nature and of great value to the Purchaser and the
Business and that such information gives the Purchaser and the Business a
competitive advantage.
36
(b) As
an
inducement to the Purchaser to enter into the Agreement and to provide the
Member the consideration described herein, the Member hereby covenants and
agrees with the Company and the Purchaser that, during a period of three (3)
years commencing on the Closing Date (the “Covenant
Period”),
it or
he shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate or control, or
engage, join or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control
of, or furnish any capital or loans to or be connected in any manner with,
any
Person or business that competes in any manner whatsoever with the Business
as
presently conducted or as proposed to be conducted. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit or otherwise restrict the Member from
(i) holding a passive investment in the equity securities of any Person if
such
equity securities are registered under the Securities Act, provided that such
equity investment does not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity
securities of such Person, or (ii) maintaining his passive investment and
minority ownership interests in Mingle, LLC and West East, LLC, provided,
however, the Member shall not increase his ownership interests in such entities
or actively participate in the management of such entities (and any other
entities constituting a competing business) in any capacity.
(c) During
the Covenant Period, the Member agrees that it, he or she shall not, directly
or
indirectly, (i) solicit any present or former customers, clients or other
Persons from whom the Company derived any revenue in the course of conducting
the Business prior to the Closing Date for the purpose of competing with the
Business using any Confidential Information or (ii) solicit any present or
future customers, clients or other Persons from whom the Company derives any
revenue, with respect to the Business as conducted by the Company on or after
the Closing Date for the purpose of competing with the Business using any
Confidential Information or (iii) persuade or attempt to persuade any present
or
future customer, client, vendor, service provider, supplier, contractor or
any
other Person having business dealings with the Company to cease doing business
or otherwise transacting with the Company or to reduce the amount of business
or
such other transactions it conducts or will conduct with the Company or (iv)
otherwise disrupt, damage, impair or interfere in any manner with the
Business.
(d) During
the Covenant Period, the Member agrees that he shall not solicit or induce,
directly or indirectly, any employee or independent contractor of the Company
in
North America to terminate his or her relationship with the Company or, directly
or indirectly, offer employment to or compensate or cause or permit any other
Person to compensate any such employee or independent contractor or any Person
who was an employee or independent contractor of the Company in North America
within the ninety (90) day period prior to such offer of employment or
compensation; provided,
however,
that
general advertisements which are not specifically targeted at any of the
foregoing will not constitute a violation of this Section
8.2(d).
37
(e) The
Member acknowledges and recognizes that the businesses and markets of the
Company are conducted throughout the world, that the Purchaser is investing
substantial sums of money to acquire the Membership Interests, and to maintain
and develop the Business, that the Purchaser would not be doing so but for
the
covenants contained in this Agreement, and that such covenants are necessary
in
order to protect and maintain the proprietary interests and other legitimate
business interests of the Company and the Business, and the prospective business
of the Company and are reasonable in all respects. Consequently, the Member
acknowledges and agrees that the geographic scope of the covenant not to compete
shall extend to each state and foreign jurisdiction in which the Company has
offered or attempted to offer any services in connection with the Business.
The
Member hereby further acknowledge that the geographic scope and duration of
this
covenant not to compete is reasonable.
(f) If
any
court determines that any of the covenants or other provisions contained in
this
Section
8.2,
or any
part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of such covenants
and
this Agreement shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect
without regard to the invalid portions. If any court determines that any of
the
covenants contained in this Section 8.2,
or any
part thereof, are unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or
the
product or area covered thereby or for any other reason, such court shall have
the power and the parties intend and desire that such court, and in connection
with the purchase and acquisition of the Membership Interests, the Purchaser
is
relying on such court to, exercise such power to reduce the duration or coverage
of such provision to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision
enforceable, and in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable
and shall be enforced.
