AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among CUSTOMER ACQUISITION NETWORKS HOLDINGS, INC., OPTIONS ACQUISITION SUB, INC., OPTIONS NEWSLETTER, INC., and HAGAI SHECHTER Dated as of December 18, 2007
1
by
and
among
CUSTOMER
ACQUISITION NETWORKS HOLDINGS, INC.,
OPTIONS
ACQUISITION SUB, INC.,
OPTIONS
NEWSLETTER, INC.,
and
XXXXX
XXXXXXXX
Dated
as
of December 18, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
ARTICLE
II THE MERGER
|
8
|
|
2.1
|
The
Merger
|
8
|
2.2
|
Effective
Time
|
8
|
2.3
|
Effects
of the Merger
|
8
|
2.4
|
Articles
of Incorporation, Bylaws and Directors and Officers
|
9
|
2.5
|
Conversion
of Shares
|
9
|
2.6
|
Exchange
of Shares for Merger Consideration
|
9
|
2.7
|
Buyer
Common Stock
|
9
|
2.8
|
Delivery
of Certificates and Cash.
|
9
|
2.9
|
Additional
Purchase Price
|
10
|
2.10
|
The
Closing
|
11
|
2.11
|
Closing
Deliveries by the Stockholders and the Company
|
11
|
2.12
|
Closing
Deliveries by Parent and Buyer
|
13
|
2.13
|
Upon
Escrowed Funds; Escrow Agreement
|
14
|
2.14
|
Post
Closing Adjustment
|
14
|
|
||
ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
STOCKHOLDERS
|
14
|
|
3.1
|
Organization
and Qualification of the Company.
|
14
|
3.2
|
Capitalization.
|
15
|
3.3
|
Stock
Ownership by Stockholders
|
15
|
3.4
|
Authorization;
Enforceability
|
15
|
3.5
|
No
Conflict; Consents.
|
16
|
3.6
|
Financial
Statements and Undisclosed Liabilities.
|
16
|
3.7
|
Labor
Matters
|
17
|
3.8
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
17
|
3.9
|
Taxes.
|
17
|
3.10
|
Material
Contracts
|
19
|
3.11
|
Real
and Personal Property; Title to Property; Leases.
|
21
|
3.12
|
Condition
and Sufficiency of Tangible Assets
|
21
|
3.13
|
Licenses,
Permits and Authorizations
|
22
|
3.14
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
22
|
3.15
|
Litigation;
Compliance with Laws.
|
23
|
3.16
|
Insurance.
|
23
|
3.17
|
Employee
Benefit Plans.
|
24
|
3.18
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
25
|
3.19
|
No
Brokers or Finders
|
25
|
3.20
|
Accuracy
of Information
|
25
|
3.21
|
Receivables
|
26
|
3.22
|
Environmental.
|
26
|
3.23
|
Restrictions
on Business Activities
|
26
|
3.24
|
INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED
|
27
|
3.25
|
Absence
of Certain Payments
|
27
|
i
3.26
|
Bank
Accounts
|
27
|
3.27
|
Change
of Control Payment.
|
27
|
3.28
|
Disclosure
|
27
|
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
|
27
|
|
4.1
|
Organization
and Authority of Parent and Buyer.
|
27
|
4.2
|
Capitalization.
|
28
|
4.3
|
Sufficiency
of Funds
|
29
|
4.4
|
No
Conflict; Governmental Consents.
|
29
|
4.5
|
Financial
Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
|
29
|
4.6
|
SEC
Reporting
|
29
|
4.7
|
Officers
and Directors
|
30
|
4.8
|
Registration
Rights; Lock Up
|
30
|
ARTICLE
V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
|
30
|
|
5.1
|
Notices
and Consents
|
30
|
5.2
|
Taking
of Necessary Action; Further Action
|
31
|
5.3
|
Directors’
and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
|
31
|
5.4
|
Further
Assurances
|
32
|
5.5
|
Registration
of Securities
|
32
|
5.6
|
Conduct
of the Business
|
32
|
5.7
|
Software
Escrow Agreement
|
32
|
|
||
ARTICLE
VI TAX MATTERS
|
32
|
|
6.1
|
Conveyance
Taxes
|
32
|
6.2
|
Pre-Closing
Income Tax Returns
|
33
|
6.3
|
Straddle
Period Tax Returns
|
33
|
6.4
|
Straddle
Period Tax Allocation
|
34
|
6.5
|
Tax
Cooperation
|
34
|
6.6
|
Required
Notifications
|
34
|
6.7
|
Section
368(a) Reorganization
|
35
|
|
||
ARTICLE
VII INDEMNIFICATION
|
35
|
|
7.1
|
Obligations
of Stockholder.
|
35
|
7.2
|
Obligations
of Parent
|
36
|
7.3
|
Procedure
|
36
|
7.4
|
Survival.
|
37
|
7.5
|
Mitigation
|
37
|
7.6
|
Consequential
and Other Damages
|
37
|
ARTICLE
VIII GENERAL
|
37
|
|
8.1
|
Amendments;
Waivers
|
37
|
8.2
|
Schedules;
Exhibits; Integration
|
38
|
8.3
|
Governing
Law
|
38
|
8.4
|
No
Assignment
|
38
|
8.5
|
Headings
|
38
|
8.6
|
Counterparts
|
38
|
ii
8.7
|
Publicity
and Reports
|
38
|
8.8
|
Parties
in Interest
|
38
|
8.9
|
Notices
|
38
|
8.10
|
Remedies;
Waiver
|
39
|
8.11
|
Attorney’s
Fees
|
39
|
8.12
|
Severability
|
40
|
8.13
|
Entire
Agreement
|
40
|
8.14
|
Time
is of the Essence
|
40
|
8.15
|
Arbitration
|
40
|
8.16
|
Expenses
|
40
|
8.17
|
Disclosures
|
40
|
iii
Exhibits
Exhibit
A-1
|
Form
of Certificate of Merger
|
Exhibit
A-2
|
Form
of Articles of Merger
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Employment Agreement
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Stockholder Release
|
Exhibit
D
|
Form
of Lock-Up Agreement
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Invention Assignment Agreement
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Broker Release
|
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Escrow Agreement
|
Schedules
Merger
Consideration
|
|
Schedule
2.11(l)
|
Obligations
and Liabilities of the Company
|
Schedule
2.11(q)
|
Employees
Signing Invention Assignment Agreements
|
Schedule
3.1
|
Foreign
Qualifications
|
Schedule
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
Schedule
3.5
|
No
Conflict; Consents
|
Schedule
3.6
|
Financial
Statements and Undisclosed Liabilities
|
Schedule
3.8
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
Schedule
3.9
|
Taxes
|
Schedule
3.10
|
Material
Contracts
|
Schedule
3.11
|
Real
and Personal Property; Title to Property; Lease
|
Schedule
3.14
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Schedule
3.15
|
Litigation;
Compliance with Laws
|
Schedule
3.16
|
Insurance
|
Schedule
3.17
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
Schedule
3.18
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
Schedule
3.22
|
Environmental
|
Schedule
3.26
|
Bank
Account
|
Change
of Control Payments
|
|
Schedule
4.8
|
Registration
Rights; Lock-Up
|
iv
This
Agreement and Plan of Merger is entered into as of December 18, 2007, by
and among CUSTOMER ACQUISITION NETWORK HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation
(“Parent”);
OPTIONS ACQUISITION SUB, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”);
OPTIONS
NEWSLETTER, INC.,
a
Florida corporation (the “Company”);
and
XXXXX XXXXXXXX, the holder of all of the capital stock of the Company (the
“Stockholder”).
Parent,
Buyer, Company and the Stockholder is a “party”
and
together are “parties”
to this
Agreement.
R
E C I T A L S
WHEREAS,
the Boards of Directors of Parent, Buyer and the Company have each approved
the
merger of the Company with and into Buyer, with Buyer surviving such merger,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement,
whereby the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company
will be canceled and retired or converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration (as defined herein);
WHEREAS,
it is intended that, for federal income tax purposes, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall qualify as a tax-free reorganization
under
the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”);
and
WHEREAS,
Parent, Buyer, the Company and the Stockholder desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with
the
Merger (as defined below) and also to prescribe various conditions to the
Merger.
A
G R E E M E N T
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
For
all
purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided,
(a) the
terms
defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them in this
Article I and include the plural as well as the singular,
(b) all
accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned
under
GAAP,
(c) all
references in this Agreement to designated “Articles,” “Sections” and other
subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions
of
the body of this Agreement,
1
(d) pronouns
of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun
forms, and
(e)
the
words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or
other
subdivision.
As
used
in this Agreement and the schedules delivered pursuant to this Agreement,
the
following definitions shall apply:
“AAA
Rules”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
8.15.
“Action”
means
any action, complaint, claim, charge, petition, investigation, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in law or in equity, or before any
mediator, arbitrator or Governmental Entity.
“Additional
Purchase Price”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).
“Adjustment
Amount”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.14.
“Adjustment
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.14.
“Affiliate”
means
with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled
by, or
is under common control with, such specified Person.
“Agreement”
means
this Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended or supplemented, together with
all
exhibits and schedules attached or incorporated by reference.
“Approval”
means
any approval, authorization, consent, qualification or registration, or any
waiver of any of the foregoing, required to be obtained from, or any notice,
statement or other communication required to be filed with or delivered to,
any
Governmental Entity or any other Person.
“Articles
of Merger” has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Assets” has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.11(c).
“Benefit
Plans”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(a).
“Broker”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.19.
“Business”
means
the business of the Company, and shall be deemed to include any of the following
incidents of such business: income, cash flow, operations, condition (financial
or other), assets, anticipated revenues, prospects, liabilities and
personnel.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by law to be closed in the New York, New
York.
2
“Buyer”
has the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Calculation
Date”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.9(a).
“Cash
Portion of Merger Consideration”
means
any cash payable to the Stockholders as Merger Consideration.
“Certificates”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.6.
“Certificate
of Merger”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Claim”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Claim
Notice”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Closing”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.10.
“Closing
Date”
means
the date of the Closing as set forth in Section
2.10.
“Code”
has the
meaning set forth on the preamble to this Agreement.
“Common
Stock”
means
the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
“Company”
has the
meaning set forth on the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company
Financial Statements”
means
the (a) unaudited balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2005 and
2006, and the related unaudited statements of income, changes in Stockholder’
equity, and cash flow for each of the fiscal years then ended; and (b) unaudited
balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2007 (the “Company
Interim Balance Sheet”)
and
the related unaudited statement of income for the nine (9) months then ended.
“Company
Group”
means
any “affiliated group” (as defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard
to the limitations contained in Section 1504(b) of the Code) that, at any
time
before the Closing Date, includes or has included the Company or any predecessor
of or successor to the Company (or another such predecessor or successor),
or
any other group of corporations that, at any time on or before the Closing
Date,
files or has filed Tax Returns on a combined, consolidated or unitary basis
with
the Company or any predecessor of or successor to the Company (or another
such
predecessor or successor).
“Company
Interim Balance Sheet”
has
the
meaning set forth in the definition of the Company Financial
Statements.
“Contract”
means
any agreement, contract, arrangement, bond, loan commitment, franchise,
indemnity, indenture, instrument, lease, license or understanding, whether
or
not in writing.
3
“December
31, 2006 Company Balance Sheet”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3.6(b).
“DGCL”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“DOL”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(k).
“Effective
Time”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Equity
Plans”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
4.2.
“Employee”
or
“Employees”
means
any individual who is (a) an employee of the Company immediately prior to
the Closing Date and (b) employees of the Company on any authorized leave
of absence, including, without limitation, short- or long-term disability
leave,
worker’s compensation leave or vacation leave as of the Closing
Date.
