ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG NEXCEN ASSET ACQUISITION, LLC, GREAT AMERICAN COOKIE COMPANY FRANCHISING, LLC, GREAT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING, LLC, NEXCEN BRANDS, INC. AND MRS. FIELDS FAMOUS BRANDS, LLC DATED AS OF JANUARY 29, 2008
BY
AND AMONG
NEXCEN
ASSET ACQUISITION, LLC,
GREAT
AMERICAN COOKIE COMPANY FRANCHISING, LLC,
GREAT
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING, LLC,
AND
XXX.
XXXXXX FAMOUS BRANDS, LLC
DATED
AS OF JANUARY 29, 2008
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I
Definitions and Usage
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1
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1.1
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Definitions
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1
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1.2
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Usage
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14
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ARTICLE
II
Purchase and Sale of Businesses and Assets
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14
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2.1
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Purchase
and Sale of Assets
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14
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2.2
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Excluded
Assets
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15
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2.3
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Assumed
Liabilities
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15
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2.4
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Excluded
Liabilities
|
16
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ARTICLE
III
Purchase Price; Payment; Assumption of Obligations
|
17
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3.1
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The
Closing
|
17
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3.2
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Purchase
Price.
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18
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3.3
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Payment
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19
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3.4
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Allocation
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19
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3.5
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Nonassignable
Contracts
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20
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3.6
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Escrow
|
20
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3.7
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Accounts
Receivable.
|
21
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ARTICLE
IV
Representations and Warranties of the Sellers and
MFFB
|
22
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4.1
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Organization
and Good Standing
|
23
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4.2
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Enforceability;
Authority
|
23
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4.3
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Consents;
Approvals
|
24
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4.4
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Financial
Statements
|
24
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4.5
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Real
Property
|
25
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4.6
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Title
to Assets
|
27
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4.7
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Sufficiency
of Assets
|
28
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4.8
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Accounts
Receivable
|
28
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4.9
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Insolvency
Proceedings
|
28
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4.10
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Taxes
|
28
|
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4.11
|
Labor
Relations; Compliance
|
29
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|
4.12
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Employee
Benefits
|
29
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4.13
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Litigation;
Orders
|
31
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4.14
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Compliance
With Laws; Permits
|
32
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4.15
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Operations
of the Sellers
|
32
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4.16
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Material
Contracts
|
33
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4.17
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Insurance
|
34
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4.18
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Environmental
and Safety Matters
|
35
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4.19
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Intellectual
Property
|
36
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4.20
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
38
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4.21
|
Brokers’
or Finders’ Fees
|
38
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4.22
|
Suppliers
|
38
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4.23
|
Franchise
Matters
|
39
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4.24
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
44
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4.25
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Investment
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44
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4.26
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Deferred
Revenue Liability
|
45
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4.27
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Indenture
Payment
|
45
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4.28
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Settlement
Agreement
|
45
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4.29
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Other
Contracts
|
45
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ARTICLE
V
Representations and Warranties of Buyer and Parent
|
45
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5.1
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Existence
and Good Standing; Authorization
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45
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5.2
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Consents
and Approvals; No Violations
|
46
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5.3
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SEC
Documents and Other Reports
|
46
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5.4
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Litigation
|
47
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5.5
|
Brokers’
or Finders’ Fees
|
47
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5.6
|
Parent
Shares
|
47
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ARTICLE
VI
Pre-Closing Covenants
|
47
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6.1
|
Efforts
to Closing
|
47
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6.2
|
Conduct
of the Businesses
|
47
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6.3
|
Access
and Investigation
|
49
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6.4
|
Business
Plan
|
49
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6.5
|
Exclusivity
|
49
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6.6
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Change
of Name
|
49
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6.7
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Notice
of Developments
|
50
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6.8
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Continuation
of Businesses
|
50
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6.9
|
Regulatory
Filings
|
50
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6.10
|
Maintenance
of Real Property
|
51
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6.11
|
Leases
|
51
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6.12
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Title
Insurance
|
51
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6.13
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Financing
|
51
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6.14
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Employees
|
51
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ARTICLE
VII
Post-Closing Covenants
|
52
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7.1
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Employees
|
52
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7.2
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Taxes
Related to Purchase of Assets; Tax Cooperation
|
52
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7.3
|
Nonsolicitation
|
54
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7.4
|
Further
Assurances
|
54
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7.5
|
Audit
|
54
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7.6
|
Confidentiality
|
55
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7.7
|
Solvency
|
55
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7.8
|
Restrictions
on Sale of Parent Shares
|
56
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7.9
|
Registration
|
56
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7.10
|
Agreement
to Vote
|
56
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7.11
|
Access
to Records
|
56
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7.12
|
Product
Formulation Royalties
|
57
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7.13
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Lease
Obligations
|
57
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7.14
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Intellectual
Property
|
58
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7.15
|
Franchise
Business.
|
59
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7.16
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New
Settlement Agreement
|
59
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7.17
|
Waste
Water Filter
|
59
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ARTICLE
VIII
Conditions Precedent to Parent’s and Buyer’s Obligation to
Close
|
59
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8.1
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Truth
of Representations and Warranties
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60
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8.2
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Performance
of Agreements
|
60
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8.3
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Certificate
|
60
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8.4
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No
Injunction
|
60
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8.5
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Governmental
and Other Approvals
|
60
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8.6
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Indenture
Lien Release
|
60
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8.7
|
Transition
Services
|
60
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8.8
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
60
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8.9
|
Registration
Rights Agreement
|
60
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8.10
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Voting
Agreement
|
60
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ii
8.11
|
Deed
|
60
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8.12
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No
Material Adverse Effect
|
61
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8.13
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Financing
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61
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8.14
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Real
Property
|
61
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8.15
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Title
Insurance
|
61
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8.16
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Closing
Deliverables
|
61
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ARTICLE
IX
Conditions Precedent to the Sellers’ Obligation to
Close
|
62
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9.1
|
Truth
of Representations and Warranties
|
62
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9.2
|
Performance
of Agreements
|
62
|
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9.3
|
Certificate
|
62
|
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9.4
|
No
Injunction
|
62
|
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9.5
|
Governmental
and Other Approvals
|
62
|
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9.6
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
62
|
|
9.7
|
Registration
Rights Agreement
|
62
|
|
9.8
|
Closing
Deliverables
|
63
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ARTICLE
X
Termination
|
63
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10.1
|
Right
to Terminate
|
63
|
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10.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
64
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ARTICLE
XI
Indemnification; Remedies
|
64
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11.1
|
Survival
|
64
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11.2
|
Indemnification
by the Sellers and MFFB
|
64
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11.3
|
Indemnification
by Buyer
|
65
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11.4
|
Limitation
on Liability
|
65
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|
11.5
|
Other
Indemnification Provisions
|
66
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|
11.6
|
Procedure
for Indemnification
|
66
|
|
11.7
|
Non-Third
Party Claims
|
67
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|
11.8
|
Indemnification
Payments
|
68
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ARTICLE
XII
Miscellaneous
|
68
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12.1
|
Public
Disclosure or Communications.
|
68
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12.2
|
Notices
|
68
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12.3
|
Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest
|
69
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12.4
|
Bulk
Sales Law
|
69
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12.5
|
Expenses
|
70
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12.6
|
Waiver
and Amendment
|
70
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12.7
|
Severability
|
70
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|
12.8
|
Remedies
Cumulative
|
70
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12.9
|
Counterparts
|
70
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|
12.10
|
Governing
Law; Jurisdiction
|
70
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12.11
|
Specific
Performance
|
71
|
iii
Annexes,
Exhibits and Schedules
Annexes
|
|||
Financial
Results of GAC Related Businesses as of November 24, 2007
|
Annex A
|
||
Purchase
Price Allocation
|
Annex B
|
||
Exhibits
|
|
||
GACCF
and GAM Logos
|
Exhibit A
|
|
|
Form
of Transition Services Agreement
|
Exhibit B
|
||
Form
of Escrow Agreement
|
Exhibit C
|
||
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement
|
Exhibit D
|
||
Form
of Voting Agreement
|
Exhibit E
|
||
Form
of Deed
|
Exhibit F
|
||
Schedules
|
|||
Assumed
Contracts
|
1.1A
|
||
Deferred
Revenue Liability
|
1.1B
|
||
Vendor
Agreements
|
1.1D
|
||
Excluded
Contracts
|
2.2(g)
|
||
Assumed
Liabilities
|
2.3
|
||
Allocation
Schedule
|
3.4
|
||
Seller
Accounts Receivable
|
3.7
|
||
Consents
and Approvals
|
4.3
|
||
Sellers’
Material Liabilities and Obligations
|
4.4(b)
|
||
Owned
Real Property
|
4.5(a)
|
||
Leased
Real Property
|
4.5(b)
|
||
Real
Property Permits
|
4.5(g)(1)
|
||
Consents
and Real Property Permits
|
4.5(g)(2)
|
||
Sufficiency
of Assets
|
4.7
|
||
Accounts
Receivable and Encumbrances
|
4.8
|
||
Sellers’
Tax Returns Subject to Audit
|
4.10
|
||
Labor
Relations; Compliance
|
4.11
|
||
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
4.12
|
||
Litigation
Proceedings
|
4.13(a)
|
||
Orders
|
4.13(b)
|
||
Compliance
With Laws; Permits
|
4.14
|
||
Operation
of Sellers; Material Adverse Effect
|
4.15
|
||
Material
Contracts
|
4.16(a)
|
||
Breach
or Default of Material Contracts
|
4.16(b)
|
||
Affiliated
Contracts
|
4.16(c)
|
||
Insurance
|
4.17
|
||
Environmental
and Safety Matters
|
4.18
|
||
Intellectual
Property
|
4.19(a)
|
||
IT
Software and Other Licensed Intellectual Property
|
4.19(b)
|
||
Sellers’
Intellectual Property Rights
|
4.19(c)
|
||
Sellers’
Intellectual Property Infringements
|
4.19(d)
|
||
Validity
of Intellectual Property Rights
|
4.19(e)
|
||
Third
Party Intellectual Property Infringements
|
4.19(f)
|
||
Intellectual
Property Development and Acquisition
|
4.19(g)
|
||
Intellectual
Property Restrictions
|
4.19(h)
|
||
Affiliate
Transactions
|
4.20
|
||
Suppliers
|
4.22
|
||
Franchise
Matters
|
4.23(a)-(z)
|
iv
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
4.24
|
|
Settlement
Franchisees
|
4.28
|
||
Transferred
Employees
|
6.14
|
||
Vendor
Allocation Schedule
|
7.12
|
||
Lease
Locations
|
7.13(a)
|
||
Foreign
Trademarks
|
7.14
|
||
Governmental
and Other Approvals
|
8.5
|
v
This
Asset Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”)
is
entered into as of January 29, 2008, by and among NexCen Asset Acquisition,
LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company (“Buyer”),
NexCen Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”),
Great
American Cookie Company Franchising, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“GACCF”),
Great
American Manufacturing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GAM,”
and
with GACCF, each individually, a “Seller,”
and
collectively, the “Sellers”),
and
Xxx. Xxxxxx Famous Brands, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“MFFB”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Sellers are directly engaged in the Businesses;
WHEREAS,
the Sellers desire to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from the
Sellers, certain of the assets of the Businesses, and to assume certain
liabilities associated therewith, on the terms and subject to the conditions
set
forth in this Agreement so as to permit Buyer to operate the
Businesses.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
and Usage
1.1
Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and variations thereof
have
the meanings specified or referred to in this Section
1.1:
“Accountant
Statement”
is
defined in Section
3.2(c).
“Accredited
Investor”
has
the
meaning set forth in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities
Act.
“Actual
Financials”
is
defined in Section
3.2(b).
“Acquisition
Proposal”
is
defined in Section
6.5.
“Acquired
Franchise Assets”
means
those Purchased Assets owned or used by MFFB or GACCF in the operation of the
GAC Franchise Business.
“Acquired
Manufacturing Assets”
means
those Purchased Assets owned or used by MFFB or GAM in the operation of the
GAC
Manufacturing Business.
“Adjusted
Closing Date Reference Price”
is
defined in Section
3.6(b).
“Adjustment”
is
defined in Section
7.8.
“Affiliate”
of
any
Person means any Person which, directly or indirectly controls or is controlled
by that Person, or is under common control with that Person; provided,
that,
for purposes of Section
7.3(a)
only,
Affiliates shall be deemed to include only Persons controlled by MFC and not
Persons controlling MFC. For the purposes of this definition, “control”
(including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under
common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of
voting securities or by contract or otherwise.
“Allocation
Schedule”
is
defined in Section
3.4.
“Assumed
Contracts”
means
all Franchise Agreements (including, without limitation, the right to collect
any and all amounts due and payable thereunder that are unpaid to either Seller
as of the Closing Date, other than the Seller Accounts Receivable) and, subject
to Section
3.5,
all
other
Contracts to which either Seller is a party that relate to the operation of
the
Businesses and all security deposits relating thereto, all of which are listed
on Schedule
1.1A.
“Assumed
Liabilities”
is
defined in Section
2.3.
“Balance
Sheet”
is
defined in Section
4.4(a).
“Books
and Records”
means
all books and records of the Sellers or their Affiliates relating exclusively
to
and necessary for the operation of the Businesses as they are currently
operated, including files, documents, correspondence, cost and pricing
information, accounting records, supplier lists and records, operating manuals,
operating procedures, marketing research, training materials, training records,
maintenance and inspection reports, equipment lists, repair notes and archives,
sales and marketing materials, and personnel files and records for the
Transferred Employees; provided,
that
“Books and Records” will not include any corporate records of the Sellers or
their Affiliates.
“Brands”
means
the “Great American Cookies” and “Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Company,”
and all other brands owned or in use by GACCF, together with the logos shown
on
Exhibit
A,
each of
which are the subject of certain trademark and service xxxx registrations with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or any other similar Government
Authority responsible for trademark or service xxxx registration.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than (a) Saturday or Sunday or (b) any other day on which banks
in
New York, New York are permitted or required to be closed.
“Businesses”
means
the businesses that relate to the operation of the GAC Franchise Business and
the GAC Manufacturing Business, including the use of any of the Purchased Assets
in connection with the operation thereof.
“Business
Plan”
is
defined in Section
6.4.
“Buyer
Accounts Receivable”
is
defined in Section
3.7(a).
“Buyer’s
Closing Documents”
is
defined in Section
9.8.
2
“Buyer
Indemnified Parties”
is
defined in Section
11.2.
“CERCLA”
means
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 9601, et
seq.).
“Claim
Notice”
is
defined in Section
11.7.
“Closing”
is
defined in Section
3.1.
“Closing
Date”
means
the date on which the Closing actually takes place.
“Closing
Date Reference Price”
means
$4.23.
“Closing
Statement”
is
defined in Section
3.2(b).
“COBRA”
means
Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Section 4980B of the Code, and any
similar applicable Legal Requirement.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Contingent
Initial Franchise Fees”
means,
in the aggregate, the Initial Franchise Fees that have been paid pursuant to
Section
6.1
of those
Franchise Agreements executed by GACCF prior to or on the Closing Date for
stores not opened for business on or prior to the Closing Date.
“Contingent
Initial Franchise Fee Refunds”
means,
in the aggregate any portion of the Contingent Initial Franchise Fees that
become due and payable to any Franchisee upon the termination of any Franchise
Agreement pursuant to the terms of such Franchise Agreement.
“Contract”
means
any contract, license, sublicense, franchise, permit, mortgage, purchase orders,
indenture, loan agreement, note, lease, sublease, agreement, obligation,
commitment, understanding, instrument or other arrangement or any commitment
to
enter into any of the foregoing (in each case, whether written or
oral).
“Core
Representations”
is
defined in Section
11.1.
“Damages”
means
any loss, liability, claim, damage, expense (including reasonable attorneys’
fees and costs), whether or not involving a third party claim, provided,
however,
that
other than with respect to Damages payable to a Third Party pursuant to a third
party claim, Damages shall not include any special, consequential, punitive
or
treble damages.
“Deed”
means
the Limited Warranty Deed transferring fee title to the Owned Real Property
to
GAC Manufacturing, LLC, to be dated as of the Closing Date and substantially
in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit
F.
“Deferred
Revenue Cash”
means
cash in an amount equal to the Deferred Revenue Liability.
3
“Deferred
Revenue Liability”
means,
in the aggregate, the amount of deferred revenue allocated to Franchise
Agreements on an itemized basis, that would be required under GAAP to be shown
on a balance sheet of each Seller as of the Closing Date, as set forth on
Schedule
1.1B.
“Disclosure
Schedule”
is
defined in the first paragraph of Article
IV.
“Domestic
UFOC”
means
the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular of GACCF, as applicable, prepared in
accordance with the UFOC Guidelines.
“Employee
Benefit Plan”
means
any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and any other
compensation or benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement of any kind
(whether written or oral) including any employment, severance, change of control
or other similar agreement or arrangement.
“Encumbrance
Documents”
is
defined in Section
4.5(i).
“Encumbrances”
means
any liens, pledges, claims, encumbrances, mortgages, charges, options,
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights, title retention
agreements, easements, encroachments, leases, subleases, covenants, security
interests and restrictions and encumbrances of any kind or nature
whatsoever.
“Environmental
and Safety Requirements”
means,
whenever in effect, all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, regulations,
ordinances, codes and other provisions having the force or effect of law, all
judicial and administrative orders and determinations, all contractual
obligations and all common law concerning public health and safety, worker
health and safety, or pollution or protection of the environment, including,
without limitation, all those relating to the presence, use, production,
generation, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal,
distribution, labeling, testing, processing, discharge, release, threatened
release, control or cleanup of, or exposure to, any Hazardous
Substances.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person that at any relevant time is or
was
treated as a single employer with such Person under Sections 414(b), (c), (m)
or
(o) of the Code.
“Escrow
Agent”
means
Wilmington Trust Company, in its capacity as the escrow agent under the Escrow
Agreement.
“Escrow
Agreement”
means
the Escrow Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date and substantially
in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit
C.
“Executive
Knowledge”
means,
with respect to the Sellers and/or MFFB, as the case may be, the actual
knowledge, after reasonable due inquiry, of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx
Xxxx.
4
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded
Assets”
is
defined in Section
2.2.
“Excluded
Liabilities”
is
defined in Section
2.4.
“Filter
Contract”
means
the contract to be entered into by GAM to replace the waste water filter at
its
manufacturing facility.
“Final
Purchase Price”
means
the Initial Purchase Price minus the Purchase Price Deficit Amount, if
any.
“Financial
Statements”
is
defined in Section
4.4(a).
“Franchise
Agreements”
means
any
Contract (and any written or oral amendment or modification thereto) between
GACCF or any of its predecessors and a Franchisee pertaining to and evidencing
the grant of a Franchise.
“Franchisee”
means
a
Person who has entered into and as of the Closing Date is a party to a Franchise
Agreement with GACCF or any
of
its predecessors.
“Franchise” means
the
grant by GACCF to a Franchisee of the rights to establish and operate a location
using the Brands or outlet thereof including subfranchise agreements, master
development agreements, area representative agreements, area development
agreements, master franchise agreements, development agreements, license
agreements, and any other similar agreements, together with all ancillary
agreements related thereto.
“Franchise
Purchase Price”
means
$45,000,000, which is the initial purchase price for the Acquired Franchise
Assets.
“Franchise
Revenue Difference”
means
the difference between the total revenues in the Actual Financials minus the
“Total Revenues” as set forth under the column entitled “GAC Franchise Business”
on Annex
A,
each
calculated in accordance with GAAP.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles for financial reporting in the United
States.
“GAC”
means
Great American Cookie.
“GAC
Franchise Business”
means
the licensing of the right to conduct the business of a retail snack, dessert
and beverage outlet selling any GACCF Products and other products for
off-premises consumption and services specified by GACCF at or from the premises
of such outlet (including carts and kiosks).
“GAC
Manufacturing Business”
means
the GAC dough manufacturing and supply businesses, and any ancillary product
supply business.
5
“GACCF
Accounts Receivable”
means
(a) all trade accounts receivable, franchise royalty accounts receivable and
other rights to payment from franchisees and customers of GACCF, (b) all
advertising accounts receivable of GACCF related to advertising or marketing
funds, (c) all other accounts or notes receivable of GACCF and the full benefit
of all security for such accounts or notes, and (d) any claim, remedy or other
right related to any of the foregoing.
“GACCF
Products”
means
products approved or required by GACCF from time to time for sale in the GAC
Franchise Business, including, without limitation, specialty snacks and other
bakery items, desserts and beverages (such as cookies, brownies, coffee cakes
and coffee) and other products approved by GACCF from time to time.
“GACCI”
means
Great American Cookie Company, Inc., a Delaware Corporation.
“GAM
Accounts Receivable”
means
(a) all trade accounts receivable, franchise royalty accounts receivable and
other rights to payment from franchisees and customers of GAM, (b) all
advertising accounts receivable of GAM related to advertising or marketing
funds, (c) all other accounts or notes receivable of GAM and the full benefit
of
all security for such accounts or notes, and (d) any claim, remedy or other
right related to any of the foregoing.
“Government
Authority”
means
any domestic or foreign national, state, multi-state or municipal or other
local
government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, including
any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory or taxing
authority thereunder or any judicial authority (or any department, bureau or
division thereof).
“Government
Authorization”
means
any approval, consent, license, permit, waiver, or other authorization issued,
granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any
Government Authority or pursuant to any Legal Requirement.
“Hazardous
Substance”
means
any hazardous materials, substances or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures,
pesticides, pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or
byproducts, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise, odor or radiation,
or
any other material, substance or waste as to which liability or standards of
conduct may be imposed pursuant to Environmental and Safety
Requirements.
“HSR
Act”
means
the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
“Improvements”
is
defined in Section
4.5(d).
“Indemnification
Objection”
is
defined in Section
11.7.
“Indemnified
Party”
is
defined in Section
11.3.
“Indemnifying
Party”
is
defined in Section
11.6(a).
“Indemnity
Escrow Amount”
means,
for each Seller, the number of Parent Shares set forth next to each Seller’s
name in Column II of Annex
B.
6
“Indemnity
Escrow Release Date”
is
defined in Section
3.6(a).
