ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and among OPTEUM FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, OPTEUM INC., and PROSPECT MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC, Dated May 7, 2007 ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
Execution
Copy
by
and among
OPTEUM
FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC,
and
PROSPECT
MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC,
Dated
May
7, 2007
This
Asset Purchase Agreement is made and entered into on May 7, 2007, by and among
Prospect Mortgage Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Purchaser”),
Opteum Financial Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Seller”),
and,
solely for purposes of Sections
6.5,
6.6,
6.7,
6.8, 6.9
and
6.17
hereof,
Opteum Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Unitholder”).
WHEREAS,
the Seller provides retail mortgage origination services (the “Business”);
WHEREAS,
the Unitholder is the owner of all of the outstanding membership interests
of
the Seller; and
WHEREAS,
the Purchaser desires to purchase certain of the assets of the Seller related
to
the Business and the Seller desires to sell such assets to the Purchaser on
the
terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and of the mutual representations,
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and other consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
Section
1.1 Definitions.
For all
purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless
the
context clearly requires otherwise, certain capitalized terms used in this
Agreement have the meanings assigned to them in Exhibit 1.
Section
1.2 Interpretation.
(a) When
a
reference is made in this Agreement to a section or article, such reference
shall be to a section or article of this Agreement unless otherwise clearly
indicated to the contrary.
(b) Whenever
the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(c) The
words
“hereof”, “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless
otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not
to
any particular provision of this Agreement, and article, section, paragraph,
exhibit and schedule references are to the articles, sections, paragraphs,
exhibits and schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise
specified.
(d) The
meaning assigned to each term defined herein shall be equally applicable to
both
the singular and the plural forms of such term, and words denoting any gender
shall include all genders. Where a word or phrase is defined herein, each of
its
other grammatical forms shall have a corresponding meaning.
(e) A
reference to any party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document
shall include such party’s successors and permitted assigns.
(f) A
reference to any legislation or to any provision of any legislation shall
include any amendment to, and any modification or re-enactment thereof, any
legislative provision substituted therefore and all regulations and statutory
instruments issued thereunder or pursuant thereto.
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE
Section
2.1 Sale
and Transfer of Assets.
The
Seller hereby agrees to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to the
Purchaser, and the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase and take possession
of
all right, title and interest in and to the following personal, tangible,
intangible and other properties, rights and assets, used in the operation of
or
otherwise related to the Business, and specifically excluding the Excluded
Assets (the “Assets”):
(a) all Equipment,
Fixtures and Furniture used in the conduct of the Business or otherwise related
to the Business;
(b) all
Seller Intellectual Property;
(c) all
Computer Software used in the operation of or otherwise in connection with
the
Business;
(d) all
Books
and Records used in the operation of or otherwise in connection with the
Business;
(e) all
telephone numbers, domain names and email addresses used in the operation of
or
otherwise in connection with the Business;
(f) all
Pipeline Loans and items related thereto;
(g) all
credits, prepaid expenses (excluding Tax refunds), advance payments and
deposits; including, without limitation, customer deposits and customer advances
in connection with the Business, other than credits, prepaid expenses (excluding
Tax refunds), advance payments and deposits related to the real property lease
for each of the branch offices located at West 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx and 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx;
(h) all
rights in and to any restrictive covenants and other obligations of present
and
former employees, independent contractors, consultants, suppliers and customers
to Seller related to the Business in connection with the Business, but only
to
the extent assignable;
(i) all
leases of real and personal property which are used currently and as of the
Closing in providing retail mortgage loan origination services, including the
Leases;
(j) all
contracts and agreements relating to the operation of or otherwise in connection
with the Business, including the Contracts;
(k) all
other
intangible assets of the Seller used in or otherwise connected to the Business
including, without limitation, goodwill and going concern value;
and
(l) all
claims and rights against third parties related to items (a)-(j) above,
including, without limitation, insurance claims, setoffs, refunds (excluding
prepaid Taxes), credits, causes of action and rights of recovery, but in each
case only to the extent arising after the Closing.
Section
2.2 Excluded
Assets.
Nothing
herein contained shall be deemed to sell, transfer, assign or convey the
Excluded Assets to Purchaser, and Seller shall retain all right, title and
interest to, in and under the Excluded Assets. “Excluded Assets” shall mean each
of the following assets:
(a) all
assets and contracts set forth on Exhibit
2.2
hereto;
(b) Mortgage
Loans held for sale, held in securitization trusts or held for
investment;
(c) Mortgage
Loans repurchased by Seller from any investor;
(d) cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash except for those items described in
Section
2.1(g);
(e) investment
securities available for sale;
(f) Tax
assets, claims for Tax refunds, Tax Returns and Tax workpapers;
(g) all
interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and option agreements or other
interest rate risk management arrangements other than as relate to the Pipeline
Loans;
(h) all
rights in connection with, and assets of, any Employee Benefit Plan, except
to
the extent otherwise provided in Article
VIII
hereof;
(i) the
domain name xxx.xxxxxx.xxx;
(j) all
credits, prepaid expenses (excluding Tax refunds), advance payments and deposits
related to the real property leases for each of the branch offices located
at
(i) West 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, and (ii) 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx;
(k) all
minute books, organizational documents, stock registers and such other books
and
records of Seller as pertain to ownership, organization or existence of Seller
and duplicate copies of such records as are necessary to enable Seller to
prepare or file Tax Returns;
(l) all
accounting books and records of Unitholder and Seller;
(m) all
equity ownership interests owned by Seller or any of its direct or indirect
Subsidiaries; and
(n) all
escrow deposits relating to Seller’s Mortgage Loan inventory.
Section
2.3 Assumption
of Liabilities.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing,
Purchaser shall (or shall cause its designated Affiliate or Affiliates to)
assume, effective as of the Closing, the following liabilities of Seller
(collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”):
(a) all
obligations of Seller under the Pipeline Loans;
(b) all
Liabilities of Seller under the Contracts and Leases and under such other
contracts and leases that are deemed Assets for purposes of this Agreement
that
arise out of or relate to the period after the Closing;
(c) all
Liabilities and obligations listed on Exhibit
2.3(c)
hereto;
(d) all
obligations arising after the Closing with respect to the Transferred Employees,
including any severance obligations with respect to Transferred
Employees.
(e) all
Liabilities that relate directly to the Assets and that arise out of or relate
to the conduct of the Business by Purchaser after the Closing.
Section
2.4 The
Purchase Price.
The
consideration for the Assets shall be (i) the payment by the Purchaser to the
Seller of FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000.00) (the “Purchase Price”) and (ii)
the assumption by the Purchaser of the Assumed Liabilities. The Purchaser shall
pay the Seller the Purchase Price by wire transfer to the Seller on the Closing
Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event employees of Seller employed
in a sales function (including loan officers and production managers)
representing the threshold percentage set forth in Exhibit 2.4 shall not have
agreed to accept employment with the Purchaser and become Transferred Employees
as of the Closing Date, the Purchase Price shall be reduced based on the formula
set forth in Exhibit 2.4.
Section
2.5 Allocation
of the Purchase Price. Prior to the Closing, the parties shall mutually agree
upon the allocation of the Purchase Price and Assumed Liabilities (to the extent
included in the amount realized for federal income tax purposes) among the
Assets in accordance with Code Section 1060 and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder (and any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law, as
appropriate). And all income Tax Returns and reports (including IRS Form 8594)
filed by the Purchaser and the Seller shall be prepared consistently with such
allocation; provided, that (i) the Purchaser’s reported cost for the Assets may
be greater than the amount allocated hereunder to reflect the Purchaser’s
acquisition costs not included in the total amount so allocated, and (ii) the
Seller’s reported amount realized may be less than the amount allocated
hereunder to reflect the Seller’s costs that reduce the amount realized. For
purposes of this Section 2.5, the Assets include the restrictive covenants
as
set forth in Section 6.7.