“Employment
Agreement”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.11(d).
“Encumbrance”
means
any claim, charge, easement, encumbrance, lease, covenant, security interest,
lien, option, pledge, rights of others, or restriction (whether on voting,
sale,
transfer, disposition or otherwise), whether imposed by agreement,
understanding, law, equity or otherwise, except for any restrictions on transfer
generally arising under any applicable federal or state securities
law.
“Environmental
Defect”
shall
mean a condition with respect to the Assets that constitutes a violation
of
Environmental Law; provided that an Environmental Defect shall not be deemed
to
exist for the purposes of this Agreement unless the estimated Lowest Cost
Response for remedying such Environmental Defect exceeds $25,000.
“Environmental
Laws”
shall
mean all Laws relating to (a) the control of any potential pollutant or
protection of the air, water, land or protected species, (b) solid, gaseous
or
liquid waste generation, handling, treatment, storage, disposal or
transportation and (c) the regulation of or exposure to hazardous, toxic
or
other substances alleged to be harmful.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
related
regulations and published interpretations.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(a).
“Escrowed
Funds”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.13.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“FS”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect
from
time to time.
4
“Governmental
Entity”
means
any government or any agency, bureau, board, commission, court, department,
official, political subdivision, tribunal or other instrumentality of any
government, whether federal, state or local, domestic or foreign.
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
any “hazardous substance,” “pollutant or contaminant,” and “petroleum” and
“natural gas liquids” as those terms are defined or used in section 101 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and
any
other material regulated under any Environmental Law because of its effect
or
potential effect on public health and the environment, including without
limitation, PCBs, lead paint, asbestos, urea formaldehyde, radioactive materials
and wastes generated during the production of oil and gas.
“Indemnified
Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Indemnifying
Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Intellectual
Property”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3.14(a).
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor entity, and to
the
extent relevant, the United States Department of Treasury.
“Knowledge”
or
“Known”
shall
mean, with respect to Stockholder, the actual knowledge (without investigation)
of the Stockholder.
“Law”
means
any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, or
interpretation of any Governmental Entity and any Order.
“Letter
of Intent”
means
the letter of intent dated October 24, 2007 by and among the Parent, the
Company and the Stockholder.
“Loss”
means
any action, cost, damage, disbursement, expense, liability, loss, deficiency,
diminution in value, obligation, penalty or settlement of any kind or nature,
whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, including but not limited to, interest
or
other carrying costs, penalties, legal, accounting and other professional
fees
and expenses incurred in the investigation, collection, prosecution and defense
of claims and amounts paid in settlement, that may be imposed on or otherwise
incurred or suffered by the specified Person.
“Lowest
Cost Response”
shall
mean the response required or allowed under Environmental Laws that addresses
the condition present at the lowest cost (considered as a whole taking into
consideration
any
material negative impact such response may have on the operations of the
relevant assets and any potential material additional costs or liabilities
that
may likely arise a result of such response) as compared to any other response
that is consistent with Environmental Laws.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means,
with respect to any Person, (i) a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), business, prospects, assets, liabilities, or
results of operations of such Person in an amount individually or in the
aggregate equal to or greater than $10,000; or (ii) a material adverse effect
on
the ability of such Person to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement.
5
“Material
Contract”
means
any Contract deemed material by Section 3.10.
“Merger”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“Merger
Consideration”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.5.
“Order”
means
any
decree, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ of any
Governmental Entity.
“Parent”
has the
meaning set forth on the preamble to this Agreement.
“Parent
Financial Statements”
means
the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Parent as of September 30, 2007
and
the related unaudited consolidated statement of income for the nine (9) month
period then ended.
“Parent
Indemnified Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.1.
“Parent
Indemnifying Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.2.
“Parent
Shares”
shall
mean shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent delivered
to
the Stockholders as part of the Merger Consideration.
“Payment
Date” has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.14.
“PBGC”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(k).
“Permit”
means
any license, permit, franchise, certificate of authority, or order, or any
waiver of the foregoing, required to be issued by any Governmental
Entity.
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
shall
mean, with respect to the Assets, any or all of the following: (a) Encumbrances
securing payment of taxes or assessments that are, in either case, not yet
delinquent; and (b) Encumbrances set forth in the Company Interim Balance
Sheet.
“Person”
means an
association, a corporation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability
company, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a Governmental
Entity.
“Principal
Market”
shall
mean the OTC Bulletin Board, or if the Parent’s common stock is listed on
another national securities exchange, the “Principal
Market”
shall
mean such national securities exchange.
“Qualified
Plan”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(b).
“Real
Property”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3.11(a).
6
“Release”
means
any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal,
discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor
environment, including, without limitation, the movement of Hazardous Materials
through air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface
strata.
“Revenue
Target” has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.9(a).
“SEC”
means
the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
SEC
promulgated thereunder.
“Share”
and
“Shares”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.5.
“Stockholder”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Stockholder
Indemnified Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.2.
“Stockholder
Indemnifying Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.1.
“Stock
Portion of Merger Consideration”
means
that portion of the Merger Consideration that is evidenced by the Parent Shares
issued to the Stockholders as set forth in Schedule
2.5.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation 50% or more of whose stock
of
any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect
a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or
not
at the time stock of any class or classes of such corporation have or might
have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time
owned
by such Person, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries; and (b) any
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, trust or
other entity in which such Person, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries,
is either a general partner, has a 50% or greater equity interest at the time
or
otherwise owns a controlling interest.
“Surviving
Entity”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“Tax”
(and,
with correlative meaning, “Taxes”)
means:
(i) any federal, state, local or foreign net income, gross income, gross
receipts, windfall profit, severance, property, production, sales, use, license,
excise, franchise, escheat, employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or
add-on minimum, ad valorem, value added, transfer, stamp, or environmental
tax,
or any other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or
charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty, addition
to tax or additional amount imposed by any governmental authority; and
(ii) any liability of the Company for the payment of amounts with respect
to payments of a type described in clause (i) as a result of being a member
of
an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or as a result of any
obligation of the Company under any Tax Sharing Arrangement or Tax Indemnity
Agreement.
7
“Tax
Indemnity Agreement”
means
any written or unwritten agreement or arrangement pursuant to which the Company
may be required to indemnify or reimburse another party for any liability
relating to Taxes.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to
any
Tax (including any attached schedules), including any information return, claim
for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.
“Tax
Sharing Arrangement”
means
any written or unwritten agreement or arrangement for the allocation or payment
of Tax liabilities or payment for Tax benefits with respect to a consolidated,
combined or unitary Tax Return which includes the Company.
“Threshold”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
7.1(b).
“Third
Party Intellectual Rights”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3.14(b).
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
2.1 The
Merger. At
the
Effective Time and upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement and in accordance with Section 252 of the Delaware Business
Corporation Act (the “DGCL”)
and
Section 607.1105 of the Florida Statutes (the “FS”),
the
Company shall be merged with and into Buyer (the “Merger”).
Following the Merger, Buyer shall continue as the surviving entity (the
“Surviving
Entity”)
and
the separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease. Parent, as the
sole
owner of Buyer, hereby approves the Merger and this Agreement.
2.2 Effective
Time.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the Closing Date,
the Certificate of Merger substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1
(the
“Certificate
of Merger”)
and
the Articles of Merger substantially in the form of Exhibit
A-2
(the
“Articles
of Merger”)
shall
each be duly executed and acknowledged by the Company and Buyer and thereafter
delivered to the Secretary of State of Delaware and the Secretary of State
of
Florida, respectively, for filing. The Merger shall become effective at such
time as a properly executed copy of the Certificate of Merger and Articles
of
Merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware and the Secretary
of State of Florida, respectively, or such later time as Parent and the
Stockholders may agree upon and as set forth in the Certificate of Merger and
Articles of Merger, respectively (the time the Merger becomes effective being
referred to herein as the “Effective
Time”).
2.3 Effects
of the Merger.
The
Merger shall have the effects set forth in the DGCL and the FS. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing and subject thereto, at the Effective Time,
all
the properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and
Buyer shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities and
obligations of the Company and Buyer shall become the debts, liabilities and
obligations of the Surviving Entity.
8
2.4 Articles
of Incorporation, Bylaws and Directors and Officers.
The
articles of incorporation of the Company shall, without further action, be
terminated, and the organizational documents of Buyer in effect at the Effective
Time shall be the organizational documents of the Surviving Entity until amended
in accordance with applicable law. From and after the Effective Time, until
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with
applicable law, the directors and the officers of Buyer at the Effective Time
shall become the directors and the officers of the Surviving Entity and the
officers and directors of the Company shall cease to act as such effective
as of
the Effective Time.
2.5 Conversion
of Shares. At
the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger (and without any action on the part
of
Buyer or the Company), each
share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (each a
“Share”
and,
collectively, the “Shares”)
issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted
into
the right to receive a pro rata portion of the Merger Consideration.
The
“Merger
Consideration”
is
as
set forth on Schedule
2.5 attached
hereto, which Merger Consideration is comprised of (i) the Cash Portion of
Merger Consideration, (ii) the Stock Portion of Merger Consideration, (iii)
the
Additional Purchase Price.
2.6 Exchange
of Shares for Merger Consideration. At
the
Effective Time, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each certificate previously
evidencing any such Shares (the “Certificates”)
shall
thereafter represent the right to receive only the amount of Merger
Consideration set forth opposite the Stockholder’s name as set forth on
Schedule
2.5.
Each
share of any class of Company capital stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time that is owned by the Company (other than shares
in
trust accounts, security accounts, custodial accounts and similar holdings
like
that are beneficially owned by third parties), shall automatically be canceled
and retired and shall cease to exist, and no cash or other consideration shall
be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.
2.7 Buyer
Common Stock.
Each
share of Buyer common stock, par value $0.001 per share, held by Parent
immediately prior to the Effective Time will remain issued and outstanding
and
will be deemed to be validly issued, outstanding and non-assessable shares
of
the Surviving Entity.
2.8 Delivery
of Certificates and Cash.
(a) Delivery.
At the
Closing, the Stockholder shall deliver the Stockholder’s Certificate(s) to
Parent. Upon delivery of a Certificate for cancellation to Parent, Parent shall
deliver in exchange therefor payment of the Merger Consideration determined
in
accordance with Section
2.5
and the
Cash Portion of Merger Consideration shall be paid by check or by wire transfer
to the respective accounts designated by the Stockholder and the Certificate(s)
so surrendered by the Stockholder shall forthwith be canceled. If any cash
is to
be paid to a name other than that which the Certificate(s) surrendered in
exchange therefor is registered, or in the event of a transfer of ownership
of
Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, it shall
be a condition of payment of the Merger Consideration that the Certificate
so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form
for
transfer and that the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any
transfer and other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger
Consideration to a Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of Parent that such
tax either has been paid or is not applicable. Parent reserves the right in
its
sole discretion to pay Merger Consideration only to the Person whose name is
on
the Certificate(s) surrendered in exchange therefor and registered on the
transfer records of the Company. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 2.8,
each
Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent
only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration as
contemplated by this Section 2.8.
9
(b) No
Further Registration.
The
Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender of Shares in accordance with the
terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all
rights pertaining to such Shares. From and after the Effective Time, there
shall
be no further registration of transfers on the transfer books of the Surviving
Entity of the Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
(c) Withholding
Taxes.
Parent
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration otherwise
payable to a holder of Shares pursuant to the Merger such amounts as Parent
is
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment
under
the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent
amounts are so withheld by Parent, the withheld amounts shall be (i) timely
paid
to the appropriate Governmental Entity to whom such taxes are owed and (ii)
treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder
of
the Shares in respect of which the deduction and withholding was made.