“Indebtedness”
means
(a) indebtedness of either Seller for borrowed money or with respect to deposits
or advances of any kind (other than advances due from customers incurred in
the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice), (b) all
obligations of either Seller evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of either Seller upon which interest charges
are paid, (d) all obligations of either Seller in respect of capitalized leases
that, individually, involve an aggregate future liability in excess of $5,000
and obligations of either Seller for the deferred purchase price of goods or
services (other than trade payables or accruals incurred in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practice), (e) all obligations in respect
of banker’s acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account
of either Seller, (f) all indebtedness or obligations of the types referred
to
in the preceding clauses (a) through (e) of any other Person secured by any
Encumbrance on any assets of either Seller, even though such Seller has not
assumed or otherwise become liable for the payment thereof, (g) all guarantees
by either Seller of obligations of the type described in clauses (a) through
(f)
above of any other Person, and (h) payment obligations in respect of interest
under any interest rate swap or other hedge agreement or arrangement entered
into by either Seller with respect to any Indebtedness described in clauses
(a)
through (g) above.
“Indenture”
means
that certain Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2004, among inter
alia,
MFFB,
Xxx. Xxxxxx Financing Company, Inc. and The Bank of New York.
“Initial
Franchise Fees”
means,
in the aggregate, the nonrecurring initial franchise fees payable pursuant
to
Section
6.1
of the
Franchise Agreements.
“Initial
Period”
is
defined in Section
7.8.
“Initial
Purchase Price”
means
the sum of (i) the Franchise Purchase Price plus
(ii) the
Manufacturing Purchase Price.
“Insurance
Policies”
is
defined in Section
4.17.
“Intellectual
Property Rights”
means
all of the following in any jurisdiction throughout the world: (i) patents,
patent applications and patent disclosures; (ii) trademarks, service marks,
recipes and proprietary food processes (including, without limitation, the
Seller Recipes and Processes), trade dress, trade names, product configuration,
corporate names, logos and slogans (and all translations, adaptations,
derivations and combinations of the foregoing) and Internet domain names,
Internet websites, and URLs; (iii) copyrights and copyrightable works; (iv)
registrations and applications for any of the foregoing; (v) trade secrets
and
confidential information (including inventions, ideas, formulae, compositions,
know-how, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, research and
development information, drawings, specifications, designs, plans, proposals,
technical data, financial, business and marketing plans, and customer and
supplier lists and related information); (vi) all other intellectual
property; and (vii) any goodwill associated with each of the
foregoing.
“Interim
Reports”
is
defined in Section
4.4(a).
7
“Inventory”
means
the inventory of GAM, wherever located, including, without limitation, all
finished goods, work in process, raw materials, spare parts and all other
materials and supplies to be used or intended for use by the GAC Manufacturing
Business.
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service and, to the extent relevant, the
United States Department of the Treasury.
“IT
Software”
is
defined in Section
4.19(b).
“Knowledge” means,
with respect to the Sellers and/or MFFB, as the case may be, the actual
knowledge, after reasonable due inquiry, of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx. The
terms
“know” and “knows” and like terms will have correlative meanings.
“Leases”
is
defined in Section
4.5(b).
“Lease
Locations”
is
defined in Section
7.13(a).
“Lease
Obligation Date”
is
defined in Section
7.13(d).
“Leased
Real Property”
is
defined in Section
4.5(b).
“Legal
Requirement”
means
any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational
or
other administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common
law, regulation, rule, statute or treaty.
“Manufacturing
Contribution”
means
manufacturing revenues less direct manufacturing expenses, each as calculated
in
accordance with GAAP.
“Manufacturing
Contribution Difference”
means
the Manufacturing Contribution in the Actual Financials minus the “Manufacturing
Contribution” as set forth under the column entitled “GAC Manufacturing
Business” on Annex
A,
each as
calculated in accordance with GAAP.
“Manufacturing
Purchase Price”
means
$48,650,000, which is the initial purchase price for the Acquired Manufacturing
Assets.
“Marketing
Fees”
means,
in the aggregate, the amount of marketing fees collected by GACCF under the
Franchise Agreements.
“Marketing
Fees Balance”
is
defined in Section
4.23(w).
“Marketing
Fees Cash”
means
cash in an amount equal to the Marketing Fees Balance.
“Marketing
Fees Reconciliation”
is
defined in Section
4.23(w).
8
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any change, effect, event, occurrence, state of facts or development that is,
or
would reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to the assets, business,
liabilities, prospects, results of operations or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Sellers taken as a whole or that prevents or materially
impedes, or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede, the
consummation by the Sellers of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
“Material
Contracts”
is
defined in Section
4.16(a).
“MFC”
means
Xxx. Xxxxxx’ Companies, Inc.
“MFFB
Other Franchise Brands”
means
any of the following brands owned by MFFB or any of its Affiliates as of the
date of this Agreement: “Xxx. Xxxxxx Cookies,” “Xxxxxx” and “TCBY,” or any other
brand (other than the Brands) under which MFFB or any of its Affiliates conducts
a franchise business.
“Minimum
Loss”
is
defined in Section
11.4(a).
“Multiemployer
Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
“NASAA”
means
the North American Securities Administrators Association.
“New
Settlement Agreement”
means
that certain Settlement and Release Agreement dated as of January 29, 2008,
by
and among Parent, GACCF, MFFB, Xxx. Xxxxxx’ Original Cookies, Inc. and certain
franchisees of GACCI that are signatories thereto.
“Notice
of Default”
means
a
formal, written notice of default under a Franchise Agreement issued with the
approval of the senior management of either Seller. A “Notice of Default” does
not include a notice of operating deficiencies issued by the staff personnel
of
either Seller contained in a field inspection report or other similar
writing.
“Order”
means
any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena or verdict
entered, issued, made or rendered by any court, administrative agency or other
Government Authority or by any arbitrator.
“Organizational
Documents”
means
with respect to any entity, the certificate of incorporation, bylaws,
certificate of formation, operating agreement or other governing documents
of
such entity.
“Original
Settlement Agreement”
means
collectively those certain Settlement Agreement and Releases dated June 1998,
by
and among Xxx. Xxxxxx’ Original Cookies, Inc., Capricorn Investors II, L.P.,
GACCI, Cookies USA, Inc., The Jordan Company and certain franchisees of
GACCI.
“Other
Interim Report”
is
defined in Section
6.3.
“Owned
Real Property”
is
defined in Section
4.5(a).
“Parent
SEC Documents”
is
defined in Section
5.3.
9
“Parent
Shares”
means
the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means
(i) any liens for current Taxes, assessments or governmental charges which
are
not yet due and payable or (ii) with respect to each Owned Real Property and
Improvements on the Leased Real Property (as the case may be): (a) real estate
taxes, assessments and other governmental levies, fees or charges imposed with
respect to such Real Property which are not due and payable as of Closing,
(b)
mechanics liens and similar liens for labor, materials or supplies provided
with
respect to such Real Property incurred in the ordinary course of business for
amounts which are not due and payable and which shall be paid in full and
released at Closing, (c) zoning, building codes and other land use laws
regulating the use or occupancy of such Real Property or the activities
conducted thereon which are imposed by any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over such Real Property which are not violated by the current
use
or occupancy of such Real Property or the operation of the Businesses thereon,
and (d) easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions and other similar matters
of record affecting title to such Real Property which do not or would not
materially impair the use or occupancy of such Real Property in the operation
of
the Businesses conducted thereon.
“Person”
means
an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity or a Government
Authority.
“Personal
Property”
means
the equipment, furniture, machinery, computer hardware, motor vehicles and
other
tangible personal property owned by either Seller and used or intended for
use
in the Businesses as currently operated.
“Prepaid
Expenses”
as
of
any date means payments made by either Seller or any of their Affiliates with
respect to the Businesses or the Purchased Assets, which constitute prepaid
expenses in accordance with GAAP.
“Proceeding”
means
any action, charge, complaint, material grievance, arbitration, audit, hearing,
investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative,
judicial or investigative, whether formal or informal, whether public or
private) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before (or that could
come
before), or otherwise involving, any Government Authority or
arbitrator.
“Product
Formulation Royalties”
means
in the aggregate, all of the payments to be paid by the counterparty to any
Assumed Contract to either Seller or to MFFB or one of its Affiliates and
allocated to either Seller by MFFB or such Affiliate pursuant to any Vendor
Agreement.
“Purchase
Price Deficit Amount”
is
defined in Section
3.2(f).
“Purchase
Price Deficit Statement”
is
defined in Section
3.2(f).
10
“Purchased
Assets”
means
all right, title, and interest in and to all of the assets that are used
exclusively or primarily in the Businesses, whether tangible or intangible,
real
or personal and wherever located and by whomever possessed (other than the
Excluded Assets), including, without limitation, (i) Personal Property, (ii)
Real Property, (iii) Assumed Contracts,
(iv)
the Marketing Fees Balance (if a positive amount), (v) Government
Authorizations, (vi) Intellectual Property Rights, (vii) Inventory, maintenance
and operating supplies, (viii) Prepaid Expenses, (ix) Books and Records, (x)
the
assets of any advertising fund, gift card program, and any brand building fund
associated with the Businesses, (xi) all claims, causes of action, choses in
action, rights of recovery and rights of set-off of any kind against the
Franchisees, (xii) all
proceeds actually recovered under insurance policies and, to the extent
transferable, all rights of recovery under such insurance policies, (xiii)
the
Deferred Revenue Cash, (xiv) all of the files of Sellers’ counsel (in-house and
outside counsel) relating to the Franchise Agreements, the Seller UFOCs, the
registration, exemption and notice filings made by each Seller and the
Intellectual Property Rights of each Seller, (xv) all
other
properties, assets and rights owned by either Seller as of the Closing Date,
or
in which either Seller has an interest, and which are not otherwise Excluded
Assets, (xvi) an assignment of the license rights of each Seller with respect
to
the property owned by third parties and used by either Seller under
license,
(xvii)
the rights to obtain and have installed the waste water filter under the Filter
Contract, but not the payment obligations thereunder, and (xviii) the
Seller
Recipes and Processes.
“Qualified
Plan”
is
defined in Section
4.12(b).
“Real
Estate Impositions”
is
defined in Section
4.5(k).
“Real
Property”
is
defined in Section
4.5(c).
“Real
Property Laws”
is
defined in Section
4.5(f).
“Real
Property Lease”
means
all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other agreements (written
or
oral) pursuant to which a Person holds a leasehold or subleasehold estate in,
or
is granted the right to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures,
improvements, fixtures or other interest in real property.
“Real
Property Permits”
is
defined in Section
4.5(g).
“Registration
Laws”
is
defined in Section
4.23(i).
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
is
defined in Section
7.9.
“Registration
Statement”
is
defined in Section
7.9.
“Release
Consideration”
has
the
meaning set forth in the New Settlement Agreement.
“Representative”
means,
with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, manager, employee,
agent, consultant, advisor, accountant, financial advisor, legal counsel or
other representative of that Person.
“Reviewing
Accountant”
is
defined in Section
3.2(c).
“SEC
Financial Statements”
is
defined in Section
7.5.
11
“Securities”
is
defined in Section
7.8.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Seller
Accounts Receivable”
is
defined in Section
3.7(c).
“Seller
Benefit Plan”
is
defined in Section
4.12(a).
“Seller
Indemnified Parties”
is
defined in Section
11.3.
“Seller
Information”
means
any data and information relating to the Businesses, customers, financial
statements, conditions or operations of the Businesses, in each case which
is
confidential in nature and not generally known to the public.
“Seller
Recipes and Processes”
is
defined in Section
4.19(l).
“Sellers”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Seller
UFOC”
means
the Domestic UFOC(s) and all other forms of disclosure documents used by GACCF
to offer and sell Franchises in the United States and throughout the
world.
“Settlement
Franchisees”
means
those persons or entities who are franchisee parties to the Original Settlement
Agreement.
“Statement
of Objection”
is
defined in Section
3.2(b).
“Straddle
Period”
is
defined in Section
7.2(b).
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or other Person of which securities
or other interests having the power to elect a majority of that corporation’s or
other Person’s board of directors or similar governing body, or otherwise having
the power to direct the business and policies of that corporation or other
Person (other than securities or other interests having such power only upon
the
happening of a contingency that has not occurred), are held by such Person
or
one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Survey”
means
that certain ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey for the Owned Real Property, Job No.
20070272-001, prepared by Abb X. Xxxxxxx of Xxxxxxx Land Surveyors dated as
of
November 9, 2007.
“Survival
Date”
is
defined in Section
11.1.
“Tax”
means
(i) any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, franchise tax,
margin tax, branch profits tax, capital gains tax, alternative or add-on minimum
tax, estimated tax, value-added tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, transfer
tax, payroll tax, social security tax or withholding tax, escheat or abandoned
property liability), and any related fine, penalty, interest or addition to
tax
with respect thereto, imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority
of any Government Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement
relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax and (ii) any transferee,
successor or other liability in respect of the taxes of another Person (whether
by contract or otherwise).
12
“Tax
Return”
means
any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule,
notice, form or other document or information filed with or submitted to, or
required to be filed with or submitted to, any Government Authority in
connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any
Tax.
“Termination
Date”
is
defined in Section
10.1(b).
“Territorial
Rights”
means
a
protected territory, exclusive territory, covenant not to compete, right of
first refusal, option or other similar arrangement granted by either Seller
to
any Franchisee.
“Third
Party”
means
a
Person that is not a party to this Agreement.
“Third
Party Claim”
is
defined in Section
11.6(b).
“Title
Commitment”
means
that certain ALTA Commitment, File No. 10012007,
for
the
Owned Real Property issued by the Title Company dated as of October
23, 2007 or such later date as in effect from time to time.
“Title
Company”
means
Xxxxxxx
Title Guaranty Company.
“Title
Policy”
is
defined in Section
8.15.
“Transfer”
is
defined in Section
7.8.
“Transfer
Taxes”
is
defined in Section
7.2(a).
“Transferred
Employees”
is
defined in Section
6.14.
“Transition
Services Agreement”
means
the Transition Services Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date and
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
“TTM
Period”
means
the period consisting of the trailing twelve (12) months ended November 24,
2007.
“UFOC
Guidelines”
means
the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular Guidelines published by NASAA as in
effect from time to time.
“UFOCs”
means
all of the uniform franchise offering circulars used by GACCF since March 16,
2004, in its efforts to comply with the laws pertaining to the offer and sale
of
the Franchises.
“Undertakings”
has
the
meaning set forth in the New Settlement Agreement.
13
“Vendor
Agreements”
means
those agreements listed on Schedule
1.1D
pursuant
to which MFFB or one of its Affiliates (other than Sellers) collects
royalties.
“Vendor
Allocation Schedule”
is
defined in Section
7.12.
“Voting
Agreement”
is
defined in Section
7.10.
“WARN
Act”
means
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and any similar foreign,
state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
1.2 Usage
(a) Interpretation.
In this
Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears: (i) the singular number
includes the plural number and vice versa; (ii) reference to any Person includes
such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors
and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person
in a
particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually;
(iii) reference to any gender includes each other gender; (iv) reference to
any
agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument
as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof; (v) reference to any Legal Requirement means such Legal
Requirement as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole
or
in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of
any
Legal Requirement means that provision of such Legal Requirement from time
to
time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification,
codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision;
(vi) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and words of similar import shall be
deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other provision hereof; (vii) “including” (and with
correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality
of any description preceding such term; (viii) “or” is used in the inclusive
sense of “and/or”; (ix) with respect to the determination of any period of time,
“from” means “from and including” and “to” means “to but excluding”; and (x)
references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer
as
well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto.
(b) Legal
Representation of the Parties.
This
Agreement was negotiated by the parties with the benefit of legal
representation, and any rule of construction or interpretation otherwise
requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any party shall
not apply to any construction or interpretation hereof.
ARTICLE
II
Purchase
and Sale of Businesses and Assets
2.1
Purchase and Sale of Assets.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Seller agrees to sell,
assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Buyer (as directed by Buyer) as of
the
Closing Date, and Buyer agrees to purchase and to take (or to cause its
designated Affiliate to take) assignment and delivery from the Sellers as of
the
Closing Date, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest in and to the
Purchased Assets (other than the Marketing Fees Balance, which shall be
delivered by the Sellers to the Buyer within five (5) Business Days after the
Closing Date), free and clear of all Encumbrances other than the Permitted
Encumbrances.
14
2.2
Excluded Assets. Pursuant to this Agreement, Buyer is not acquiring, and
the Sellers shall retain, the following assets, rights and properties
(collectively, the “Excluded Assets”) and, as such, they are not included
in the Purchased Assets:
(a) All
cash
and cash equivalents of the Sellers on hand in the Sellers’ accounts immediately
prior to Closing, other than security deposits related to the Assumed Contracts,
and Deferred Revenue Cash.
(b) All
Seller Accounts Receivable.
(c) All
Contracts that have terminated or expired prior to the Closing Date in the
ordinary course of business consistent with the past practices of the Sellers,
except any Franchise Agreements for active franchised locations that are
operating under formal or informal, written or verbal, short term extensions
pending completion of the renewal process and execution of renewal Franchise
Agreements.
(d) All
books
and records as pertain to the organization, existence or capitalization of
the
Sellers and any other records or materials relating to the Sellers generally
and
not involving or relating to the Purchased Assets, other than the Books and
Records.
(e) All
assets and rights associated with any Seller Benefit Plan, collective bargaining
agreements or arrangements, or any Employee Benefit Plan maintained, sponsored,
contributed to or required to be contributed to by any Seller or any ERISA
Affiliate of any Seller or with respect to which any Seller or any ERISA
Affiliate of any Seller has any actual or potential liability.
(f) All
rights of the Sellers under this Agreement, any agreement, certificate,
instrument or other document executed and delivered by either Seller or Buyer
in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or any side agreement
between either Seller and Buyer entered into on or after the date of this
Agreement.
(g) Those
Contracts set forth on Schedule
2.2(g).
2.3 Assumed
Liabilities. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, at the Closing, Buyer shall assume and agree to pay, discharge and
perform when due, the Sellers’ liabilities and obligations (a) arising under the
Assumed Contracts, including the Franchise Agreements, to the extent such
liabilities or obligations are incurred after the Closing Date (but specifically
excluding any liability or obligation relating to or arising out of such Assumed
Contract that exists as a result of (i) any breach of such Assumed Contract
occurring on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) any obligation of the Sellers
or
MFFB to pay any Taxes allocated to the Sellers or MFFB pursuant to Section
7.2(b), (iii) any violation of law, breach of warranty, tort or infringement
occurring on or prior to the Closing Date or (iv) any charge, complaint, action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, claim or demand arising on or prior
to
the Closing Date), (b) arising out of the operation of the Businesses to the
extent that such liabilities or obligations accrue on or after the Closing
Date
and are based on conditions resulting from the operation of the Businesses
by
Buyer following the Closing, (c) with respect to any Contingent Initial
Franchise Fee Refunds that become due and payable after the Closing Date, (d)
arising from the Deferred Revenue Liability, and (e) other liabilities of a
type
and amount expressly identified on Schedule
2.3 (collectively, the “Assumed
Liabilities”).
15
2.4
Excluded
Liabilities.
Except
as and to the extent expressly provided in Section
2.3,
Buyer
is not agreeing to, and shall not, assume any other liability, obligation,
undertaking, expense or agreement of either Seller (or relating to either
Seller, either Business or any of the Purchased Assets) of any kind, character
or description, whether absolute, known, unknown, accrued, liquidated,
unliquidated, contingent, executory or otherwise, and whether arising prior
to
or following the Closing, and the execution and performance of this Agreement
shall not render Buyer liable for any such liability, obligation, undertaking,
expense or agreement (all of such liabilities and obligations shall be referred
to herein as the “Excluded
Liabilities”).
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Excluded Liabilities
shall
include, and Buyer will not assume or be liable for:
(a) Any
liability or obligation with respect to any Excluded Asset, whether arising
prior to or after the Closing.
(b) Except
as
expressly assumed pursuant to Section
2.3(c),
any
liability, claim or obligation, contingent or otherwise, arising out of the
operation of the Businesses or any Purchased Asset prior to the Closing Date,
including, without limitation, any Contingent Initial Franchise Fee Refunds
that
became due and payable on or before the Closing Date and the Marketing Fee
Balance (if a negative amount).
(c) Any
liability or obligation arising out of or related to any Contract that is not
an
Assumed Contract.
(d) Except
as
provided in Section
7.13,
any
liability or obligation arising out of, or related to, any Lease Location,
whether arising prior to or after the Closing.
(e) Any
liabilities or obligations of the Sellers for expenses or fees incident to
or
arising out of the negotiation, preparation, approval or authorization of this
Agreement or the consummation (or preparation for the consummation) of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including all attorneys’ and accountants’
fees, and brokerage fees).
(f) Any
liability or obligation for any Taxes other than (i) Taxes on the Purchased
Assets payable with respect to taxable periods beginning on or after the Closing
Date, (ii) Transfer Taxes for which Buyer is liable pursuant to Section
7.2(a)
of this
Agreement, and (iii) the portion of the Taxes on the Purchased Assets payable
for a Straddle Period for which Buyer is liable pursuant to Sections
7.2(b) and (c)
of this
Agreement.
(g) Any
liability or obligation to any current or former employee, officer, director
or
contractor of either Seller, or any Affiliate of any Seller who provides or
provided services to either Seller or any Affiliate thereof (other than any
liability or obligation arising after the Closing to any employee hired by
Buyer
and related solely to the Buyer’s employment of such employee), including any
liability or obligation arising out of, relating to or incurred in connection
with the employment or service by, or termination from employment or service
with, either Seller or any Affiliate of any Seller, including any liabilities
or
obligations pertaining to any salary or wages, vacation pay, bonuses or any
other type of compensation or benefits.
16
(h) Any
duty,
obligation or liability arising at any time under or relating to any Seller
Benefit Plan or any other Employee Benefit Plan at any time maintained,
sponsored or contributed or required to be contributed to by either Seller
or
any Affiliate or ERISA Affiliate of either Seller or with respect to which
either Seller or any Affiliate or ERISA Affiliate of either Seller has any
current or potential liability or obligation.
(i) Any
liability or obligation (contingent or otherwise) arising out of or relating
to
any Environmental and Safety Requirements, except to the extent based on
conditions resulting from Buyer’s operation of the Businesses following the
Closing.
(j) Any
liability or obligation arising out of any violation by GACCF of any Legal
Requirement applicable to the offer and sale of the Franchises.
(k) Any
liability or obligation arising out of any violation by GACCF of any Legal
Requirement applicable to the relationship between GACCF and the Franchisees
under the Franchise Agreements.
(l) Any
liability or obligation arising out of any violation by either Seller or its
affiliates of any Legal Requirement applicable to the relationship between
such
Seller and any vendors who provide goods or services to the
Franchisees.
(m) Any
liability or obligation arising out of any infringement or other unlawful use
by
either Seller or any Person acting under a Seller’s direction or control of any
Intellectual Property Rights owned or held by any Person.