Section
2.6 Nonassignable
Contracts. To the extent that the assignment hereunder by the Seller to the
Purchaser of any Contract is not permitted or is not permitted without the
consent of any other party to such Contract, this Agreement shall not be deemed
to constitute an assignment of any such 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 Contract, and the Purchaser shall assume
no
obligations or liabilities under any such Contract. The Seller shall advise
the
Purchaser promptly in writing with respect to any Contract which the Seller
knows or has substantial reason to believe will not be able to be assigned
to
the Purchaser hereunder. Without in any way limiting the Seller’s relevant
representations and warranties or its obligation to obtain all consents and
waivers necessary for the sale, transfer, assignment and delivery of the
Contracts and the Assets to the Purchaser hereunder, if any such consent is
not
obtained or if such assignment is not permitted irrespective of consent and
the
Closing hereunder is consummated, the Seller shall cooperate with the Purchaser
following the Closing Date in any reasonable arrangement designed to provide
the
Purchaser with the rights and benefits (subject to the obligations) under any
such Contract, including enforcement for the benefit of the Purchaser of any
and
all rights of the Seller against any other party arising out of any breach
or
cancellation of any such Contract by such other party and, if requested by
the
Purchaser, acting as an agent on behalf of the Purchaser or as the Purchaser
shall otherwise reasonably require, all at the Seller’s expense.
ARTICLE
III
THE
CLOSING
Section
3.1 The
Closing.
The
sale and transfer of the Assets by the Seller to the Purchaser shall take place
at 10:00 a.m. central time on May 31, 2007 at the offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
& Xxxx Chartered, 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000, unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by each of the
parties hereto (the “Closing Date”).
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER AND THE UNITHOLDER
Except
as
specifically set forth in the Disclosure Schedule or the Exhibits hereto, the
Seller represents and warrants to the Purchaser that all of the statements
contained in this Article IV
are true
and correct as of the date of this Agreement (or, if made as of a different
specified date, as of such date). Each exception set forth in the Disclosure
Schedule or any Exhibit and each other response to this Agreement set forth
in
the Disclosure Schedule or any Exhibit is identified by reference to, or has
been grouped under a heading referring to, a specific individual section of
this
Agreement;
provided, however, that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection
of
the Disclosure Schedule or any Exhibit that is not material shall be deemed
disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the
relevance of such item is reasonably apparent. As used in this Article IV,
the
Seller shall refer to the Seller.
Section
4.1 Organization;
Qualification.
The
Seller is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the full power
and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on the Business
as now conducted.
Section
4.2 Authorization;
Validity of Agreement. The Seller and the Unitholder have full power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to consummate the
Transaction. The execution, delivery and performance by the Seller and the
Unitholder of this Agreement and the consummation by the Seller and the
Unitholder of the Transaction have been duly authorized by all requisite
corporate action on the part of the Seller, the members of the Seller and the
Unitholder, and no other action on the part of the Seller or the Unitholder
is
necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the Seller or the
Unitholder of this Agreement or the consummation by it of the Transaction.
The
Unitholder owns 100% of the Class A voting limited liability company interests
in the Seller and no other member of the Seller holds any voting interests
in
the Seller. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller
and the Unitholder and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Purchaser, this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Seller and the Unitholder enforceable against the Seller
and
the Unitholder in accordance with its terms.
Section
4.3 Consents
and Approvals; No Violations. None of the execution, delivery or performance
of
this Agreement by the Seller, the consummation by the Seller of the Transaction
or compliance by the Seller with any of the provisions hereof will
(i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the
certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or similar
organizational documents of the Seller, (ii) be in violation of any agreement
to
which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller is bound; (iii) require
any filing with, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity
or other Person (including consents from parties to Contracts and Leases to
which the Seller is a party); (iv)
result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice
or
the passage of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any Contract or Lease; (v) result in the imposition
of a Lien on any of the Assets; or (vi) violate any order, writ,
injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to any of the
Seller’s properties or assets, except with respect to clauses (ii)-(vi) above,
for such breaches, defaults, violations and Liens that would not reasonably
be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
4.4 Financial
Statements. True and complete copies of the Financial Statements are included
in
Exhibit 4.4. The Financial Statements have been prepared from, are in accordance
with and accurately reflect, the books and records of the Seller, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved (except as may be stated in the notes thereto), and fairly
present in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the
consolidated results of operations and cash flows (and changes in financial
position, if any) of the Seller as of the times and for the periods referred
to
therein (subject to normally recurring year-end audit adjustments which are
not
material either individually or in the aggregate). The Seller maintains all
of
its Financial Statements in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations of all federal, state, local governments and agencies thereof that
affect the Business or Assets of the Seller. None of the Financial Statements
contains any items of a special or nonrecurring nature, except as expressly
stated therein, and such Financial Statements do not reflect any write-up or
revaluation increasing the book value of any asset of the Company.
Section
4.5 Title
to
Properties; Liens. The Seller has good, valid and marketable title to the Assets
(tangible and intangible) free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted
Liens or Liens that are not material. The Assets include all such properties
and
other assets necessary to permit the Seller to conduct its Business in all
respects in substantially the same manner as such Business has been conducted
prior to the date hereof, other than the Excluded Assets. The Assets shall
include all assets necessary for or related to the conduct of the Business,
other than the Excluded Assets, and all Assets acquired since March 31, 2007
in
the ordinary course of the Business and shall exclude (i) all Assets sold or
otherwise disposed of since March 31, 2007 in the ordinary course of the
Business and (ii) the Excluded Assets.
Section
4.6 Personal
Property. All of the Assets that are tangible personal property are in good
operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and are useable
in the ordinary course of business. None of the Assets that are tangible
personal property require any material repair or replacement, except for
maintenance in the ordinary course of business. No material portion of the
Assets that are tangible personal property are located at locations other than
locations that are either leased or owned by the Seller.
Section
4.7 Leases.
A
true and complete copy of each Lease has been provided to the Purchaser. The
leasehold estate created by each Lease is free and clear of all Liens. There
are
no existing material defaults by the Seller under any of the Leases. No event
has occurred that (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or the
happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a material default
by the Seller under any Lease. The Seller has not received notice, nor does
Seller have any knowledge that any lessor under any Lease will not consent
(where such consent is necessary) to the consummation of the Transaction without
requiring any modification of the rights or obligations of the lessee
thereunder.
Section
4.8 Environmental
Matters. To the Seller’s knowledge, the Seller is in compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws. The Seller has not has received any written
communication, whether from a Governmental Entity, citizens group, employee
or
otherwise, that alleges that the Seller is not in compliance with any
Environmental Laws. There is no Environmental Claim by any Person that is
pending or, to the Seller’s knowledge, threatened against the
Seller.
Section
4.9 Contracts.
(a) Exhibit
4.9
sets
forth all of the material contracts and other agreements (whether written or
oral) (i) to which the Seller is a party that relate to the Business, and by
or
to which the Seller is bound, or by or to which any of the Assets are bound
and
(ii) which are necessary or are related to the operation of the Business
(collectively, the “Contracts”).
True
and complete copies of all of the Contracts have been provided to the Purchaser.
For purposes of this Agreement, “material contracts and other agreements” shall
only include contracts and agreements with respect to which the aggregate
liabilities or obligations of either party thereto exceed $50,000.
(b) Each
Contract is in full force and effect, has not been materially modified or
amended except to the extent such modification or amendment has been disclosed
to the Purchaser, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the
Seller in accordance with the terms of such agreement. To the knowledge of
the
Seller, each Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the other
party to the Contract. In the past twelve (12) months, the Seller has not given
nor received a written notice of breach or default under or had any dispute
with
respect to any Contract which is pending or which has been resolved with
payments in excess of $50,000.
Section
4.10 Litigation.
The
Seller is not a party to any material action, suit or Proceeding related to
the
Assets or the Business before any court or governmental or other regulatory
or
administrative agency or commission. The Seller has not received notice of
and
has no knowledge of any action, suit, inquiry, Proceeding or investigation
by or
before any court or governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency
or
commission pending or threatened against or involving the Seller which questions
or challenges the validity of this Agreement or any action taken or to be taken
by the Seller pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the Transaction.
The Seller is not subject to any judgment, order or decree which may reasonably
be expected to have an adverse effect on the Assets.
Section
4.11 Compliance
with Laws. The
Seller has complied in a timely manner with all laws, rules and regulations,
ordinances, judgments, decrees, orders, writs and injunctions of all United
States federal, state, local, foreign governments and agencies thereof that
affect the Assets, except
for any such failure to comply that would not have, or be reasonably likely
to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
and no
written notice, charge, claim, action or assertion has been received by the
Seller or, to the Seller’s knowledge, has been filed, commenced or threatened
against the Seller alleging any material violation of any of the
foregoing.