(d) Certificates.
If any
Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost,
stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such person
of a
bond in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct as indemnity against any
claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, Parent
shall
deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the
applicable Merger Consideration with respect thereto.
2.9 Additional
Purchase Price.
(a) (1) If
at any time prior to the one-year anniversary of the Closing, minimum aggregate
gross revenues (calculated by the Company in accordance with GAAP) of $2,626,000
(the “Revenue Target”) has been earned by the operations of the Business, then
the Stockholder shall be paid $1,000,000 (the “Additional
Purchase Price”)
in
accordance with Section 2.9(a)(ii) and 2.9(b) below.
(ii) On
each
of the three, six, nine and twelve month anniversaries of the Closing (as
defined below) (each, a “Calculation Date”), the Stockholder shall receive the
same percentage of the Additional Purchase Price as the actual revenues achieved
from the Business bears to the Revenue Target (less any portion of Additional
Purchase Price previously paid to the Stockholder); provided, however, that
to
the extent that any portion of Additional Purchase Price shall have been paid
and a portion of the Revenue Target upon which such payment was based shall
subsequently be written-off as a bad debt in accordance with the requirements
under GAAP the amount of such write-off shall be deducted from the calculation
of the percentage of the Revenue Target achieved on the immediately ensuing
Calculation Date.
10
(b) The
Stockholder shall have the full authority to conduct the Business, including
the
management of day-to-day affairs thereof, through the period during which any
Additional Purchase Price may be payable, in a manner consistent with the
conduct of the Business before the Closing; provided such Business is conducted
in accordance with applicable Laws. Within 30 days after the end of any
Calculation Date, the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent shall calculate
and
provide a written report to the Stockholder disclosing the actual results and
the amount of gross revenue achieved, and pay any amount that is due and owing
to the Stockholder hereunder no later than 60 days after the end of the date
of
such calculation. Unless written objection is received by the Parent within
30
days, the report of the Chief Financial Officer shall be final and binding
on
the parties, absent manifest error. All amounts and calculations required shall
in each case be determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Parent
may accelerate the Additional Purchase Price payment to the extent that the
Revenue Target has been achieved and sufficient cash has been collected by
the
Parent to pay the applicable portion of the Additional Purchase
Price.
(c) In
the
event that, at any time prior to the one-year anniversary of the Closing, the
Stockholder is terminated without “Cause” as defined in the Employment Agreement
(as defined below) or in the event that the Stockholder resigns for “Good
Reason” as defined in the Employment Agreement, then any unpaid amount of
Additional Purchase Price shall be deemed to be earned, regardless of any
remaining Revenue Target or the passing of any Calculation Date, and any unpaid
Additional Purchase Price may be payable, shall be paid by the Parent to the
Stockholder within 60 days from the date of such termination or resignation,
as
the case may be.
2.10 The
Closing.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at a closing (the “Closing”)
to be
held on or before Friday, January 4, 2008, at the offices of Xxxxxx and Xxxxx,
LLP, legal counsel to Parent and Buyer, located at 000 X. 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
0000, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at such other place or at such time as the
Stockholder and Parent may mutually agree upon in writing. The parties
acknowledge and agree that, as of the date hereof, all diligence to be conducted
by the parties has been completed, all conditions to closing have been satisfied
and closing deliveries required of the parties in this Article II have been
delivered (the day on which the Closing takes place being the “Closing
Date”).
The
Closing may, with the consent of all parties, take place by delivering an
exchange of documents by facsimile transmission or electronic mail with
originals to follow by overnight mail service courier.
2.11 Closing
Deliveries by the Stockholders and the Company.
At the
Closing, against delivery of, among other things, the Merger Consideration,
the
Stockholder shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent:
(a) the
Certificate in accordance with Section
2.8;
(b) each
in
form and substance satisfactory to Parent in its reasonable discretion, all
Approvals of all Governmental Entities and officials which are necessary for
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all third
party consents and estoppel certificates identified on Schedule 3.5;
11
(c) an
employment agreement with the Surviving Entity duly executed by Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B
(the
“Employment
Agreement”);
(d) a
non-foreign status certificate that would exempt the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement from withholding pursuant to the provisions of Sections 897
and 1445 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder;
(e) All
minute books, seals and other records of the Company;
(f) certificates
of the Secretary of State and the taxing authorities of the State of Florida,
dated not more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, attesting to the
incorporation and good standing of the Company as a corporation in its
jurisdiction of incorporation, and to the payment of all state taxes due and
owing thereby;
(g) copies,
certified by the Secretary of State of Florida, dated not more than five (5)
days prior to the Closing Date, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company,
and all amendments thereto;
(h) copies,
certified the by Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the
Closing Date, of the bylaws of the Company, and all amendments
thereto;
(i) a
release
duly executed by the Stockholder in the form of Exhibit
C
attached
hereto;
(j) any
Permits necessary to the operations of the Business amended to adequately
reflect any change of control or other amendment necessary to reflect the
Merger;
(k) a
lease
in a form mutually agreeable to the parties hereto;
(l) written
evidence of the termination or cancellation of all guaranties, reimbursements,
“hold harmless,” indemnities and similar obligations and liabilities of the
Company on behalf of any Person other than the Company, including without
limitation those obligations listed on Schedule
2.11(l);
(m) resignations
of each of the officers and directors of the Company other than Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx;
(n) written
direction to the Company’s banks removing the officers of the Company as an
authorized signatory on the Company’s bank accounts and appointing Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx as an authorized signatory;
(o) the
Lock-Up Agreement in the form of Exhibit
D
duly
executed by Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx;
(p) minimum
net working capital in the Company’s primary bank account of $40,000.00 which is
sufficient to cover any outstanding liabilities of the Company on the Closing
Date;
12
(q) the
execution and delivery of invention assignment agreement in the form of Exhibit
E duly executed by the individuals listed on Schedule 2.11(q); and
(r) the
release from the Broker (as defined below) in the form of Exhibit
F
annexed
hereto; and
(s) written
evidence of the termination of the Company’s credit facility with SunTrust Bank
and the filing of a related UCC termination statement.
2.12 Closing
Deliveries by Parent and Buyer.
At the
Closing, against delivery of, among other things, the Certificates, Buyer and
Parent shall deliver to the applicable Stockholder:
(a) the
Merger Consideration;
(b) stock
certificates evidencing the Stock Portion of Merger Consideration;
(c) the
Employment Agreement duly executed by the Parent;
(d) certificates
of the Secretary of State and the taxing authorities of the State of Delaware
dated not more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, attesting to the
incorporation and good standing of Parent as a corporation in its jurisdiction
of incorporation, and to the payment of all state taxes due and owing
thereby;
(e) a
copy,
certified as of the Closing Date by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
Parent, of the bylaws of Parent and all amendments thereto and resolutions
of
the Board of Directors of Parent authorizing Parent’s execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein, and the taking of all such other corporate action as shall have been
required as a condition to, or in connection with the consummation of the
contemplated transactions;
(f) certificates
of the Secretary of State and the taxing authorities of the State of Delaware
dated not more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, attesting to the
incorporation and good standing of Buyer as a corporation in its jurisdiction
of
incorporation, and to the payment of all state taxes due and owing
thereby;
(g) a
copy,
certified as of the Closing Date by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
Buyer, of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Buyer authorizing Buyer’s
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated herein, and the taking of all such other corporate
action as shall have been required as a condition to, or in connection with
the
consummation of the contemplated transactions;
(h) copies,
certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware, dated not more than five (5)
days prior to the Closing Date, of the Certificate of Incorporation of Buyer,
and all amendments thereto;
(i) copies,
certified the by Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Buyer as of the Closing
Date, of the bylaws of Buyer, and all amendments thereto; and
13
(j) the
Certificate of Merger and Articles of Merger duly executed by Buyer.
2.13 Upon
Escrowed Funds; Escrow Agreement.
At the
closing, Parent shall wire $150,000 of the Cash Portion of Merger Consideration
(the “Escrowed
Funds”)
to a
mutually agreed escrow account to secure the Stockholder’s indemnification
obligations hereunder. An escrow agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
G,
will
govern all aspects of the Escrowed Funds, including the release thereof.
2.14 Post
Closing Adjustment.
(a) Upon
the
later of (i) the expiration of the Lock-Up Agreement and (ii) the twelve month
anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Adjustment
Date”),
in
the event that the average closing price for the Parent’s common stock as quoted
on the Principal Market for ten (10) consecutive trading days prior thereto
shall be less than $2.50 per share, then within thirty (30) days after the
Adjustment Date (the “Payment
Date”)
the
Parent shall pay the Stockholder the Adjustment Amount (as defined below).
As
used herein, the “Adjustment
Amount”
shall
be an amount equal to the difference between (i) $2.5 million and (ii) the
product of (A) 1,000,000 multiplied by (B) the average closing price
for the Parent’s common stock as quoted on the Principal Market between the
Adjustment Date and the ten (10) consecutive trading days prior
thereto.
(b) The
Adjustment Amount shall be payable by the Parent to the Stockholder, at the
option of the Parent, in cash, shares of the Parent’s common stock or a
combination thereof. For the purpose of this Section 2.14(b), the fair
market value of the Parent’s common stock on the Payment Date will be based upon
the average closing price of the Parent’s common stock on the Principal Market
during the 10 trading days immediately preceding the Adjustment
Date.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS
The
Stockholder, represents and warrants to Parent and agrees as follows:
3.1 Organization
and Qualification of the Company.
(a) The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Florida. The Company has all necessary corporate
power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now
owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on the Business as it has been
and
is currently conducting. The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties
owned or leased by it or the operation of its business makes such licensing
or
qualification necessary. Schedule
3.1
correctly lists with respect to the Company its jurisdiction of incorporation,
each jurisdiction in which it is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation, and its directors and executive officers. The Stockholder has
delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of the charter and bylaws of
the
Company as now in effect as of the Closing Date.
14
(b) The
Company owns all assets and rights necessary to conduct the Business of the
Company as presently conducted.
3.2 Capitalization.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 15,000,000 shares of Common
Stock. As of the date hereof, 1,000 shares of Common Stock are issued and
outstanding and each record owner of Shares and the number of Shares held by
each record owner is set forth on Schedule 3.2.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
3.2,
there
are no shares of capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding. All of
the
Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable. None of the Shares was issued in violation of any preemptive
rights or is subject to any preemptive rights of any Person. All of the Shares
have been issued and granted in all material respects in compliance with
applicable securities Laws and other requirements of Law. No legend or other
reference to any Encumbrance appears upon any certificate representing the
Shares, except for customary legends with respect to transfer restrictions
for
restricted securities under federal and Delaware securities Law.
(b) There
are
no outstanding options, warrants, agreements, conversion rights, preemptive
rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase from any of the Stockholder,
the Company, or any plans, contracts or commitments providing for the issuance
of, or the granting of rights to acquire, (i) any capital stock or other
ownership interests of the Company, including, but not limited to the Shares;
or
(ii) any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such capital
stock or other ownership interests. There are no outstanding contractual
obligations or plans of the Stockholder and/or, the Company to transfer, issue,
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of capital stock
or other ownership interests of the Company, including, but not limited to
the
Shares. The
Company neither owns nor has any contract, agreement or understanding to
acquire, any equity securities or other securities of any Person or any direct
or indirect equity or ownership interest in any other business.
3.3 Stock
Ownership by Stockholders.
The
Stockholder has good and marketable title to, and sole record and beneficial
ownership of, the Shares as listed on Schedule
3.2
and the
Shares are free and clear of any and all covenants, conditions, marital property
rights or other Encumbrances. Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, Parent will own all the issued and outstanding capital stock
of the Surviving Entity free and clear of all Encumbrances, and such capital
stock will be fully paid and non-assessable. There are no voting trusts,
stockholder agreements, proxies or other agreements or understandings in effect
with respect to the voting or transfer of any of the Shares.