(n) Any
liability or obligation of either Seller arising out of any litigation,
proceeding, or claim by any Person relating to the Businesses as conducted
prior
to the Closing Date, whether or not such litigation, proceeding, or claim is
pending, threatened, or asserted before, on, or after the Closing Date or has
been disclosed by either Seller to Buyer.
(o) All
obligations to make payments to the vendor under the Filter
Contract.
ARTICLE
III
Purchase
Price; Payment; Assumption of Obligations
3.1
The
Closing.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”)
will
take place at a location, date and time mutually agreed upon by the parties.
The
effective time of the Closing shall be deemed to be 12:01AM on the Closing
Date.
17
3.2 Purchase
Price.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in reliance on the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Sellers contained
herein, and in payment and consideration for the sale, conveyance, assignment,
transfer and delivery of the Purchased Assets by the Sellers to Buyer, Buyer
or
Parent shall pay the Initial Purchase Price as hereinafter provided.
Annex
A
has
been
prepared
in good faith by MFFB management;
provided,
however,
that
Buyer’s belief that Annex
A
is
reasonable when given (and Buyer’s payment of the Initial Purchase Price) shall
not foreclose, prevent, limit or preclude any rights or remedy of Buyer set
forth herein.
(b) On
or
before sixty (60) days following the Closing Date, the Sellers shall prepare
and
deliver to Buyer a statement (the “Closing
Statement”)
setting forth the audited revenues and expenses related to the GAC Franchise
Business and audited revenues and expenses related to the GAC Manufacturing
Business for the TTM Period, in each case reflected in the Sellers’ audited
financial statements (the “Actual
Financials”),
together with a letter from the chief accounting officer of MFFB certifying
that
the amounts set forth in the Closing Statement are accurate. The
Actual Financials, as calculated by the Sellers, shall be final and binding
on
the parties hereto unless Buyer delivers to the Sellers a reasonably detailed
statement describing its objections to the calculation of the Actual Financials
(a “Statement
of Objection”)
within
thirty (30) days of its receipt of the Closing Statement.
(c) If
Buyer
delivers to the Sellers a timely Statement of Objection, Buyer and the Sellers
and their respective independent accountants shall negotiate in good faith
and
use reasonable best efforts to resolve any dispute. If a final resolution is
not
reached within thirty (30) days after Buyer has submitted a timely Statement
of
Objection, any remaining disputes shall be resolved by an independent accounting
firm selected jointly by the parties (the “Reviewing
Accountant”).
The
Reviewing Accountant shall be instructed to limit its review to matters
specifically set forth in the Statement of Objection and to resolve any matters
in dispute as promptly as practicable, but in no event more than thirty (30)
days after such matters have been submitted to them, and to set forth their
resolution in a statement (the “Accountant
Statement”)
setting forth the Actual Financials. With respect to any disputed matter, the
Reviewing Accountant may select Buyer’s figure, the Sellers’ figure or any
figure between the two. The Reviewing Accountant shall act as an arbitrator
to
determine only those issues in dispute, based solely on the terms of this
Agreement and the presentations by the parties and not by independent review
of
legal, accounting or factual matters. The Reviewing Accountant shall only
consider issues, amounts or matters disputed in a Statement of Objection
delivered within the applicable thirty (30) day period. The determination of
the
Reviewing Accountant shall be final and binding on the parties
hereto.
(d) The
fees
and expenses of the Reviewing Accountant shall be borne by Buyer and the Sellers
in inverse proportion as they may prevail on matters resolved by the Reviewing
Accountant, and such proportionate allocation shall also be determined by the
Reviewing Accountant when their determination is rendered on the merits of
the
matter submitted. For illustration purposes only: (i) if the total amount of
disputed items by the Sellers is $100,000 and the Reviewing Accountant awards
the Sellers $50,000, then the Sellers and Buyer shall bear the Reviewing
Accountant’s fees and expenses equally; or (ii) if the total amount of the
Sellers’ disputed items is $100,000 and the Reviewing Accountant awards the
Sellers $75,000, then the Sellers shall bear 25% and Buyer shall bear 75% of
the
Reviewing Accountant’s fees and expenses.
18
(e) The
Sellers and Buyer shall cooperate with each other and the Reviewing Accountant
in connection with the matters contemplated by this Section
3.2,
including the Sellers’ preparation of and Buyer’s review of the Closing
Statement, in each case including by furnishing such information and access
to
books, records (including accountants’ work papers), personnel and properties as
may be reasonably requested.
(f) Within
three (3) Business Days after the final determination of the Actual Financials
in accordance with this Section
3.2,
if the
Actual Financials differ from the financials on Annex
A,
then
Buyer shall calculate (i) the Franchise Revenue Difference and (ii) the
Manufacturing Contribution Difference. If the sum of the Franchise Revenue
Difference and the Manufacturing Contribution Difference (the “Cumulative
Difference”)
is a
negative amount of $100,000 or greater, then Buyer shall deliver a statement
to
the Sellers (the “Purchase
Price Deficit Statement”)
setting forth the Cumulative Difference. If the Cumulative Difference is a
negative amount of $100,000 or greater, then upon receipt of the Purchase Price
Deficit Statement, the Sellers shall owe to Buyer an amount equal to the
Cumulative Difference, multiplied by 8.4 (the “Purchase
Price Deficit Amount”).
Notwithstanding the forgoing, if the Cumulative Difference is a positive amount
(e.g. the Actual Financials are cumulatively greater than the financials on
Annex
A),
then
Buyer shall not owe any additional amounts to the Sellers under this
Agreement.
(g) Any
Purchase Price Deficit Amount owed by the Sellers to Buyer, shall be paid,
within three (3) Business Days after the Sellers’ receipt of the Purchase Price
Deficit Statement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds by the
Sellers to an account designated in writing by Buyer; provided,
that, if
the Sellers do not make such payment to Buyer within three (3) Business Days
after the Sellers’ receipt of the Purchase Price Deficit Statement, Buyer may
draw from the Indemnity Escrow Amount the number of Parent Shares equal to
(x)
the Purchase Price Deficit Amount divided
by (y)
the Closing Date Reference Price to satisfy the Sellers’ payment obligations
under this Section
3.2(g).
3.3
Payment. At Closing:
(a) Buyer
shall (i) pay to each Seller the amount in cash set forth opposite such Seller’s
name in Column I on Annex
B,
by wire
transfer of immediately available funds and (ii) cause to be delivered to the
Escrow Agent the number of Parent Shares equal to the Indemnity Escrow Amount,
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
(b) GACCF
shall deliver to Buyer a Marketing Fees Reconciliation calculated as of the
Closing Date and GACCF shall pay to Buyer the amount of the Marketing Fees
Cash
(if a positive amount) shown in such Marketing Fees Reconciliation.
3.4
Allocation. The Sellers and Buyer agree to allocate the Final Purchase
Price among the Purchased Assets in accordance with the pro forma allocation
schedule attached hereto as Schedule 3.4 and the principles of Code
Section 1060 and the regulations thereunder which final allocation schedule
will
be determined after the date hereof, but by a date no later than ninety (90)
days after the Closing Date (the “Allocation Schedule”). The Sellers and
Buyer agree that the Sellers’ amount realized for income tax purposes shall not
include any Royalty Advances as defined in and paid under the New Settlement
Agreement. If the parties are unable to agree on the final Allocation Schedule
within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, a third-party appraiser selected
by Buyer, and reasonably acceptable to the Sellers, the fees of which shall
be
borne equally by Buyer and the Sellers, shall resolve the allocation of the
consideration to any items with respect to which there is a dispute between
the
parties. In the absence of manifest error, the determination of the Allocation
Schedule by the third-party appraiser shall be final and binding on all parties
and shall not be subject to contest. Each of the parties hereto agree that:
(i)
none of the parties shall take a position on any Tax Return (including IRS
Form
8594) that is in any way inconsistent with the Allocation Schedule without
the
written consent of the other parties or unless specifically required by an
applicable Government Authority; and (ii) they shall promptly advise each other
regarding the existence of any Tax audit, controversy or litigation related
to
the Allocation Schedule. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein
shall prevent Buyer or the Sellers from settling any proposed deficiency or
adjustment assessed against it by any Government Authority based upon or arising
out of the Allocation Schedule, and neither Buyer nor the Sellers shall be
required to litigate before any court any such proposed deficiency or adjustment
by any Government Authority challenging the Allocation Schedule.
19
3.5
Nonassignable Contracts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
to the extent that the assignment hereunder by either Seller to Buyer of any
Assumed Contract is not permitted or is not permitted without the consent of
any
other party to such Assumed Contract, this Agreement shall not be deemed to
constitute an assignment of any such Assumed Contract if such consent is not
given or if such assignment otherwise would constitute a breach of, or cause
a
loss of contractual benefits under, any such Assumed Contract, and Buyer shall
assume no obligations or liabilities under any such Assumed Contract. The
Sellers shall advise Buyer in writing on the date hereof with respect to any
Assumed Contract which either Seller knows or has substantial reason to believe
will or may not be subject to assignment to Buyer hereunder at the Closing.
Without in any way limiting the Sellers’ obligation to obtain all consents and
waivers necessary for the sale, transfer, assignment and delivery of the Assumed
Contracts and the Purchased Assets to Buyer hereunder, if any such consent
is
not obtained or if such assignment is not permitted irrespective of consent
and
if the Closing shall occur, the Sellers shall cooperate with Buyer following
the
Closing Date in any reasonable arrangement designed to provide Buyer with the
rights and benefits (subject to the obligations) under any such Assumed
Contract, including enforcement for the benefit of Buyer (at the Buyer’s cost)
of any and all rights of the Sellers against any other party arising out of
any
breach or cancellation of any such Assumed Contract by such other party and,
if
requested by Buyer, acting as an agent on behalf of Buyer or as Buyer shall
otherwise reasonably require.
3.6
Escrow.
(a) Indemnity
Escrow Amount.
The
Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be used to satisfy Damages, if any, for which
Buyer Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification or reimbursement
in
accordance with Article
XI
hereof.
For purposes of satisfying any claim under this Agreement, the value of each
Parent Share included in the Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be equal to the
Closing Date Reference Price. The Escrow Agent shall release the balance of
the
Indemnity Escrow Amount to the Sellers, as applicable, on the first Business
Day
which is nine (9) months after the Closing Date (the “Indemnity
Escrow Release Date”),
provided
that if
on the Indemnity Escrow Release Date any claim by a Buyer Indemnified Party
has
been made that could result in Damages and Buyer has notified the Escrow Agent
and the Sellers of such in writing, then either (i) there shall be withheld
from
the distribution to the Sellers such portion of the Indemnity Escrow Amount
as
is necessary to cover all Damages potentially resulting from all such pending
claims in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement (and the escrow
account shall continue with respect to such withheld amount) and such withheld
amount (or the applicable portion thereof) shall either be (A) paid to Buyer
or
(B) paid to the Sellers, as determined upon final resolution of each such claim
in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement and Article
XI
hereof
or (ii) the Sellers shall post a bond in an amount reasonably acceptable to
Buyer for such amount necessary to cover all Damages potentially resulting
from
all such pending claims in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement,
and upon posting of such bond all of the remaining balance of the Indemnity
Escrow Amount shall be released to the Sellers in accordance with the terms
of
the Escrow Agreement and Article
XI
hereof.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be available
to
satisfy any claims made by Buyer pursuant to Section
3.2(g).
20
(b) Conversion
of Parent Shares Held In Escrow.
If the
Parent Shares held as any part of the Indemnity Escrow Amount are converted
by
the Parent through a stock split or a reverse stock split, then the Closing
Date
Reference Price shall be adjusted in direct but inverse relation to the stock
split (the “Adjusted
Closing Date Reference Price”).
For
example, for illustration purposes only: (A) if the Parent Shares are split
2 to
1, then the Adjusted Closing Date Reference Price shall be the Closing Date
Reference Price divided by 2; or (B) if the Parent Shares undergo a reverse
split of 1 to 2, then the Adjusted Closing Date Reference Price shall be the
Closing Date Reference Price multiplied by 2.
3.7 Accounts
Receivable.
(a) Each
Seller shall hold in trust for, and, within five (5) Business Days of such
Seller’s receipt, pay to, Buyer any and all proceeds from:
(i) GACCF
Accounts Receivable relating to the GAC Franchise Business that are received
by
GACCF following the Closing Date to the extent such proceeds relate to a period
ending on or after the Closing Date;
(ii) GAM
Accounts Receivable relating to the GAC Manufacturing Business that are received
by GAM following the Closing Date to the extent such proceeds relate to a period
ending on or after the Closing Date (Sections
3.7(a)(i) and (ii)
collectively, the “Buyer
Accounts Receivable”);
(b) The
parties agree that each Seller, as applicable, will continue to collect the
Buyer Accounts Receivable through the applicable Seller’s current EFT system
pursuant to and until such time as stipulated in the Transition Services
Agreement and forward such amounts to Buyer.
(c) Buyer
acknowledges that all GACCF Accounts Receivable and GAM Accounts Receivable
in
respect of amounts due from Franchisees or any Persons prior to the Closing
Date
shall remain the property of each Seller, as applicable, (the “Seller
Accounts Receivable”)
and
that Buyer shall not acquire any beneficial right or interest therein. An
estimate of the Seller Accounts Receivable calculated as of September 29, 2007
is set forth on Schedule
3.7.
A
revised estimate of the Seller Accounts Receivable as of the Closing Date shall
be calculated within ten (10) days of the Closing Date, with the Seller Accounts
Receivable to be finalized and updated in connection with the preparation of
the
Closing Statement.
21
(d) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in Section
3.7(b),
the
Sellers shall be entitled to retain from the amounts collected pursuant to
Section
3.7(b)
any
Seller Accounts Receivable actually received by the Sellers from a
Franchisee.
(e) Within
10
days following the end of each calendar month following the Closing Date, Buyer
shall forward to the Sellers any amounts actually received by Buyer following
the Closing Date that are designated by a Franchisee as Seller Accounts
Receivable. For purposes of determining the amount of Seller Accounts Receivable
payable to the Sellers for purposes of this Section
3.7,
(x) in
the case of Seller Accounts Receivable received in respect of a period (such
as
a fiscal quarter or other similar period for which such amounts are paid) that
was completed prior to the Closing Date, the entire amount of such Seller
Accounts Receivable shall be paid to the Sellers and (y) in the case of any
Seller Accounts Receivable that are paid on a periodic basis and are payable
for
a period (such as a fiscal quarter) that includes, but does not end prior to,
the Closing Date, the Sellers shall be paid a portion of such Seller Accounts
Receivable equal to the Seller Accounts Receivable for the entire applicable
period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days
in
such period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the
number of days in the entire period for which such Seller Accounts Receivable
are paid.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section
3.7,
neither
Seller, MFFB nor any of their Affiliates shall be entitled to contact any
Franchisee regarding any past due Seller Accounts Receivable without Buyer’s
prior approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(g) Buyer
and
the Sellers shall provide to each other reasonable access to files, records
and
books of account for the purpose of verifying any funds that have been remitted
to each to verify collection of the accounts receivable.
ARTICLE
IV
Representations
and Warranties of the Sellers and MFFB
Each
Seller, and MFFB, as applicable, hereby represents and warrants to Buyer with
respect to itself that the statements contained in this Article
IV
are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Article
IV
except
to the extent any representation or warranty expressly speaks only as of a
different date), except as set forth in the disclosure schedules attached hereto
(the “Disclosure
Schedules”),
which
Disclosure Schedules set forth individually each Seller’s, or MFFB’s if
applicable, disclosures identified by each Seller or MFFB, as
applicable.
22
4.1
Organization
and Good Standing.
(a) MFFB
is a
single member limited liability company and is duly formed, validly existing
and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) Each
Seller is a single member limited liability company and is duly formed, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each
Seller has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its
assets and properties and to carry on the Businesses as currently conducted.
Each Seller is duly qualified or licensed to conduct its portion of the
Businesses as currently conducted and, to the extent applicable, is in good
standing, in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of the
property owned, leased or operated by such Seller or the nature of its portion
of the Businesses conducted by such Seller makes such qualification necessary
and has obtained all Government Authorizations necessary to the ownership or
operation of its properties or the conduct of its portion of the Businesses,
except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
The Sellers do not have any Subsidiaries. Neither Seller owns or holds the
right
to acquire any shares of stock or any other security or interest in any other
Person or has any obligation to make any investment in any Person.
4.2
Enforceability; Authority.
(a) MFFB
has
all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance
of
this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized and approved by its sole member, and no other
action on the part of MFFB is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery
and
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by MFFB and, assuming the due execution of this Agreement by the
Sellers, Buyer and Parent, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of MFFB
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership and similar
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and general
equitable principles.
(b) Each
Seller has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and
to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized and approved by each Seller’s
sole member, and no other action on behalf of such Seller is necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by each Seller and, assuming the due
execution of this Agreement by MFFB, Buyer and Parent, constitutes a valid
and
binding obligation of each Seller enforceable against it in accordance with
its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
receivership and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally, and general equitable principles.
23
4.3
Consents; Approvals. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3 and
except for the applicable requirements of the HSR Act, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by each Seller and MFFB and the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not:
(a) violate
or conflict with the provisions of the Organizational Documents of either Seller
or MFFB;
(b) violate
any Legal Requirement or Order to which either Seller or MFFB is subject or
by
which any of its material properties or assets are bound;
(c) require
any permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to, or filing
with any Government Authority; or
(d) result
in
a violation or breach of, conflict with, constitute (with or without due notice
or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation, payment or acceleration) under, or result in the creation of
any
Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) upon any of the properties
or
assets of either Seller or MFFB under any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any Contract or any other instrument or obligation to which either Seller
or
MFFB is a party, or by which it or any of their respective properties or assets
may be bound; excluding from the foregoing clauses (b), (c) and (d) permits,
consents, approvals, notices and filings the absence of which, and violations,
breaches, defaults and Encumbrances the existence of which, have not had, and
would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
4.4
Financial Statements.
(a) MFFB
has
delivered to Buyer (i) an audited consolidated balance sheet of MFFB as of
December 31, 2005 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, members’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended,
together with the report thereon of KPMG LLP, its independent certified public
accountants (including the notes thereto, “Financial
Statements”),
and
(ii) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of MFFB as of September 29, 2007
(the “Balance
Sheet”)
and
the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations, members’ equity and
cash flows (together with the Balance Sheet, the “Interim
Reports”)
as at
and for the trailing thirty-nine (39) week period ended September 29,
2007.
(b) Except
as
disclosed on Schedule
4.4(b),
there
are no material liabilities
or obligations of either Seller (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise and whether due or to become due), except for (i) those liabilities
and obligations accrued or disclosed on the Balance Sheet and (ii) liabilities
and obligations incurred since the date of the Balance Sheet in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice (none of which arise out of
a
breach of any contract, tort, infringement, claim, lawsuit or breach of
warranty).
24
4.5
Real
Property.
(a) Owned
Real Property.
Schedule
4.5(a)
sets
forth a true and correct list of each parcel of real property owned by either
Seller and identified by owner (the “Owned
Real Property”),
including the address and a description of each such parcel. Except as set
forth
on Schedule
4.5(a):
(i) the
applicable Seller has good, valid and marketable fee simple title to such Owned
Real Property, free and clear of all liens and Encumbrances as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date, except for Permitted Encumbrances; (ii)
such
Seller is in actual possession of each such parcel; (iii) neither Sellers nor
MFFB have leased or otherwise granted to any Person the right to use or occupy
such Owned Real Property or any portion thereof; and (iv) there are no
outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal granted
by
the Sellers, or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, by any other party, to purchase such
Owned Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein. Neither Seller
is a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest
therein relating to, or intended to be used in the operation of the
Businesses.
(b) Leased
Real Property.
Schedule
4.5(b)
sets
forth a true and correct list of each parcel of real property in which each
Seller holds a leasehold estate and identified by such Seller (the “Leased
Real Property”),
including the address of each such leased property. Accurate and current copies
of all real property leases, subleases, licenses or other occupancy agreements
(and all amendments thereto) set forth on Schedule
4.5(b)
(the
“Leases”)
have
been delivered to Parent and Buyer. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.5(b),
with
respect to each of the Leases: (i) such lease is valid, binding, enforceable
and
in full force and effect against Seller; (ii) the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement do not require the consent of any other party to such lease
(except for those Leases for which lease consents are obtained), will not result
in a breach of or default under such Lease, and will not otherwise cause such
Lease to cease to be valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect
on
materially identical terms following the Closing; (iii) neither Sellers’
possession or quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Property under such Lease
has
been disturbed and there are no disputes with respect to such Lease; (iv)
neither Seller nor, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, any other party to the Lease is
in breach of or default under such Lease, and no event has occurred or
circumstance exists that, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time
or
both, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit the termination,
modification or acceleration of rent under such lease; (v) to the Sellers’
Knowledge, no security deposit or portion thereof deposited with respect to
such
Lease has been applied in respect of a breach of or default under such Lease
that has not been redeposited in full; (vi) neither Seller nor MFFB owes, or
will owe in the future, any brokerage commissions or finder’s fees with respect
to such Lease; (vii) the other party to such Lease is not an Affiliate of,
and
otherwise does not have any economic interest in the Sellers or MFFB; (viii)
neither Seller has subleased, licensed or otherwise granted any Person the
right
to use or occupy the Leased Real Property or any portion thereof; (ix) neither
Seller has collaterally assigned or granted any other lien or Encumbrance with
regard to such Lease or any interest therein that would have a material adverse
effect on the use of the Leased Real Property; and (x) there are no liens or
Encumbrances on the estate or interest created by such Lease except as would
be
disclosed on a title report or commitment.
(c) The
Owned
Real Property identified in Schedule
4.5(a)
and the
Leased Real Property identified on Schedule
4.5(b)
(collectively, the “Real
Property”)
comprises all of the real property used exclusively or primarily in the Sellers’
Businesses; and neither Seller is a party to any agreement or option to purchase
any real property or interest therein.
25
(d) To
the
Sellers’ Knowledge, all buildings, structures, fixtures, building systems and
equipment, and all components thereof, including the roof, foundation,
load-bearing walls, and other structural elements thereof, heating, ventilation,
air conditioning, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other building systems,
environmental control, remediation and abatement systems, sewer, storm, and
waste water systems, irrigation and other water distribution systems, parking
facilities, fire protection, security and surveillance systems, and
telecommunications, computer, wiring, and cable installations, included in
the
Real Property (the “Improvements”)
are in
good condition and repair and sufficient for the operation of the Sellers’
Businesses. To the Sellers’ Knowledge, there are no structural deficiencies of
latent defects affecting any of the Improvements and there are no facts or
conditions affecting any of the Improvements which would, individually or in
the
aggregate, interfere in any respect with the use or occupancy of the
Improvements or any portion thereof in the operation of the Sellers’ Businesses
as currently conducted thereon. The Sellers have good and marketable title
to
the Improvements on the Leased Real Property, free and clear of all liens and
Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances, and other than the right of Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement, there are no outstanding options, rights of first
offer or rights of first refusal to purchase any such Improvements or any
portion thereof or interest therein.