Section
4.12 Tax
Matters.
(a) The
Seller has timely filed all material Tax Returns required to be filed by the
Seller. All such Tax Returns are true, correct, and complete in all material
respects. With respect to all material Taxes imposed on the Seller or for which
the Seller is or could be liable, whether to taxing authorities or to other
Persons, with respect to all taxable periods or portions of periods up to and
including the Closing (including, but not limited to, taxable periods or
portions of periods ending on or before the Closing), all applicable laws and
agreements have been complied with in all material respects, and all material
amounts of Taxes required to be paid by the Seller to taxing authorities or
others on or before the Closing have been paid. The Seller has fully accrued
for
or reserved against any and all material amounts of Taxes of the Seller or
for
which the Seller is or could be liable relating to periods up to and including
the Closing.
(b) The
Seller has not been delinquent in the payment of any material amounts of Tax
nor
is there any material Tax deficiency outstanding, proposed, assessed,
threatened, or expected to be commenced by any Tax authority against the Seller.
The Seller has not executed or requested any waiver of any statute of
limitations on or extending the period for the assessment or collection of
any
Tax.
(c) The
Seller has no liability for any material amounts of unpaid Taxes which have
not
been accrued for or reserved on the Financial Statements, whether asserted
or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise. There are no Liens for Taxes on the Assets
other than Taxes not yet due and payable.
Section
4.13 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Exhibit
4.13
sets
forth a true and complete list of all of the domain names, Tradenames,
Trademarks and Patents owned or licensed by the Seller and that are used in
or
relate to the Business or the Assets.
(b) The
Seller owns and possesses or has the right to use pursuant to a valid and
enforceable written license, sublicense, agreement, or permission all Seller
Intellectual Property and Computer Software used by it or held for use by it
in
connection with its Business, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted
Liens.
(c) All
Seller Intellectual Property registrations and applications owned by the Seller
and used in the Business as currently conducted (i) are valid, subsisting,
in proper form and enforceable, and have been duly maintained, including the
submission of all necessary filings and fees in accordance with the legal and
administrative requirements of the appropriate jurisdictions and (ii) have
not lapsed, expired or been abandoned, and no patent, registration or
application therefore is the subject of any opposition, interference,
cancellation proceeding or other legal or governmental proceeding before any
Governmental Entity in any jurisdiction.
(d) There
are
no conflicts with or infringements of any Seller Intellectual Property by any
third party’s Intellectual Property and the conduct of the Business as currently
conducted does not conflict with or infringe in any way on any proprietary
right
of any third party. There is no claim, suit, action or proceeding pending or
threatened against the Seller (i) alleging any such conflict or
infringement of Seller Intellectual Property with any third party’s proprietary
rights or (ii) challenging the ownership, use, validity or enforceability
of the Seller Intellectual Property.
(e) The
Computer Software used by the Seller in the operation of the Business or
otherwise in connection with the Business was either (i) developed by
employees of the Seller within the scope of their employment,
(ii) developed on behalf of the Seller by a third party, and all ownership
rights therein are assignable or otherwise transferable to the Purchaser or
(iii) licensed or acquired from a third party pursuant to a written
license, assignment, or other contract that is in full force and effect and
of
which the Seller is not in breach and which is fully assignable to the
Purchaser.
(f) All
consents, filings, and authorizations by or with Governmental Entities or third
parties necessary with respect to the consummation of the Transaction, as they
may affect the Seller Intellectual Property, have been obtained.
(g) The
Seller has not entered into any consent, indemnification, forbearance to xxx,
settlement agreement or cross-licensing arrangement with any Person relating
to
the Seller Intellectual Property or any Intellectual Property licensed by the
Seller, or the Intellectual Property of any third party.
(h) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement will not result in the breach of any license, sublicense
or
other agreement relating to the Seller Intellectual Property.
Section
4.14 Employees,
Officers and Managers.
(a) Exhibit
4.14 contains
a complete and correct list of individuals employed by the Seller in connection
with the Business with the following information: (i) the names, current
compensation rates and other compensation and amount of accrued sick time and
vacation time of all individuals presently employed by the Seller, (ii) the
names and total annual compensation for all independent contractors who render
services on a regular or seasonal basis to the Seller, and (iii) the names
and
titles of the officers and managers of the Seller. No person listed thereon
has
received any bonus or increase in compensation, and there has been no “general
increase” in the compensation or rate of compensation payable to any such
employees, that is not reflected on Exhibit
4.14,
nor has
the Seller made any promise to the employees listed on Exhibit
4.14,
orally
or in writing, of any bonus or increase in compensation, whether or not legally
binding, that is not reflected on Exhibit
4.14.
No
employee has threatened not to continue his or her employment, nor has any
independent contractor threatened not to enter into an engagement with the
Purchaser, due to the Transaction or otherwise.
(b) The
Seller is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining or similar
agreement with any labor organization or employee association applicable to
employees of the Seller engaged in the Business. No labor union has been
certified by the National Labor Relations Board as bargaining agent for any
of
the employees of the Seller engaged in the Business; no notice has been received
by the Seller from any labor union stating that it has been designated as the
bargaining agent for any of said employees; and no petition has been filed
by
any labor union requesting an election to determine whether or not it is the
exclusive bargaining agent for any of said employees. To the Seller’s knowledge,
none of the employees of the Seller engaged in the Business are represented
by
any labor organization and there have been no union organizing activities among
the employees of the Seller engaged in the Business within the past five (5)
years.
Section
4.15 Pipeline
Loans. Each
Pipeline Loan was underwritten and funded in accordance with applicable
underwriting standards of the Seller in effect at the time the Pipeline Loan
was
originated, and each such Pipeline Loan is in conformity with the applicable
underwriting standards. To the Seller’s knowledge, no fraud occurred on the part
of any Person in connection with any Pipeline Loan that could adversely affect
the Purchaser, or result in the Purchaser incurring a Loss. With regard to
interest rate locks on all Pipeline Loans, (a) all Pipeline Loans with a locked
interest rate were locked in accordance with the Seller’s written loan lock
policies; (b) all Pipeline Loans with a locked interest rate are included on
locked loan pipeline or loan production reports; and (c) all extensions of
time
for the duration of any loan locks on any Pipeline Loan with a locked interest
rate are recorded on the books, records, mortgage lending software systems,
and
reports of the Seller.
Section
4.16 Brokers
or Finders. No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
firm
or Person is or will be entitled to any brokers’ or finder’s fee or any other
commission or similar fee in connection with any of the
Transaction.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
The
Purchaser represents and warrants to the Seller that all of the statements
contained in this Article V
are true
and correct as of the date of this Agreement (or, if made as of a different
specified date, as of such date).
Section
5.1 Organization.
The
Purchaser is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the laws of Delaware and
has
all requisite limited liability company or other power and authority and all
necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and
to
carry on its business as now being conducted. The Purchaser is duly qualified
or
licensed to do business as a foreign limited liability company and is in good
standing as a foreign limited liability company in each jurisdiction in which
either the ownership or use by the Purchaser of the Purchaser’s assets or the
operation by the Purchaser of the Purchaser’s business requires such licensing,
qualification or good standing except where the failure to have such
qualifications or licenses will not have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
5.2 Authorization;
Validity of Agreement. The Purchaser has full limited liability company power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
Transaction and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery
and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation of
the
Transaction have been duly authorized by the Purchaser, and no other action
on
the part of the Purchaser is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery
by the Purchaser of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction.
No
vote of, or consent by, the holders of any class or series of stock or voting
debt issued by the Purchaser is necessary to authorize the execution and
delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement or the consummation by it of the
Transaction. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Purchaser, and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery
hereof by the Unitholder and the Seller, is a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance
with its terms.
Section
5.3 Consents
and Approvals; No Violations. None of the execution, delivery or performance
of
this Agreement by the Purchaser, the consummation by the Purchaser of the
Transaction or compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof
will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the
certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or similar
organizational documents of the Purchaser, (ii) be in violation of any agreement
to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound; (iii)
other than license applications to be filed by the Purchaser or its Assignee
with applicable Governmental Entities, including but not limited to state
mortgage licensing authorities, with respect to each of the Seller’s offices
that Purchaser is acquiring through its assumption of the Leases and purchase
of
the Assets at those offices pursuant to this Agreement, require any filing
with,
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity or other Person
(including consents from parties to loans, contracts, leases and other
agreements to which the Purchaser is a party), (iv) result in a violation
or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or the passage of time
or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, amendment,
cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any agreement, (v) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to any of the Purchaser’s properties or
assets.