3.4 Authorization;
Enforceability.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder and
the
Company and
the
consummation by the Stockholder and the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the
Stockholder and the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Stockholder and the Company, and assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by Buyer and Parent, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Stockholder and the Company enforceable against each of the
Stockholders and the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
that the enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws, or by equitable principles relating
to the rights of creditors generally.
15
3.5 No
Conflict; Consents.
(a) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder and
the
Company do not and will not (i) violate, conflict with or result in the breach
of any provision of the charter or by-laws of the Company, (ii) except as set
forth in Schedule
3.5,
conflict with or violate in any material respect any Law or Order applicable
to
the Stockholder or the Company, or (iii) except as set forth in Schedule
3.5,
conflict with, result in any breach of, constitute a default (or event which
with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default)
under, require any consent under, or give to others any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration, suspension, revocation or cancellation of, or result
in
the creation of any Encumbrance on any of the Shares or on any of the assets
or
properties of the Stockholder or the Company pursuant to, any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, permit, lease, sublease or other Contract to
which
the Stockholder or the Company is a party or by which any of the Stock or any
of
such assets or properties is bound or affected.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder and
the
Company do not and will not require any Approval or Order of any Governmental
Entity.
3.6 Financial
Statements and Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The
Stockholder has delivered to Parent true, correct and complete copies of the
Company Financial Statements. To the Knowledge of the Stockholder, any
adjustment to the Company Financial Statements to conform with GAAP applied
on a
consistent basis would not result in a Material Adverse Effect on either the
balance sheet or the cumulative profits and losses of the Company. Such
statements of operations and cash flow present fairly in all material respects
the results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the respective
periods covered, and the balance sheets present fairly in all material respects
the financial condition of the Company as of their respective dates. Except
as
disclosed on Schedule
3.6,
since
January 1, 2007, there has been no change in any of the significant accounting
policies, practices or procedures of the Company.
(b) The
Company has no liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether known or
unknown and whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise), except for
liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against the December 31, 2006
balance sheet of the Company (the “December
31, 2006 Company Balance Sheet”),
current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice since December 31, 2006 and liabilities that would not be
reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
16
3.7 Labor
Matters.
The
Company has not entered into any collective bargaining agreements. With respect
to the Company’s employees, there are no presently pending, or to the Knowledge
of the Stockholder, threatened (x) arbitration proceedings, labor strikes,
slowdowns or stoppages, grievances or other labor disputes; (y) Actions related
to an alleged material violation pertaining to labor relations or employment
matters, including but not limited to claims for unpaid wages or penalties,
discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or wrongful discharge in violation
of public policy; or (z) any scheduled vote or application for certification
of
a collective bargaining agent or, to the Knowledge of the Stockholder, any
organizing campaign. The Company is not delinquent in any material respect
in
payments to any of its employees for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses
or other direct compensation for any services performed for it or amounts
required to be reimbursed to such employees. There are no pending claims against
the Company under any workers’ compensation plan or policy or for long term
disability. To the Knowledge of the Stockholder, no employee of the Company
is
in any material respect in violation of any term of any employment contract,
non-disclosure agreement, non-competition agreement, or any restrictive covenant
to a former employee relating to the right of any such employee to be employed
by the Company because of the nature of the business conducted by it or to
the
use of trade secrets or proprietary information of others.
3.8 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Since
January 1, 2007, except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and
set
forth in Schedule
3.8,
the
Company has conducted its businesses only in the ordinary course and in a manner
consistent with past practice, and since such date there has not been any state
of facts, change, development, event, effect, condition or occurrence that,
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in
a
Material Adverse Effect.
3.9 Taxes. Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.9
(with
subsection references corresponding to those set forth below):
(a) All
Tax
Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company have been timely
filed, and all such Tax Returns are complete and correct in all material
respects. The Company has paid (or there has been paid on its behalf) all Taxes,
whether shown on any Tax Returns, that are due from or with respect to it for
the periods covered by such Tax Returns (whether or not disputed and whether
or
not due) and also with respect to all taxable periods or portions thereof ending
on or before the Closing Date, and has made all required estimated payments
of
Tax sufficient to avoid any penalties for underpayment. The Company has not
incurred any liability for Taxes subsequent to the date of the Company Interim
Balance Sheet other than in the ordinary course of the Company’s business or in
connection with transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, no claim has ever been made by an authority in
a
jurisdiction where the Company does not file a Tax Return that the Company
may
be subject to taxation in that jurisdiction and no basis exists for any such
claim. There is no proposed assessment and no audit, examination, suit,
investigation or similar proceeding pending or to the Knowledge of the
Stockholder, proposed or threatened with respect to Taxes of the Company and,
to
the Knowledge of the Stockholder, no basis exists therefor;
(c) There
are
no outstanding waivers extending the statutory period of limitation relating
to
the payment of Taxes due from the Company which are expected to be outstanding
as of the Closing Date;
17
(d) The
Company is not, and has never been, a party to any Tax Sharing Arrangement,
Tax
Indemnity Agreement or similar agreement and the Company will have no liability
thereunder on or after the Closing Date;
(e) There
are
no Encumbrances for Taxes upon the assets of the Company except Encumbrances
relating to current Taxes not yet due and payable;
(f) No
power
of attorney granted by or with respect to the Company relating to Taxes is
currently in force;
(g) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, no closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121
of
the Code or any similar provision of any state, local or foreign law has been
entered into by or with respect to the Company which could reasonably be
expected to have an effect on the Company’s liability for or reporting of Taxes
in any period ending after the Closing Date;
(h) All
Taxes
which the Company is required by Law to withhold or to collect for payment
have
been duly withheld and collected, and have been paid or accrued, reserved
against and added on the books of the Company. The Company has complied with
all
information reporting and backup withholding requirements, including maintenance
of required records with respect thereto, in connection with amounts owing
to
any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third
party;
(i) The
Company has not been a member of any Company Group and the Company has not
had
any direct or indirect ownership in any limited liability company, partnership,
joint venture or other “pass-through” entity for Tax purposes;
(j) Since
January 1, 2007, the Company has not prepared or filed any Tax Return
inconsistent with past practice or, on any such Tax Return, taken any position,
made any election, or adopted any method that is inconsistent with positions
taken, elections made or methods used in preparing or filing similar Tax Returns
in prior periods (including, without limitation, positions, elections or methods
which would have the effect of deferring income to periods after the Closing
Date or accelerating deductions to periods on or prior to the Closing
Date);
(k) INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED.
(l) There
is
no contract or arrangement, plan or agreement by or with Company covering any
Person as to which payment or vesting thereunder (including any payment or
vesting as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), could
give rise to the payment of any amount that would not be deductible by the
Company by reason of Sections 280G or 162(m) of the Code or an excise tax to
the
beneficiary of such payment or vesting pursuant to Section 4999 of the
Code;
(m) INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED.
(n) No
Tax
rulings have been requested by the Company; or
18
(o) The
Company has never (i) entered into any installment sale transactions, (ii)
changed its accounting method, or (iii) been party to a “listed transaction” as
defined in Treasury Regulation 1.6011-4(b)(2). The Stockholder has delivered
to
Parent (i) a schedule of the filing dates of all Tax Returns required to be
filed by the Company, and (ii) a list of the countries, states, territories
and
jurisdictions (whether foreign or domestic) to which any Tax is properly payable
by the Company. The Company has retained all supporting and backup papers,
receipts, spreadsheets and other information necessary for (i) the preparation
of all Tax Returns that have not yet been filed, and (ii) the defense of all
Tax
audits involving taxable periods either ending on or during the six (6) years
prior to the Closing Date or from which there are unutilized net operating
losses, capital losses or investment tax credit carryovers. The Company has
disclosed on its U.S. federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein
that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax
within the meaning of IRC Section 6662.
(p) The
Company has not been a party to any distribution occurring during the last
two
years in which the parties to such distribution treated the distribution as
one
to which Section 355 of the Code is applicable.
3.10 Material
Contracts.
The
following shall be deemed to be Material Contracts and identified on
Schedule
3.10,
and each
such Contract was entered into in the ordinary course of business by the
Company:
(a) any
Contract for the furnishing of services to or by the Company or otherwise
related to the Business under the terms of which the Company: (A) is likely
to pay or otherwise give consideration of more than $50,000 in the aggregate
during the calendar year ended December 31, 2006, (B) is likely to pay or
otherwise give consideration of more than $50,000 in the aggregate over the
remaining term of such Contract or (C) cannot be canceled by the Company
without penalty or further payment and without more than thirty (30) days’
notice;
(b) any
Contract that represents a contract upon which the Business is substantially
dependent or which is otherwise material to the Business;
(c) any
Contract that limits or restricts the ability of Company to compete or otherwise
to conduct its Business in any manner or place;
(d) any
Contract for the employment, severance or retention of any director, officer,
employee, agent, Stockholder, consultant or advisor or any other Contract with
any director, officer, employee, agent, Stockholder, consultant or advisor
that
does not provide for termination at will by the Company without further cost
or
liability to the Company as of or at any time after the date of this
Agreement;
(e) any
Contract in the nature of a profit sharing, bonus, stock option, stock purchase,
pension, deferred compensation or retirement, severance, hospitalization,
insurance or other plan or contract providing benefits to any Person or former
director, officer, employee, agent, Stockholder, consultant or advisor or such
Persons’ dependents, beneficiaries or heirs;
(f) any
Contract in an amount exceeding $50,000 or with a value exceeding $50,000 in
the
nature of an indenture, mortgage, promissory note, loan or credit agreement
or
other Contract relating to the borrowing of money or a line of credit by or
from
the Company or to the direct or indirect guaranty or assumption by the Company
of obligations of others;
19
(g) any
Contract for capital expenditures in an amount exceeding $50,000 in any
individual case or in the aggregate;
(h) any
Contract that is a joint venture, partnership, or other agreement (however
named) involving a sharing of profits, losses, costs, or liabilities involving
an amount exceeding $50,000 individually or in the aggregate;
(i) any
Contracts that are leases, rental or occupancy agreements, licenses,
installments and conditional sale agreements, and other agreements affecting
the
ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest
in, any real or personal property (except personal property leases and
installment and conditional sales agreements having a value per item or
aggregate payments of less than $50,000 and with terms of less than one (1)
year);
(j) any
Contracts that are licensing agreements or other agreements with respect to
patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other Intellectual Property, including
agreements with current or former employees, consultants, or contractors
regarding the appropriation or the non-disclosure of any of the Intellectual
Property;
(k) any
Contracts in an amount exceeding or with a value exceeding $50,000 to which
the
Company is a party with any Governmental Entity;
(l) any
Contracts between or among the Company and the Stockholder or any Affiliate
of
the Stockholder; and
(m) any
Contract that was not made in the ordinary course of business, including
agreements with:
(i) consequential
or liquidated damages or other indemnity provisions that are not based upon
the
Company’s negligence in the performance of its services;
(ii) fitness
for purpose warranties or process, efficacy or similar guarantees;
(iii) lump
sum
turn key, or similar contract risks or arrangements; or
(iv) provisions
relating to the testing, discovery, removal, remediation or disposal of any
Hazardous Substance.