(e) To
the
Sellers’ Knowledge, there is no condemnation, expropriation or other proceeding
in eminent domain, pending or threatened, affecting any parcel of Real Property
or any portion thereof or interest therein. There is no injunction, decree
order, writ or judgment outstanding, or any claim, litigation, administrative
action or similar proceeding, pending or threatened, relating to the ownership,
lease, use or occupancy of the Real Property or any portion thereof, or the
operation of the Sellers’ Businesses as currently conducted
thereon.
(f) The
Real
Property is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable building,
zoning, subdivision, health and safety and other land use laws, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and all insurance
requirements affecting the Real Property (collectively, the “Real
Property Laws”),
and
the current use and occupancy of the Real Property and operation of the Sellers’
Businesses thereon do not violate any Real Property Laws in any material
respects. Neither Seller has received any notice of violation of any Real
Property Law and, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, there is no basis for the issuance
of any such notice or the taking of any action for such violation. To the
Sellers’ Knowledge, there is no pending or anticipated change in any Real
Property Law that will materially impair the ownership, lease, use or occupancy
of any Real Property or any portion thereof in the continued operation of the
Sellers’ Businesses as currently conducted thereon.
(g) All
certificates of occupancy, permits, licenses, franchises, approvals and
authorizations (collectively, the “Real
Property Permits”)
of all
Governmental Authorities, board of fire underwriters, association or any other
entity having jurisdiction over the Real Property that are required or
appropriate to use or occupy the Real Property or operate the Sellers’
Businesses as currently conducted thereon have been issued and are in full
force
and effect. Schedule
4.5(g)(1)
lists
all material Real Property Permits held by the Sellers with respect to each
parcel of Real Property. Neither Seller has received any notice from any
Governmental Authority or other entity having jurisdiction over the Real
Property threatening a suspension, revocation, modification or cancellation
of
any Real Property Permit and there is no basis for the issuance of any such
notice or the taking of any such action. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(g)(2),
the
Real Property Permits are transferable to Buyer without the consent or approval
of the issuing Governmental Authority or entity; no disclosure, filing or other
action by the Sellers is required in connection with such transfer; and Buyer
shall not be required to assume any additional liabilities or obligations under
the Real Property Permits as a result of such transfer.
26
(h) The
classification of each parcel of Real Property under applicable zoning laws,
ordinances and regulations permits the use and occupancy of such parcel and
the
operation of the Sellers’ Businesses as currently conducted thereon, and permits
the Improvements located thereon as currently constructed, used and occupied.
There are sufficient parking spaces, loading docks and other facilities at
such
parcel to comply with such zoning laws, ordinances and regulations. The Sellers’
use or occupancy of the Real Property or any portion thereof or the operation
of
the Sellers’ Businesses as currently conducted thereon is not dependent on a
“permitted non-conforming use” or “permitted non-conforming structure” or
similar variance, exemption or approval from any Governmental
Authority.
(i) The
current use and occupancy of the Real Property and the operation of the Sellers’
Businesses as currently conducted thereon do not violate any easement, covenant,
condition, restriction or similar provision in any instrument of record or,
to
the Sellers’ Knowledge, other unrecorded agreement affecting such Real Property
(the “Encumbrance
Documents”).
Neither Seller has received any notice of violation of any Encumbrance
Documents, and there is no basis for the issuance of any such notice or the
taking of any action for such violation.
(j) None
of
the Improvements encroaches on any land that is not included in the Real
Property or on any easement affecting such Real Property, or violates any
building lines or set-back lines, and there are no encroachments onto the Real
Property, or any portion or the continued operation of the Sellers’ Businesses
as currently conducted thereon.
(k) Each
parcel of Real Property is a separate lot for real estate tax and assessment
purposes, and no other real property is included in such tax parcel. There
are
no Taxes, assessments, fees, charges or similar costs or expenses imposed by
any
Governmental Authority, association or other entity having jurisdiction over
the
Real Property (collectively, the “Real
Estate Impositions”)
with
respect to any Real Property or portion thereof that have become past due.
To
the Sellers’ Knowledge, there is no pending or threatened increase or special
assessment or reassessment of any Real Estate Impositions for such
parcel.
(l)
Each
parcel of Real Property has direct access to a public street adjoining the
Real
Property, and such access is not dependent on any land or other real property
interest which is not included in the Real Property. None of the Improvements
or
any portion thereof is dependent for its access, use or operation on any land,
building, improvement or other real property interest which is not included
in
the Real Property.
4.6
Title
to Assets.
Except
for Excluded Assets and properties and assets reflected on the Balance Sheet
that have been sold or otherwise disposed of by the Sellers in the ordinary
course of business, each Seller has good and marketable title to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, all properties and assets used by such Seller, including,
without limitation, all the properties and assets reflected on the Balance
Sheet
as being owned by such Seller, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than
Permitted Encumbrances. All of the Personal Property is in good operating
condition and repair (with the exception of normal wear and tear) and is free
from defects other than minor defects that do not interfere with the present
use
thereof in the conduct of normal operations.
27
4.7
Sufficiency
of Assets.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.7,
the
Purchased Assets include all of the assets, properties and rights of every
type
and description, real, personal, mixed, tangible and intangible that are used
in
the conduct of the Businesses in substantially the same manner as currently
conducted by each Seller as of the Closing Date, subject only to the exclusion
of the Excluded Assets.
4.8
Accounts
Receivable.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.8,
all
GACCF Accounts Receivable and GAM Accounts Receivable reflected on the Balance
Sheet (net of allowances for doubtful accounts as reflected thereon and as
determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied) are or shall be valid
receivables arising in the ordinary course of business and, to each Seller’s
Knowledge, are or shall be current and collectible at the aggregate recorded
amount therefore as shown on the Balance Sheet (net of allowances for doubtful
accounts as reflected thereon and as determined in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied). Except as set forth on Schedule
4.8,
no
Person has any Encumbrances on such receivables or any part thereof, and no
agreement for deduction, free goods, discount or other deferred price or
quantity adjustment has been made with respect to any such receivables.
Schedule
3.7
sets
forth a complete and accurate statement of Seller Accounts Receivable due and
owing to the Sellers, as applicable, as of September 29, 2007.
4.9
Insolvency
Proceedings.
No
insolvency proceedings of any kind, including, without limitation, bankruptcy,
receivership, reorganization, composition or arrangement with creditors,
voluntary or involuntary, affecting either Seller, MFFB or the Purchased Assets
are pending or, to each Seller’s Knowledge or MFFB’s Knowledge, threatened.
Neither Seller nor MFFB has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors
or
taken any action with a view to, or that would constitute a valid basis for,
the
institution of any such insolvency proceedings.
4.10
Taxes.
(a) All
Tax
Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of either of the Sellers have
been
timely filed and all such Tax Returns are correct and complete in all material
respects. All material Taxes owed by or on behalf of either Seller (whether
or
not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid. Neither Seller is the
beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Income Tax Return.
Each Seller has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld
and
paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent
contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party, and all Forms W-2
and
1099 required with respect thereto have been properly completed and timely
filed. There are no Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on any
of
the assets of either Seller that arose in connection with the failure (or
alleged failure) to pay any Tax.
(b) There
is
no material dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of either Seller
either (i) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (ii) as to which
any
of the officers or managers of such Seller has knowledge based upon personal
contact with any agent of such authority.
28
(c) Schedule
4.10
lists
all federal, state, local, and foreign Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of
each
Seller for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 2003, indicates those
Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that
currently are the subject of audit. Neither Seller has waived any statute of
limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect
to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(d) The
Assumed Liabilities do not include any obligations that will not be deductible
under Code §280G. Neither Seller has any liability for the Taxes of any other
Person as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
4.11
Labor
Relations; Compliance.
(a) The
Sellers have complied and are in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable laws relating to the employment of labor. Except as set forth on
Schedule
4.11,
there
are no Proceedings pending or, to each Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against
either Seller with respect to or by any employee or former employee (or
representatives thereof) of the Businesses and, to each Seller’s Knowledge,
there are no Proceedings pending or threatened against any employees or former
employee of the Businesses. Neither Seller has engaged in any unfair labor
practices.
(b) Neither
Seller is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or relationship with
any labor organization, and, to each Seller’s Knowledge, there are no
organizational efforts presently made or threatened by or on behalf of any
labor
union with respect to the employees of the Businesses. Within the last three
(3)
years, neither Seller has experienced any union organization attempts, strikes,
work stoppages, slowdowns, grievances, claims of unfair labor practices or
other
collective bargaining disputes, and none are underway or, to each Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened.
(c) With
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, any notice required under
any
law or collective bargaining agreement has been or prior to Closing will be
given, and all bargaining obligations with any employee representative have
been
or prior to Closing will be satisfied. Neither Seller has implemented any plant
closing or layoff of employees that could implicate the WARN Act, and no such
action will be implemented without advance notification to Buyer.
(d) To
each
Seller’s Knowledge no executive or manager of such Seller (i) has any present
intention to terminate his or her employment, or (ii) is a party to any
confidentiality, non-competition, proprietary rights or other such agreement
between such employee and any Person besides the Sellers that would be material
to the performance of such employee’s employment duties, or the ability of Buyer
to conduct the Businesses.
4.12
Employee
Benefits.
(a) Schedule
4.12
lists
each Employee Benefit Plan maintained, sponsored, or contributed to or required
to be contributed to by
either
Seller or by MFFB on behalf of any employee of the Businesses or under which
either Seller has or may have a direct or indirect liability or obligation
(each
a
“Seller
Benefit Plan”).
29
(b) Each
Seller has delivered to Buyer true and complete copies of each Seller Benefit
Plan document, and, as applicable, with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan,
true and complete copies of (1) any related trust agreements, insurance
contracts or other funding agreements or arrangements, (2) the most recent
summary plan description and any summary of material modifications, if the
Seller Benefit Plan is subject to ERISA, (3) the most recent determination
letter or opinion letter issued by the IRS and any pending application for
a
determination letter or opinion letter with respect to any Seller Benefit Plan
intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code (“Qualified
Plan”),
and
(4) the last two Form 5500 filings if such filings are required by ERISA or
the
Code.
(c) Each
Seller Benefit Plan has been maintained, funded and administered in all material
respects in accordance with its terms and the provisions of applicable Legal
Requirements, including ERISA and the Code. No compensation paid or required
to
be paid under any Seller Benefit Plan is or will be subject to additional tax
under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code.
(d) All
contributions, premium and benefit payments required to be made under or in
connection with each Seller Benefit Plan through the Closing Date have been
made
or properly accrued, and all contributions, premium and benefit payments not
yet
required to be made under or in connection with each Seller Benefit Plan through
the Closing Date will have been made or properly accrued.
(e) Each
Seller Benefit Plan which is a Qualified Plan is a prototype or volume submitter
plan with respect to which the sponsor has received a favorable determination
as
to its qualification under the Code that has not been subsequently amended
or
modified or is an individually designed plan that, together with the trust
(if
any) forming a part thereof, has received from the IRS a favorable determination
letter as to its qualification under the Code and, and in either case, no event
has occurred that will or would reasonably be expected to give rise to
disqualification or loss of tax-exempt status of any Seller Benefit Plan or
its
related trust.
(f) With
respect to each Seller Benefit Plan, no Proceeding or other action, suit, audit,
claim or investigation (other than routine claims for benefits) is pending
or,
to the Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened, and there is no basis for any such
Proceeding or other action, suit, audit, claim or investigation.
(g) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
4.12:
(i) Neither
any Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate thereof contributes to, ever has contributed
to, or ever has been required to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan or
employee pension plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Code Section 412 or has
any liability, or indirect liability, including any liability on account of
a
“partial withdrawal” or complete withdrawal (as defined in ERISA Sections 4203
and 4201 respectively), under any Multiemployer Plan or under Title IV of ERISA
or Section 412 of the Code. Neither any Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate thereof
is bound by any Contract that would result in any direct or indirect liability
described in ERISA Section 4204. No Seller Benefit Plan is a multiple employer
plan for purposes of Sections 4063 or 4064 of ERISA or subject to Section 413(c)
of the Code or a multiple employer welfare arrangement as defined in Section
3(40) of ERISA.
30
(ii) Neither
any Seller nor any Seller Benefit Plan has any obligation to provide
post-employment medical, health or life insurance or other welfare-type benefits
for current or future retired or terminated employees, directors, officers,
or
independent contractors or such persons’ spouses, dependents or other
beneficiaries (other than in accordance with COBRA); each Seller Benefit Plan
which is a group health plan has at all times been maintained in material
compliance with COBRA, and each group health plan maintained by any ERISA
Affiliate of either Seller has been maintained in material compliance with
COBRA.
(iii) Neither
any Seller nor their respective employees, or any other Person has engaged
in a
non-exempt prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code) with respect to any Seller Benefit Plan that has resulted
or
may result in any material liability to the Sellers; neither Seller has incurred
any material liability for any penalty or tax, nor does any fact exist which
would subject the Sellers to any material penalty or tax, under Chapter 43
of
Subtitle D of the Code or Section 502 of ERISA; and no fiduciary of any Seller
Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA) (where such fiduciary is
an
employee of the Sellers, or any other Person who is a fiduciary) has engaged
in
any material breach of fiduciary duty (as determined under ERISA) with respect
to any Seller Benefit Plan.
(h) No
event
has occurred or circumstance exists with respect to the Sellers, or the
participants and beneficiaries of any Seller Benefit Plan, that would reasonably
be expected to result in a material increase in expenses (including premiums,
notwithstanding ordinary course premium increases, contributions and/or benefit
payments) to the Businesses.
(i) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, either
alone or in combination with any other event, result in (1) the payment to
any
Person of money or other property (including severance payments, bonus or other
compensation), (2) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the
amount of compensation due any Person, or (3) require either Seller to place
in
trust or otherwise set aside any amounts in respect of severance pay or any
other payment or benefit. There are no agreements or arrangements pursuant
to
which the Sellers or Buyer would be required to make a “parachute payment”
(within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether alone
or in combination with a termination of employment or other event).
4.13
Litigation;
Orders.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.13(a),
there
is no material Proceeding pending or, to each Seller’s Knowledge, threatened,
against either of the Sellers or relating to any of the Purchased
Assets.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.13(b),
(i)
there is no Order to which either of the Sellers or any of the Purchased Assets
is subject, and (ii) each Seller is in compliance with each Order to which
it or
its properties or assets are subject.
31
4.14
Compliance
With Laws; Permits.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.14,
each
Seller is in full compliance with each Legal Requirement that is applicable
to
it or to the conduct or operation of the Businesses or the ownership of the
Purchased Assets, except for such non-compliance, individually or in the
aggregate, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Neither Seller has received any written notice or other communication
(whether oral or written) from any Government Authority or any other Person
regarding any actual, alleged, possible or potential violation of, or failure
to
comply with, any material Legal Requirement applicable to the Businesses.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other representation
and
warranty set forth in this Agreement, GAM has produced and distributed during
the last three (3) years and is producing and distributing food products that
are in compliance with the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and all other
applicable laws governing the production of food.
(b) Each
Seller possesses all Government Authorizations necessary for the ownership
of
its properties and the conduct of the Businesses as currently conducted, except
for such exceptions as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and
would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Further, (i)
to
each Seller’s Knowledge, all such Government Authorizations are in full force
and effect and (ii) neither Seller has received any written notice of any event,
inquiry, investigation or proceeding threatening the validity of such Government
Authorizations.
4.15
Operations
of the Sellers.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.15,
since
December 31, 2006, through the date of this Agreement, there has not been any
change, event or condition of any character that has had or would reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality
of
the foregoing, except as set forth on Schedule
4.15,
since
December 31, 2006, each Seller has operated its portion of the Businesses in
the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and during such
time
period, neither Seller has:
(a) sold,
leased, transferred, or assigned any of its material assets, other than for
a
fair consideration in the ordinary course of business;
(b) entered
into any Material Contract outside the ordinary course of business;
(c) accelerated,
terminated, made material modifications to, or cancelled any Material Contract
in any material respect;
(d) transferred,
assigned, or granted any license or sublicense of any rights under or with
respect to any Intellectual Property Right, other than to a Franchisee pursuant
to a Franchise Agreement entered into in the ordinary course of
business;
(e) made
any
capital expenditure (or series of related capital expenditures) either involving
more than $5,000, individually, or $15,000, in the aggregate, or outside the
ordinary course of business;
(f) engaged
in any sales or promotional discount or other similar activities with customers
(including, without limitation, materially altering credit terms) other than
any
such activities undertaken in accordance with the terms of its current Franchise
Agreements;
32
(g) delayed
or postponed the payment of any accounts payable, other payables, expenses
or
other liabilities (including marketing or promotional expenses), or accelerated
the collection of or discount any GACCF Accounts Receivable or GAM Accounts
Receivable or otherwise accelerated cash collections of any type other than
in
the ordinary course of business and in an amount not greater than $5,000 in
the
aggregate;
(h) incurred
any Indebtedness or incurred or become subject to any material liability, except
current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and liabilities
under Contracts (other than liabilities for breach) entered into in the ordinary
course of business;
(i) suffered
any extraordinary losses or waived any rights of material value, whether or
not
in the ordinary course of business;
(j) experienced
any material damage, destruction, or loss (whether or not covered by insurance)
to its property;
(k) become
liable for any Damages in connection with, or become obligated to rescind or
otherwise materially modify, any Franchise Agreement; or
(l) committed
to do any of the foregoing actions.
4.16
Material
Contracts.
(a) Schedule
4.16(a)
contains
a complete and correct list identified by the Sellers, as of the date of this
Agreement, of the following Contracts to which either Seller is a party or
by
which either Seller is bound (collectively, the “Material
Contracts”):
(i) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of personal property
to
or from a Person providing for lease payment in excess of $5,000 per
annum;
(ii) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the purchase or sale of raw
materials, commodities, supplies, products, or other personal property, or
for
the furnishing or receipt of services, the performance of which will extend
over
a period of more than one year, or involve consideration in excess of
$5,000;
(iii) each
Franchise Agreement submitted to a Person for execution but not yet executed
and
delivered to either Seller by such Person;
(iv) any
agreements relating to Intellectual Property Rights except as set forth in
Schedule
4.19(b);
(v) any
agreement imposing continuing confidentiality obligations on the
Sellers;
(vi) all
executory contracts for capital expenditures with remaining obligations in
excess of $5,000 each;
33
(vii) all
contracts containing covenants that in any way purport to limit the freedom
to
engage in any line of business or to compete with any Person or in any
geographical area;
(viii) all
collective bargaining agreements;
(ix) all
severance, change of control or similar agreements or contracts with any
employees, and any employment agreements requiring payment of annual
compensation in excess of $100,000;
(x) all
settlement, conciliation or similar agreements with any Government Authority
or
pursuant to which any Seller is required after the execution date of this
Agreement to pay consideration in excess of $25,000; and
(xi) any
other
agreement the performance of which involves consideration in excess of
$5,000.
(b) All
Material Contracts are in full force and effect and in written form and true,
correct and complete copies of all Material Contracts, including any amendments,
waivers, supplements or other modifications thereto, have been made available
to
Buyer. Except as disclosed in Schedule
4.16(b),
neither
Seller is in violation or breach of or in default under any Material Contract
the effect of which, individually or in the aggregate, does have or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Proceeding or
event
or condition has occurred or exists or is alleged by any party to have occurred
or exist which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default
by any of the parties thereto of their respective obligations under a Material
Contract (or would give rise to any right of termination or cancellation),
except as does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither Seller has, nor to each Seller’s Knowledge, has any
other party to any Material Contract, breached or provided any written notice
of
an intent to breach, any provision thereof, except such a breach as does not
have and would not reasonably
be expected
to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Schedule
4.16(c)
contains
a complete and correct list of all written agreements, contracts or instruments
to which an Affiliate of either Seller is a party and pursuant to which either
Seller is a beneficiary of any goods, services or other benefits related to
the
Purchased Assets.
4.17
Insurance.
Schedule
4.17
sets
forth an accurate and complete summary of (a) each insurance policy providing
for liability exposure (including policies providing property, casualty,
liability and workers’ compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements)
to which either Seller is currently a party, a named insured or otherwise the
beneficiary of coverage (“Insurance
Policies”)
and
(b) all insurance loss runs or workers’ compensation claims received for the
past three (3) policy years. All such Insurance Policies are in full force
and
effect. Since January 1, 2004, each Seller has paid all premiums due thereunder
and, except as set forth in Schedule
4.17,
no
notice (whether oral or written) of cancellation of any such coverage or
increase in premiums thereof has been received by either Seller.
34
4.18
Environmental and Safety Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.18, with respect to the Businesses (including, without limitation, the
ownership and operation of the Purchased Assets): (i) each Seller has at
all
times complied and is in compliance in all material respects with all
Environmental and Safety Requirements; (ii) without limiting the foregoing,
all
Government Authorizations required under Environmental and Safety Requirements
to be obtained by the Sellers are valid and in full force and effect, each
Seller has at all times complied and is in compliance in all material respects
with the terms and conditions of such Government Authorizations; (iii) neither
Seller is subject to any suit, investigation, inquiry or Proceeding by or
before
any court or Government Authority relating to Environmental and Safety
Requirements, including, without limitation, with respect to any of its current
or former operations, properties or facilities; (iv) neither Seller, nor
any of
its predecessors or Affiliates, has caused a release of Hazardous Substances,
and no condition of contamination by Hazardous Substances is present, at
any of
the Sellers’ Owned Real Properties, and, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, there are no
facts, events, circumstances or conditions relating to any current or former
facilities, properties or operations of the Sellers or of their predecessors
or
Affiliates that have given or would give rise to any current or future
investigatory, remedial, or corrective obligations or other liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) under CERCLA or any other Environmental and Safety
Requirements; (v) neither this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will result in any obligations for site
investigation or cleanup, or notification to or consent of any Government
Authority or other Person pursuant to any of the so-called
“transaction-triggered” or “responsible property transfer” Environmental and
Safety Requirements; (vi) each Seller has furnished to Buyer copies of all
audits, assessments, reports and other documents within its possession or
under
its reasonable control (including all Phase I and Phase II reports) bearing
on
environmental, health or safety liabilities or concerning compliance with
Environmental and Safety Requirements with respect to any current or former
operations, properties or facilities of either Seller or its predecessors
or
Affiliates; (vii) neither Seller has received any written or oral notice,
report
or other information regarding any actual or alleged violation of, or actual
or
potential liability or obligation (contingent or otherwise) under, any
Environmental and Safety Requirement or that any existing Government
Authorization that was obtained pursuant to any Environmental and Safety
Requirement is to be revoked or suspended by any Government Authority or
that
any Seller is not currently operating or required to be operating under,
or
subject to any outstanding compliance order, decree or agreement, any consent
decree, order or agreement, or any corrective action decree, order or agreement
issued or entered into under, or pertaining to matters regulated by, any
Environmental and Safety Requirement; (viii) neither Seller owns or operates
any
underground storage tanks, and no such underground storage tanks are in
violation of any Environmental and Safety Requirement; and (ix) neither Seller,
nor any of its predecessors or Affiliates, has treated, stored, disposed
of,
arranged for or permitted the disposal of, transported, handled, released,
or
exposed any Person to, any Hazardous Substances, or owned or operated either
Business or any property or facility relating to the Businesses (and no such
property or facility is or was contaminated by any such Hazardous Substances)
in
a manner that has given or would give rise to any current or future liabilities
or investigative, corrective or remedial obligations (contingent or otherwise)
pursuant to CERCLA or any other Environmental and Safety
Requirement.