Section
5.4 Compliance
with Laws; Permits.
(a) The
Purchaser has complied in a timely manner with all laws, rules and regulations,
ordinances, judgments, decrees, orders, writs and injunctions of all United
States federal, state, local, foreign governments and agencies thereof that
affect the assets or business of the Purchaser, except
for any such failure to comply that would not have, or be reasonably likely
to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect;
and no
written notice, charge, claim, action or assertion has been received by the
Purchaser or, to the Purchaser’s knowledge, has been filed, commenced or
threatened against the Purchaser alleging any material violation of any of
the
foregoing.
(b) The
Purchaser currently has all Permits which are required for the ownership of
the
Purchaser’s properties and assets and the conduct of the Purchaser’s business as
presently conducted. The Purchaser is not in default or violation, and no event
has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute
a
default or violation, of any term, condition or provision of any Permit to
which
the Purchaser is a party, to which its business as presently conducted is
subject or by which any of its properties or assets are bound, except where
the
existence of such default or violation would not have, or be reasonably likely
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
All applications required to have been filed for the renewal of any Permit
of
the Purchaser have been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate
Governmental Entity, and all other filings required to have been made with
respect to any such Permit have been duly made on a timely basis with the
appropriate Governmental Entity except where the failure to file would not
have,
or be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect.
Section
5.5 Brokers
or Finders.
Except
for the Purchaser’s engagement of Classic Strategies Group, neither the
Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates has entered into any
agreement or arrangement entitling any agent, broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other firm or Person to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any
other commission or similar fee in connection with the Transaction.
Section
5.6 Absence
of Litigation. To the Purchaser’s knowledge, there are no actions, suits,
Proceedings, investigations or grievances pending or threatened against the
Purchaser, (i) challenging the validity or propriety of the Transaction; or
(ii) which could adversely affect the ability of the Purchaser to perform
its obligations under this Agreement.
Section
5.7 Purchaser
Net Worth. Purchaser has a net worth of not less than $10,000,000 and liquidity
in an amount that is reasonably sufficient to enable the Purchaser to satisfy
its indemnification obligations under Article IX of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
Section
6.1 Interim
Operations of the Seller.
The
Seller covenants and agrees that, after the date hereof and prior to the Closing
Date (unless another date is specified), except (i) as expressly provided
in this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, or
(iii) as may be agreed in writing by the Purchaser:
(a) the
Business shall be conducted in the same manner as heretofore conducted and
only
in the ordinary course, and the Seller shall use all commercially reasonable
efforts to (i) preserve the business organization of the Seller,
(ii) keep available the services of the current officers and employees of
the Seller that are engaged in the Business (provided that commercially
reasonable efforts shall not require the Seller to offer any officers or
employees any particular salary, bonus or other form of remuneration), and
(iii) maintain the existing relations with Customers, creditors, business
partners and others having business dealings with the Seller in connection
with
the Business.
(b) the
Seller shall not modify, amend or terminate any of its Contracts or waive,
release or assign any material rights or claims, except in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practice;
(c) the
Seller shall not, except in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with
past practice, dispose of or permit to lapse any rights to any Seller
Intellectual Property;
(d) the
Seller shall not lease, license, mortgage, pledge or encumber any Assets or
transfer, sell or dispose of any Assets, except in the ordinary and usual course
of business and consistent with past practice;
(e) the
Seller shall not: (i) make any change in the compensation payable or to
become payable to any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or
consultants (other than normal recurring increases in the ordinary course of
business of wages payable to employees who are not officers or directors or
Affiliates of the Seller) or to Persons providing management services that
are
engaged in the Business, or (ii) enter into or amend any employment,
severance, consulting, termination or other agreement with, or employee benefit
plan for, or make any loan or advance to, any of its officers, directors,
employees, Affiliates, agents or consultants that are engaged in the Business
or
(iii) make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for
or on behalf of any of such Persons pursuant to an employee benefit plan or
otherwise;
(f) the
Seller shall not permit any insurance policy naming it as a beneficiary or
a
loss payable payee to be cancelled or terminated without notice to the
Purchaser;
(g) the
Seller shall not adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution,
merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization
of the Seller;
(h) the
Seller shall not enter into any agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement
to do any of the foregoing, or authorize, recommend, propose or announce an
intention to do, any of the foregoing;
(i) the
Seller shall not permit any Lien on any of the Assets, except in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice; and
(j) the
Seller shall not amend or alter the terms of any Contract, except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.
Section
6.2 Assignment
of Rights and Delegation of Obligations by the Purchaser.
In the
event the Purchaser elects to assign its rights and delegate its obligations
under this Agreement to an Assignee, the Purchaser will remain responsible
for,
and does hereby unconditionally guarantee the performance by the Assignee of,
all covenants, agreements and obligations of the Purchaser hereunder that are
delegated to the Assignee. Accordingly, the Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify
the Seller and the Unitholder, and hold the Seller and the Unitholder harmless,
against any and all Losses and Liabilities that the Seller or the Unitholder
incurs as a result of any breach by the Assignee of any of the representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements or obligations assumed or made by the Assignee
under the assignment and assumption agreement between the Purchaser and such
Assignee (the “Assignment and Assumption Agreement”). Any Assignment and
Assumption Agreement pursuant to which the Purchaser assigns its rights and
delegates its obligations under this Agreement to an Assignee shall contain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements on the part of the
Assignee, to and for the direct benefit of the Seller and the Unitholder,
substantially as follows:
(a) The
Assignee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of its jurisdiction of formation and
has
all requisite limited liability company or other power and authority and all
necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and
to
carry on its business as now being conducted, except where the failure to have
such approvals would not have, or be reasonably likely to have, individually
or
in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. The Assignee is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which either the ownership or use by the Assignee of the Assets
or the operation by the Assignee of the Business upon consummation of the
Transaction contemplated hereunder, requires such licensing, qualification
or
good standing, except where the failure to have such qualification or license
would not have, or be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The
Assignee has full power and authority to execute and deliver the Assignment
and
Assumption Agreement, to consummate the Transaction and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by
the
Assignee of Assignment and Assumption Agreement and the consummation of the
Transaction have been duly authorized by the Assignee, and no other action
on
the part of the Assignee is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by
the Purchaser of Assignment and Assumption Agreement or the consummation of
the
Transaction. The Assignment and Assumption Agreement has been duly executed
and
delivered by the Assignee, and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution
and delivery thereof by the Purchaser, is a legal, valid and binding obligation
of the Assignee, enforceable against the Assignee in accordance with its
terms.
(c) None
of
the execution and delivery of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement by the
Assignee, the performance by the Assignee of the Purchaser’s obligations under
this Agreement that the Assignee so assumes or the consummation by the Assignee
of the Transaction or compliance by the Assignee with any of the provisions
hereof will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of
the certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or similar
organizational documents of the Assignee, (ii) be in violation of any agreement
to which the Assignee is a party or by which the Assignee is bound except where
the violation would not have, or be reasonably likely to have, individually
or
in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect; (iii) other than license
applications to be filed by the Assignee with applicable Governmental Entities,
including but not limited to state mortgage licensing authorities, with respect
to each of the Seller’s offices that the Assignee will be acquiring through its
assumption of the Leases and purchase of the Assets at those offices pursuant
to
this Agreement, require any filing with, authorization, consent or approval
of,
any Governmental Entity or other Person (including consents from parties to
loans, contracts, leases and other agreements to which the Purchaser is a
party), or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule
or regulation applicable to any of the Assignee’s properties or assets except
where the violation would not have, or be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) The
Assignee has complied in a timely manner with all laws, rules and regulations,
ordinances, judgments, decrees, orders, writs and injunctions of all United
States federal, state, local, foreign governments and agencies thereof that
affect the assets or business of the Assignee, except
for any such failure to comply that would not have, or be reasonably likely
to
have, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect;
and no
written notice, charge, claim, action or assertion has been received by the
Assignee or, to the Assignee’s knowledge, has been filed, commenced or
threatened against the Assignee alleging any material violation of any of the
foregoing.