True
and
complete copies of the Contracts appearing on Schedule 3.10,
including all amendments and supplements, have been delivered to Parent. Each
Material Contract is valid and legally binding and the Company has duly
performed all its obligations thereunder to the extent that such obligations
to
perform have accrued. No breach or default, alleged breach or default, or event
which would (with the passage of time, notice or both) constitute a breach
or
default thereunder by the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Stockholder,
any
other party or obligor with respect thereto, has occurred or as a result of
this
Agreement or performance thereof will occur. Consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not (and will not give any person a right
to) terminate or modify any rights of, or accelerate or augment any obligation
of, the Company under any of those agreements to the extent such termination,
modification, acceleration or augmentation could be reasonably expected to
have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
20
3.11 Real
and Personal Property; Title to Property; Leases.
(a) Schedule
3.11
accurately identifies by street address, or other identifying information,
all
real property leased by the Company (the “Real Property”). The Company does not
currently own any real property. The Company does not currently occupy the
Real
Property pursuant to any Contract, deed or other instrument; however, at
Closing, the Company will deliver and the parties will enter into a Lease for
the Real Property. The Real Property is in good condition, except for ordinary
wear and tear.
(b) The
Company owns, leases or has the legal right to use all the properties and
assets, including, without limitation, the Intellectual Property and the Real
Property, used or intended to be used in the conduct of the Business or
otherwise owned, leased or used by the Company (all such properties and assets
being the “Assets”).
(c) The
Assets constitute all of the properties, assets and rights forming a part of,
used, held or intended to be used in, and all such properties, assets and rights
as are necessary in the conduct of, Company’s business as it is currently
conducted as of the date hereof.
(d) Immediately
following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
the Company will continue to own, or lease, under valid and subsisting
Contracts, or otherwise retain its respective interest in the Assets without
incurring any penalty or other adverse consequence, including, without
limitation, any increase in rentals (except as contemplated by the Lease),
royalties, or licenses or other fees imposed as a result of, or arising from,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
for
Permitted Encumbrances. Immediately following the Closing, the Parent shall
own
and possess all documents, books, records, agreements and financial data of
any
sort used by the Company in the conduct of its business.
3.12 Condition
and Sufficiency of Tangible Assets.
To the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the buildings, plants, structures, and equipment
of the Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and
repair, except for ordinary wear and tear, and are adequate for the uses to
which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, or
equipment is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine
maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. To the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the building, plants, structures, and equipment
of
the Company are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Business after
the
Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the
Closing.
21
3.13 Licenses,
Permits and Authorizations.
The
Company holds all licenses, permits, franchises and other authorizations
required by any Governmental Entity that are necessary for the Business as
presently conducted or, in the case of such Employees, to carry out their duties
on behalf of the Company. Such licenses, permits, franchises and other
authorizations of the Company are valid and in full force and effect and will
remain so upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
The Stockholder does not know of any threatened suspension, cancellation or
invalidation of, or challenge to, any such license, permit, franchise or other
authorization.
3.14 Intellectual
Property.
(a) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the Company owns, or is licensed or otherwise
possesses legally enforceable rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade
names, service marks, domain names, copyrights, and any applications therefor,
trade secrets, and computer software programs or applications (collectively,
the
“Intellectual
Property”)
that
are used in the Business as currently conducted. Schedule
3.14
sets
forth each item of Intellectual Property and lists the owners of all right,
title and interest in and to any item of Intellectual Property not solely owned
by the Company. All requisite renewals and affidavits of use have been filed
with respect to each of the registrations set forth in Schedule
3.14,
and
each is presently in full force and effect and each of the trade names and
trademarks is valid, and is in good standing and active use and none has been
abandoned.
(b) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, there is no unauthorized use, disclosure,
infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property rights of the
Company, or any third party patents, trademarks or copyrights, including
software (collectively, the “Third
Party Intellectual Property Rights”)
to the
extent licensed by or through the Company, by any third party.
(c) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the Company is not in breach of any license or
other agreement relating to the Intellectual Property of the Company or any
Third Party Intellectual Property Rights.
(d) Within
the last three (3) years, the Company (i) has not been a party to, or to
the Knowledge of the Stockholder, been notified or advised of, any suit, action
or proceeding that involves a claim of infringement of any patents, trademarks,
service marks, copyrights or violation of any trade secret or other proprietary
right of any third party; or (ii) has not brought any action, suit or
proceeding for infringement of Intellectual Property or breach of any license
agreement involving Intellectual Property against any third party. To the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the design, development, distribution, marketing,
licensing or sale of products or services of the Company does not infringe
on
any patent, trademark, service xxxx or copyright of any third
party.
(e) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the Company has secured valid written assignments
or work for hire agreements from all consultants and employees who contributed
to the creation and development of Intellectual Property of the rights to such
contributions that the Company does not already own by operation of
law.
(f) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the Company has taken reasonable steps to protect
their respective rights in its confidential information and trade secrets that
reasonably require protection.
22
3.15 Litigation;
Compliance with Laws.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.15,
there
is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against
or affecting the Stockholder, the Company, or any of their respective
Assets.
(b) Except
as
disclosed on Schedule
3.15,
neither
the Stockholders nor the Company is (i) to the Knowledge of the
Stockholder, in violation of any applicable Law or (ii) subject to or in
default with respect to any Order to which any of them, or any of their
respective properties or assets (owned or used), is subject. To the Knowledge
of
the Stockholder, at all times since February 22, 2000, the Company has been
in
full compliance with each Law that is or was applicable to it or to the conduct
or operation of the Business or the ownership or use of any of its
Assets.
(c) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, no event has occurred or circumstance exists
that
(with or without notice or lapse of time) may constitute or result in a
violation by the Company of, or a failure on its part, to comply with, any
Law.
(d) Except
as
provided in Schedule
3.15,
neither
the Stockholder nor the Company has received, at any time since February 22,
2000, any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any
Governmental Entity or any other Person regarding (i) any actual, alleged,
possible, or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any Law or
(ii) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential obligation on the part of
the Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any
remedial action of any nature.
3.16 Insurance.
(a) Schedule
3.16
sets
forth the following information with respect to each insurance policy under
which the Company has been an insured, a named insured or otherwise the
principal beneficiary of coverage at any time within the past year:
(i) the
name,
address and telephone number of the agent or broker;
(ii) the
name
of the insurer and the names of the principal insured and each named insured;
and
(iii) the
policy number, general description of coverage and the period of
coverage.
The
Company has delivered to Parent copies of all such insurance
policies.
(b) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.16,
there
is no actual, pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened
claims against Company that would come within the scope of such coverage listed
on Schedule
3.16,
nor has
any current carrier provided notice to Company that it intends to terminate
any
policy or to deny coverage with respect to any claim. There are no actual,
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened claims against
the
Company that would not come within the scope of the insurance coverage of the
Company listed in Schedule
3.16.
23
(c) The
Company has maintained during the past three (3) years and currently maintains
(i) insurance on all of the Assets used in connection with the Business of
a type that the Stockholder reasonably believes is adequate to cover property
damage and loss of income by fire or other casualty, and (ii) adequate
insurance protection (subject to the deductible amounts and dollar limits of
coverage set forth in Schedule
3.16)
against
all errors and omissions and other liabilities, claims, and risks, which it
is
customary and reasonable to insure with respect to the Business. The Company
has, within the past three (3) years, not allowed any insurance policy to lapse
for failure to renew or for any other reason. The Company has not failed to
give
any notice or present any claim under any insurance policy in due and timely
fashion under the applicable insurance policy.
(d) The
Stockholder has no Knowledge of (i) any proposed material increases in the
premiums for insurance or for contributions for worker’s compensation or
unemployment insurance applicable to the Company, (ii) any conditions or
circumstances applicable to the Business as currently conducted that could
reasonably be expected to result in such increase, or (iii) any material
decrease in coverage or other policy benefits. Further, the Stockholder has
no
Knowledge that any existing insurer of the Company has denied the Company
coverage on any claim or refused to approve any proposed settlement.
3.17 Employee
Benefit Plans.
(a) Schedule
3.17
sets
forth with respect to all employees of the Company the terms of any compensation
arrangement, oral or written, with any employee including, without limitation,
pursuant to any employment agreement. True and complete copies of any employment
agreement, including all amendments and supplements, have been delivered to
Parent. Schedule
3.17
sets
forth a true and complete list of all employee benefit plans. The Company has
no
"employee benefit plans" as defined by Section 3(3) of ERISA ("Benefit
Plans").
All
employees of the Company and outside consultants are terminable at
will.
(b) The
Company does not maintain and is not obligated to provide benefits under any
life, medical, or health plan (other than as an incidental benefit under any
Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of
the Code (“Qualified
Plan”))
which
provides benefits to retirees or other terminated employees other than benefit
continuation rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of
1985, as amended. No Benefit Plan is a “multiple employer welfare arrangement”
within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA.
(c) No
Benefit Plan is a “multiemployer plan,” as that term is defined in Section 4001
of ERISA or an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
(d) The
Company has performed all of its obligations under all Benefit Plans, and all
contributions and other payments required to be made by the Company to any
Benefit Plan have been made or reserves adequate for such contributions or
other
payments have been set aside therefore and have been reflected in the Company
Financial Statements.
24
(e) Each
Benefit Plan can be terminated without payment of any additional contribution
or
amount and, except for any vesting of benefits of a Qualified Plan, without
the
vesting or acceleration of any benefits promised by such Benefit
Plan.
(f) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the Company has the right to modify and terminate
benefits as to retirees (other than pensions) with respect to both retired
and
active employees.
(g) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, the Company has not filed or been required to
file
any notices, forms or reports with the IRS, the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (the “PBGC”)
or
the
Department of Labor (“DOL”),
pursuant to statute, other than annual reports, within the four (4) years
preceding the date hereof.
(h) The
Company has not received any notice from the IRS, the PBGC, or the DOL relating
to any Benefit Plan regarding an audit of any Benefit Plan or the assessment
of
a material penalty.
(i) To
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, neither the execution of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will result in the payment,
vesting, or acceleration of any benefit under any Benefit Plan, assuming that
no
employee incurs a termination of employment or reduction in hours in connection
with the transactions contemplated herein.
3.18 Transactions
with Affiliates.
To the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, except (i) for employment and benefit
arrangements, (ii) arrangements on arm’s length terms in the ordinary
course of business and (iii) agreements set forth on Schedule
3.18,
no
director, officer or Affiliate of the Company or, to the Knowledge of the
Stockholder, any Person with whom any such director, officer or Affiliate has
any direct or indirect relation by blood, marriage or adoption, or any entity
in
which any such director, officer or Affiliate owns any beneficial interest
(other than a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national
securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market and less than one percent
(1%) of the stock of which is beneficially owned by all such Persons), has
any
interest in (a) any Contract with the Company or relating to the Business,
including any Contract for or relating to indebtedness of the Company; or
(b) any property, including Intellectual Property and Real Property, used
or currently intended to be used in, the Business.
3.19 No
Brokers or Finders.
Except
for Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (the “Broker”) no agent, broker, finder, or investment or
commercial banker, or other Person or firm engaged by or acting on behalf of
the
Stockholder, the Company, or any of their respective Affiliates, in connection
with the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, is or will be entitled to any
brokerage or finder’s or similar fee or other commission as a result of this
Agreement or such transactions.
3.20 Accuracy
of Information.
To the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, none of the information supplied in writing by
or
on behalf the Stockholder or the Company, to Parent or its Affiliates, agents
or
representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement, this Agreement or the negotiations leading up to this Agreement
contain, or at the respective times such information was delivered, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading.
25
3.21 Receivables.
All
receivables of the Company, whether reflected on the Company Interim Balance
Sheet or otherwise and including “work in process” inventory and accrued and
unbilled revenues, represent actual revenues invoiced or expected to be invoiced
in the ordinary course of business, and are, or when invoiced, will be, to
the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, fully collectible net of any reserves shown on
the
Company Interim Balance Sheet. The Stockholder has delivered to Parent a
complete and accurate aging list of all receivables of the Company.