35
4.19 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule 4.19(a)
attached
hereto sets forth a complete and correct list of the following items that are
owned by either Seller or any of their Affiliates and used in the Businesses:
(i) all patented or registered Intellectual Property Rights; (ii) all
pending patent applications or other applications for registration of
Intellectual Property Rights; (iii) all trade names, trademarks and
unregistered marks; (iv) all
material
unregistered copyrights, mask works and computer software (e.g., internally
developed back office software, etc.); and (v) all internet domain names and
URLs registered or for which an application has been filed. Neither Seller
nor
any of their Affiliates own any unregistered common law or unregistered
Intellectual Property Rights that are used in and are material to the
Businesses.
(b) Schedule 4.19(b)
attached
hereto sets forth a complete and correct list of: (i) all computer software
licenses or similar agreements or arrangements relating to information
technology used exclusively in the operation of the Businesses (“IT
Software”)
for
which either Seller or its Affiliates paid more than $10,000 in the aggregate
in
license fees or pays more than $5,000 in annual support fees; (ii) all
other licenses or similar agreements or arrangements, in effect as of the date
hereof, in which either Seller or its Affiliates are a licensee of Intellectual
Property Rights that are related to or used in connection with the Businesses;
(iii) all licenses or similar agreements or arrangements in which either
Seller or its Affiliates are a licensor of Intellectual Property Rights that
are
related to or used in connection with the Businesses, including Franchise
Agreements; and (iv) all other agreements or similar arrangements, in
effect as of the date hereof, relating
to the use of Intellectual Property Rights by either
Seller,
including settlement agreements, consent-to-use or standstill agreements and
standalone indemnification agreements.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.19(c),
(i) each Seller owns and possesses all right, title and interest in and to,
or has an enforceable right to use, the Intellectual Property Rights, identified
with such Seller and set forth in Schedule
4.19(a),
has a
valid and enforceable right to use pursuant to the agreements set forth in
Schedule
4.19(b),
and
otherwise own and possess all right, title and interest in and to all other
Intellectual Property Rights necessary for the operation of the Businesses
as
currently conducted, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted
Encumbrances (collectively,
the “Sellers’
Intellectual Property Rights”)
and
(ii) neither Seller has licensed any of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property
Rights to any third party on an exclusive basis.
(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.19(d),
(i) neither Seller has infringed, diluted, misappropriated or otherwise
conflicted with, and the operation of the Businesses as currently conducted
does
not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise conflict with, any Intellectual
Property Rights of any Person; (ii) neither Seller is aware of any facts
which indicate a likelihood of any of the foregoing; (iii) neither Seller
has received any notices regarding any of the foregoing (including any demands
or offers to license any Intellectual Property Rights from any Person or any
requests for indemnification from customers) and (iv) neither Seller has
requested nor received any opinions of counsel related to the
foregoing.
36
(e) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.19(e),
(i) no
loss
or expiration of any of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights is threatened,
pending or reasonably foreseeable, except for patents expiring at the end of
their maximum statutory terms (and not as a result of any act or omission by
either
Seller,
including a failure by such Seller to pay any required maintenance
fees);
(ii) all
of
the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights are valid and enforceable and none of
the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights has been misused; (iii) no
claim
by any third party contesting the validity, enforceability, use or ownership
of
any of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights has been made, is currently
outstanding or is threatened, and there are no grounds for the same;
(iv) each Seller has
taken
all necessary and desirable action to maintain and protect all of the Sellers’
Intellectual Property Rights and will continue to maintain and protect all
of
the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights prior to the Closing so as not to
adversely affect the validity or enforceability thereof; and (v) neither
Seller has disclosed or allowed to be disclosed any of its trade secrets or
confidential information to any third party other than pursuant to a written
confidentiality agreement and each Seller has entered into written
confidentiality agreements with all of its employees and independent contractors
acknowledging the confidentiality of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property
Rights.
(f) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.19(f),
to each
Seller’s Knowledge, no Person has infringed, diluted, misappropriated or
otherwise conflicted with any of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights and
neither Seller is aware of any facts that indicate a likelihood of any of the
same.
(g) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.19(g),
all
Intellectual Property Rights owned by each Seller was: (i) developed
by employees of such Seller working within the scope of their employment;
(ii) developed
by officers, directors, agents, consultants, contractors, subcontractors or
others who have executed appropriate instruments of assignment in favor of
such
Seller as assignee that have conveyed to such Seller ownership of all of such
Person’s rights in the Intellectual Property Rights relating to such
developments; or (iii) acquired
in connection with acquisitions in which such Seller obtained appropriate
representations, warranties and indemnities from the transferring party relating
to the title to such Intellectual Property Rights.
(h) Except
as
set forth in Schedule 4.19(h), none
of
the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights is subject to any proceeding or
outstanding decree, order, judgment, agreement or stipulation restricting in
any
manner the use, transfer or licensing thereof by either Seller, or which may
affect the validity, use or enforceability of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property
Rights.
(i) The
computer software, computer firmware, computer hardware (whether general purpose
or special purpose), and other similar or related items of automated,
computerized and/or software system(s) that are used or relied on by either
Seller in the conduct of the Businesses is, in the opinion of the Sellers,
sufficient in all material respects for the current needs of such Businesses
and
does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise conflict with any Intellectual
Property Rights of any Person.
(j) Each
Seller has collected, used, imported, exported and protected all personally
identifiable information, and other information relating to individuals
protected by law, in accordance with the privacy policies of each Seller and
in
accordance with applicable law, including by entering into agreements, where
applicable, governing the flow of such information across national
borders.
37
(k) Each
item
of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights is valid, enforceable and
subsisting. All necessary registration, maintenance and renewal fees currently
due in connection with the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights have been made
and all necessary documents, recordations and certifications in connection
with
the Sellers’ Intellectual Property have been filed with the relevant patent,
copyright, trademark or other authorities in the United States or foreign
jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purpose of maintaining the Sellers’
Intellectual Property Rights. Prior to the Closing, each Seller will deliver
to
Buyer all files, documents, or instruments necessary to the preservation and
maintenance of the Sellers’ Intellectual Property Rights.
(l) Each
material recipe and proprietary food process used in the Businesses during
the
last five (5) years are and were owned by the Sellers and are not subject to
any
license or similar use agreement with any third party (including MFFB) and
have
not been sold or otherwise transferred to any third party (including MFFB).
All
material recipes and proprietary food processes used in the Businesses as of
the
date of this Agreement (the “Seller
Recipes and Processes”)
are
either located at the GAM manufacturing facility or will be delivered to Buyer
at Closing.
4.20 Affiliate
Transactions.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.20,
(a)
there are no Assumed Contracts between either Seller, on the one hand, and
any
member, interest or right holder or any family member or affiliate of any such
member, interest or right holder, on the other hand; (b) there are no Assumed
Contracts between either Seller, on the one hand, and any employee or director
or any family member or affiliate of any such person, on the other hand, other
than employment agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; and (c) there are no loans or other indebtedness
owing by any employee of either Seller or any family member or affiliate of
any
such person to the Sellers.
4.21 Brokers’
or Finders’ Fees.
No
agent, broker, firm or other Person acting on behalf of either Seller or, to
such Sellers’ Knowledge, any of their Affiliates is, or will be, entitled to any
investment banking, commission, broker’s or finder’s fees from any of the
parties hereto, or from any Affiliate of any of the parties hereto, in
connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.22 Suppliers.
Except
for the suppliers named in Schedule
4.22,
neither
Seller has purchased, from any single supplier, goods or services for which
the
aggregate purchase price exceeds 5% of the total amount of goods and services
purchased by such Seller during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. Since
December 31, 2006, there has not been any termination, cancellation or material
curtailment of the Business relationship of either Seller with any supplier
named in Schedule
4.22
or any
material and adverse (to either of the Sellers) change in any material term
(including credit terms) of the supply agreements or related arrangements with
any such supplier. No supplier named in Schedule
4.22
has
advised either Seller that it intends, or has threatened, to cancel or otherwise
terminate the business relationship of such supplier with either Seller or
any
Franchisee or that it intends to modify materially and adversely (to such
Seller) its business relationship with such Seller or any Franchisee or to
decrease materially or limit materially its supply to such Seller or any
Franchisee.
38
4.23 Franchise
Matters.
(a) GAM
has
never offered or sold Franchises. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.23(a),
since January
1, 2004, GACCF has been the only Person offering and selling Franchises and
no
Subsidiary or Affiliate has ever offered or sold Franchises domestically or
internationally. GACCF and its Affiliates are the only Persons that have offered
or sold Franchises for their respective Brands since January 1,
2000.
(b) Schedule
4.23(b)
sets
forth a listing of, and GACCF has provided Buyer with a true and complete copy
of, its’ currently effective Seller UFOC(s), together with true and complete
copies of all Seller UFOCs used by such Seller since January 1, 2004 in
connection with the offer and sale of Franchises.
(c) Schedule
4.23(c)
sets
forth a true and complete list of all Franchise Agreements to which GACCF is
a
party, including for each Franchise Agreement (i) the name, address and
telephone number of each and every Franchisee; (ii) the effective dates and
expiration dates; and (iii) a description of any protected or exclusive
territory. There are no other currently effective Franchise Agreements relating
to the Brands. Except as noted in Schedule
4.23(c),
each
Franchise Agreement entered is substantially similar to the form of Franchise
Agreement incorporated into the Seller UFOC that was issued to the Franchisee
contemporaneously with the sale of such Franchise by GACCF to the Franchisee.
GACCF has and has had made available to Buyer true, complete and correct copies
of all Franchise Agreements listed or required to be listed on Schedule
4.23(c),
including all amendments and addenda thereto, except those in respect of which
Sellers have indicated on Schedule
4.23(c)
that the
Franchise Agreement on file is missing.
(d) From
and
after the date of its formation, GACCF has and has had at all relevant times,
the limited liability company power and authority and legal right to enter
into
and carry out the terms of each Franchise Agreement. All of the Franchise
Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable against the Franchisee thereunder
in accordance with its terms, subject to any such Franchisee’s bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding under state or federal law and
subject to any equitable doctrines and Legal Requirements which may affect
the
enforceability of the Franchise Agreements against Franchisees. GACCF has
maintained a standard practice of refraining from the negotiation of the
Franchise Agreements on a Franchisee by Franchisee basis.
(e) Schedule
4.23(e)
identifies each existing Franchisee that (i) is, to the Seller’s Knowledge,
currently in material default under any Franchise Agreement, whether or not
GACCF has notified the Franchisee about the default; (ii) has received within
the twelve (12) month period prior to the date of this Agreement a Notice of
Default from GACCF that such Franchisee has incurred a default under such
Franchise Agreement; (iii) has on three or more occasions within any twelve
(12)
month period received Notices of Default under a Franchise Agreement; or (iv)
is
a party to a Franchise Agreement under which the franchise unit is not yet
open
and operating.
39
(f) Schedule
4.23(f)
sets
forth a true and complete list of all written or oral agreements or arrangements
(and with respect to oral agreements a description thereof) with independent
sales representatives, contractors, brokers or consultants under which GACCF
has
authorized any person to sell or promote Franchises on behalf of GACCF or has
agreed to rebate or share amounts receivable under any Franchise Agreement
in
connection with the offer and sale of any such Franchise Agreement and
indicating which of such agreements are in default and may be terminated by
GACCF by notice to the other party. GACCF has delivered to Buyer true, correct
and complete copies of all written agreements described in Schedule
4.23(f).
GACCF
has delivered to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all written
correspondence and memoranda evidencing such oral agreements described in
Schedule
4.23(f).
(g) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule
4.23(g),
GACCF
has not (i) offered nor sold, nor otherwise granted rights, to any Person
conferring upon that Person area development, area representative, master
franchise, sub-franchise, or other multi-unit or multi-level rights with respect
to the Brands within the United States or (ii) used or uses independent sales
representatives, area directors, contractors, sales and service providers or
brokers to sell or promote the sale of its Franchises.
(h) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule
4.23(h),
and
except as may be granted by operation of law, (i) no Franchisee has been granted
any Territorial Rights by GACCF pursuant to which (A) GACCF is restricted in
any
way in their right to own or operate, or license others to own or operate,
any
business or line of business or (B) the Franchisee is granted rights for the
acquisition of additional franchises or expansion of the Franchisee’s territory,
(ii) no Franchisee’s Territorial Rights conflict with the Territorial Rights of
any other Franchisee, and (iii) to the extent GACCF has granted any such
Territorial Rights (whether or not disclosed or required to be disclosed
herein), GACCF has complied with such Territorial Rights and in the course
of
offering or selling franchises has not violated the Territorial Rights of any
Franchisee.
(i) Since
January 1, 2004, and except as set forth on Schedule
4.23(i),
each
Seller has: (i) prepared and maintained each Seller UFOC in accordance with
applicable law; (ii) filed and obtained registration of the offer and sale
of
the Franchises in all jurisdictions requiring such registration prior to any
offers or sales of Franchises in such jurisdictions (the “Registration
Laws”)
and
has filed all material changes, amendments and renewals thereto on a timely
basis as required by Legal Requirements in such jurisdictions; (iii) filed
all
notice filings (including the filing of Seller UFOC, as applicable) in all
jurisdictions in which a notice filing is required to be filed prior to the
offer and sale of franchises in such jurisdictions; (iv) filed all notices
of
exemption in all jurisdictions in which a notice filing is required in order
to
obtain an exemption from regulation as a “business opportunity” or to otherwise
be subject to regulation under Legal Requirements in such jurisdictions absent
such notice filing; and (v) sold no franchises during periods after the need
for
amendment arose and before the prospective Franchisee had been in receipt of
an
amended Seller UFOC for the required period for redisclosure in the
jurisdiction. Seller UFOCs were prepared in all material respects in compliance
with the UFOC Guidelines and/or other Legal Requirements and there were no
material misrepresentations or misstatements of fact or omissions to state
material information in any Seller UFOC necessary to make the statements made
therein not misleading under the circumstances at the time such Seller was
using
such Seller UFOC. Since January 1, 2004, GACCF has never withdrawn any of its
applications or registrations to offer and sell franchises from any jurisdiction
except as set forth on Schedule
4.23(i).
40
(j) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule
4.23(j),
GACCF
has not (i) offered or sold franchises or any form of agreement for operations
under the Brands outside of the United States or (ii) filed any application
seeking registration, exemption, and/or approval to do so.
(k) GACCF
has
heretofore made available to Buyer correct and complete copies of all
correspondence with Government Authorities concerning compliance with
Registration Laws (including franchise registration orders), franchise
advertising or promotional materials, UFOCs, and Franchise Agreements with
current and past Franchisees. GACCF has made available or delivered to Buyer
true and complete copies of the Franchisee files and other materials associated
with each and every Franchisee. Since January 1, 2005, GACCF has not, in any
of
the aforementioned documents or filings under any Registration Laws, made any
untrue statement of a material fact, or omitted to state any fact necessary
to
make the statements made by GACCF, not misleading, in connection with the offer
or sale of any franchise or business opportunity.
(l) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
4.23(l),
each
Franchise Agreement complies, and the offer, sale, administration and
relationship of such Franchise complied at the time such offer and sale was
made
and at all times since such Franchise Agreement became effective, with all
Legal
Requirements.
(m) Except
as
listed or described in Schedule
4.23(m),
the
rights of GACCF under any and all of the Franchise Agreements have not been
subordinated to the rights of any other Person and no provision regarding the
calculation and payment of royalty fees in any Franchise Agreement has been
waived, altered or modified in any material respect adverse to
GACCF.
(n) Set
forth
in Schedule
4.23(n)
is a
description of any franchisee organization which holds itself out as a
representative of any group of two or more Franchisees, indicating thereon
whether such franchisee organization is sponsored by GACCF or is independently
maintained. There are no agreements of any kind in effect between any such
franchisee organization and GACCF.
(o) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.23(o),
no
orders, consents or decrees (other than routine comment letters from regulators,
orders approving registrations, renewals of registrations or registration
exemptions) have been issued by any foreign or domestic (federal or state)
administrative or regulatory agency to GACCF nor have letters of inquiry,
investigation or the like been issued to GACCF by such foreign or domestic
administrative or regulatory agencies relating, directly or indirectly, to
GACCF’s offer and sale of Franchises.
(p) GACCF
has
not offered or sold Franchises in any jurisdiction where the sale of any such
Franchise violated any Legal Requirements of such jurisdiction. GACCF has not
offered rescission as would be required under any Legal Requirements arising
from a possible violation of any Legal Requirements. No Franchisee: (i) paid
any
consideration or signed any Franchise Agreement before the expiration of all
applicable waiting periods; (ii) has asserted or exercised any statutory right
of rescission arising from a violation of the Legal Requirements; (iii) has
an
immediate or inchoate right to exercise any statutory right of rescission
arising from the violation of any Legal Requirements relating to the offer
and
sale of Franchises. With the exception of routine comment letters from
regulators, GACCF has never received: (A) a stop order, revocation or withdrawal
of approval or a license or exemption to offer and sell Franchises in any
jurisdiction; or (B) an official notice, complaint, subpoena, request for
information, or any form of formal or informal inquiry from any Government
Authority regarding the offer or sale of Franchises. GACCF has not participated
in any remedial program directed towards its franchise selling practices
administered by the National Franchise Council, the International Franchise
Association, the Federal Trade Commission, any state or provincial authority,
or
any other public or private organization.
41
(q) The
Books
and Records of GACCF and the files of its franchise counsel include all written
communications and written memorialization of all material oral communications
with franchise regulatory authorities regarding the franchises, including
without limitation all applications for initial registration, renewal
applications, amendments, comment letters, approvals, licenses, consents,
exemption filings, withdrawals, and undertakings regarding future changes in
such Seller’s offering materials.
(r) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
4.23(r),
GACCF
has complied with all Legal Requirements applicable to the administration of
the
relationships with the Franchisees under the Franchise Agreements.
(s) GACCF
has
delivered or made available to Buyer correct and complete copies of all
registrations, material advertising or promotional materials (used by GACCF
subsequent to January 1, 2005), Seller UFOCs or agreements used by GACCF or
filed with any foreign or domestic administrative or regulatory agency or
otherwise used by GACCF in connection with the offer, sale and operation of
Franchises in any jurisdiction (domestic or international) since January 1,
2005. GACCF has not published any franchise recruitment advertising in violation
of the Legal Requirements of any jurisdiction. GACCF has effected timely filing
of franchise recruitment advertising with the applicable Government Authority
before publication and obtained any approvals or clearances, or received no
comments requiring changes to the advertising materials that were not
incorporated in the final copy.
(t) Schedule
4.23(t)
includes
a true and complete list of all written or oral agreements or arrangements
(and
with respect to oral agreements or arrangements, a description thereof) with
third party vendors or suppliers who currently approved by GACCF to act as
providers of goods or services to the Franchisees. Except as set forth in
Schedule
4.23(t),
and
excluding entertainment by vendors/suppliers or reimbursement for franchisee
conventions or meetings in the ordinary course of business, GACCF does not
receive rebates, commissions, discounts or other payments or remuneration of
any
kind from such vendors or suppliers of such goods or services.
(u) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, GACCF is not in violation or default of any Franchise
Agreement, nor has there occurred any event or condition which with the passage
of time or giving of notice (or both) would constitute a material default by
GACCF of any Franchise Agreement under, or permit termination or rescission
of,
any such Franchise Agreement. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein would result in a violation
of or a default under, or give rise to a right of termination, modification,
cancellation, rescission or acceleration of any obligation or loss of material
benefits under, any Franchise Agreement. No consent or approval of any
Franchisee is required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Agreement.
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(v) All
Franchise Agreements and related documents provided to Buyer are true, correct
and complete and they constitute all of the agreements between GACCF and its
Franchisees and there exists no other agreements, oral or written, between
GACCF
and any Franchisee. There are no material agreements or special arrangements
with any Franchisee other than as set forth in the Seller UFOCs and Franchise
Agreements.
(w) GACCF’s
use and administration of advertising contributions and fees made under the
Franchise Agreements has at all times complied with the provisions of all
Franchise Agreements or other agreements made by GACCF with respect to their
use
of the advertising contributions and fees, conforms with any descriptions of
such activities contained in applicable Seller UFOCs and does not violate any
Legal Requirements.
(i) Schedule
4.23(w)
sets
forth, as to GACCF: (A) a statement of the amount of Marketing Fees in respect
of the TTM Period; (B) the amount of Marketing Fees actually spent by each
Seller during the TTM Period; and (C) the amount of any residual Marketing
Fees
being held by either Seller or the deficit in Marketing Fees for which either
Seller is to be reimbursed from future Marketing Fees as of the end of the
TTM
Period, as the case may be (the “Marketing
Fees Balance”).
The
foregoing reconciliation of Marketing Fees is referred to herein as the
“Marketing Fees Reconciliation.”
(ii) Schedule
4.23(w)
sets
forth a listing of each Contract entered into by GACCF that is not fully
performed by both parties as of the date of this Agreement pursuant to which
GACCF has obligated itself to the expenditure of Marketing Fees, along with
a
statement of any payments made, and remaining to be made, by GACCF in order
to
complete its performance under each such Contract.