(e) The
Assignee covenants and agrees to apply promptly for, and to use its best efforts
to obtain as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of the Assignment
and
Assumption Agreement, all of the Permits, including but not limited to all
state
mortgage licenses, which are required for the Assignee to own the Assets and
operate the Business immediately following the Closing. The Assignee currently
has all Permits, including but not limited to all state mortgage licenses,
which
are required for the ownership of the Assignee’s properties and assets and the
conduct of the Assignee’s business as presently conducted. The Assignee is not
in default or violation, and no event has occurred which, with notice or the
lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation, of any term,
condition or provision of any Permit to which the Assignee is a party, to which
its business as presently conducted is subject or by which any of its properties
or assets are bound except where the existence of such default or violation
would not have, or be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. All applications required to
have been filed for the renewal of any of the Assignee’s existing Permits have
been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Entity,
and
all other filings required to have been made with respect to any such Permit
have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Entity
except where the failure to file would not have, or be reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) To
the
Assignee’s knowledge, there are no actions, suits, Proceedings, investigations
or grievances pending or threatened against the Assignee, (i) challenging
the validity or propriety of the Transaction; or (ii) which could adversely
affect the ability of the Assignee to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(g) The
Assignee understands and agrees that the Seller is a named third-party
beneficiary of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, and the Assignee agrees
that all covenants, agreements and obligations of the Purchaser under this
Agreement that are delegated to the Assignee under the Assignment and Assumption
Agreement shall become covenants, agreement and obligations of the Assignee
to
and for the direct benefit of the Seller and the Seller shall have, as a
non-exclusive remedy, a direct right of action against the Assignee in the
event
of any breach by the Assignee of any such covenant, agreement or
obligation.
Section
6.3 Access.
During
the period beginning on the date of the announcement by the Seller of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to its employees (the
“Announcement”) and ending on the Closing, the Seller shall afford to the
Purchaser and its officers, managers, employees, auditors, legal counsel,
agents, advisors and other authorized representatives (collectively,
“Representatives”) reasonable access during normal business hours to inspect,
investigate and audit the contracts and operations and the Business of the
Seller and to review all accounting books and records of the Seller, provided,
however, that any such inspection, investigation or audit by the Purchaser
shall
in no event affect the representations and warranties made by the Seller or
the
Unitholder in this Agreement or the remedies of the Purchaser for breaches
of
the Seller’s representations and warranties hereunder. After the Closing Date,
the Seller shall afford the Purchaser and its Representatives reasonable access
to all accounting books and records of the Seller as reasonably requested by
the
Purchaser.
Section
6.4 Government
Approvals. Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, each
Party,
with
the reasonable cooperation of the other Party, shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the necessary licenses and approvals from, and
submit the appropriate notices or materials to, to the extent required or
appropriate under applicable law, all federal and state governmental mortgage
banking regulatory agencies, all federal and state governmental real estate
escrow and settlement regulatory agencies and other governing federal and state
agencies regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition,
the Seller or the Purchaser, as required under applicable law, shall obtain
all
necessary approvals, consents and non-objection notices from all federal and
state governmental mortgage banking regulatory agencies, all federal and state
governmental real estate escrow and settlement regulatory agencies and other
governing federal and state agencies regarding the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement.
Section
6.5 Further
Action. Each of the Purchaser, the Unitholder and the Seller shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) take all actions necessary or appropriate
to consummate the Transaction and (ii) cause the fulfillment at the earliest
practicable date of all of the conditions to their respective obligations to
consummate the Transaction.
Section
6.6 No
Solicitation of Competing Transaction. From and after the date hereof until
the
Closing Date, neither the Seller nor any Affiliate of the Seller shall (and
the
Seller shall cause the officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents of the Seller and each Affiliate of the Seller, including investment
bankers, attorneys and accountants, not to), directly or indirectly, encourage,
solicit, initiate or participate in discussions or negotiations with, or provide
any information to, any Person or group (other than the Purchaser, any of its
Affiliates or representatives) concerning any Acquisition Proposal. The Seller
shall not enter into any agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal.
Upon execution of this Agreement, the Unitholder and the Seller shall
immediately cease any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with
any
parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing. The Seller
shall promptly notify the Purchaser of the existence of any proposal or inquiry
received by the Seller or any Unitholder, and the Seller shall immediately
communicate to the Purchaser the terms of any proposal or inquiry which any
of
them may receive (and shall immediately provide to the Purchaser copies of
any
written materials received by the Seller or any Unitholder in connection with
such proposal, discussion, negotiation or inquiry) and the identity of the
party
making such proposal or inquiry.
Section
6.7 Non-Solicitation
and Confidentiality.
(a) During
the period commencing on as of the date hereof and ending on the third (3rd)
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Seller and the Unitholder covenant and
agree that neither the Seller nor the Unitholder will,
without the express prior written approval of the Purchaser, directly or
indirectly, (i) solicit, recruit, contract with, induce or attempt to influence
or advise, any current or former sales agent, Referral Source, current or former
employees, agent, representative or any other person that has an employment,
agency or business relationship with the Seller related to the Business as
of
the date hereof to terminate or otherwise impair his employment or other
relationship with the Purchaser or hire, engage or enter into any co-ownership
or other arrangement with any such person or (ii) interfere with, or seek to
interfere with, the relationship or potential relationship between the Purchaser
and/or any sales agent, Referral Source, employees, agent, representative or
any
other person that has an employment, agency or business relationship with the
Seller as of the date hereof.
(b) From
and
after the date hereof, the Seller, the Unitholder and
each
of their Affiliates shall hold in confidence and shall cause all of their
representatives and advisors to hold in confidence all confidential documents
and information with respect to the Assets and agrees not to disclose, publish
or make use of the same to any third party without the consent of the Purchaser,
except to the extent that such information shall have become public knowledge
other than by breach of this Agreement. Neither the Seller nor the Unitholder
nor their respective officers, directors and affiliates shall have any
obligation to hold in confidence all confidential documents and information
with
respect to the Assets if and to the extent disclosure thereof is specifically
required by law; provided, that in the event disclosure is required by
applicable law, the Seller and the Unitholder shall, to the extent reasonably
possible, provide the Purchaser with prompt notice of such requirement prior
to
making any disclosure so that the Purchaser may seek an appropriate protective
order.
(c) From
and
after the date hereof, the Seller, the Unitholder and
each
of their Affiliates shall hold in confidence and shall cause all of their
representatives and advisors to hold in confidence all confidential documents
and information with respect to the identity of the Assignee, if any, and agrees
not to disclose, publish or make use of the same to any third party without
the
consent of the Purchaser, except to the extent such disclosure is required
by
Law.
(d) The
parties recognize that a breach by the Seller or the Unitholder of this
Section
6.7
may
cause irreparable and material loss and damage to the Purchaser as to which
the
Purchaser will not have an adequate remedy at law or in damages. Accordingly,
each party acknowledges that the issuance of an injunction or other equitable
remedy is an appropriate remedy for any such breach without the necessity of
proving that monetary damages are inadequate or cannot be measured and without
posting any bond or other security.
(e) To
the
extent that the covenants provided for in this Section
6.7
may
later be deemed by a court to be too broad to be enforced with respect to its
duration or with respect to any particular activity or geographic area, the
court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration
or
scope of this Section
6.7,
and to
add or delete specific words or phrases. This Section
6.7,
as
modified, shall then be enforced.
Section
6.8 Use
of
Name.
On the
Closing Date, the Seller shall change the Seller’s name to a name that is not
similar to “Opteum Financial Services” and, within thirty (30) days after the
Closing Date, will cease using, directly or indirectly, in any manner the name
“Opteum Financial Services” or any Intellectual Property that is similar in
sound or appearance. The Seller and the Purchaser acknowledge and agree that
all
such Intellectual Property shall be considered Seller Intellectual Property.
The
Unitholder acknowledges and agrees that, after the Closing Date, the Purchaser
may use the name “Opteum Financial Services” and all derivations thereof;
provided, however, that the Purchaser agrees not to use, and shall not have
any
right or interest in, the following names until such date that the Seller and
its Affiliates no longer need to use such names: Opteum Mortgage Acceptance
Corporation, Opteum Group, LLC, Opteum Financial Services Corporation or Opteum
SPV2, LLC.