(g) Each
party intends to and does hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the covenants
and other provisions contained in this Section 8.2,
upon
the courts of any jurisdiction within the geographic scope of such covenants
or
other provisions. If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions holds
such covenants or other provisions wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth
of such scope or otherwise, it is the intention of each party that such
determination not bar or in any way affect the rights of the Purchaser to relief
in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographic scope of such
covenants or other provisions, as to breaches of such covenants or other
provisions in any such other jurisdiction, such covenants or other provisions
as
they relate to each jurisdiction and geographic location being, for this
purpose, severable into diverse and independent covenants and other
provisions.
(h) The
Member hereby agrees that a violation or attempted or threatened violation
of
the covenants or other provisions contained in this Section
8.2,
or any
part thereof, by the Member will cause irreparable injury to the Company and
the
Purchaser, the Business and the prospective business of the Company for which
money damages would be inadequate, and that the Company and the Purchaser shall
be entitled, in addition to any other rights or remedies they may have, whether
in law or in equity, to obtain an injunction enjoining and restraining the
Member, from violating or attempting or threatening to violate any provision
of
this Agreement, including the covenants contained in this Section
8.2.
The
duration of the covenants and other provisions contained in this Section
8.2,
shall
be extended by a period equal to the duration of any breach or violation
thereof.
38
Section
8.3 Books
and Records of the Company.
Following the Closing, the Purchaser agrees to permit the Member and its
Representatives during regular business hours upon reasonable prior notice
to
inspect and make copies of the books and records of the Purchaser and the
Company relating to the business of the Company before the Closing Date in
order
for the Member and such Representatives to obtain information relevant to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the Company’s Tax Returns, third
party claims or litigation involving the Company, or as otherwise reasonably
required by the Member.
Section
8.4 Tax
Matters.
(a) Payment
of Tax.
The
Member shall be liable for and shall pay or cause to be paid any and all Taxes
with respect to the Company for periods prior to and on the Closing
Date.
(b) Preparation
of Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes.
(i) The
Member shall cause the Company to prepare or cause to be prepared and file
or
cause to be filed all federal, state and local Tax Returns of the Company
required to be filed with respect to the operation of the Business or ownership
of the Membership Interests prior to the Closing Date. The Member shall caused
to be paid the amount of any Taxes shown due thereon to the appropriate
Governmental Authorities and, with respect to tax periods ending on or before
the Closing, the Member shall provide the Purchaser with copies of such Tax
Returns.
(ii) The
Member shall be responsible for all contests with any Governmental Authority
that affect only (i) Taxes of the Company for any period prior to the Closing
Date or (ii) the Member. The Member shall cause the Company to file any amended
Tax Returns for the Company, with respect to the operation of the Business
or
ownership of the Membership Interests prior to the Closing Date, which are
required as a result of examination adjustments made by any applicable
Governmental Authority.
(c) Assistance
and Cooperation.
After
the Closing Date, the Member and the Purchaser shall:
(i) assist
(and cause its respective Affiliates to assist), to the extent reasonably
necessary, the other party in preparing any Tax Returns which such other party
is responsible for preparing and filing;
(ii) cooperate
fully in preparing for any audits by, or disputes, contests or proceedings
with,
taxing authorities which relate to the Company, the Business or the
Purchaser;
(iii) make
available to the other parties hereto and to any Governmental Authority as
reasonably requested all information, records and documents relating to
Liabilities for Taxes of such other party or parties;
39
(iv) preserve
all such information, records and documents until the expiration of any
applicable statutes of limitations or extensions thereof and as otherwise
required by Law;
(v) provide
timely notice to the other parties in writing upon receipt of notice of any
pending or threatened Tax audits or assessments relating to the Member, the
Company or the Business for any period beginning prior to the Closing
Date;
(vi) furnish
the other with copies of all correspondence received from any Governmental
Authority in connection with any Tax audit or information request relating
to
the Member, the Company or the Business with respect to any period beginning
prior to the Closing Date;
(vii) keep
confidential any information obtained pursuant to this Section 8.4,
except
as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns
or
claims for refund or in conducting any audit or other Tax proceeding; and
(viii) furnish
the other party with adequate information, to the extent reasonably available,
which would enable the other party to determine its entitlement to, and the
amount of, any refund or credit to which that party may be
entitled.