3.22 Environmental.
(a) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.22,
to the
Stockholder’s Knowledge, the Assets and the Company are free of any
Environmental Defects, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the Assets.
(b) With
respect to the Assets, except as set forth in Schedule
3.22,
the
Company has not entered into, and is not subject to, any agreements, consents,
orders, decrees, judgments or other directives of Governmental Entities in
existence at this time based on any Environmental Laws.
(c) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.22,
to the
Stockholder’s Knowledge, the Company has not received written notice from any
Person of, and no investigation or written claim is pending regarding, any
Release, disposal, event, condition, circumstance, activity, practice or
incident concerning the Company, the Assets, the Company’s current or prior
operations or any land, facility, asset or property currently or formerly owned
or leased by any of the Company and alleging either (i) a violation of
Environmental Law, including common law, or (ii) obligations, including
remediation or other liabilities under Environmental Law, except, in the case
of
either clause (i) or (ii) hereof, as would not reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the Assets.
(d) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.22,
to the
Stockholder’s Knowledge, there has been no Release on or from the Assets or on
or from any property currently or formerly owner, or operated by the Company
of
any Hazardous Materials in any substantial amount or concentration that is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the
Assets.
(e) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.22,
the
Company or, to the Stockholder’s Knowledge, any operator of the Assets, holds
those licenses, permits, or other authorizations necessary under Environmental
Laws to carry on operations connected with the Assets to the extent of and
as
currently conducted, except where the failure to obtain such licenses, permits,
or other authorizations could not reasonably be expect to have a Material
Adverse Effect on any of the Company or the Assets.
3.23 Restrictions
on Business Activities.
To the
Knowledge of the Stockholder, there is no agreement, judgment, injunction,
order
or decree binding upon Company that has, or could reasonably be expected to
have, the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing the conduct of the
Business as presently conducted.
26
3.24 INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED.
3.25 Absence
of Certain Payments. Neither
the Stockholder, the Company, nor, to the Knowledge of the Stockholder, any
director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of any of them, has used any
corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
unlawful expenses relating to political activity, or made any direct or indirect
unlawful payments to government officials or employees from corporate funds,
or
established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded funds.
3.26 Bank
Accounts. Schedule 3.26
sets
forth an accurate list of each bank, trust company, savings institution or
other
financial institution with which the Company has an account or safe deposit
box
and the names and identification of all Persons authorized to draw thereon
or to
have access thereto, and sets forth the names of each Person holding powers
of
attorney or agency authority from the Company and a summary of the terms
thereof.
3.27 Change
of Control
Payment. Schedule 3.27
sets
forth the amount of any compensation or remuneration which is or may become
payable to any Company Employee by the Company pursuant to any agreement or
plan
by reason, in whole or in part, of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
3.28 Disclosure.
Except
as specifically noted above, the representations made by the Stockholder in
this
Agreement and the schedules furnished contemporaneously herewith (taken as
a
whole) do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a
material fact necessary to make such representations, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Parent
represents and warrants to the Stockholder and agrees as follows:
4.1 Organization
and Authority of Parent and Buyer.
(a) Parent
is
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Parent and the consummation by Parent of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the
part of Parent. The Parent Shares to be issued to the Stockholder as part of
the
Merger Consideration have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Parent and, upon receipt of the Shares from the Stockholder,
will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Parent, and assuming due authorization, execution
and
delivery by the Stockholder, the Company and Buyer, this Agreement constitutes
a
valid and binding obligation of Parent enforceable against Parent in accordance
with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability may be limited
by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws, or by
equitable principles relating to the rights of creditors generally.
27
(b) Buyer
is
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Buyer and the consummation by Buyer of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the
part of Buyer. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer,
and
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholder, the
Company and the Parent, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of Buyer enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that the enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws, or by equitable
principles relating to the rights of creditors generally.
4.2 Capitalization.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Parent consists of:
(i) 10,000,000
shares of preferred stock, of which no shares are issued and
outstanding;
(ii) 140,000,000
shares of common stock, of which:
(A) 34,313,000
shares are issued and outstanding;
(B) 5,500,000
shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Parent’s stock option,
restricted stock and employee stock purchase plans (the “Equity Plans”),
including 4,071,000 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding awards under the
Equity Plans;
(C) 500,000
shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding warrants.
No
shares
of preferred stock are issued and outstanding. All of the shares of Parent
common stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
and
non-assessable. None of the Parent shares was issued in violation of any
preemptive rights or is subject to any preemptive rights of any Person. No
legend or other reference to any Encumbrance appears upon any certificate
representing the Stock Portion of the Merger Consideration, except for customary
legends with respect to transfer restrictions for restricted securities under
federal and Delaware securities Law.
(b) Except
as
described above, there are no outstanding options, warrants, agreements,
conversion rights, preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or
purchase from the Parent, or any plans, contracts or commitments providing
for
the issuance of, or the granting of rights to acquire, (i) any capital stock
or
other ownership interests of the Parent, including, but not limited to the
Parent shares; or (ii) any securities convertible into or exchangeable for
any
such capital stock or other ownership interests. There are no outstanding
contractual obligations or plans of the Parent to transfer, issue, repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of capital stock or other
ownership interests of the Parent.
28
4.3 Sufficiency
of Funds.
The
Parent and Buyer have cash on hand, and will continue to have cash on hand,
in
an amount sufficient to consummate the transaction described in this Agreement
and pay the Merger Consideration, including the Additional Purchase Price
payment,
if
any.
4.4 No
Conflict; Governmental Consents.
(a) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Parent and Buyer
does not and will not (i) violate, conflict with or result in the breach of
any
provision of the charter or by-laws of the Parent or Buyer, (ii) conflict with
or violate in any material respect any Law or Order applicable to any of the
Parent or Buyer, or (iii) conflict with, result in any breach of, constitute
a
default (or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become a default) under, require any consent under, or give to others
any
rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, suspension, revocation or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of the
assets or properties of the Parent or Buyer pursuant to, any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, permit, lease, sublease or other Contract to
which
the Parent or Buyer is a party or by which any of its assets or properties
is
bound or affected, except as would not reasonably expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect on the Parent or Buyer.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Parent does not
and
will not require any Approval or Order of any Governmental Entity.
4.5 Financial
Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) To
the
knowledge of the Parent, the financial statements of the Parent included in
the
Parent SEC Reports (the “Parent
Financial Statements”)
have
been prepared in accordance with the books and records of the Parent and present
fairly in all material respects the results of operations and cash flows of
the
Parent for the respective periods covered, and the balance sheets present fairly
in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent as of their
respective dates, except in each instance where the failure to so present would
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the
Parent.
(b) To
the
knowledge of the Parent, the Parent has no liabilities or obligations of any
nature (whether known or unknown and whether absolute, accrued, contingent,
or
otherwise), except for liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against
on the September 30, 2007 balance sheet of the Parent, current liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice
since the date of such balance sheet and liabilities that would not be
reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the
Parent.
4.6 SEC
Reporting.
To the
Knowledge of Parent, Parent has filed all forms, reports, statements,
certifications and other documents (including all exhibits, amendments and
supplements thereto) required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the
Exchange Act (all such forms, reports, statements, certificates and other
documents, together with any amendments thereto, collectively, the “Parent
SEC Reports”),
each
of which, including any Parent Financial Statements or schedules included
therein, as finally amended prior to the date of this Agreement and has complied
as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Exchange Act as of the date filed with the SEC. None of the Parent’s
subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports with the SEC. To the knowledge
of the Parent, none of the Parent SEC Reports contained, when filed with the
SEC
or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or
incorporated by reference therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. To the knowledge of the Parent, no investigation by the SEC with
respect to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries is pending or
threatened.
29
4.7 Officers
and Directors.
To the
Parent’s knowledge, none of the officers or directors of Parent or any of its
subsidiaries: (i) has been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor or named
as a
subject of a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years (excluding
traffic violations and other minor offenses but including in connection with
the
purchase or sale of any security, involving the making of a false filing with
the SEC, or arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter,
broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, or investment adviser); (ii) is
subject to any order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction
temporarily or preliminarily enjoining or restraining, or is subject to any
order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, entered
within the past five (5) years, permanently enjoining or restraining such person
from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with the
purchase or sale of any security, involving the making of a false filing with
the SEC, or arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter,
broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, or investment adviser; (iii) is
subject to an order of the SEC entered pursuant to Sections 15(b), 15B(a),
or
15B(c) of the Exchange Act, or Section 203(e) or (f) of the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940; (iv) is suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended
or
barred from association with a member of, a national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or a national securities
association registered under Section 15A of the Exchange Act for any act or
omission to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable
principles of trade; or (v) is subject to a United States Postal Service false
representation order entered under 39 U.S.C. Section 3005 within the past five
(5) years or is subject to a restraining order or preliminary injunction entered
under 39 U.S.C. Section 3007 with respect to conduct alleged to have violated
39
U.S.C. Section 3005.
4.8 Registration
Rights; Lock Up.
Other
than the registration rights described on Schedule
4.8
attached
hereto, Parent is not under any obligation to register under the Securities
Act
any of its currently outstanding securities, or any securities issuable upon
exercise or conversion of its currently outstanding securities. All securities
held by the current officers and directors of the Parent are subject to a
lock-up agreement of not less than 12 months following the date of
issuance.
ARTICLE
V
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
5.1 Notices
and Consents.
The
Stockholder and Parent agree that, in the event any Approval necessary to
preserve for the Business or the Company any right or benefit under any Contract
to which the Company is a party, is not obtained prior to the Closing, the
Stockholder will, subsequent to the Closing, on the reasonable request of Parent
and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, cooperate with the Surviving Entity,
Parent and their Subsidiaries in attempting to obtain such Approval as promptly
thereafter as practicable.
30
5.2 Taking
of Necessary Action; Further Action.
If, at
any time after the Closing Date, any further action is necessary or desirable
to
carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Entity with
full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges,
powers and franchises of the Company, the officers and directors of the
Surviving Entity are fully authorized in the name of the Surviving Entity or
otherwise to take and will take, all such actions at Parent’s expense. The
Stockholder shall take all requisite action to transition the books and records
of the Company to the Parent.
5.3 Directors’
and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Parent
shall, or shall cause the Surviving Entity to, fulfill and honor the obligations
of the Company to the individuals serving in their capacity as officers and
directors (the “Indemnified
Directors and Officers”)
pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws,
each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
(b) This
Section 5.3 (i) shall survive the consummation of the Merger, (ii) is intended
to benefit the Indemnified Directors and Officers and their heirs and (iii)
is
in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification
or contribution that any such Person may have against Parent or the Surviving
Entity first arising after the Closing Date by contract or otherwise. This
Section 5.3 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely
affect the rights of any Indemnified Director and Officer under this Section
5.3
without the consent of such affected Indemnified Director and
Officer.
(c) If
Parent
or the Surviving Entity or any of its successors or assigns shall
(i) consolidate with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the
continuing or surviving Person of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfer
all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then,
in
each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of Parent or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, assume all of the
obligations of Parent and the Surviving Entity set forth in this Section 5.3.
(d) As
of the
Effective Time, Parent or the Surviving Entity (with the election being at
Parent’s option) shall have purchased and shall maintain in full force and
effect for a period of three (3) years after the Closing Date (or, if any claim
is asserted or made within such six-year period, Parent shall ensure that such
insurance remains in effect until final disposition of such claim) a directors’
and officers’ liability insurance policy or policies from one or more reputable
carriers and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide each
Indemnified Director and Officer coverage for events occurring prior to the
Effective Time (including acts or omissions relating to the approval of this
Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby) in the
amount of at least $5 million and otherwise on terms and conditions reasonable
and customary for companies comparable to Parent. Nothing herein shall require
the Parent to provide insurance for any Indemnified Director and Officer with
insurance coverage for any action by any such Indemnified Director and Officer
constituting fraud (including fraud based on intentional or willful misstatement
or omission) in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.