Section
6.9 Unitholder’s
Name. On or before December 31, 2007, the Unitholder shall change the
Unitholder’s corporate name to a name that is not similar to “Opteum” and
thereafter will not directly or indirectly use in any manner the name “Opteum”
or any Intellectual Property that is similar in sound or appearance thereto
and
shall transfer all of the Unitholder’s right, title and interest in and to all
such Intellectual Property to the Purchaser. Neither the use of the name “Opteum
Financial Services” nor any derivation thereof by the Purchaser following the
Closing Date shall be deemed to be an infringement upon the rights of the
Unitholder. After the Closing Date and prior to the completion of the transfer
of the Unitholder’s above-referenced Intellectual Property to the Purchaser, the
Unitholder shall maintain a link on the xxx.xxxxxx.xxx website and all of its
other websites directing consumers seeking products or services related to
the
Business to a website designated by the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees that
upon the completion of the change of the Unitholder’s corporate name, and the
above-referenced transfer of Intellectual Property, the Purchaser shall maintain
a link on the xxx.xxxxxx.xxx website directing consumers seeking products or
services provided by the Seller or the Unitholder to the then current websites
of the Seller or the Unitholder as designated by them.
Section
6.10 Employee-Related
Matters.
It is
the intention of the Purchaser that the Purchaser shall employ substantially
all
of the Seller’s existing qualified loan production and production support
employees that are employed in connection with the operation of the Business
and
such other individuals as are set forth in Exhibit 4.14. Within five (5)
calendar days of the date hereof, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Seller
a
list of the names of those employees that the Purchaser desires to hire after
Closing (“Retained Employees”). The Purchaser shall also decide upon, and offer,
the appropriate retention bonuses to be paid to the Transferred Employees.
All
Retained Employees who accept an offer of employment from the Purchaser shall
become “Transferred Employees.” Following the Closing, in the event the
Purchaser is required to pay a Transferred Employee for accrued vacation time
or
other benefits, the Seller shall reimburse the Purchaser for that portion of
the
accrued vacation time or benefits related to the period prior to the Closing
Date.
Section
6.11 Transition
Services. Each of the Purchaser and the Seller shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to negotiate and mutually agree to an agreement in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 6.11, pursuant to which (A)
the Purchaser shall make available to the Seller (i) such of the Transferred
Employees as the Seller may reasonably request; (ii) all of the Computer
Software used in connection with the Business and (iii) the Business’ reporting,
compliance, accounting and financial systems to support the Seller in transition
activities, and (B) the Seller shall make available to the Purchaser any other
systems of the Seller that are not included in the Assets for the purpose of
operating the Business until such time as the Purchaser can perform all
functions of the Business using the Purchaser’s systems, all of which shall be
subject to mutually agreed upon cost sharing arrangements (the “Transition
Services Agreement”).
Section
6.12 Sublease
Agreements. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, each of
the
Purchaser and the Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
negotiate and mutually agree to sublease agreements pursuant to which the
Purchaser will agree to sublease from the Seller (i) an approximately 17,500
square foot office space located at West 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, and (ii) an approximately 9,000 square foot office
space located at 1 Xxxxxxx Park, 3625 Cumberland Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia,
in
each case at the same rental rate that is payable by the lessee under each
lease (the “Subleases”).
Section
6.13 Permitted
Liens. The Seller shall cause to be paid or reimburse the Purchaser with respect
to all amounts related to Permitted Liens in excess of $50,000.
Section
6.14 WARN
Act
Compliance. The Seller and the Purchaser shall take reasonable steps to
cooperate with each to take or avoid taking such actions as would result in
the
application of the WARN Act in connection with the cessation of the Seller’s
operations; provided, however, that Seller shall bear no responsibility for
any
WARN Act non-compliance that results from the termination by the Purchaser
of
any Transferred Employees after the Closing.
Section
6.15 Tax
Indemnity. The Seller and the Unitholder agree to indemnify the Purchaser and
the Purchaser’s members, managers, officers, employees and agents from and
against and agrees to hold each of them harmless from, any and all Losses
incurred or suffered by them relating to or arising out of or in connection
with
any and all Taxes that have become due and payable during or which have accrued
with respect to the Seller or the Unitholder for any period included in the
Tax
Indemnification Period and that have not been paid prior to the Closing Date.
Any Taxes attributable to the operations of the Seller payable as a result
of an
audit of any Tax Return shall be deemed to have accrued in the period to which
such taxes are attributable.
Section
6.16 Updating
of Disclosure Schedules. Seller shall update the Disclosure Schedule and
Exhibits not less than three (3) days prior to the Closing Date.
Section
6.17 Net
Worth.
(a) For
a
period of one year after the Closing Date, the Unitholder shall cause the Seller
to maintain a net worth of not less than $10,000,000 and to maintain liquidity
in an amount that is reasonably sufficient to enable the Seller to satisfy
its
indemnification obligations under Article IX of this Agreement. During such
one
year period, the Seller shall not make any distributions to its members or
transfer any of its assets if such actions would cause the Seller’s net worth to
fall below $10,000,000 or would cause the Seller’s liquidity to fall below an
amount that is reasonably sufficient to enable the Seller to satisfy its
indemnification obligations under Article IX of this Agreement.
(b) Until
the
earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement, Purchaser shall
maintain a net worth of not less than $10,000,000 and shall maintain liquidity
in an amount that is reasonably sufficient to enable the Purchaser to satisfy
its indemnification obligations under Article IX of this Agreement. During
such
period, the Purchaser shall not make any distributions to its members or
transfer any of its assets if such actions would cause the Purchaser’s net worth
to fall below $10,000,000 or would cause the Purchaser’s liquidity to fall below
an amount that is reasonably sufficient to enable the Purchaser to satisfy
its
indemnification obligations under Article IX of this Agreement.
Section
6.18 Assignment
by the Purchaser.
The
Purchaser shall have the right, but not the obligation, to assign its rights
under this Agreement to an Affiliate on or prior to the Closing Date; provided,
however, the assignment of such rights shall not release the Purchaser of its
obligations and liabilities hereunder.
Section
6.19 Insurance
for Transferred Employees. The Seller shall, at the expense of the Purchaser,
extend the existing health, dental and medical insurance benefits and policies
with respect to the Transferred Employees until the later of (a) three months
following the Closing Date or (b) the date on which the Transferred Employees
become eligible for health, dental and medical insurance benefits and policies
under the Purchaser’s (or the Assignee’s) plans.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
Section
7.1 Conditions
to Obligations of the Purchaser to Effect the Closing.
(a) The
obligations of the Purchaser to consummate the Closing shall be subject to
the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of each of the following
conditions:
(i) Government
Actions.
No
judgment, order or injunction shall have been entered, issued or enforced by
any
Governmental Entity, that:
(A) compels
the Seller to dispose of any material portion of the Assets or the Business;
or
(B) prohibits
the Seller or the Purchaser or its Assignee from consummating the Transaction,
or requires the Seller to pay any damages that are material in relation to
the
Seller.
(ii) Purchaser
or the Assignee shall have received the consent or approval of the applicable
Governmental Entities, including but not limited to state mortgage licensing
authorities, with respect to each of the Seller’s offices that Purchaser is
acquiring through its assumption of the Leases and purchase of the Assets at
those offices pursuant to this Agreement.
(iii) Material
Adverse Change.
Since
the date of this Agreement, no event shall have occurred which has had, or
could
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties made by the Seller and the Unitholder herein
shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date
in all material respects with the same force and effect as though such
representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Closing Date;
provided, however, all representations and warranties qualified by materiality
shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date with the same
force and effect as though such representations and warranties had been made
on
and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representation
and warranty shall specifically relate solely to an earlier date (other than
the
date hereof), in which case such representation and warranty shall be true
and
correct in all respects as of such earlier date, and the Seller shall have
delivered a certificate to the Purchaser which certifies to the
foregoing.
(v) No
Breach.
The
Seller and the Unitholder shall have performed in all material respects all
agreements, covenants and obligations and complied in all material respects
with
all conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed
or
complied with by it on or before the Closing Date, and at such time neither
the
Seller nor the Unitholder shall be in material default in the performance of
or
compliance with any of the provisions of this Agreement, and the Seller shall
have delivered a certificate to the Purchaser which certifies to the foregoing
(such certificate, together with the certificate referred to in (ii), the
“Seller
Closing Certificates”).