(d) Transfer
Taxes.
The
Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Member, on the other hand, shall each be
liable for and shall pay half of all sales, use, transfer (including real
property transfer or gains), stamp, documentary, filing, recordation and other
similar Taxes which may be imposed in connection with the sale of the Membership
Interests pursuant to Section
2.1,
together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto
(“Transfer
Taxes”).
Each
party hereto hereby agrees to file all necessary documentation in connection
with the payment and reporting of Transfer Taxes.
Section
8.5 Restrictions
on Transferability; Restrictive Legends.
(a) Restriction
on Transfer.
The
Member shall not transfer the Common Stock constituting the Closing
Consideration except in compliance with the conditions specified in this
Section
8.5.
(b) Restricted
Securities.
Shares
of the Common Stock are “Restricted Securities” within the meaning of the
Securities Act and shall not be sold, assigned, transferred or pledged except
upon the conditions specified in this Section
8.5,
which
are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
The
Member will cause any proposed purchaser, assignee, transferee, or pledgee
of
the Common Stock held by the Member to agree to take and hold such securities
subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Section
8.5.
(c) Restrictive
Legends.
Each
certificate representing (i) the Common Stock constituting the Closing
Consideration and (iii) any other securities issued in respect of such Common
Stock upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the
provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) be stamped or
otherwise imprinted with legends in the following form (in addition to any
legend required under applicable state securities laws):
40
“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT
AND
NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF.
NO
SUCH SALE OR DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR, AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, AN OPINION
OF
COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE
SKY LAWS.”
(d) Notice
of Transfer.
The
Member, as a holder of Restricted Securities, by his acceptance or purchase
thereof, agrees, prior to any transfer of any such Restricted Securities (except
pursuant to an effective registration statement), to give written notice to
the
Purchaser of its intention to effect such transfer and agrees to comply in
all
other respects with the provisions of this Section
8.5.
Each
such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed transfer
and, unless waived by the Purchaser, shall be accompanied by the written opinion
of the Member’s counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Purchaser), addressed to the Purchaser, stating that in the opinion of such
counsel (which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser) such
proposed transfer does not involve a transaction requiring registration or
qualification of such Restricted Securities under the Securities Act or the
securities laws of any state of the United States. Subject to complying with
the
other applicable provisions hereof, the Member shall be entitled to consummate
such transfer in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered by it to
the
Purchaser if the Purchaser does not object (on the basis that such transfer
violates the provisions of this Section
8.5)
to such
transfer within five days after the delivery of such notice. Each certificate
or
other instrument evidencing the Common Stock issued upon the transfer of any
Restricted Securities (and each certificate or other instrument evidencing
any
untransferred balance of such Restricted Securities) shall bear the legend
set
forth in Section
8.5(c))
unless
(i) in such opinion of such counsel registration of future transfer is not
required by the applicable provisions of the Securities Act or the securities
laws of any state of the United States or (ii) the Purchaser shall have waived
the requirement of such legend.
(e) Removal
of Legends, Etc.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
8.5,
the
restrictions imposed by Section
8.5(a),
(b),
(c) and (d) upon the transferability of any Restricted Securities shall cease
and terminate when (i) such Restricted Securities are sold or otherwise disposed
of in accordance with the intended method of disposition by the seller or
sellers thereof set forth in a registration statement or are sold or otherwise
disposed of in a transaction contemplated by Section
8.5(d)
which
does not require that the Restricted Securities transferred bear the legend
set
forth in Section
8.5(c),
or (ii)
the holder of such Restricted Securities has met the requirement of transfer
of
such Restricted Securities pursuant to subparagraph (k) of Rule 144 of the
Securities Act. Whenever the restrictions imposed by Section
8.5(a),
(b),
(c)
and
(d)
shall
terminate, as herein provided, the holder of any Restricted Securities shall
be
entitled to receive from the Purchaser, without expense, a new certificate
not
bearing the restrictive legend set forth in Section
8.5(c)
and not
containing any other reference to the restrictions imposed by Section
8.5(a),
(b),
(c)
and
(d).
