EXHIBIT (d)(15)
SUBSCRIPTION AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
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SUBSCRIPTION AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of May 1,
2001 (this "AGREEMENT"), by and between LF ACQUISITION, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the "COMPANY"), Constable Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, Constable Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
Constable Group Profit Sharing Plan and Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, as Investment Advisor to
Certain Selected Accounts, (each a "CONTRIBUTING SHAREHOLDER" and collectively,
the "CONTRIBUTING SHAREHOLDERS").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company, LF Merger Co., a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "MERGER SUB"), and certain
other Persons have entered an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March
26, 2001, as amended (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), relating to the merger (the
"MERGER") of Merger Sub with and into The Xxxxxx Xxx Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("XXXXXX XXX");
WHEREAS, the Contributing Shareholders owns beneficially and
of record 442,408 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Xxxxxx
Xxx (the "CONTRIBUTED SHARES"); and
WHEREAS, the Contributing Shareholders has agreed to
contribute the Contributed Shares to the Company, and the Company has agreed to
issue to the Contributing Shareholders an equal number of limited liability
company interests, of the Company (the "EXCHANGE SHARES"), in exchange for the
Contributed Shares (the "CONTRIBUTION").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, and unless
the context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
"AFFILIATE" means, when used with respect to any Person, any
other Person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person. As used in
the definition of "Affiliate," the term "CONTROL" means possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
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direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"BY-LAWS" means the by-laws of the Company in effect on the
Closing Date, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION" means the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company in effect on the Closing Date, as the same may be
amended from time to time.
"CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this
Agreement.
"CLOSING DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of
this Agreement.
"COMMISSION" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission or any similar agency then having jurisdiction under the Securities
Act.
"COMPANY" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"COMPANY COMMON STOCK" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.5 of this Agreement.
"CONDITION OF THE COMPANY" means the assets, business,
properties, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
"CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS" means, as to any Person, any
provision of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust or other instrument to which such Person is a party or by which it or any
of its property is bound.
"CONTRIBUTED SHARES" has the meaning set forth in the recitals
to this Agreement.
"CONTRIBUTING SHAREHOLDERS" has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"CONTRIBUTION" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"EXCHANGE SHARES" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means the government of any nation,
state, city, locality or other political subdivision thereof, any entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity
owned or controlled, through share or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of
the foregoing.
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"XXXXXX XXX" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"LIEN" means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other) or preference,
priority, right or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any
kind or nature whatsoever (excluding preferred stock and equity related
preferences).
"MERGER" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"MERGER AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the recitals
to this Agreement.
"MERGER SUB" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"ORDERS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 of this
Agreement.
"PERSON" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock
company, limited liability company, Governmental Authority or other entity of
any kind, and shall include any successor (by amalgamation or otherwise) of such
entity.
"REQUIREMENT OF LAW" means, as to any Person, any law,
statute, treaty, rule, regulation, or determination of a court or other
Governmental Authority, in each case applicable or binding upon such Person or
any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
"SUBSIDIARY" means, as of the relevant date of determination,
with respect to any Person, a corporation or other Person of which 50% or more
of the voting power of the outstanding voting equity securities is held,
directly or indirectly, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, or the
context otherwise requires, all references to a "SUBSIDIARY" or to
"SUBSIDIARIES" in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of
the Company.
1.2 USAGE GENERALLY. The definitions in this Article I shall
apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.
Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine and neuter forms. All references herein to Articles and
Sections shall be deemed to be references to Articles and Sections of this
Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. The words "include,"
"includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without
limitation." The words "hereof," "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Unless otherwise expressly
provided herein, any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to
herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such
agreement, instrument or
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statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in
the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of
statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all
attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.
ARTICLE II
CONTRIBUTION OF SHARES
2.1 CONTRIBUTION OF SHARES. Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the
Company and the Contributing Shareholders hereby agree that the Contributing
Shareholders shall contribute to the Company the Contributed Shares (together
with all rights now or hereafter attaching thereto), and the Company shall issue
and deliver to the Contributing Shareholders the Exchange Shares.
2.2 CLOSINGS; DELIVERIES AT CLOSING.
(a) The closing of the transactions contemplated by
Section 2.1 hereof (the "CLOSING") shall take place at the offices of Xxxx,
Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, at 10:00 a.m., local time, immediately prior
to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger, or at
such other time, place and date that the Company and the Contributing
Shareholders may agree in writing (the "CLOSING DATE").