(vi) Third
Party Consents and Approvals. All
consents and approvals (or in lieu thereof waivers) to the performance by the
Seller and the Unitholder of their respective obligations under this
Agreement or
to the
consummation of the Transaction or as otherwise required under any contract
to
which the Seller or the Unitholder is a party or by which any of the Assets
are
bound and where the failure to obtain any such consent or approval (or in lieu
thereof waiver) could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate
with other such failures, to cause a Material Adverse Effect, (i) shall have
been obtained and delivered to the Purchaser, (ii) shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to the Purchaser, (iii) shall not be subject to the
satisfaction of any condition that has not been satisfied or waived, and (iv)
shall be in full force and effect.
(vii) Landlord
Approval.
The
Seller shall have obtained the consent of the landlords for the offices located
at West 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx and 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx to
the
sublease of a portion of the location to the Purchaser.
(viii) Transferred
Employees.
Employees representing at least a minimum threshold of production of the
Business as set forth on Exhibit
2.4
shall
have agreed to accept employment with the Purchaser and become Transferred
Employees.
(ix) Additional
Deliveries by the Seller.
At the
Closing, the Seller shall deliver to the Purchaser:
(A) a
certificate of good standing of Seller issued as of a recent date for the state
of Delaware;
(B) a
certificate from the secretary or appropriate manager of the Seller (i)
certifying the Seller’s certificate of formation, (ii) certifying the Seller’s
limited liability company agreement, (iii) certifying the incumbency of the
Seller’s managers; and (iv) such other documents as are necessary to evidence
the Seller’s authorization and power to enter into and perform the
Transaction;
(C) a
duly
executed counterpart signed by the Seller of the Transition Services Agreement;
(D) a
duly
executed counterpart signed by the Seller of each of the Subleases;
(E) an
opinion of the General Counsel of the Unitholder as to the matters set forth
on
Exhibit
7.1(a)(viii)(E);
and
(F) a
duly
executed counterpart signed by the Seller of a xxxx of sale, assignment and
assumption agreement, and any other documents, instruments or other items that
are necessary or desirable to consummate the Transaction, as reasonably
determined by the Purchaser (the “Transaction
Documents”).
The
foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Purchaser, may be waived
by
the Purchaser, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in the
sole discretion of the Purchaser. The failure by the Purchaser at any time
to
exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such
right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted
at any time and from time to time
Section
7.2 Conditions
to Obligations of the Seller to Effect the Closing.
(a) The
obligations of the Seller to consummate the Closing shall be subject to the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of each of the following
conditions:
(i) Representations
and Warranties.
All of
the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement
shall be true and correct in all respects and each such representation or
warranty that is not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material
respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Closing.
(ii) No
Purchaser Breach.
The
Purchaser shall not have failed to perform in any material respect any material
obligation or to comply in any material respect with any agreement or covenant
of the Purchaser to be performed or complied with by it under this
Agreement.
(iii) Certificate
of the Purchaser’s Manager.
The
Seller shall have received from the Purchaser a certificate, dated as of the
Closing, duly executed by a manager of the Purchaser to the effect of
paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.
(iv) Purchaser
Licenses.
The
Purchaser shall have such licenses, permits and authorizations as are necessary
to conduct the Business.
(v) Additional
Deliveries by the Purchaser.
At the
Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver:
(A) the
Purchase Price by transfer of immediately available funds to such account at
such bank as the Seller shall direct;
(B) a
certificate of a manager of the Purchaser (i) certifying the Purchaser’s
certificate of formation, (ii) certifying the Purchaser’s limited liability
company agreement, (iii) certifying the incumbency of the Purchaser’s managers,
and (iv) such other documents as are necessary to evidence the Purchaser’s
authorization and power to enter into and perform the Transaction;
(C) a
duly
executed counterpart signed by the Purchaser of the Transition Services
Agreement;
(D) a
duly
executed counterpart signed by the Purchaser of each of the
Subleases;
(E) a
duly
executed counterpart signed by the Purchaser or its Affiliate, as applicable,
of
each Transaction Document to which the Purchaser or any of its affiliates is
a
party; and
(F) as
applicable, any other items required by the Transaction Documents.
The
foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Seller, may be waived
by
the Seller, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in the sole
discretion of the Seller. The failure by the Seller at any time to exercise
any
of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and
each
such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time
and
from time to time.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
Section
8.1 Termination.
The
Transaction may be terminated or abandoned at any time prior to the
Closing:
(a) By
the
mutual written consent of the Purchaser and the Seller;
(b) By
the
Seller:
(i) if
the
Purchaser shall have breached in any material respect any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this
Agreement which would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in
Article VII,
and
which breach is not cured within twenty (20) days after the Seller gives the
Purchaser written notice identifying the breach; or
(ii) on
or
after June 30, 2007, if the Closing shall not have theretofore occurred and
if
the failure of the Closing to occur is not the result of a breach of a
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this
Agreement by the Seller or the Unitholder.
(c) By
the
Purchaser:
(i) if
the
Seller shall have breached in any material respect any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement which
would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Article VII,
and
which breach is not cured within twenty (20) days after the Purchaser gives
the
Seller written notice identifying the breach; or
(ii) on
or
after June 30, 2007, if
the
Closing shall not have theretofore occurred and if the failure of the Closing
to
occur is not the result of a breach of a representation, warranty, covenant
or
other agreement contained in this Agreement by the Purchaser.
Section
8.2 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event of the termination of the Transaction by any party hereto pursuant to
Section 8.1 of this Agreement, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given
to the other party or parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which
such termination of the Transaction is made, and there shall be no liability
or
obligation thereafter on the part of the Purchaser, the Seller or the
Unitholder.
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
9.1 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the parties contained in Articles IV and
V of
this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall survive the Closing through
and
including the second anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, that the
representations and warranties (a) of Seller set forth in Sections 4.1
(Organization; Qualification), 4.2 (Authorization; Validity of Agreement),
4.3
(Consents and Approvals; No Violations) and 4.5 (Title to Properties; Liens)
shall survive the Closing indefinitely, (b) of Seller set forth in Section
4.12
(Tax Matters) shall survive the Closing until sixty (60) days following the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to the
particular matter that is the subject matter thereof and (c) of Purchaser set
forth in Sections 5.1 (Organization), 5.2 (Authorization; Validity of Agreement)
and 5.3 (Consents and Approvals; No Violations) shall survive the Closing
indefinitely (in each case, the “Survival Period”); provided, further, that any
obligation to indemnify and hold harmless shall not terminate with respect
to
any Losses as to which the Person to be indemnified shall have given notice
(stating in reasonable detail the basis of the claim for indemnification) to
the
indemnifying party in accordance with Section 9.3(a) before the termination
of
the applicable Survival Period. Unless a specified period is set forth in this
Agreement (in which event such specified period will control), the covenants
and
other agreements in this Agreement will survive the Closing and remain in effect
until the third anniversary of the Closing Date.
Section
9.2 Indemnification.
(a) Subject
to Sections
9.1,
9.3,
9.4
and
9.5,
the
Seller hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Purchaser and its directors,
officers, employees, Affiliates, stockholders, agents, attorneys,
representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Purchaser
Indemnified Parties”)
harmless from and against:
(i) any
and
all Losses and Liabilities based upon, attributable to or resulting from the
failure of any of the representations or warranties of the Seller set forth
in
this Agreement to be true and correct in all respects at the date hereof and
at
the Closing Date;
(ii) any
and
all Losses and Liabilities based upon, attributable to or resulting from the
breach of any covenant or other agreement on the part of the Seller or the
Unitholder under this Agreement;
(iii) any
and
all Losses and Liabilities attributable to any Transferred Employee resulting
from or based upon (A) any employment-related Liability (statutory or otherwise)
with respect to employment or termination of employment on or prior to the
Closing Date, (B) except as set forth in the Transition Services Agreement,
any
Liability relating to, arising under or in connection with any Employee Benefit
Plan, including any Liability under COBRA, whether arising prior to, on or
within three (3) years after the Closing Date and (C) any liability under WARN,
except as provided in Section
6.14;
(iv) any
and
all Losses and Liabilities (other than Losses and Liabilities caused by the
acts
or omissions of the Purchaser) with respect to Pipeline Loans with an interest
rates locked under the Seller’s loan policies; and
(v) any
and
all Losses and Liabilities arising out of, based upon or relating to any
Excluded Asset, Excluded Liability or employee of other than Transferred
Employees or the Seller’s ownership of the Assets or operation of the Business
prior to the Closing or any event, act, omission or circumstance in connection
therewith.