41
Section
8.6 Grant
of Options.
Within
thirty (30) days following the Closing, the Purchaser shall grant options to
purchase shares of Common Stock to certain key employees of the Company, as
set
forth on Schedule
8.6
hereto
pursuant to the Purchaser’s equity incentive plan that provides for the granting
of options to purchase its Common Stock, in the amount not to exceed options
to
purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock, with an exercise price of $1.00 per
share of Common Stock subject to the options.
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION
Section
9.1 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing, as follows,
by:
(a) the
mutual written agreement of the Purchaser and the Member;
(b) the
Purchaser if (i) at any time there has been a material misrepresentation, breach
of warranty or breach of covenant on the part of the Member in any of the
representations, warranties or covenants under this Agreement which breach
is
not curable, or, if curable, is not cured within ten (10) days after written
notice of such breach is given to the Company; or (ii) any of the conditions
set
forth in Sections
6.1
and
6.2
shall
not have been met in all material respects by April 13, 2007; provided,
however,
that
the Purchaser may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause
(b)(ii)
if the
failure of the applicable condition in Sections
6.1
and
6.2
to be
satisfied results from the breach of any covenant in this Agreement by the
Purchaser;
(c) the
Member if (i) there has been a material misrepresentation, breach of warranty
or
breach of covenant on the part of the Purchaser in any of the representations,
warranties or covenants under this Agreement which breach is not curable, or
if
curable, is not cured within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach
is given to the Purchaser; or (ii) any of the conditions set forth in
Sections
6.1
and
6.3
hereof
shall not have been met in all material respects by April 13, 2007; provided,
however,
that
the Member may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause (c)(ii)
if the
failure of the applicable condition in Sections
6.1
and
6.3
to be
satisfied results from the breach of any covenant in this Agreement by the
Company or the Member; or
(d) either
the Purchaser or the Member if there shall be in effect a final, non-appealable
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling or charge which prevents
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Any
termination pursuant to Section
9.1(a)
shall be
effected by a written instrument signed by the Purchaser, the Company, and
any
termination pursuant to Section
9.1(b)-(d)
shall be
effected by written notice from the party or parties so terminating to the
other
parties hereto, which notice shall specify the Section hereof pursuant to which
this Agreement is being terminated.
42
Section
9.2 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event that this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section
9.2,
all
obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement shall terminate without
further liability or obligation of either party to another, except for the
obligations set forth in Sections
5.9
(Confidentiality) and 10.4
(Fees
and Expenses), provided,
however,
that
the parties shall remain obligated for any breach of this Agreement;
provided,
further,
however,
that if
this Agreement is terminated by a party because of the willful breach of the
Agreement by another party or because one or more of the conditions to the
terminating party’s obligations under this Agreement is not satisfied as a
result of another party’s willful failure to comply with its obligations under
this Agreement, the terminating party’s right to pursue all legal remedies will
survive such termination unimpaired and such termination shall be without
prejudice as to any rights the terminating party may have against any breaching
party or otherwise.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
10.1 Notices.
All
notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be
in
writing (including fax, telecopy or similar writing) and shall be
given,
if
to the
Purchaser:
Zone
Mining Limited
000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
if
to the
Member:
Xxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx. #X0
Xxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
43
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
00000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx #000
Xxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone
(000) 000-0000
Fax
(000)
000-0000
or
to
such other address or fax or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify
for the purpose by notice given to the other parties in accordance with this
Section 10.1.