(x) Except
as
specified on Schedule
4.23(x),
there
is no action, proceeding, or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of
GACCF, threatened against or involving GACCF with respect to any of its domestic
or international Franchises, and to the Knowledge of GACCF, there is no basis
for any such action, proceeding or investigation except for actions, proceedings
or investigations that could not, in any individual case or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on GACCF. GACCF is
not
subject to any judgment, order or decree entered in any lawsuit or proceeding
which has or may have a material adverse effect on its rights and interests
in
any Franchise Agreement. To the Knowledge of GACCF, there are not currently,
nor
have there ever been any administrative actions, cease and desist orders or
other administrative actions by any federal or state agency which regulates
Franchises.
(y) Since
January 1, 2004, except as specified on Schedule
4.23(y),
GACCF
has not waived enforcement of, or failed to enforce, any noncompete or similar
restriction under a Franchise Agreement, and to the Knowledge of GACCF, no
current or former Franchisee is currently in violation of any applicable
noncompete covenant.
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(z) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.23(z),
neither
GACCF nor any of its Affiliates have entered into any guarantees in respect
of
leases held by Franchisees of the Businesses.
(aa) All
persons acting as franchise salespersons and franchise sales brokers authorized
to act on behalf of GACCF has been duly and timely registered and qualified
in
all jurisdictions where such registration or qualification is necessary. All
information filed by GACCF with such registrations about all such persons is
accurate, true and complete in all respects. All of the Domestic UFOCs
accurately disclose any relevant information about franchise brokers required
in
Items, 2, 3 and 4.
(bb) Since
January 1, 2004, GACCF has conducted reasonable training programs for all
officers, agents, employees, brokers, salespersons, contractors and other
representatives engaged in the offer and sale of Franchises on behalf of GACCF
in the requirements of applicable law before permitting such persons to engage
with prospective Franchisees and has a standard practice of retraining such
persons at least annually regarding the requirements of applicable
law.
(cc) GACCF
has
no published policies governing its franchise sales efforts and personnel that
mandate conformance with applicable law and that notify sales personnel that
violation of any Legal Requirements will result in disciplinary action or
termination. GACCF has instituted and maintained internal controls adequate
to
assure that material violations of Legal Requirements governing franchise sales
are discovered and remedied and that their records demonstrate compliance with
Legal Requirements or that appropriate steps are taken to remedy non-compliance
when discovered.
(dd) GACCF
has
obtained, has filed with the applicable jurisdictions and has retained in its
records the consent of their accountants to publication of the financial
statements set forth in the Seller UFOCs, and modified Seller UFOCs to conform
to any comments offered by the accountants prior to distribution to prospective
Franchisees.
4.24 Powers
of Attorney.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.24,
there
are no outstanding powers of attorney executed by or on behalf of either
Seller.
4.25 Investment.
Each
Seller (a) understands that the Parent Shares have not been, and will not be,
registered under the Securities Act, or under any state securities laws, and
are
being offered and sold in reliance upon federal and state exemptions for
transactions not involving any public offering, (b) is acquiring the Parent
Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes, and not with a view
to the distribution thereof, (c) is a sophisticated investor with knowledge
and
experience in business and financial matters, (d) has received certain
information concerning Parent and has had the opportunity to obtain additional
information as desired in order to evaluate the merits and the risks inherent
in
holding the Parent Shares, (e) is able to bear the economic risk and lack of
liquidity inherent in holding the Parent Shares, and (f) is an Accredited
Investor.
44
4.26 Deferred
Revenue Liability.
As of
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Deferred Revenue Liability
amount reflects the full amount of all deferred revenues allocated to each
Seller’s Franchise Agreements.
4.27 Indenture
Payment.
To
MFFB’s Executive Knowledge, without giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereunder, MFFB will have adequate cash and cash equivalents on
hand to make its payment due on March 15, 2008, under and in accordance with
the
Indenture.
4.28 Settlement
Agreement.
GACCF
is the successor-in-interest to GACCI and is bound by all of the obligations
of
GACCI under the Original Settlement Agreement. All of the Settlement Franchisees
are listed on Schedule
4.28,
along
with the identification of the franchised stores (by brand name and location)
owned by the Settlement Franchisees that are eligible for payment rights under
Section 2(b) or the settlement tag-along rights under Section 2(c) of the
Original Settlement Agreement as of November 1, 2007. The notice to the
Settlement Franchisees provided for in Section 2 of the Original Settlement
Agreement was duly given by MFFB on September 21, 2007, and the thirty-day
and
sixty-day notice periods provided for in such Section 2 expired on October
20,
2007, and November 19, 2007, respectively. As of the date of this Agreement,
MFFB has received from the Settlement Franchisees notices of the exercise of
tag-along rights as listed on Schedule
4.28.
4.29 Other
Contracts.
Neither
MFFB nor either of the Sellers has entered into any Contract with any of the
parties identified in the third disclosure on Schedule
4.13
that is
not otherwise required to be set forth on the Disclosure Schedules.
ARTICLE
V
Representations
and Warranties of Buyer and Parent
Parent
and Buyer, jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant to the Sellers,
subject to the limitations set forth in Article
XI
of this
Agreement, that the statements contained in this Article
V
are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Article
V
except
to the extent any representation or warranty expressly speaks only as of a
different date), except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules attached
hereto.
5.1 Existence
and Good Standing; Authorization.
(a) Each
of
Buyer and Parent is organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of its incorporation, organization or formation.
(b) Each
of
Buyer and Parent has all requisite corporate or organizational power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the sale and the other transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of
Buyer and Parent, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized and approved by its respective board of
directors or members, and no other corporate, stockholder, organizational,
member or manager action on the part of Buyer or Parent is necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer
or
Parent and the consummation thereby of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and
Parent and, assuming the due execution of this Agreement by MFFB and the
Sellers, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each
of
Buyer and Parent enforceable against Buyer and Parent in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
receivership and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally, and general equitable principles.
45
5.2 Consents
and Approvals; No Violations.
Except
for the applicable requirements of the HSR Act, the execution and delivery
of
this Agreement by Buyer and Parent and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby do not and will not:
(a) violate
or conflict with any provisions of the Organizational Documents of Buyer or
Parent;
(b) violate
any Legal Requirement or Order to which Buyer or Parent is subject or by which
any of their respective material properties or assets are bound;
(c) require
any permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to, or filing
with any Government Authority on or prior to the Closing Date; and
(d) result
in
a material violation or breach of, conflict with, constitute (with or without
due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation, payment or acceleration) under, or result in the
creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the material properties or assets of
Buyer or Parent under any of the material terms, conditions or provisions of
any
Material Contract or any other instrument or obligation to which Buyer or Parent
is a party, or by which it or any of their respective material properties or
assets may be bound; excluding from the foregoing clauses (b), (c) and (d)
permits, consents, approvals, notices and filings the absence of which, and
violations, breaches, defaults and Encumbrances the existence of which, would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent Buyer
or Parent from performing its obligations under this Agreement.
5.3 SEC
Documents and Other Reports.
Parent
has timely filed with the SEC all documents required to be filed by it since
December 31, 2006 under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the
“Parent
SEC Documents”).
As of
their respective filing dates, the Parent SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as
the
case may be, each as in effect on the date so filed, and at the time filed
with
the SEC none of the Parent SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of
a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under
which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of Parent
included in the Parent SEC Documents complied as of their respective dates
in
all material respects with the then applicable accounting requirements and
the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared
in accordance with GAAP (except in the case of the unaudited statements, as
permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act) applied on a consistent basis
during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes
thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the condensed consolidated
financial position of Parent and its subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and
the condensed consolidated results of their operations and their condensed
consolidated cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other
adjustments described therein).
46
5.4 Litigation.
There
are no Proceedings pending, or, to the knowledge of Buyer or Parent, threatened
which would prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
5.5 Brokers’
or Finders’ Fees.
No
agent, broker, firm or other Person acting on behalf of Buyer or Parent is,
or
will be, entitled to any investment banking, commission, broker’s or finder’s
fees from any of the parties hereto, or from any Person controlling, controlled
by or under common control with any of the parties hereto, in connection with
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.6 Parent
Shares.
All of
the Parent Shares issuable in accordance with this Agreement will be, when
so
issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
free
and clear of any liens (other than those created under federal and state
securities laws or the Voting Agreement) and not subject to preemptive or other
similar rights of the stockholders of Parent.
ARTICLE
VI
Pre-Closing
Covenants
6.1 Efforts
to Closing.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions in this Agreement, the Sellers agree to
use
their reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions as
may
reasonably be necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and
to cause the conditions set forth in Article
VIII
to be
satisfied, and Buyer agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or
cause
to be taken, all actions as may reasonably be necessary to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and to cause the conditions set forth in
Article
IX
to be
satisfied as soon as practicable after the date hereof but not later than the
Termination Date. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sellers
shall give or cause to be given any notices to third parties required to be
given pursuant to any Assumed Contract to which they are a party as a result
of
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Sellers
shall
use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain prior to the Closing, and
deliver to Buyer at or prior to the Closing, all consents, waivers and approvals
required to be obtained under each Assumed Contract to which they are a party
or
by which they are bound, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer.
Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Sellers
in
the Sellers’ efforts to obtain the aforementioned consents, including by
providing such information as the other contracting parties may reasonably
request.
6.2 Conduct
of the Businesses.
From
the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Sellers shall conduct
the
Businesses in the ordinary and normal course of business, consistent with past
practice; make ordinary marketing, advertising, promotional and other budgeted
expenditures and implement ordinary pricing and promotional strategies in
amounts generally comparable with the level of such strategies for the 12-month
period ended December 31, 2006; and use commercially reasonable efforts to
preserve and maintain the ongoing operations, organization and assets of the
Business and maintain the goodwill of the Businesses’ franchisees, customers and
others having business relations with the Sellers. Further, and without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date hereof to
the
Closing Date, except as may be first approved by Buyer in writing, or as is
otherwise expressly permitted or required by this Agreement, neither Seller
shall:
47
(a) Cancel,
encumber, or in any way discharge, terminate, adversely modify or amend or
impair any Assumed Contract or enter into, modify, amend or terminate any
Material Contract, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
with
past practice, or commit any act or fail to take any action that would cause
a
material breach of any such Assumed Contract.
(b) Waive,
modify, alter, reduce or compromise any amounts payable by any Franchisee,
except for amounts due and owing to either Seller prior to the Closing;
provided,
that
such action will not waive, modify, alter, reduce or compromise any amount
payable by the Franchisee to Buyer on or after the Closing Date.
(c) Sell
or
dispose of any of the Purchased Assets, except for sales of inventory,
immaterial sales or other dispositions, each in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
(d) Create
or
suffer or permit the creation of any Encumbrance (other than Permitted
Encumbrances) on any of the Purchased Assets or with respect thereto, unless
such Encumbrance will be discharged prior to the Closing.
(e) Implement
any layoffs that could implicate the WARN Act.
(f) Take
any
action that would prevent either Seller from consummating the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.
(g) Knowingly
violate any applicable Legal Requirement.
(h) Make
any
capital commitment, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $25,000,
other than those to be paid for in full prior to the Closing and entering into
and making payments under the Filter Contract.
(i) Take,
or
fail to take, any other action which would reasonably be expected to result
in a
material breach or inaccuracy in any of the representations or warranties of
the
Sellers contained in this Agreement.
(j) Enter
into any transaction whereby either Seller receives an advance or lump sum
payment that provides value or a discount to future value for a period in excess
of six (6) months.
(k) Enter
into any Real Property Lease.
(l) Agree
or
commit, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any of the actions specified
in
the foregoing clauses.
48
6.3 Access
and Investigation.
The
Sellers will permit Parent, Buyer and their respective Representatives to have
reasonable access, prior to the Closing Date, to the properties and to the
books
and records of the Sellers during normal working hours and upon reasonable
advance notice, to familiarize itself with, access and investigate the Sellers’
properties, Businesses and operating and financial conditions. As promptly
as
practicable after the end of each month ended after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the Closing Date, the Sellers shall deliver to Parent unaudited
consolidated financial statements of MFFB as at and for the year through the
end
of the most recently completed fiscal month (each such report, an “Other
Interim Report”).
6.4 Business
Plan.
Prior
to the Closing Date, Buyer and the Sellers will cooperate in good faith to
develop a plan to address co-branding of the GAC and Parent’s Affiliates’
existing franchise systems (the “Business
Plan”).
Buyer
and the Sellers will cooperate in good faith to fully implement the Business
Plan, including executing additional documents or taking any other actions
contemplated by, or reasonably necessary to implement, the Business Plan. Each
Seller shall provide Buyer with all records and information reasonably necessary
and appropriate to carry out this Section
6.4.
6.5 Exclusivity.
The
Sellers agree that neither of them nor any of their members or officers shall,
and that they shall each use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause
their Affiliates, employees, agents and representatives (including any
investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by them) not to (and shall
not authorize any of them to) directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate,
knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiries with respect to,
or
the making, submission or announcement of, any offer or proposal from any Person
(other than Buyer or Parent) concerning
any proposal for a merger, sale of substantial assets (including the license
of
any assets), sale of shares of stock or securities of either Seller, business
combination involving either of the Sellers, or other takeover or business
combination transaction involving either of the Sellers (an “Acquisition
Proposal”);
(ii)
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
Person any nonpublic information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in
any
respect with, any Acquisition Proposal; (iii) engage in discussions with any
Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal (except to inform such Person
that these restrictions exist); (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any
Acquisition Proposal; or (v) enter into any letter of intent or similar document
or any contract, agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment
contemplating any Acquisition Proposal or transaction contemplated thereby
or
requiring opposition to or seeking to prevent or undermine the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Sellers will immediately cease any and
all
existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any Third Parties
conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal.
6.6 Change
of Name.
Within
ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date, (a) GACCF shall amend its
Organizational Documents and take all other actions necessary to change its
name
to a name that does not include “GACCF,” “Great American Cookies” or anything
similar to “GACCF” or “Great American Cookies” (b) GAM shall amend its
Organizational Documents and take all other actions necessary to change its
name
to a name that does not include “GAM” or anything similar to “GAM,” (c) each
Seller shall take all actions requested by Buyer to allow Buyer to change or
incorporate “GACCF,” “GAM” or “Great American Cookies” into Buyer’s name (or the
names of any of its Affiliates), and (d) MFFB shall cause each of its Affiliates
to amend their Organizational Documents, if necessary, and take all other
actions necessary to change their names, if applicable, to names that do not
include “GACCF,” “GAM,” “Great American Cookies,” or anything similar to
“GACCF,” “GAM” or “Great American Cookies.”
49
6.7 Notice
of Developments.
The
Sellers shall promptly advise Buyer, and Buyer or Parent, as the case may be,
shall promptly advise the Sellers, in writing of any (a) event, circumstance
or
development that results (or would reasonably be expected to result on the
Closing Date) in a breach of any representation or warranty made by it in this
Agreement and (b) any material failure of the Sellers, Parent or Buyer, as
the
case may be, to comply with or satisfy any condition or agreement to be complied
with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided
that no
disclosure pursuant to this Section
6.7
shall be
deemed to amend or supplement any provision of this Agreement or any disclosure
schedule hereto, or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach of warranty
or breach of covenant.
6.8 Continuation
of Businesses.
(a) Buyer
shall, with Sellers’ cooperation, (i) revise the Domestic UFOC to include
information required under the UFOC Guidelines concerning Buyer, Parent and
any
changes in the domestic franchise program Buyer intends to make, (ii) request
informal advisory opinions from state franchise administrators in order to
determine which states, if any, will permit Buyer to “tack” the registration of
its franchise program onto the existing registrations of GACCF, and (iii)
prepare and file the initial registration of Buyer’s Uniform Franchise Offering
Circular with appropriate state franchise administrators.
(b) Buyer
shall, with Sellers’ cooperation, amend any disclosure document relating to any
pending international franchise transaction that does not close prior to the
Closing Date to include required information about Buyer, Parent and any changes
Buyer intends to make in the documentation for international
franchises.
(c) The
Sellers shall cooperate with Buyer to minimize the possibility that any
prospective Franchisee will decide not to consummate a pending domestic or
international transaction on account of Sellers’ sale or Buyer’s acquisition of
the “Great American Cookies” franchise system.
6.9 Regulatory
Filings.
Each
of
Parent and MFFB shall supply as promptly as practicable any additional
information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the
HSR
Act in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall
use
their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the expiration or
termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as soon as
practicable. Each of Parent and MFFB, acting solely through counsel, will (i)
promptly notify the other of any written communication to that party from any
Governmental Authority and, subject to the HSR Act, if practicable, permit
the
other party to review in advance any proposed written communication to any
such
Governmental Authority and incorporate such other party’s reasonable comments
thereto, (ii) not agree to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion
with any such Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation
or
inquiry concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby unless
it consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent permitted by
such
Governmental Authority, gives the other party the opportunity to attend and
(iii) furnish the other party with copies of all correspondence, filings and
written communications between it and its Affiliates and their respective
representatives on one hand, and any such Governmental Authority and its
respective staff on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby. If
any
administrative or judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened
to
be instituted) challenging any transaction contemplated by this Agreement as
violative of the HSR Act or any other law, or if any statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, injunction or administrative order is enacted, entered,
promulgated or enforced by a Governmental Authority that would make the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or would otherwise prohibit
or materially impair or delay the consummation thereof, each of Parent and
MFFB
shall cooperate in all respects with the other and use its commercially
reasonable efforts to resolve any and all objections as may be asserted with
respect to this Agreement under the HSR Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Parent and MFFB shall not be required to take any commercially unreasonable
action that substantially impairs the overall benefits expected to be realized
from the consummation of the transactions set forth herein.
50
6.10 Maintenance
of Real Property.
The
Sellers shall maintain the Real Property, including all of the Improvements,
in
substantially the same condition as existed on the date of this Agreement,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, and shall not demolish or remove any of the
existing Improvements, or erect new improvements on the Real Property or any
portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Buyer.
6.11 Leases.
Neither
Seller shall amend, modify, extend, renew or terminate any Lease, nor shall
Sellers enter into any new lease sublease, license or other agreement for the
use or occupancy of any Real Property, without the prior written consent of
Buyer or Parent.
6.12 Title
Insurance.
The
Sellers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in obtaining
the Title Policy in form and substance as set forth in Article
VIII,
within
the time periods set forth therein, including removing from title any liens
that
are not Permitted Encumbrances. The Sellers shall provide the Title Company
with
any affidavits, releases, indemnities, memoranda or other assurances reasonably
requested by the Title Company to issue the Title Policy. All fees, costs and
expenses with respect to the Title Commitment, the Title Policy and the Survey
shall be paid one-half by Buyer and one-half by the Sellers.
6.13 Financing.
The
Sellers shall cooperate and take all actions reasonably requested by Parent
in
connection with Parent obtaining the financing it needs in order to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby, provided
that the
foregoing does not require the Sellers to execute any agreements, certificates
or other documents not expressly provided for in this Agreement.
6.14 Employees.
Prior
to the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause Parent to offer jobs to the employees
of
the Sellers set forth on the attached Schedule
6.14.
These
job offers (a) shall become effective only upon the occurrence of the Closing,
(b) shall reflect terms and conditions of employment that are substantially
similar in the aggregate to those terms and conditions under which such
employees are employed by the Sellers as of the Closing Date, and (c) shall
further be conditioned upon such employees being available to begin work for
Buyer as of the Closing Date, subject to any reinstatement or leave rights
they
may have under the applicable leave policies of the Sellers or applicable law.
Employees of the Sellers who accept such offers of employment shall be referred
to herein as “Transferred
Employees.”
51
ARTICLE
VII
Post-Closing
Covenants
7.1 Employees.
(a) Following
the Closing Date, if requested by Buyer and permitted under Parent’s 401(k)
plan, the Sellers shall take all actions necessary to permit the rollover in
cash (but not outstanding loan promissory notes for participant loans) of
account balances (but not outstanding loans) of all Transferred Employees from
the Seller 401(k) plan in which such employees participated as of the Closing
Date to a 401(k) plan maintained by Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer.
(b) The
Sellers hereby agree that any current or former employee of the Businesses
who
(i) as of the Closing Date is short-term disabled or receiving or entitled
to
receive short-term disability benefits and who subsequently becomes eligible
to
receive long-term disability benefits, or (ii) as of the Closing Date is
receiving or entitled to receive long-term disability benefits, shall become
eligible or continue to be eligible, as applicable, to receive long-term
disability benefits under a Seller’s or its Affiliate’s long-term disability
plan unless and until such individual is no longer disabled.
(c) No
provision of this Agreement, express or implied: (i) shall be construed to
establish, amend, or modify any benefit plan, program, agreement, or
arrangement; (ii) shall limit the ability of Buyer or any of its Affiliates
to
amend, modify or terminate any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement
at any time assumed, established, sponsored or maintained by any of them; (iii)
is intended to confer upon any current or former employee (including any
Transferred Employee) or any other Person any right to employment or continued
employment for any period of time by reason of this Agreement, or any right
to a
particular term or condition of employment; or (iv) is intended to confer upon
any Person (including any Transferred Employee) any rights as a third party
beneficiary.
7.2 Taxes
Related to Purchase of Assets; Tax Cooperation.
(a) Transfer
Taxes.
(i) All
deed,
stamp, transfer, documentary, sales and use, and registration taxes, and
conveyance fees, recording charges and other similar Taxes and fees (including
any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and
the
transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, the “Transfer
Taxes”)
shall
be paid one half by Buyer and one half by the Sellers (such obligation to be
joint and several as between Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the
other hand). The provisions of this Section
7.2
and no
other provision, shall govern the economic burden of Transfer
Taxes.
52
(ii) Except
to
the extent required to be filed by the Sellers, Buyer shall properly file on
a
timely basis all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect
to
all Transfer Taxes and Buyer and the Sellers shall cooperate in good faith
to
minimize, to the fullest extent possible under applicable laws, the amount
of
any such Transfer Taxes payable in connection therewith. For Tax Returns
required to be prepared by Buyer pursuant to this Section
7.2(a)(ii),
Buyer
shall collect the proper amount from the Sellers and pay the Transfer Taxes
shown on such Tax Return. Buyer shall use reasonable best efforts to provide
to
the Sellers any Tax Returns which Buyer is required to prepare and file at
least
ten (10) days before such Tax Returns are due to be filed. For Tax Returns
required to be prepared by the Sellers pursuant to this Section
7.2(a)(ii),
the
Sellers shall collect the proper amount from Buyer and pay the Transfer Taxes
shown on such Tax Return. The Sellers shall use reasonable best efforts to
provide Buyer any Tax Returns which they are required to prepare and file at
least ten (10) days before such Tax Returns are due to be filed.