31
5.4 Further
Assurances.
The
Company, Parent, Buyer and the Stockholder shall provide reasonable cooperation
to each other and their professional auditors with respect to any audit, legal
or tax inquiries or procedures following the Closing Date including, without
limitation, in order to permit Parent to have prepared, at its sole cost and
expense, audited financial statements as required for filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
5.5 Registration
of Securities.
If, at
any time or from time to time, the Parent shall determine to register any of
its
equity securities for the account of a stockholder, the Parent shall promptly
(but in no event less than thirty (30) days prior to registration) give the
Stockholder written notice thereof, and shall include in such registration
(and
any related qualifications including compliance with Blue Sky laws), and in
any
underwriting involved therein, the Stock Portion of Merger Consideration
received by the Stockholder as specified in a written response(s) by the
Stockholder, made within twenty (20) days after receipt of the written notice
of
registration from the Parent. For ease of reference, this provision is to be
construed as granting the Stockholder piggyback registration rights in
conjunction with any secondary sale of securities that the Parent may wish
to
register. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, if the
registration by the Parent is for an underwritten public offering and the
managing underwriter determines that marketing factors require a limitation
of
the number of shares to be underwritten, the percentage of shares of securities
to be registered for sale by the Stockholder shall be reduced on a pro rata
basis with all other shares of third-parties entitled to participate in such
registration. If the registration by the Parent is for an underwritten public
offering, the Stockholder agrees to provide upon request, customary lock-up
agreements for himself and his affiliates by which they agree not to sell any
of
their shares of common stock, provided that the Stockholder is a selling
stockholder in the offering and the terms of the requested lock-up are the
same
as the terms agreed to by all selling stockholders in the offering.
5.6 Conduct
of the Business.
The
Company and the Stockholder agree that from the date hereof through the Closing
Date, the Company shall conduct its business solely in the ordinary course
of
business, consistent with past practice. Neither the Stockholder nor the Company
shall make any material changes to the Company’s business from the date hereof
through the Closing Date.
5.7 Software
Escrow Agreement. The
Stockholder shall use his commercially reasonable best efforts on behalf of
the
Company to enter into an escrow agreement with Iron Mountain with respect to
the
escrow of source codes under the Shawan Tech Enterprise License
Agreement.
ARTICLE
VI
TAX
MATTERS
6.1 Conveyance
Taxes.
Parent
and Buyer shall pay and be solely responsible for any sales, use, transfer,
value added, stock transfer, and stamp taxes, any transfer, recording,
registration, and other fees, and any similar Taxes which become payable in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall
file
such applications and documents as shall permit any such Tax to be assessed
and
paid on or prior to the Closing Date in accordance with any available pre sale
filing procedure. Each party hereto shall execute and deliver all instruments
and certificates necessary to enable the other party or parties to comply with
the foregoing.
32
6.2 Pre-Closing
Income Tax Returns.
The
Stockholder shall timely prepare or cause to be prepared all Tax Returns of
the
Company relating to Taxes imposed on net income (“Income
Taxes”)
for
all periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date and the income that is
taxable to the Stockholder as a result of the Company's status as an S
corporation under Section 1361 of the Code or a similar provision of state
or
local Law (“Pre-Closing
Income Tax Returns”).
The
cost of preparing all Pre-Closing Income Tax Returns shall be paid by the
Stockholder. All such Pre-Closing Income Tax Returns shall be prepared and
filed
in a manner consistent with the past practice of the Company unless otherwise
required by applicable Law. The Stockholder, the Buyer and the Parent will
cooperate in good faith in connection with the exchange of information necessary
for the preparation of all Pre-Closing Income Tax Returns. The Stockholder
shall
submit each of the Pre-Closing Income Tax Returns to the Buyer for review at
least thirty (30) days prior to the due date for the filing of such Pre-Closing
Income Tax Return (taking into account any extensions). The Buyer shall have
the
right to review and comment on each Pre-Closing Income Tax Return prior to
the
filing of such Pre-Closing Income Tax Return; provided, that if the Stockholder
shall fail to submit any Pre-Closing Income Tax Return to the Buyer in
accordance with this Section 6.2, the Buyer shall have the right to prepare
and
file such Pre-Closing Income Tax Return. The Stockholder and the Buyer agree
to
consult and resolve in good faith any issues and comments arising as a result
of
the review of each Pre-Closing Income Tax Return; provided, however, that in
the
event the parties are unable to agree on a resolution of any disputed item
at
least fifteen (15) days before the due date of any such Tax Return, then, upon
providing a written opinion of an AmLaw 200 nationally recognized law firm
mutually acceptable to the Buyer and the Stockholder, that the position the
Stockholder wishes to take on such Pre-Closing Income Tax Return has a realistic
possibility of success in a court with jurisdiction, (or, if any such standard
is higher than the “realistic possibility of success” standard, the minimum
standard required under the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder (or any corresponding provision of state or local law) required
to
avoid any penalties with respect to such position), then such Pre-Closing Income
Tax Return shall be filed, as prepared by the Stockholder with the appropriate
governmental agency. Otherwise the Pre-Closing Income Tax Return shall be
changed as requested by the Buyer.
6.3 Straddle
Period Tax Returns.
The
Parent and Buyer shall timely prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause
to be filed any Tax Returns of the Company required to be filed by the Company
with respect to a taxable period which includes the Closing Date (but does
not
begin or end on that day) (“Straddle
Period Returns”).
All
Straddle Period Returns shall be prepared and filed in a manner consistent
with
the past practice of the Company unless otherwise required by applicable Law.
The Stockholder shall have the right to review and comment on each Straddle
Period Return prior to the filing of such return. The Stockholder and the Buyer
agree to consult and resolve in good faith any issues and comments arising
as a
result of the review of each Straddle Period Return, and mutually to consent
to
filing as promptly as possible to each Straddle Period Return.
33
6.4 Straddle
Period Tax Allocation.
In any
case in which a Tax is assessed with respect to a taxable period that includes
the Closing Date (but does not begin or end on that day) (a “Straddle
Period”),
the
Taxes, if any, attributable to a Straddle Period shall be allocated (i) to
the
period up to and including the close of business on the Closing Date, on the
one
hand (which shall be a liability of the Stockholder), and (ii) to the period
subsequent to the Closing Date (which shall be the liability of the Company
and
the Buyer) , on the other hand, by means of a closing of the books and records
of Company as of the close of the Closing Date, provided that exemptions,
allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis (including,
but
not limited to, depreciation and amortization deductions) and Taxes that are
assessed on a periodic basis (such as real and personal property Taxes) shall
be
allocated between the period ending on the Closing Date and the period after
the
Closing Date in proportion to the number of days in each such
period.
6.5 Tax
Cooperation.
The
Stockholder and the Buyer shall, upon written request of the other, (i) each
provide the other with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by any
of
them in connection with the preparation of any Tax Return, audit, or other
examination by any taxing authority or judicial or administrative proceedings
relating to liability for Taxes or such returns, (ii) each retain and provide
the other with any records or other information that may be relevant to such
Tax
Returns, audit or examination, proceeding, or determination, and (iii) each
provide the other with any final determination of any such audit or examination,
proceeding, or determination that affects any amount required to be shown on
any
such Tax Returns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Buyer
shall retain until the applicable statues of limitations (including any
extensions) have expired, copies of all Pre-Closing Tax Returns and Straddle
Period Returns, supporting work schedules, and other records or information
that
may be relevant to such returns, and shall not destroy or otherwise dispose
of
any such records without first providing the Stockholder with a reasonable
opportunity to review and copy the same. Each party shall bear its own expenses
in complying with the foregoing provisions.
6.6 Required
Notifications.
The
Buyer shall promptly notify the Stockholder in writing upon receipt by the
Buyer
or any of its Affiliates of notice of any audits, examinations, adjustments
or
assessments relating to Taxes with respect to any Pre-Closing Income Tax
Returns, and with respect to amounts which would be paid by the Stockholder
or
for which any of the Buyer or its Affiliates may be entitled to receive
indemnity under this Agreement (each, a “Tax
Claim”).
The
Stockholder, in their sole discretion, may contest such Tax Claim in any
permissible forum and shall otherwise have the sole right at their sole expense
to direct, control and settle any administrative or judicial proceedings
relating to such Tax Claim, provided that the Stockholder (i) notify the Buyer
in writing within twenty (20) days (or if a response to such Tax Claim is
required within thirty (30) days and the Internal Revenue Service (or any other
applicable state or local tax authority) refuses to grant an extension of at
least ten (10) days, fifteen (15) days; provided that the Buyer shall be
required to use reasonable efforts to obtain such an extension) of the Buyer's
notification of the Stockholder of such Tax Claim of their intent to exercise
their right to direct, control, and settle such Tax Claim, (ii) the Buyer shall
be entitled to participate at its sole expense in such administrative or
judicial proceedings and (iii) to the extent any settlement of any such
proceeding is reasonably expected to increase any Tax to the Buyer or its
Affiliates in respect of any Tax not indemnified under this Agreement by the
Stockholder at the time of such settlement, the Stockholder may not settle
any
such proceeding without the prior written consent of the Buyer.
34
6.7 Section
368(a) Reorganization.
The
parties hereby agree to report the Merger as a reorganization pursuant to
Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code and any applicable similar state or local
Law
provisions (a “Reorganization”),
to
file all such forms and statements that are required or appropriate in
furtherance thereof, or in connection therewith, to report the value of the
Parent Shares at $1.00 per share in any such filings, and to take no action
on,
prior or subsequent to, the Closing Date that is reasonably likely to cause
the
Merger to fail to so qualify.
ARTICLE
VII
INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 Obligations
of Stockholder.
(a) Subject
to the limitations set forth this Section
7.1
and
otherwise in this Article VII, the Stockholder (the “Stockholder
Indemnifying Party”)
agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless Parent, the Surviving Entity and their respective
directors, officers and Affiliates and their successors and assigns (each a
“Parent
Indemnified Party”)
from
and against any and all Losses of the Parent Indemnified Parties, to the extent
directly or indirectly resulting or arising from or based upon:
(i) breach
of
any representation or warranty set forth in Article III; and
(ii) all
Taxes
to the extent resulting from or relating to the ownership, management or use
of
and the operation of the Business prior to and including the Closing
Date.
(b) The
obligations of the Stockholder under this Section
7.1
shall be
subject to the following limitations:
(i) The
Stockholder shall not have any liability to any Parent Indemnified Party with
respect to Losses arising out of any of the matters referred to in Section
7.1(a),
until
such time as the amount of all such liability shall collectively exceed $50,000
(the “Threshold”),
whereupon the Losses exceeding the Threshold shall be payable by the
Stockholder;
(ii) The
maximum aggregate amount of Losses for which the Stockholder shall be liable
pursuant to Section
7.1(a)
shall be
equal to $1,500,000 (except for Losses incurred as a result of the Stockholder’s
fraud for which the maximum aggregate amount of Losses for which the Stockholder
shall be liable shall be equal to the amount of Merger Consideration actually
received).
(iii) In
no
event shall the Stockholder’s aggregate liability to any Indemnified Party under
Section
7.1
exceed
the after tax amount of such Claim and all Claims shall be net of any insurance
proceeds reasonably expected to be received in respect of Losses subject to
such
Claim. The Parent Indemnified Parties shall use all reasonable efforts to
collect any amounts available under applicable insurance policies with respect
to Losses subject to a Claim.