Each
such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (a) if given
by
fax or telecopy, when such fax or telecopy is transmitted to the fax or telecopy
number specified in this Section and the appropriate fax or telecopy
confirmation is received (b) if by overnight delivery service, with proof of
delivery, the next Business Day or (c) if delivered personally, when delivered
at the address specified in this Section.
Section
10.2 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement together with the Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto constitutes
the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and negotiations,
both written and oral, between the parties with respect to such subject
matter.
Section
10.3 Amendments
and Waivers.
Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived prior to the Closing Date
if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the
case
of an amendment, by the Company, the Member and the Purchaser or, in the case
of
a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. Any such
waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect to the specific matter
described in such writing and shall in no way impair the rights of the party
granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other time. No failure
or
delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by
law.
Section
10.4 Fees
and Expenses.
The
Purchaser on the one hand, and the Member on the other hand, will be responsible
for their own fees and expenses (including legal, due diligence, accounting,
and
investment banking fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the Agreement;
provided,
however,
in the
event that the Closing occurs, all of the out-of-pocket fees and expenses of
the
auditor, accounting firm or other third parties incurred in connection with
the
preparation of the Audited Financial Statements (including the fees and expenses
of XX Xxxxxxxxx & Company and Elisco & X’Xxxxxxx) shall be borne by the
Purchaser (and in the event such fees and expenses have already been paid by
the
Seller or the Company prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall promptly
reimburse the Seller for such fees and expenses). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event the Closing and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
are
not consummated, the Member shall reimburse the Purchaser for fifty percent
(50%) of up to $100,000 of the Purchaser’s legal, due diligence, accounting, and
investment banking fees and expenses, including within such fees and expenses
all of the out-of-pocket fees and expenses of the auditor, accounting firm
or
other third parties incurred in connection with the preparation of the Audited
Financial Statements (including the fees and expenses of XX Xxxxxxxxx &
Company and Elisco & X’Xxxxxxx) (it being understood that the obligations of
the Member pursuant to this Section
10.4
shall
not exceed $50,000); provided,
however,
in the
event that the Closing does not occur as provided in Section
9.1(c),
the
Member shall not have any obligation to reimburse the Purchaser for its expenses
as provided in this sentence.
44
Section
10.5 Further
Assurances.
Each
party will execute and deliver, both before and after the Closing, such further
certificates, agreements and other documents and take such other actions as
the
other party may reasonably request or as may be necessary or appropriate to
consummate or implement the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
to
evidence such events or matters.
Section
10.6 Dollar
Amounts.
All
dollar amounts in this Agreement refer to United States Dollars.
Section
10.7 Successors
and Assigns.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided
that no
party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties
hereto, except that the Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights, interests
and obligations hereunder to any lender as security for obligations thereto
if
requested by such lender.
Section
10.8 GOVERNING
LAW.
ALL
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS
AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL
LAWS
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY
JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
Section
10.9 Jurisdiction.
Any
Action seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising
out
of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement may be brought against any of the parties only in any federal
or
state court located in Los Angeles, California and each of the parties hereto
hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the
appropriate appellate courts) in any such Action and waives any objection to
venue laid therein. Process in any such Action proceeding may be served on
any
party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the State of California.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto agrees
that
service of process upon such party at the address referred to in Section 11.1,
together with written notice of such service to such party, shall be deemed
effective service of process upon such party.
Section
10.10 Dispute
Resolution.