(b) At the Closing (i) the Contributing Shareholders
shall deliver to the Company certificates evidencing the Contributed Shares,
each such certificate being duly endorsed in blank and accompanied by such stock
powers and such other documents as may reasonably be requested by the Company
and (ii) the Company shall deliver to the Contributing Shareholders certificates
representing the Exchange Shares, registered in the name of the Contributing
Shareholders and in such denominations as specified in advance by the
Contributing Shareholders.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Contributing
Shareholders as follows:
3.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER. The Company (a) is a
limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware, and (b) has the limited liability
company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
conducted any business activities or engaged in any operations other than in
connection with its organization and the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.
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3.2 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (a) have been or will be duly authorized by all necessary
limited liability company action of the Company, (b) do not contravene the terms
of the Certificate of Formation (a copy of which have been delivered to the
Contributing Shareholders), (c) do not violate, conflict with or result in any
breach, default or contravention of (or with due notice or lapse of time or both
would result in any breach, default or contravention of), or the creation of any
Lien under, any Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Requirement of Law
applicable to the Company and (d) do not violate any judgment, injunction, writ,
award, decree or order of any nature (collectively, "ORDERS") of any
Governmental Authority against, or binding upon, the Company.
3.3 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION; THIRD PARTY CONSENTS. No
approval, consent, compliance, exemption, authorization or other action by, or
notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person, and
no lapse of a waiting period under a Requirement of Law, is necessary or
required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance (including,
without limitation, the issuance and delivery of the Exchange Shares) by, or
enforcement against, the Company of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain an approval, consent,
compliance, exemption, authorization or other action or to make any filing would
not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company or the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
3.4 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Company, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity relating to enforceability (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
3.5 CAPITALIZATION. On the Closing Date, immediately
after giving effect to the Contribution (and subscriptions and contributions
made pursuant to certain other subscription and contribution agreements entered
into between the Company and any other Person prior to the Closing Date), (i)
the authorized capital of the Company shall consist of Ten Million (10,000,000)
limited liability company interests, of the Company (the "COMPANY COMMON
STOCK"), of which 5,680,694 shall be issued and outstanding and (ii) except for
the options that will be assumed by the Company pursuant to Section 2.5 of the
Merger Agreement, there will be no options, warrants, conversion privileges,
subscription or purchase rights or other rights outstanding to purchase or
otherwise acquire any shares of the Company Common Stock. The Exchange Shares
are duly authorized, and when issued pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will be issued in compliance with the
registration and qualification requirements of all applicable federal, state and
foreign securities laws and will be free and clear of all other Liens.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE CONTRIBUTING SHAREHOLDER
Each Contributing Shareholder hereby represents and warrants
to the Company as follows:
4.1 EXISTENCE. The Contributing Shareholder is an
individual with legal capacity or is a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or trust that is validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
4.2 POWER AND AUTHORITY.
(a) If the Contributing Shareholder is an individual,
the Contributing Shareholder has the legal capacity to execute, deliver and
perform his obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) If the Contributing Shareholder is a corporation,
limited liability company, partnership or trust, the Contributing Shareholder
has all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership or trust
power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Contributing
Shareholder and the consummation by the Contributing Shareholder of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate, limited liability company, partnership or trust action on the part of
the Contributing Shareholder, and no other proceeding on the part of the
Contributing Shareholder is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
4.3 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Contributing Shareholder of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby (a) have been duly authorized by all
necessary action, (b) if applicable, do not contravene the terms of the
Contributing Shareholder's organization documents, or any amendment thereof, and
(c) do not violate, conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of or
the creation of any Lien under, any Contractual Obligation of the Contributing
Shareholder, or any Requirement of Law or Orders applicable to the Contributing
Shareholder.
4.4 TITLE. The Contributing Shareholder is the beneficial
and record owner of the Contributed Shares and has good and valid title to the
Contributed Shares, free and clear of all Liens. The Contributing Shareholder
has sole and unrestricted (except for restrictions imposed by applicable
securities laws) power and authority to transfer the Contributed Shares to the
Company. Upon delivery to the Company by the Contributing Shareholder of the
share certificates representing such Contributed Shares
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pursuant to Article 2 hereof, the Company will receive good and valid title to
such Contributed Shares, free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions
imposed by the applicable securities laws).
4.5 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION; THIRD PARTY CONSENTS. No
approval, consent, compliance, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or
notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person, and
no lapse of a waiting period under any Requirement of Law, is necessary or
required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or
enforcement against, the Contributing Shareholder of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
4.6 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Contributing Shareholder and constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Contributing Shareholder, enforceable against him or
it in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or
transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability
(regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
4.7 PURCHASE FOR OWN ACCOUNT. The Exchange Shares to be
acquired by the Contributing Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement are being or
will be acquired for his or its own account and with no intention of
distributing or reselling such Exchange Shares or any part thereof in any
transaction that would be in violation of the securities laws of the United
States of America, or any state, without prejudice, however, to the rights of
the Contributing Shareholder at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or
any part of such Exchange Shares under an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, or under an exemption from such registration available under
the Securities Act, and subject, nevertheless, to the disposition of the
Contributing Shareholder's property being at all times within its control. If
the Contributing Shareholder should in the future decide to dispose of any of
such Exchange Shares, the Contributing Shareholder understands and agrees that
he or it may do so only in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, as then in effect. The Contributing Shareholder agrees to
the imprinting, so long as required by law, of a legend on certificates
representing all of its Exchange Shares to the following effect:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR THE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT
AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS.