(b) Straddle
Period Taxes.
Buyer
shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed any Tax
Returns other than any Tax Return based upon or related to income or receipts
with respect to the Purchased Assets for taxable periods which begin before
the
Closing Date and end after the Closing Date (a “Straddle
Period”).
Such
Tax Returns shall be prepared or caused to be prepared by Buyer. Buyer shall
submit drafts of such Tax Returns to the Sellers for approval by the Sellers
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) no later than
twenty (20) days prior to the date that such Tax Returns are required to be
filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority, including extensions. In
the
event that the Sellers and Buyer cannot reach agreement with respect to any
items shown on such Tax Returns, a nationally recognized accounting firm
mutually acceptable to the Sellers and Buyer shall prepare the Tax Returns.
The
costs related to having the accounting firm prepare the Tax Returns shall be
borne equally by the Sellers and Buyer. The Sellers shall pay to Buyer an amount
equal to the portion of the Taxes shown on a Tax Return approved by the Sellers
which relates to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing
Date
promptly upon receiving notice from Buyer that the Sellers are liable under
this
Section
7.2(b)
for such
Taxes but in no event later than five (5) Business Days before the Tax Return
reflecting such liability is required to be filed. For purposes of this
Section
7.2(b),
in the
case of sales, use and other similar Taxes that are payable for a Straddle
Period, the portion of such Tax that relates to the portion of such taxable
period ending on the Closing Date shall be deemed equal to the amount that
would
be payable if the relevant taxable period ended on and included the Closing
Date.
(c) Property
Taxes.
The
Sellers and Buyer shall allocate payment of property Taxes payable in connection
with the Purchased Assets as of the Closing Date. The portion of such property
Taxes that relates to the portion of such taxable period ending on and including
the Closing Date shall be deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire
taxable period multiplied by a faction the numerator of which is the number
of
days in the taxable period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of
which is the number of days in the entire taxable period. Buyer and the Sellers
shall also cooperate with respect to the preparation and filing of any property
Tax Returns (and payment of any property Taxes) in a manner similar to the
procedure for the preparation and filing of Tax Returns (and payment of Taxes)
for a Straddle Period.
53
(d) Cooperation.
The
Sellers and Buyer shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to)
cooperate fully with each other and make available or cause to be made available
to each other for consultation, inspection and copying (at such other party’s
expense) in a timely fashion such personnel, Tax data, relevant Tax Returns
or
portions thereof and filings, files, books, records, documents, financial,
technical and operating data, computer records and other information as may
be
reasonably requested, including, without limitation, (a) for the preparation
by
such other party of any Tax Returns or (b) in connection with any Tax audit
or
proceeding including one party (or an Affiliate thereof) to the extent such
Tax
audit or proceeding relates to or arises from the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement.
7.3 Nonsolicitation.
(a) For
a
period of five (5) years
from the date of this Agreement, neither Seller nor MFFB shall, and MFFB shall
cause each of its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, on its own behalf,
as an agent of, on behalf of or in conjunction with, or as a member, partner
or
shareholder of, any other firm, corporation or other entity or Person induce
any
former employee, licensee, independent contractor, manufacturer, supplier or
Franchisee of either Seller with respect to the Businesses, to terminate his
or
her employment or relationship, as applicable, with Buyer or its
Affiliates.
(b) Buyer
and
Parent are entitled (without limitation of any other remedy) to specific
performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to any breach or threatened
breach of the covenants in this Section
7.3,
without
the need to post any bond. If any court of competent jurisdiction at any time
deems the time periods for the foregoing covenants too lengthy or the scope
of
the covenants too broad, the restrictive time periods will be deemed to be
the
longest period permissible by law, and the scope will be deemed to comprise
the
broadest scope permissible by law under the circumstances. It is the intent
of
the parties to protect and preserve the Businesses and the Purchased Assets
and
therefore the parties agree and direct that the time period and scope of the
foregoing covenants will be the maximum permissible duration (not to exceed
five
(5) years) and size.
7.4 Further
Assurances.
From
time to time following the Closing, each party shall execute and deliver, or
cause to be executed and delivered, such instruments and documents as a party
may reasonably request or as may be otherwise necessary to more effectively
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Following the Closing, the
Sellers agree to forward to Buyer any correspondence or other communications
addressed to the Sellers received by them that relates to the Purchased Assets
or Assumed Liabilities.
7.5 Audit.
The
Sellers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause KPMG LLP, within
seventy (70) days of the Closing Date, to (x) audit the financial statements
of
each Seller for 2005, 2006 and 2007 in a manner meeting the requirements of
Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (the “SEC
Financial Statements”);
(y)
review the proposed pro forma adjustments specific to the Sellers’ financial
information to be included in the pro forma financial statements that Parent
intends to file in reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act; and (z) take
such
other similar actions reasonably requested by Buyer, including (i) consenting
to
the proper use of its report(s) on the audited financial statements included
in
the SEC Financial Statements; and (ii) performing a SAS 100 review of any
unaudited financial statements of the Sellers included in the SEC Financial
Statements. In connection with the foregoing, the Sellers shall use their
reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in the preparation of such SEC Financial
Statements, at Buyer’s expense, including without limitation providing Buyer’s
Representatives with full access during normal business hours, and in a manner
so as not to interfere with the normal business operations of the Sellers,
to
all relevant books, records, work papers, information and employees and auditors
of such Persons, to the extent necessary in connection with the preparation
of
any such SEC Financial Statements. Buyer shall reimburse the Sellers for costs
incurred by the Sellers in connection with the preparation of the SEC Financial
Statements and their compliance with the Sellers’ obligations under this
Section
7.5,
including expenses incurred with the Sellers’ engagement of KPMG LLP. The
Sellers shall advise Buyer should the Sellers become aware that KPMG LLP’s
charges in respect of the Sellers’ obligations under this Section
7.5
will
exceed $110,000. The Sellers shall act in good faith and use their reasonable
best efforts to ensure that the cost of their compliance obligations under
this
Section
7.5
are
minimized to the extent possible.
54
7.6 Confidentiality.
Except
as otherwise stated herein, from and after the date hereof, for a period of
three (3) years, the Sellers shall, and shall cause each of their Affiliates
to,
treat as confidential and use commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard
and
not to use, except as expressly agreed in writing by Buyer, any and all the
Seller Information included within the Purchased Assets, including the
Intellectual Property, in each case using the standard of care necessary to
prevent the unauthorized use, dissemination or disclosure of such Seller
Information. Such three (3) year limitation shall not apply to the Seller
Recipes and Processes, and the Sellers shall, and shall cause each of their
respective Affiliates to, treat the Seller Recipes and Processes as confidential
and use commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard the secrecy of, and refrain
from using, any of the Seller Recipes and Processes following the Closing Date.
After the Closing Date, the Sellers and their respective Affiliates shall not
make any representations to the public that any recipes or processes used by
the
Sellers or their respective Affiliates are identical or substantially similar
to
the Seller Recipes and Processes. For purposes of this Section
7.6,
from
and after the date hereof, confidential information included within the
Purchased Assets shall be deemed to be “Seller Information” notwithstanding the
fact that such information was available to or in the possession of the Sellers
or any of their Affiliates prior to the Closing. Notwithstanding the generality
of the foregoing, nothing in this Section
7.6
shall
prohibit either Seller or its Affiliates from making public disclosures required
by applicable Legal Requirements, according to Section
12.1.
7.7 Solvency.
From
the time of execution of this Agreement through July 31, 2008, each of the
Sellers and MFFB shall continue to pay their debts as they mature or become
due,
including the March 15, 2008 payment due under the Indenture.
55
7.8 Restrictions
on Sale of Parent Shares.
During
the six (6) month period following the Closing Date (such period herein referred
to as the “Initial
Period”),
neither Seller shall, directly or indirectly, through an “affiliate” or
“associate” (as such terms are defined in the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Act), or otherwise, offer, sell, pledge, hypothecate,
grant
an option for sale, or otherwise dispose of, or transfer or grant any rights
with respect thereto in any manner either privately or publicly (each, a
“Transfer”)
any of
the Parent Shares or Shares of the Parent acquired by the Sellers pursuant
to a
stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination,
reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of Parent (each
an
“Adjustment”)
affecting Parent Shares (together with the Parent Shares, “Securities”),
or
enter into any agreement or any transaction that has the effect of transferring,
in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of
ownership of the Securities, whether any such agreement or transaction is to
be
settled by delivery of the Securities; provided,
however,
that
the Sellers may pledge their rights in the Parent Shares in accordance with
the
Indenture. Following the Initial Period, the restrictions on Transfer provided
for in this Section
7.8
shall
lapse with respect to 25% of the number of Parent Shares owned by the Sellers
in
the aggregate (taking into account and proportionally adjusting for any
Adjustments occurring during such period) and the Sellers may Transfer such
Parent Shares, in open market transactions without restriction. On the first
day
of each of the first three consecutive three month periods following the six
month anniversary of the Closing Date, the restrictions on Transfer provided
for
in this Section
7.8
shall
lapse with respect to 25% of the aggregate number of Parent Shares paid to
the
Sellers at Closing, (taking into account and proportionally adjusting for any
Adjustments occurring during such period) and the Sellers may Transfer such
Parent Shares, in open market transactions without restriction, subject to
an
effective Registration Statement (as defined in Section
7.9)
covering such Parent Shares or an available exemption from
registration.
7.9 Registration.
The
Sellers shall have registration rights in accordance with the terms of a
registration rights agreement, dated as of the Closing Date and substantially
in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D
(the
“Registration
Rights Agreement”),
pursuant to which, among other things, Parent shall agree to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to (a) file a registration statement on Form
S-3, if eligible, or other appropriate form (the “Registration
Statement”)
covering the Parent Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement, with the SEC
within 180 days following the Closing Date and (b) cause such Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably possible after such
filing.
7.10 Agreement
to Vote.
At all
times prior to a Transfer (as defined above) of Parent Shares, at every meeting
of the stockholders of Parent called with respect to any of the following,
and
at every adjournment thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent
of the stockholders of Parent, the Sellers shall appear at such meeting (in
person or by proxy) and shall vote or consent the Parent Shares (i) in favor
of
adoption of each proposal recommended by the Board of Directors of Parent for
adoption by the stockholders and (ii) against any proposal for which the Board
of Directors of Parent does not support. Prior to the termination of this
Agreement, each Seller covenants and agrees not to enter into any agreement
or
understanding with any person to vote or give instructions in any manner
inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. Each Seller agrees to enter
into
a Voting Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date and substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit
E
(the
“Voting
Agreement”),
that
appoints a designee of Parent its
proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, to vote or act by written consent with respect to the Parent
Shares held by the Seller.
7.11 Access
to Records.
For two
(2) years after the Closing, each party will permit the other parties and their
Affiliates reasonable access on not less than five (5) business days prior
written notice, during normal business hours, at the sole cost and expense
of
the requesting party and in a manner that will not unreasonably interfere with
the normal operations of the providing party, to and the right to make copies
of
the books and records of such party relating to either Seller and/or the
Purchased Assets existing prior to Closing and in such providing party’s
possession or control; provided,
however,
that
the requesting party shall only use such information (a) to protect or enforce
its rights or perform its obligations under this Agreement and any agreements
entered into among the parties in connection herewith or (b) in connection
with
tax or other regulatory filings, litigation or financial reporting. In addition,
the providing party will make available to the requesting party or its
Affiliate, upon reasonable request and to the extent still employed by the
providing party, personnel who are familiar with any such matter requested.
56
7.12 Product
Formulation Royalties.
From
and after the Closing Date, MFFB or its Affiliates, as applicable, shall (i)
,within five (5) Business Days of its receipt of any Product Formulation
Royalties that are to be paid to Buyer hereunder, pay Buyer such Product
Formulation Royalties and provide Buyer with a notice detailing such amounts,
which notice shall include sufficient detail setting forth the calculation
of
such amounts and (ii) until payment of such Product Formulation Royalties to
Buyer, hold such amounts in trust for Buyer. Within fifteen (15) days of the
collection or receipt by MFFB or its Affiliates, as applicable, of any Product
Formulation Royalties, MFFB or its Affiliates shall pay to, or as directed
by,
Buyer such amounts owing Buyer in immediately available funds by wire transfer.
All payments pursuant to this Section
7.12
shall be
made in accordance with the allocation schedule for the applicable Vendor
Agreements attached hereto as Schedule
7.12
(the
“Vendor
Allocation Schedule”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, MFFB shall use, and shall cause its Affiliates
to
use, good faith efforts to have the counterparty to each Vendor Agreement pay
Buyer the Product Formulation Royalties directly, based upon the Vendor
Allocation Schedule. In addition, MFFB shall use its good faith efforts, or
cause its Affiliates to use good faith efforts, to assist Buyer in transitioning
any services received pursuant to a Vendor Agreement to Buyer as Buyer may
request.
7.13 Lease
Obligations.
(a) General.
Except
as expressly set forth in this Section
7.13,
MFFB
and its Affiliates shall retain all liability for those GACCF locations set
forth on Schedule
7.13(a)
for
which MFFB or one of its Affiliates is either the tenant under the lease or
guarantees the obligations under the lease (collectively, “Lease
Locations”).
If
Buyer terminates the Franchise Agreement for any Franchisee in a Lease Location,
Buyer shall use its good faith efforts to provide MFFB at least thirty (30)
days
prior written notice of such termination. If MFFB, or any of its successors
and
assigns of any MFFB Other Franchise Brand, terminates any MFFB Other Franchise
Brand at a Lease Location, MFFB shall use its good faith efforts to provide
Buyer at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of such
termination.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything set forth herein to the contrary, if any Franchise Agreement in respect
of any Lease Location is terminated by Buyer, with or without Cause, or is
terminated by the Franchisee of such Lease Location, Buyer and MFFB shall each
use their reasonable best efforts to (i) within the first ninety (90) days
following the effective date of such termination, locate another Person to
operate the Franchise at such Lease Location, (ii) between ninety-one (91)
and
one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of such termination,
find a suitable franchisee from any brand under which Buyer or MFFB, or either
of their Affiliates, conducts a franchise business, to operate a franchise
at
such Lease Location, and (iii) from one hundred eighty-one (181) days following
the effective date of such termination, either find any Person to operate any
business at such Lease Location or negotiate a settlement, reasonably acceptable
to each party, with the landlord terminating the lease for such Lease
Location.
57
(c) For
purposes of this Section
7.13,
“Cause”
shall
mean a termination of a Franchise Agreement by Buyer due to a breach of the
Franchise Agreement by the Franchisee, which breach is not cured, or capable
of
being cured, in the time permitted under the applicable Franchise Agreement
or a
termination of the Franchise Agreement due to negligence by the
Franchisee.
(d) Buyer
Terminations.
From
the Closing Date until, but excluding, the first day following the one (1)
year
anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Lease
Obligation Date”),
if
Buyer terminates a Franchise Agreement in respect of a Lease Location (i)
without Cause, Buyer will be responsible for one hundred percent (100%) of
the
liability associated with such Lease Location following such termination, (ii)
with Cause, MFFB shall be responsible for one hundred percent (100%) of the
liability associated with such Lease Location. From and after the Lease
Obligation Date, if Buyer terminates a Franchise Agreement in respect of a
Lease
Location (i) without Cause, Buyer will be responsible for one hundred percent
(100%) of the liability associated with such Lease Location following such
termination, (ii) with Cause, Buyer and MFFB shall each be responsible for
fifty
percent (50%) of the liabilities associated with such Lease
Location.
(e) Franchisee
Terminations.
From
the Closing Date until, but excluding, the Lease Obligation Date, if a
Franchisee terminates its Franchise Agreement in respect of a Lease Location,
MFFB shall be responsible for one hundred percent (100%) of the liability
associated with such Lease Location. From and after the Lease Obligation Date,
if a Franchisee terminates its Franchise Agreement in respect of a Lease
Location (other than as a result of MFFB terminating such Franchisee’s right to
operate a MFFB Other Franchise Brand at such Lease Location), Buyer and MFFB
shall each be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the liabilities associated
with such Lease Location.
(f) MFFB
Terminations.
From
the Closing Date until, but excluding, the Lease Obligation Date, if MFFB
terminates a lease or sublease in respect of a Lease Location for any reason,
MFFB shall be responsible for one hundred percent (100%) of the liability
associated with such Lease Location. From and after the Lease Obligation Date,
if MFFB terminates a lease or sublease in respect of a Lease Location (other
than as a result of MFFB terminating such Franchisee’s right to operate a MFFB
Other Franchise Brand at such Lease Location) for a Lease Breach, Buyer and
MFFB
shall each be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the liabilities associated
with such Lease Location; provided,
however,
that
MFFB provides Buyer at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of its intent
to terminate such lease or sublease. For purposes of this Section
7.13(f),
“Lease
Breach”
shall
mean a breach by a Franchisee of a lease or sublease in respect of a Lease
Location, which breach is not cured, or capable of being cured, in the time
permitted under the applicable lease or sublease.
7.14 Intellectual
Property.
The
Sellers agrees to use commercially reasonably efforts to take, or cause to
be
taken all actions as Buyer may reasonably request or as may be otherwise
necessary to assist with the registration and transfer of all foreign trademarks
set forth on Schedule
7.14.
58
7.15 Franchise
Business.
(a) Buyer
shall, with the Sellers’ cooperation, revise the Domestic UFOC to include
information required under the UFOC Guidelines concerning Buyer, Parent and
any
changes in the domestic franchise program Buyer intends to make.
(b) Buyer
shall, with the Sellers’ cooperation, amend any disclosure document relating to
any international franchise transaction pending as of the Closing Date to
include required information about Buyer, Parent and any changes Buyer intends
to make in the documentation for international franchises.
(c) The
Sellers shall cooperate with Buyer to minimize the possibility that any
prospective Franchisee will decide not to consummate a pending domestic or
international transaction on account of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
7.16 New
Settlement Agreement.
Each of
Parent and MFFB agree that they will make all payments of the Release
Consideration and perform all Undertakings, in each case, as contemplated by
the
New Settlement Agreement and will indemnify and hold harmless Parent, Buyer,
the
Sellers, MFFB and their Affiliates, as applicable, for any and all Damages
incurred by them by reason of any failure by Parent or MFFB, as applicable,
to
make such payments or to so perform.
7.17 Waste
Water Filter.
MFFB
agrees to replace the waste water filter at the GAM manufacturing facility
as
contemplated by the Filter Contract.
Upon
completion, the waste water filter will be in good condition and repair and
sufficient for the operation of the GAC Manufacturing Business.
MFFB
shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent and Buyer for any and all costs and
expenses related to the Filter Contract and to any other expenses paid to repair
and replace the waste water filter that is to be replaced pursuant to the Filter
Contract.
ARTICLE
VIII
Conditions
Precedent to Parent’s and Buyer’s Obligation to Close
The
Buyer’s obligation to purchase the Assets and Parent’s and the Buyer’s
obligation to take the other actions required to be taken by Buyer or Parent
at
the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of
each
of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by Buyer or Parent,
as
appropriate, in whole or in part):
59
8.1
Truth
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in this Agreement that
are qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct, and those not so
qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of the date
of
this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that
any
such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which
case such representation and warranty qualified as to materiality shall be
true
and correct, and such representation and warranty not so qualified shall be
true
and correct in all material respects, as of such earlier date.
8.2
Performance
of Agreements.
Each of
the covenants and agreements of the Sellers to be performed or complied with
by
them at or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the terms hereof, shall have
been performed or complied with in all material respects.
8.3
Certificate.
Each
Seller shall have delivered (and caused to be delivered) to Buyer a certificate,
dated the Closing Date and executed by or on behalf of such Seller, certifying
as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1
and
8.2
of this
Agreement.
8.4
No
Injunction.
No
court or other Government Authority shall have issued an Order, which shall
then
be in effect, restraining or prohibiting the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
8.5
Governmental
and Other Approvals.
All of
the Government Authorizations and third-party consents and approvals set forth
on Schedule
8.5
shall
have been received and shall be in full force and effect. Buyer shall have
received copies of releases of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted
Encumbrances) against any asset, property or right of the Purchased Assets.
The
applicable waiting periods, if any, and any extensions thereof, under the HSR
Act shall have expired or otherwise been terminated.
8.6
Indenture
Lien Release.
The
Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer evidence satisfactory to Buyer in its
sole
discretion that the Trustee (as defined in the Indenture) has taken all action
and delivered all documents necessary to obtain a full and unconditional release
of the Purchased Assets from the security interests created by the Indenture,
Notes and Collateral Agreements (as such terms are defined in the
Indenture).
8.7
Transition
Services.
The
Sellers shall have entered into the Transition Services Agreement, and such
agreement shall be in full force and effect.
8.8
Escrow
Agreement.
The
Sellers and the Escrow Agent shall have entered into the Escrow Agreement,
and
such agreement shall be in full force and effect.
8.9
Registration
Rights Agreement.
Each
Seller shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, and such
agreement shall be in full force and effect.
8.10
Voting
Agreement.
Each
Seller shall have entered into the Voting Agreement, and such agreement shall
be
in full force and effect.
8.11
Deed.
GAM
shall have executed and delivered the Deed, and such agreement shall be in
full
force and effect.
60
8.12 No
Material Adverse Effect.
From
the date hereof to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any event,
circumstance or effect that has had or would reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
8.13 Financing.
The
Parent shall have obtained on terms and conditions satisfactory to it all of
the
financing it needs in order to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.
8.14 Real
Property.
No
damage or destruction or other change has occurred with respect to any of the
Owned Real Property or any portion thereof that, individually or in the
aggregate, would materially impair the use or occupancy of the Owned Real
Property or the operation of the Sellers’ Businesses as currently conducted
thereon.
8.15 Title
Insurance.
Buyer
has
obtained a proforma for a title insurance policy from the Title Company in
accordance with the Title Commitment, which will insure Buyer’s fee simple title
to the Owned Real Property as of the Closing Date (including all recorded
appurtenant easements, insured as separate legal parcels), with gap coverage
from the Sellers through the date of recording, subject only to Permitted
Encumbrances, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Owned Real
Property insured thereunder and which includes all endorsements requested by
Buyer. At Closing, the Title Company shall be irrevocably committed to issue
a
title insurance policy in substantially the same form as such proforma (the
“Title
Policy”).
The
Sellers shall have provided the Title Company with all affidavits, releases,
indemnities, memoranda or other assurances requested by the Title Company to
issue the Title Policy. All fees, costs and expenses with respect to the Title
Commitment, the Title Policy and the Survey shall be paid one-half by Buyer
and
one-half by the Sellers.