35
7.2 Obligations
of Parent.
Parent,
Buyer and the Surviving Entity (collectively, the “Parent
Indemnifying Parties”)
agree
to indemnify and hold harmless the Stockholder and his respective agents,
representatives and Affiliates and their successors and assigns (the
“Stockholder
Indemnified Party”)
from
and against any and all Losses of the Stockholder Indemnified Party, directly
or
indirectly, as a result of, or based upon or arising from:
(a) the
ownership, management and operation of the Company, the Surviving Entity and
the
Business whether before, on or after the Closing Date, except (a) to the extent
any such Losses are subject to indemnification by the Stockholder pursuant
to
Section
7.1
or (b)
to the extent any such Losses are the result of fraud committed by the
Stockholder, in which case, the Parent Indemnifying Parties shall not be
obligated to indemnify the Stockholder pursuant to this Section
7.2
;
and
(b) Buyer
shall not have any liability to any Stockholder Indemnified Party with respect
to Losses arising out of any of the matters referred to in Section
7.2,
until
such time as the amount of all such liability shall collectively exceed the
Threshold, whereupon the Losses exceeding the Threshold shall be payable by
Buyer. Also, in no event shall Buyer’s aggregate liability under Section
7.2
exceed
the after-tax amount of such Claims.
7.3 Procedure.
The
Stockholder Indemnified Party or a Parent Indemnified Party (each, an
“Indemnified
Party”)
shall
give the Parent Indemnifying Party or Stockholder Indemnifying Party (each,
an
“Indemnifying
Party”),
as
applicable, notice (a “Claim
Notice”)
of any
matter which an Indemnified Party has determined has given or could reasonably
give rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement (a “Claim”),
within forty-five (45) days of such determination; provided, however, that
any
failure of the Indemnified Party to provide such Claim Notice shall not release
the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations under this Article VII except
to the extent the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure
and shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any other obligation or
liability that it may have to any Indemnified Party otherwise than under this
Article VII except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced
by such failure. Upon receipt of the Claim Notice, the Indemnifying Party shall
be entitled to assume and control the defense of such Claim at its expense
if it
gives notice of its intention to do so to the Indemnified Party within ten
(10)
Business Days of the receipt of such Claim Notice from the Indemnified Party;
provided, however, that (i) Indemnified Party must approve of the selection
of
legal counsel by Indemnifying Party, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, delayed or conditioned and (ii) if there exists or is reasonably
likely to exist a conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate in
the
judgment of the Indemnified Party, in its reasonable discretion, for the same
counsel to represent both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party,
then
the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to retain its own counsel, in each
jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required,
at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party. In the event the Indemnifying Party
exercises the right to undertake any such defense against any such Claim as
provided above, the Indemnified Party shall cooperate with the Indemnifying
Party in such defense and make available to the Indemnifying Party, at the
Indemnifying Party’s expense, all witnesses, pertinent records, materials and
information in the Indemnified Party’s possession or under the Indemnified
Party’s control relating thereto as is reasonably required by the Indemnifying
Party. Similarly, in the event the Indemnified Party is, directly or indirectly,
conducting the defense against any such Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall
cooperate with the Indemnified Party in such defense and make available to
the
Indemnified Party, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, all such witnesses,
records, materials and information in the Indemnifying Party’s possession or
under the Indemnifying Party’s control relating thereto as is reasonably
required by the Indemnified Party. No such Claim may be settled by the
Indemnifying Party without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned so
long
as (a) there is no payment or other consideration required of the Indemnified
Party and (b) such settlement does not require or otherwise involve any
restrictions on the conduct of business by the Indemnified Party.
36
7.4
Survival.
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Stockholder and Parent contained in this
Agreement, including the Exhibits and the Schedules to this Agreement, shall
survive the Closing until the first (1st) anniversary of the Closing Date.
An
Indemnifying Party is not required to make any indemnification payment hereunder
unless a Claim is delivered to the Indemnifying Party on or before 5:00 p.m.
ET
of the one year anniversary of the Closing Date, except with respect to Claims
of fraud committed by the Indemnifying Party.
(b) Any
matter as to which a Claim has been asserted by a Claim Notice to the other
party that is pending or unresolved at the end of any applicable limitation
period shall continue to be covered by this Article VII notwithstanding any
applicable statute of limitations (which the parties hereby waive) until such
matter is finally terminated or otherwise resolved by the parties under this
Agreement or by a final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction and any amounts payable hereunder are finally determined and paid.
(c) The
Indemnifying Party agrees to notify the Indemnified Party of any liabilities,
claims or misrepresentations, breaches or other matters covered by this Article
VII upon discovery or receipt of notice thereof (other than such claims from
the
Indemnified Party).
(d) Other
than rights to equitable relief, to the extent available under applicable law,
or Claims arising from the fraud of a party, each of the parties acknowledges
and agrees that the sole and exclusive remedy for any Losses arising from Claims
described in Sections
7.1
and
7.2
or any
other Claims of every nature arising in any manner in connection with this
Agreement or any other document, agreement or instrument entered into in
connection herewith, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, shall
be indemnification in accordance with this Article VII; provided, however,
that
nothing in this Section
7.4
shall
limit the rights of the parties under the Release or the Employment
Agreement.
7.5 Mitigation.
Prior
to the resolution of any Claim for indemnification under this Agreement, the
Indemnified Party shall utilize all commercially reasonable efforts, consistent
with normal past practices and policies and good commercial practice, to
mitigate such Losses.
7.6 Consequential
and Other Damages.
No
party shall be liable for any lost profits or consequential, special, punitive,
indirect or incidental Losses or damages in connection with this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
VIII
GENERAL
8.1 Amendments;
Waivers.
This
Agreement and any schedule or exhibit attached hereto may be amended only by
agreement in writing of all parties. No waiver of any provision nor consent
to
any exception to the terms of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated
hereby shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound
and then only to the specific purpose, extent and instance so provided.
37
8.2 Schedules;
Exhibits; Integration.
Each
schedule and exhibit delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall
be
in writing and shall constitute a part of this Agreement, although schedules
need not be attached to each copy of this Agreement. This Agreement, together
with such schedules and exhibits, constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings of the parties in connection therewith, including,
without limitation, the Letter of Intent entered into between and the
Stockholder.
8.3 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement, the legal relations between the parties and any Action, whether
contractual or non-contractual, instituted by any party with respect to matters
arising under or in connection with this Agreement, including but not limited
to
the negotiation, execution, interpretation, coverage, scope, performance,
breach, termination, validity, or enforceability of this Agreement, shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State
of
New York without reference to principles of conflicts of laws.
8.4 No
Assignment.
Neither
this Agreement nor any rights or obligations under it are assignable without
the
express written consent of the Stockholder and Parent.
8.5 Headings.
The
descriptive headings of the Articles, Sections and subsections of this Agreement
are for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.
8.6 Counterparts.
This
Agreement and any amendment hereto or any other agreement (or document)
delivered pursuant hereto may be executed in one or more counterparts and by
different parties in separate counterparts. All of such counterparts shall
constitute one and the same agreement (or other document) and shall become
effective (unless otherwise provided therein) when one or more counterparts
have
been signed by each party and delivered to the other party.
8.7 Publicity
and Reports.
The
Stockholder and Parent shall coordinate all publicity relating to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and, except as required by Law,
no
party shall issue any press release, publicity statement or other public notice
relating to this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
without obtaining the prior consent of the Stockholder and Parent.
8.8 Parties
in Interest.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each party, and
nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any
other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason
of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to relieve or discharge
the obligation of any third person to any party to this Agreement.
8.9 Notices.
Any
notice or other communication hereunder must be given in writing and (a)
delivered in person, (b) transmitted by facsimile or (c) mailed by certified
mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested as follows:
38
If
to
Parent, addressed to:
000
X.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 0000
Xx.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Operating Officer
Facsimile:(000)
000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
and Xxxxx, LLP
000
X.
00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
If
to
Stockholder, addressed to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx #000
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xx. 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Attorneys
At Law
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx,
XX
00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
or
to
such other address or to such other person as either party shall have last
designated by such notice to the other party. Each such notice or other
communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile, when transmitted
to
the applicable number so specified in (or pursuant to) this Section
8.9
and an
appropriate answerback is received, (ii) if given by mail, three (3) days after
such communication is deposited in the mails by certified mail, return receipt
requested, with postage prepaid and addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given
by
any other means, when actually delivered at such address.
8.10 Remedies;
Waiver.
To the
extent permitted by Law, all rights and remedies existing under this Agreement
are cumulative to and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise
available under applicable Law. No failure on the part of any party to exercise
or delay in exercising any right hereunder shall be deemed a waiver thereof,
nor
shall any single or partial exercise preclude any further or other exercise
of
such or any other right.
8.11 Attorney’s
Fees.
In the
event of any Action by any party to enforce against another party a right or
claim, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees,
costs and expenses incurred in such Action. Attorney’s fees incurred in
enforcing any judgment in respect of this Agreement are recoverable as a
separate item.
39
8.12 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable by any Governmental Entity, the remaining provisions of this
Agreement to the extent permitted by Law shall remain in full force and effect;
provided that the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for all
parties remain valid, binding and enforceable. In event of any such
determination, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement to fulfill as closely as possible the original intents and purposes
hereof. To the extent permitted by Law, the parties hereby to the same extent
waive any provision of Law that renders any provision hereof prohibited or
unenforceable in any respect.
8.13 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement constitutes and includes that entire agreement of the parties with
reference to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements
and
understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No promise or
representation of any kind has been made to any of the parties to this Agreement
by any other party or parties to this Agreement or anyone acting for any of
such
parties, except as is expressly stated in this Agreement.
8.14 Time
is of the Essence.
Time is
of the essence in interpreting and enforcing this Agreement.
8.15 Arbitration.
Any
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach
thereof, shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American
Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules in effect on
the
date of this Agreement (herein the “AAA
Rules”),
and
judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitrator shall be selected pursuant to the
AAA Rules and shall be a neutral and impartial lawyer with excellent academic
and professional credentials (i) who is or has been practicing law for at least
fifteen (15) years, specializing in general commercial litigation or general
corporate and commercial matters and (ii) who has both training and experience
as an arbitrator and is generally available to serve as an arbitrator. The
arbitration shall be governed by the arbitration law of the Federal Arbitration
Act and shall be held in New York, New York.
8.16 Expenses.
All
fees incurred by any party hereto shall be paid by such party, except that
Parent shall pay all fees payable to the Broker in the amount of $50,000.
8.17 Disclosures.
Each
exception stated in the Schedules attached hereto shall be deemed to be
disclosed under any Section of Article III or Article IV specifically identified
therein and any other Section or Sections to which such disclosure relates.
[Remainder
of Page Left Intentionally Blank]
40
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be
executed by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above
written.
PARENT:
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxx
|
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
Title:
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
|
BUYER:
|
||
OPTIONS
ACQUISITION SUB, INC.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
COMPANY:
|
||
OPTIONS
NEWSLETTER, INC.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||
XXXXX
XXXXXXXX
|
SCHEDULE
2.5
Merger
Consideration
The
total
merger consideration to be paid for 100% of the Shares shall be as follows:
Cash
Portion of Merger Consideration
-
$1.5
million of which $150,000 shall be deposited into the escrow account on the
Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof and $1,350,000 shall be payable
in
cash at Closing.
Stock
Portion of Merger Consideration
-
1.0
million Parent Shares. The Parent Shares shall be fully vested and will not
be
subject to any restriction other than a 12-month customary lock-up agreement
with the Parent and restrictions on transfer imposed by federal securities
laws. The
Additional Purchase Price, if any, will be paid in accordance with Section
2.9
hereof.