4.8 RESTRICTED SECURITIES. The Contributing Shareholder
understands that the Company Common Shares to be acquired by him or it pursuant
to this Agreement
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will not be registered at the time of their issuance under the Securities Act
for the reason that the sale provided for in this Agreement is exempt pursuant
to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and that the reliance of the Company on
such exemption is predicated in part on the Contributing Shareholder's
representations set forth herein.
4.9 ACCREDITED INVESTORS. The Contributing Shareholder is
an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities
Act. The Contributing Shareholder has had access to the same kind of information
concerning the Company that is required by Schedule A of the Securities Act to
the extent that the Company possesses such information and the Contributing
Shareholder has such knowledge and experience in business matters that the
Contributing Shareholder is capable of utilizing the information that is
available to the Contributing Shareholder concerning the Company to evaluate the
risks of investment in the Company.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The
representations and warranties of the Contributing Shareholder and the Company
made herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
notwithstanding any investigation made or information obtained by the Company or
the Contributing Shareholder, as the case may be, and shall survive beyond the
Closing.
5.2 NOTICES. All notices, demands and other
communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and
shall be by registered or certified first-class mail, return receipt requested,
telecopier, courier service or personal delivery:
(a) if to the Company:
LF Acquisition, LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
(b) if to the Contributing Shareholders:
x/x Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx.
0 Xxxxxx Xxxx. Center
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000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Sheets
0000 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Eighteen and Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices, demands and other communications shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if personally delivered;
when delivered by courier, if delivered by commercial courier service; five (5)
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and
when receipt is mechanically acknowledged, if telecopied. Any party may by
notice given in accordance with this Section 5.2 designate another address or
Person for receipt of notices hereunder.
5.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors
and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. Subject to applicable securities
laws and the terms and conditions thereof, the Contributing Shareholder may
assign any of his or its rights under this Agreement to any of his or its
respective Affiliates. The Company may not assign any of its rights under this
Agreement without the written consent of the Contributing Shareholder.
5.4 AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.
(a) No failure or delay on the part of the Company or
the Contributing Shareholder in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for
herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be
available to the Company or the Contributing Shareholder at law, in equity or
otherwise.
(b) Any amendment, supplement or modification of or
to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this
Agreement, and any consent to any departure by the Company or the Contributing
Shareholder from the terms of any provision of this Agreement, shall be
effective only if it is made or given in writing and signed by the Company and
the Contributing Shareholder. Except where notice is specifically required by
this Agreement, no notice to or demand on the Company in any case shall entitle
the Company to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.
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5.5 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
5.6 HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
5.7 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.
5.8 SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired, unless the
provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall substantially impair the
benefits of the remaining provisions hereof.
5.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete
and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no
restrictions, promises, representations, warranties or undertakings, other than
those set forth or referred to herein or therein. This Agreement, together with
the exhibits and schedules hereto, supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
5.10 PUBLICITY; CONFIDENTIALITY. Except as may be required
by applicable Requirements of Law, none of the parties hereto shall issue a
publicity release or public announcement or otherwise make any disclosure
concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, without prior
approval by the other parties hereto (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this Agreement shall restrict the
Contributing Shareholders from disclosing information (a) that is already
publicly available, and (b) to his or its attorneys, accountants, consultants
and other advisors to the extent necessary to obtain their services in
connection with the Contributing Shareholders' investment in the Company. If any
announcement is required by law to be made by any party hereto, prior to making
such announcement such party will deliver a draft of such announcement to the
other parties and shall give the other parties an opportunity to comment
thereon.
5.11 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the parties shall execute
such documents and perform such further acts (including, without limitation,
obtaining any consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions by, or
giving any notices to, or making any filings with, any Governmental Authority or
any other Person) as may be reasonably required or desirable to carry out or to
perform the provisions of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed, or have
caused to be executed, this Agreement on the date first above written.
LF ACQUISITION, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
CONSTABLE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: General Partner
CONSTABLE PARTNERS II, L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: General Partner
CONSTABLE GROUP PROFIT
SHARING PLAN AND TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Administrator
XXXX XXXXXXXXX, AS INVESTMENT
ADVISOR TO CERTAIN SELECTED ACCOUNTS
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Investment Advisory