8.16 Closing
Deliverables.
In
addition to any other documents to be delivered or actions to be taken under
other provisions of this Agreement, at or prior to the Closing, the Sellers
shall deliver to Buyer:
(a) One
or
more executed bills of sale in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer transferring to Buyer or its respective designated Affiliates all Tangible
Personal Property.
(b) One
or
more executed assignment and assumption agreement(s) in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer assigning to Buyer or its respective designated
Affiliates the Assumed Contracts, including the Leases, to be assigned
hereunder.
(c) Certified
copies of the resolutions of the Sellers authorizing the execution, delivery,
and performance of this Agreement by the Sellers and the consummation of the
transactions provided for herein.
(d) An
executed assignment and assumption of the Intellectual Property Rights, in
form
and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer.
(e) A
non-foreign affidavit from Xxx. Xxxxxx’ Original Cookies, Inc. dated as of the
Closing Date, sworn under penalty of perjury and in the form required under
treasury regulations issued pursuant to Code §1445 stating that Xxx. Xxxxxx’
Original Cookies, Inc. is not a foreign person as defined in Code
§1445.
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(f) Any
Seller Recipes and Processes not located at the GAM manufacturing
facility.
ARTICLE
IX
Conditions
Precedent to the Sellers’ Obligation to Close
All
obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment
of each of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived in whole
or in part by the Sellers, in their sole discretion:
9.1
Truth
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of Parent and Buyer contained in this Agreement
that are qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct, and those not
so
qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of the date
of
this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that
any
such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which
case such representation or warranty that is qualified as to materiality shall
be true and correct, and such representation and warranty not so qualified
shall
be true and correct in all material respects, as of such earlier
date.
9.2
Performance
of Agreements.
Each of
the covenants and agreements of Parent and Buyer to be performed or complied
with by Parent or Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the terms
hereof, shall have been duly performed or complied with by each of Parent and
Buyer in all material respects.
9.3
Certificate.
Parent
and Buyer have delivered to the Sellers a certificate, dated the Closing Date
and executed by a duly authorized officer on behalf of Parent and Buyer,
certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections
9.1
and
9.2
of this
Agreement.
9.4
No
Injunction.
No
court or other Government Authority shall have issued an Order, which shall
then
be in effect, restraining or prohibiting the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
9.5 Governmental
and Other Approvals.
All
Government Authorizations and third-party consents and approvals set forth
on
Schedule
8.5
shall
have been received and shall be in full force and effect. The applicable waiting
periods, if any, and any extensions thereof, under the HSR Act shall have
expired or otherwise been terminated.
9.6
Escrow
Agreement.
Buyer,
Parent and the Escrow Agent shall have entered into the Escrow Agreement, and
such agreement shall be in full force and effect.
9.7
Registration
Rights Agreement.
Parent
shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, and such agreement
shall be in full force and effect.
62
9.8
Closing
Deliverables.
In
addition to any other documents to be delivered or actions to be taken under
other provisions of this Agreement, at Closing, Parent or Buyer, as applicable,
shall deliver to the Sellers the following (“Buyer’s
Closing Documents”):
(a) The
Initial Purchase Price as provided in Sections
3.2
and
3.3.
(b) One
or
more assignment and assumption agreement(s) assuming the Assumed Liabilities
executed by Buyer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Sellers.
(c) A
certified copy of the resolutions of Parent and Buyer authorizing the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions provided for herein.
ARTICLE
X
Termination
10.1 Right
to Terminate.
This
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby may be terminated at any
time
prior to the Closing:
(a) by
the
mutual written consent of Buyer and the Sellers;
(b) by
Buyer
or the Sellers if the Closing shall not have occurred by January 31, 2008 (the
“Termination
Date”);
(c) by
Buyer
or the Sellers if a court of competent jurisdiction or other Government
Authority shall have issued a nonappealable final order, decree or ruling or
taken any other action, in each case having the effect of permanently
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated
hereby, except if the party relying on such order, decree or ruling or other
action has not complied with its obligations under this Agreement;
(d) by
the
Sellers, if there has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or
agreement on the part of Parent or Buyer set forth in this Agreement that causes
the conditions set forth in Article
IX
to
become incapable of fulfillment by the Termination Date, unless waived by the
Sellers;
(e) by
Parent
or Buyer, if there has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement on the part of the Sellers set forth in this Agreement that causes
the conditions set forth in Article
VIII
to
become incapable of fulfillment by the Termination Date, unless waived by Buyer
or Parent; provided,
however,
that
the party exercising its right to so terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section
10.1(b),
10.1(d)
or
10.1(e)
shall
not have a right to terminate if, at the time of such termination, there exists
a breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement that results in the closing conditions set forth
in
Article
VIII
or
IX,
as
applicable, not being satisfied.
63
10.2 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in this Article
X,
this
Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force or effect, and
there shall be no liability or obligation hereunder on the part of the Sellers,
Parent or Buyer, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees,
members, partners, Affiliates, agents, representatives, heirs, administrators,
executors, successors or assigns, except (i) the provisions of this Agreement
relating to the Confidentiality Agreement, (ii) the obligations of the parties
to this Agreement under Article
XI
hereof
and this Section
10.2
shall
survive any such termination and (iii) that Parent shall be obligated to pay
to
MFFB at the time of such termination a termination fee of $750,000 in the event
that all conditions to Closing under Article VIII have been satisfied on or
before January 31, 2008, other than the financing condition in Section
8.13
and
other than the delivery of documents at Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of any
of
its covenants or agreements or breach of its representations or warranties
contained in this Agreement prior to termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
XI
Indemnification;
Remedies
11.1 Survival.
All
representations and warranties made by the Sellers, MFFB, Parent or Buyer,
herein, or in any certificate, schedule or exhibit delivered pursuant hereto,
shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until the
9-month anniversary of
the
Closing Date (the “Survival
Date”),
other
than in the case of fraud and except as to any matters with respect to which
a
bona fide written claim shall have been made or action at law or in equity
shall
have been commenced before such date, in which event survival shall continue
(but only with respect to, and to the extent of, such claim or action);
provided,
however,
that
the representations and warranties (i) in Section
4.18
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect for a period of five (5) years
after
Closing, (ii) in Section
4.10
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect until 30 days after the expiration
of the applicable statute of limitations for the assessment of Taxes (including
all periods of extension, whether automatic or permissive), and (iii) in
Sections
4.1,
4.2,
4.6,
4.7,
4.21,
5.1,
5.5
and
5.6
(the
“Core
Representations”)
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect indefinitely. Each covenant and
agreement of the Sellers and Buyer contained in this Agreement, which by its
terms is required to be performed after the Closing Date, shall survive the
Closing and remain in full force and effect until such covenant or agreement
is
performed.
11.2 Indemnification
by the Sellers and MFFB.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Article
XI,
the
Sellers, severally but not jointly, and MFFB jointly and severally with each
Seller, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and Parent and their
managers, members, officers, directors, agents, attorneys and employees,
(hereinafter “Buyer
Indemnified Parties”)
from
and against any and all Damages incurred or sustained by Buyer Indemnified
Parties as a result of:
(a) the
breach of any representation or warranty of the Sellers or MFFB, as the case
may
be, contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or other instrument
furnished to Buyer or Parent by either Seller pursuant to this
Agreement;
(b) the
breach of, default under or nonfulfillment of any covenant, obligation or
agreement of either Seller or MFFB, as the case may be, under this Agreement
or
the agreements and instruments contemplated herein;
64
(c) the
Excluded Assets;
(d) any
Excluded Liability, including, without limitation, any liability that is based
upon the occurrence of events, or actions taken by either Seller, prior to
the
Closing Date and is not an Assumed Liability; or
(e) any
litigation, proceeding or claim by any Person relating to the Businesses as
conducted prior to Closing whether or not such litigation, proceeding or claim
is set forth on Schedule
4.13(a)
or
Schedule
4.13(b);
or
(f) any
and
all actions, suits, or proceedings, incident to any of the
foregoing.
11.3 Indemnification
by Buyer.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Article
XI,
Buyer
and Parent will each indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sellers and their
respective stockholders, managers, officers, directors, agents, attorneys and
employees (hereinafter “Seller
Indemnified Parties”
and,
together with the Buyer Indemnified Parties, the “Indemnified
Party”)
from
and against any and all Damages incurred or sustained by the Sellers Indemnified
Parties as a result of:
(a) the
breach of any representation or warranty of Buyer or Parent contained under
this
Agreement or any certificate or other instrument furnished by Buyer or Parent
to
the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) the
breach of, default under of nonfulfillment of any covenant, obligation or
agreement by Buyer or Parent under this Agreement or in the agreements and
instruments contemplated herein;
(c) the
operation of the Businesses and the ownership of the Purchased Assets by Buyer
following the Closing, except with respect to any Excluded
Liability;
(d) any
Assumed Liability; and
(e) any
and
all actions, suits, or proceedings incident to any of the
foregoing.
11.4 Limitation
on Liability.
(a) None
of
the Sellers, MFFB or Parent nor Buyer shall have any liability for Damages
under, respectively, Section
11.2(a)
or
Section
11.3(a),
and
neither the Seller Indemnified Parties nor the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall
have the right to seek indemnification under, respectively, Section
11.2(a)
or
Section
11.3(a)
until
the aggregate amount of the Damages incurred by such Indemnified Party exceeds
$200,000 (the “Minimum
Loss”),
provided that the Minimum Loss shall not apply to any Damages (and there shall
be first-dollar liability) resulting from (i) any breach or misrepresentation
of
any Core Representations and Sections
4.10
and
4.18
or (ii)
any payment obligation of either Seller under Section
3.2(g).
After
the Minimum Loss is exceeded, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to
indemnification for the entire amount of its Damages in excess of the Minimum
Loss, subject to the limitations on recovery and recourse set forth in this
Article
XI.
65
(b) The
aggregate liability of the Sellers and MFFB on the one hand, and Buyer and
Parent, on the other, for all Damages under Section
11.2
or
Section
11.3,
as
applicable, shall not exceed the Final Purchase Price (the “Cap”);
provided,
however,
that
the aggregate liability of the Sellers and MFFB for all Damages under
Section
11.2(a)
resulting from a breach or misrepresentation of Section
4.18
shall
not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000). The limitations set forth in
this
Section
11.4
or
elsewhere in this Article
XI
shall
not apply to any breach of a Core Representation or in the case of
fraud.
(c) In
determining the amount of Damages in respect of a claim under this Article
XI,
there
shall be deducted an amount equal to the amount of any third-party insurance
proceeds actually received by the Indemnified Party making such claim with
respect to such Damages, less the cost of any increase in insurance premiums
over the projected period of such increase as a result of making a claim for
such Damages, provided
that
there shall be no obligation to make a claim, and no offset against Damages
shall be made if a party reasonably believes that making a claim for such
Damages is reasonably likely to result in a non-renewal of the insurance
policy.
11.5 Other
Indemnification Provisions.
(a) To
the
extent that any representations and warranties of the Sellers, Parent or Buyer,
as applicable, have been breached, thereby entitling the non-breaching party
to
indemnification pursuant to Section
11.2
and
Section
11.3
hereof,
it is expressly agreed and acknowledged by the parties that solely for purposes
of calculation of Damages in connection with any right to indemnification,
the
representations and warranties of either or the Sellers or Parent and Buyer,
as
applicable, that have been breached shall be deemed not qualified by any
references therein to materiality generally, Sellers’ Knowledge or to whether or
not any breach or inaccuracy results in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Following
the Closing, the parties’ rights to indemnification pursuant to this
Article
XI
shall,
except for equitable relief and specific performance of covenants that survive
Closing and for claims under Section
12.4
of this
Agreement, be the sole and exclusive remedy available to the parties with
respect to any matter arising under or in connection with this Agreement or
the
transactions contemplated hereby, other than for claims of fraud.
11.6 Procedure
for Indemnification.
The
procedure to be followed in connection with any claim for indemnification by
Buyer Indemnified Parties under Section
11.2
or
Seller Indemnified Parties under Section
11.3
or any
claims by one party against the other is set forth below:
(a) Notice.
Whenever any Indemnified Party shall have received notice that a claim has
been
asserted or threatened against such Indemnified Party, which, if valid, would
subject the indemnifying party (the “Indemnifying
Party”)
to an
indemnity obligation under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall promptly
notify the Indemnifying Party of such claim; provided,
however,
that
failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying
Party of its indemnification obligations hereunder, except to the extent the
Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced thereby. Any such notice must be
made
to the Indemnifying Party not later than the expiration of the applicable
survival period specified in Section
11.1
above.
66
(b) Defense
of a Third Party Claim.
If any
third party shall notify any party with respect to any matter (a “Third
Party Claim”)
that
may give rise to a claim for indemnification against any other party under
this
Article
XI,
the
Indemnifying Party will have the right, but not the obligation, to assume the
defense of the Third Party Claim so long as (i) the Indemnifying Party provides
the Indemnified Party with evidence reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified
Party that the Indemnifying Party will have the financial resources to defend
against the Third Party Claim and fulfill its indemnification obligations
hereunder, (ii) uses counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party,
(iii) the Indemnifying Party acknowledges its obligation to indemnify the
Indemnified Party hereafter in respect of such matters and (iv) the relief
sought is monetary damages.
(c) After
notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election
to
assume the defense of the Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall not,
as long as the Indemnifying Party diligently conducts such defense, be liable
to
the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred
by
the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof, other than
reasonable costs of investigation; provided,
however,
that if
counsel defending such Third Party Claim shall advise the parties of a potential
conflict of interest arising from the existence of one or more legal defenses
available to the Indemnified Party which are different from or additional to
those available to the Indemnifying Party or its Affiliates, then the
Indemnified Party may retain separate counsel to defend it and in that event
the
reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the
Indemnifying Party if applicable under this Article
XI.
Subject
to the proviso to the foregoing sentence, if the Indemnifying Party assumes
such
defense, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the
defense thereof and to employ counsel, at its own expense, separate from the
counsel employed by the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Parties shall
be
liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel employed by the
Indemnified Party for any period during which the Indemnifying Party have not
assumed the defense thereof if they ultimately are found to be liable to
indemnify the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnifying Party choose to defend
or
prosecute any Third Party Claim, all of the parties hereto shall cooperate
in
the defense or prosecution thereof.
(d) If
an
Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of an action or proceeding, then without
the Indemnified Party’s written consent, the Indemnifying Party shall not settle
or compromise any Third Party Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment
which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the delivery by the
claimant or other plaintiff to the Indemnified Party of a written release from
all liability in respect of such Third Party Claim or if such settlement shall
include injunctive or other relief that affects or relates to the right or
obligations of such Indemnified Party, other than the obligation to pay monetary
damages where such damages have been satisfied in full by the Indemnifying
Party
or their respective Affiliates.
11.7 Non-Third
Party Claims.
Within
thirty (30) Business Days after a party obtains knowledge that it has sustained
any Damages not involving a Third Party Claim or action which such party
reasonably believes may give rise to a claim for indemnification from another
party hereunder, such Indemnified Party shall deliver notice of such claim
to
the Indemnifying Party, together with a brief description of the facts and
data
which support the claim for indemnification (a “Claim
Notice”);
provided,
however,
that
failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying
Party of its indemnification obligations hereunder, except to the extent that
the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced thereby. Any Claim Notice must
be
made to the Indemnifying Party not later than the expiration of the applicable
survival period specified in Section
11.1
above.
If the Indemnifying Party does not deliver notice to the Indemnified Party
within thirty (30) Business Days following its receipt of a Claim Notice that
the Indemnifying Party disputes its liability to the Indemnified Party under
this Article
XI
(an
“Indemnification
Objection”)
the
Indemnifying Party will be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which event
the other party will be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to
them.
67
11.8 Indemnification
Payments.
In the
event any Buyer Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification pursuant to
this Article
XI
for
Damages described in such Claim Notice, such Buyer Indemnified Party shall
be
entitled to obtain such indemnification first out of the then remaining balance
of the Indemnity Escrow Amount, and then, if the Indemnity Escrow Amount is
insufficient to satisfy such indemnification claim, such Buyer Indemnified
Party
may seek indemnification from the Sellers or MFFB for the unreimbursed portion
of such claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Buyer Indemnified
Party is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article
XI
for
Damages described in such Claim Notice, the Sellers and MFFB shall satisfy
their
obligation to indemnify for such Damages by payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by such Buyer
Indemnified Party.
ARTICLE
XII
Miscellaneous
12.1 Public
Disclosure or Communications. Except
to
the extent required by applicable Legal Requirements (including, without
limitation, the UFOC Guidelines, securities laws applicable to MFFB, and the
rules of the Nasdaq Global Market and securities laws applicable to Parent),
none of the Parent, Buyer, MFFB, the Sellers or any of their Affiliates shall
issue any press release or public announcement of any kind concerning the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent
of
the other parties; and, in the event that any such public announcement, release
or disclosure is required by applicable Legal Requirements (including, without
limitation, the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market and securities laws), the
disclosing party will provide the other parties, to the extent practicable
and
permissible under the circumstances, reasonable opportunity to comment on any
such announcement, release or disclosure prior to the making thereof. Each
of
the parties hereto acknowledges that each of Parent and MFFB shall be required
to file a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement and attaching as an exhibit thereto a copy of this
Agreement.
12.2 Notices.
All
notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must
be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered
by
hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by telecopier (with
written confirmation of receipt); provided
that a
copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, or (c) received
by
the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service
(receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and telecopier
numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and telecopier numbers
as a
party may designate by notice to the other parties):
68
If
to
the Sellers or MFFB:
Xxx.
Xxxxxx Famous Brands, LLC
0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, EVP and General Counsel
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
If
to
Buyer or Parent:
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxx Xxx, General Counsel
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
With
a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxxxxx
& Xxxxx LLP
000
00xx
Xxxxxx,
X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Director, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
12.3 Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest.
This
Agreement and the certificates, exhibits, schedules, documents, instruments
and
other agreements specifically referred to herein or therein or delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto: (a) constitute the entire agreement among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, including without limitation the letter
of
intent dated as of Xxxxxxxx 0, 0000, (x) are not intended to confer upon any
other Person, either explicitly or implicitly, any equitable or legal rights
or
remedies of any nature whatsoever hereunder, and (c) shall not be assigned
by
operation of law or otherwise without the written consent of the other party;
provided,
however,
that
Buyer may, without the consent of the Sellers, (i) assign any or all of their
rights and interests hereunder to one or more of its Affiliates, (ii) designate
one or more of its Affiliates to perform its obligations hereunder, (iii) direct
the Sellers, at the Closing and on behalf of Buyer, to transfer title to all
or
some of the Purchased Assets directly to one of more of its Affiliates, and
(iv)
assign its rights to indemnification under this Agreement upon a sale or
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Buyer; provided,
however,
that
Buyer shall remain obligated to perform all their obligations under this
Agreement if not performed by such Affiliates.
12.4 Bulk
Sales Law.
Buyer
hereby waive compliance by the Sellers with the provisions of any so-called
bulk
transfer laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the sale of the Purchased
Assets. Notwithstanding any such waiver, each of the Sellers, severally, and
MFFB jointly and severally with each Seller, agrees to indemnify Buyer against
all liability, damage or expense which Buyer may suffer due to the failure
to so
comply or to provide notice required by any such law.
69
12.5 Expenses.
Except
as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, whether or not the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, each party hereto
shall bear its own costs, expenses and fees incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
12.6 Waiver
and Amendment.
Any
representation, warranty, covenant, term or condition of this Agreement which
may legally be waived, may be waived, or the time of performance thereof
extended, at any time by the party hereto entitled to the benefit thereof and
any term, condition or covenant hereof may be amended by the parties hereto
at
any time. Any such waiver, extension or amendment shall be evidenced by an
instrument in writing executed on behalf of the appropriate party by a person
who has been authorized by such party to execute waivers, extensions or
amendments on its behalf. No waiver by any party hereto, whether express or
implied, of its rights under any provision of this Agreement shall constitute
a
waiver of such party’s rights under such provisions at any other time or a
waiver of such party’s rights under any other provision of this Agreement. No
failure by any party hereto to take any action against any breach of this
Agreement or default by another party shall constitute a waiver of the former
party’s right to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to take action
against such breach or default or any subsequent breach or default by such
other
party.
12.7 Severability.
Any
term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable will
be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining rights of the person intended
to be benefited by such provision or any other provisions of this
Agreement.
12.8 Remedies
Cumulative.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred
upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other
remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise
by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other
remedy.
12.9 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one
instrument. Any signature page delivered by a facsimile machine, or in portable
document format (“PDF”)
file
format shall be binding to the same extent as an original signature page with
regard to any agreement subject to the terms hereof or any amendment
thereto.
12.10 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction.
(a) The
interpretation and construction of this Agreement, and all matters relating
hereto, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, including
Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law.
70
(b) Each
of
the parties agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Agreement may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York and, by execution
and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits
itself in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts in any legal action or
proceeding arising out of this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out
of or
in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to in the
preceding sentence. Each party hereto hereby consents to process being served
in
any such action or proceeding by the mailing of a copy thereof to the address
set forth in Section
12.2
hereof
below its name and agrees that such service upon receipt shall constitute good
and sufficient service of process or notice thereof. Nothing in this paragraph
shall affect or eliminate any right to serve process in any other manner
permitted by applicable Legal Requirements.
12.11 Specific
Performance.
The
Sellers agree that the Purchased Assets include unique property that cannot
be
readily obtained on the open market and that Buyer will be irreparably injured
if this Agreement is not specifically enforced. Therefore,
Buyer shall have the right specifically to enforce the Sellers’ performance
under this Agreement, and the Sellers agree to waive the defense in any such
suit that Buyer have an adequate remedy at law and to interpose no opposition,
legal or otherwise, as to the propriety of specific performance as a
remedy.
[REMAINDER
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71
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have each executed and delivered this Asset Purchase Agreement
as
of the day and year first above written.
NEXCEN
ASSET ACQUISITION, LLC
|
|
By:
NexCen Brands, Inc., its Managing Member
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X’Xxxxx
|
Title:
|
President
and Chief Executive
Officer
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X’Xxxxx
|
Title:
|
President
and Chief Executive
Officer
|
Signature
Page to Asset Purchase Agreement
GREAT
AMERICAN COOKIE COMPANY
FRANCHISING,
LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
Title:
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief
Legal
Officer and Secretary
|
GREAT
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING,
LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
Title:
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief
Legal
Officer and Secretary
|
Signature
Page to Asset Purchase Agreement
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
Title:
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief
Legal
Officer and Secretary
|
Signature
Page to Asset Purchase Agreement