Except
with respect to seeking injunctive or other equitable relief, no party to this
Agreement shall institute a proceeding in any court or administrative agency
to
resolve a dispute between the parties before that party has sought to resolve
the dispute through direct negotiation with the other party. If the dispute
is
not resolved by the parties through good faith negotiation within two weeks
after a demand for direct negotiation, the parties hereto agree to submit such
dispute or controversy to binding arbitration pursuant to either the JAMS
Streamlined (for claims under $250,000.00) or the JAMS Comprehensive (for claims
over $250,000.00) Arbitration Rules and Procedures, except
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as
modified therein, including the Optional Appeal Procedure. A sole neutral
arbitrator shall be selected from the list (the “List”)
of
arbitrators supplied by J.A.M.S. (“JAMS”)
Los
Angeles County, California office, or any successor entity, or if it no longer
exists, from a List supplied by the American Arbitration Association
(“AAA”)
following written request by any party hereto. Such arbitrators shall be a
former or retired judge or justice of any California state or federal court
with
experience in complex litigation matters involving commercial transactions.
If
the parties hereto after notification of the other party(ies) to such dispute
cannot agree upon an arbitrator within thirty (30) days following receipt of
the
List by all parties to such arbitration, then either party may request, in
writing, that JAMS or AAA, as appropriate, appoint an arbitrator within ten
(10)
days following receipt of such request (the “Arbitrator”).
The
arbitration shall take place in Los Angeles County, California, at a place
and
time mutually agreeable to the parties or if no such agreement is reached within
ten (10) days following notice from the Arbitrator, at a place and time
determined by the Arbitrator. Such arbitration shall be conducted in accordance
with the Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures
of JAMS then in effect, and Section 1280 et seq. of the California Code of
Civil
Procedure, or if applicable, the Commercial Arbitration Rules of AAA then in
effect. The parties hereto agree that all actions or proceedings arising in
connection with this Agreement shall be arbitrated exclusively in Los Angeles
County, California. The aforementioned choice of venue is intended by the
parties to be mandatory and not permissive in nature, thereby precluding the
possibility of litigation between the parties with respect to or arising out
of
this Agreement in any jurisdiction other than that specified in this
Section
10.10.
Each
party hereby waives any right it may have to assert the doctrine of forum
non conveniens
or
similar doctrine or to object to venue with respect to any proceeding brought
in
accordance with this Section
10.10,
and
stipulates that the Arbitrator shall have in
personam
jurisdiction and venue over each of them for the purpose of litigating any
dispute, controversy, or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement.
Each party hereby authorizes and accepts service of process sufficient for
personal jurisdiction in any action against it as contemplated by this Section
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
to
its address for the giving of notices as set forth in this Agreement. The
decision of the Arbitrator shall be final and binding on all the parties to
the
arbitration, shall be non-appealable and may be enforced by a court of competent
jurisdiction. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the
non-prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees, as well as its costs and
expenses. The costs and fees of the arbitration shall be paid by the
non-prevailing party. The Arbitrator may grant any remedy appropriate including,
without limitation, injunctive relief or specific performance. Prior to the
appointment of the Arbitrator, any party may seek a temporary restraining order
or a preliminary injunction from the Los Angeles County Superior Court which
shall be effective until a final decision is rendered by the Arbitrator.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section
10.10
to the
contrary, any dispute arising under Sections
2.4(b)
shall be
resolved as described therein.
Section
10.11 No
Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Except
for the Purchaser Indemnitees and the Member Indemnitees, no provision is
intended to benefit any Person other than the signatories to this Agreement
nor
shall any such provision be enforceable by any other Person.
Section
10.12 Severability.
It is
the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement
be
enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the law and public policies
applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if
any
provision or any portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be held
invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portion of such provision and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. If the
application of any provision or any portion of any provision of this Agreement
to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unenforceable, the
application of such provision or portion of such provision to Persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable
shall not be affected thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision
could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or
unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so
narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
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Section
10.13 Specific
Performance.
The
parties 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.
Section
10.14 Counterparts;
Facsimile Signatures.
This
Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed
to
be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same
agreement. Facsimile counterpart signatures to this Agreement shall be
acceptable and binding.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Purchase Agreement to
be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
THE MEMBER: | |||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
THE PURCHASER: | ZONE MINING LIMITED | ||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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