(b) Subject
to Sections
9.1,
9.3,
9.4
and
9.5,
Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Seller and its Affiliates,
stockholders, agents, attorneys, representatives, successors and permitted
assigns (collectively, the “Seller
Indemnified Parties”)
harmless from and against:
(i) any
and
all Losses based upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any
of
the representations or warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement,
to
be true and correct at the date hereof and at the Closing Date;
(ii) any
and
all Losses based upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any
covenant or other agreement on the part of Purchaser under this Agreement;
(iii) any
and
all Losses arising out of, based upon or relating to any Assumed Liability;
and
(iv) any
and
all Losses arising out of, based upon or relating to Purchaser’s operation of
the Business, any Asset or Transferred Employee, in each case arising after
the
Closing; and
(v) any
and
all Losses incurred by Seller as a result of any non-compliance with the WARN
Act that results from termination of employment by Purchaser of any Transferred
Employee.
(c) The
right
to indemnification or any other remedy provided for herein based on
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall
not be affected by any investigation conducted with respect to, or any knowledge
acquired (or capable of being acquired) at any time, whether before or after
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing Date, with respect
to
the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any such representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement. The waiver of any condition based on the
accuracy of any representation or warranty, or on the performance of or
compliance with any covenant or agreements, will not affect the right to
indemnification or any other remedy provided for herein based on such
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements.
(d) The
rights to indemnification set forth in this Section
9.2
are
subject to the terms, conditions, procedures and limitations set forth in this
Article
IX
and will
be the exclusive remedy of each party hereto against the other for money damages
with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby;
provided, that the limitations (including the immediately preceding clause
providing for exclusivity of remedy) set forth in this Article
IX
shall
not apply to any Losses caused by the willful misconduct, fraud, or bad faith
of
any indemnifying party, and the indemnifying party shall be liable for all
Losses with respect thereto.
Section
9.3 Indemnification
Procedures.
(a) A
claim
for indemnification for any matter not involving a third party claim may be
asserted by written notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought,
which notice shall include a reasonable description of the basis for the
claim.
(b) In
the
event that any Legal Proceedings shall be instituted or that any claim or demand
shall be asserted by any third party in respect of which payment may be sought
under Section
9.2
hereof
(“Third
Party Claim”),
the
indemnified party shall promptly cause written notice of the assertion of any
Third Party Claim of which it has knowledge which is covered by this indemnity
to be forwarded to the indemnifying party. The indemnifying party shall have
the
right, at its sole expense, to be represented by counsel of its choice, which
must be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and to defend against,
negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with any Third Party Claim which relates
to
any Losses for which indemnification is sought hereunder. If the indemnifying
party elects to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with any
Third Party Claim which relates to any Losses for which indemnification is
sought hereunder, it shall within ten (10) days (or sooner, if the nature of
the
Third Party Claim so requires) notify the indemnified party of its intent to
do
so. If the indemnifying party elects not to defend against, negotiate, settle
or
otherwise deal with any Third Party Claim which relates to any Losses for which
indemnification is sought hereunder, fails to notify the indemnified party
of
its election as herein provided the indemnified party may then, but only then,
defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with such Third Party Claim.
If the indemnified party defends any Third Party Claim, then the indemnifying
party shall reimburse the indemnified party for the reasonable expenses of
defending such Third Party Claim upon submission of periodic bills. If the
indemnifying party shall assume the defense of any Third Party Claim, the
indemnified party may participate, at his or its own expense, in the defense
of
such Third Party Claim; provided, that such indemnified party shall be entitled
to participate in any such defense with separate counsel at the expense of
the
indemnifying party if (i) so requested by the indemnifying party to participate
or (ii) in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the indemnified party a conflict
or potential conflict exists between the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party that would make such separate representation advisable; and provided,
further, that the indemnifying party shall not be required to pay for more
than
one such counsel (and any appropriate local counsel) for all indemnified parties
in connection with any Third Party Claim. The parties hereto agree to cooperate
in all reasonable respects with each other in connection with the defense,
negotiation or settlement of any such Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding
anything in this Section
9.3
to the
contrary, neither the indemnifying party nor the indemnified party shall,
without the written consent of the other party, settle or compromise any Third
Party Claim or permit a default or consent to entry of any judgment unless
the
claimant and such party provide to such other party an unqualified release
from
all liability in respect of the Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a settlement offer solely for money damages is made by the
applicable third party claimant, and the indemnifying party notifies the
indemnified party in writing of the indemnifying party’s willingness to accept
the settlement offer and, subject to the applicable limitations of Section
9.4,
pay the
amount called for by such offer, and the indemnified party declines to accept
such offer, the indemnified party may continue to contest such Third Party
Claim, free of any participation by the indemnifying party, and the amount
of
any ultimate liability with respect to such Third Party Claim that the
indemnifying party has an obligation to pay hereunder shall be limited to the
lesser of (A) the amount of the settlement offer that the indemnified party
declined to accept plus the Losses of the indemnified party relating to such
Third Party Claim through the date of its rejection of the settlement offer
or
(B) the aggregate Losses of the indemnified party with respect to such
Third Party Claim. If the indemnifying party makes any payment on any Third
Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated, to the extent of such
payment, to all rights and remedies of the indemnified party to any insurance
benefits or other claims of the indemnified party with respect to such Third
Party Claim.
(c) After
any
final judgment or award shall have been rendered by a Governmental Body of
competent jurisdiction and the expiration of the time in which to appeal
therefrom, or a settlement shall have been consummated, or the indemnified
party
and the indemnifying party shall have arrived at a mutually binding agreement
with respect to an Third Party Claim hereunder, the indemnified party shall
forward to the indemnifying party notice of any sums due and owing by the
indemnifying party pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such matter and
the indemnifying party shall be required to pay all of the sums so due and
owing
to the indemnified party by wire transfer of immediately available funds within
five Business Days after the date of such notice.
(d) The
failure of the indemnified party to give reasonably prompt notice of any Third
Party Claim shall not release, waive or otherwise affect the indemnifying
party’s obligations with respect thereto except to the extent that the
indemnifying party can demonstrate actual loss and prejudice as a result of
such
failure.
(e) In
the
event that the Purchaser (i) repurchases any Pipeline Loans sold to investors
or
any other Person by Purchaser or incurs Losses with respect to any Pipeline
Loans under facts or circumstances in which Seller would be obligated to
indemnify Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement, or (ii) incurs any Losses (other
than Losses caused by the acts or omissions of the Purchaser) with respect
to
Pipeline Loans with an interest rate locked under the Seller’s loan policies,
then Seller may elect to repurchase such Pipeline Loans from Purchaser instead
of indemnifying Purchaser pursuant to this Article
IX.
To
exercise its right to repurchase any Pipeline Loan under this Section
9.3(e),
Seller
must provide Purchaser with written notice of such election within five (5)
Business Days of receipt of notice from Purchaser pursuant to this Section
9.3
of an
indemnification claim for which Purchaser is seeking indemnification from
Seller. The purchase price for any Pipeline Loan which Seller elects to
repurchase from Purchaser pursuant to this Section
9.3(e)
shall be
equal to the sum of (i) the purchase price paid by Purchaser to repurchase
such
Pipeline Loan plus
(ii)
Purchaser’s actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses for holding, servicing and
administering such Pipeline Loan prior to the repurchase of such Pipeline Loan
by Seller less
(iii)
any principal or interest paid by the borrower to Purchaser with respect to
such
Pipeline Loan.
Section
9.4 Limitations
on Indemnification.
(a) Seller
shall not have any liability under Section
9.2(a)(i)
and
Purchaser shall not have any liability under Section
9.2(b)(i)
unless
and until the aggregate amount of Losses to the indemnified parties finally
determined to arise thereunder based upon, attributable to or resulting from
the
failure of any of the representations or warranties (other than the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections
4.1
(Organization; Qualification), 4.2
(Authorization; Validity of Agreement), 4.3
(Consents and Approvals; No Violations), 4.5
(Title
to Properties; Liens), 4.12
(Tax
Matters), 5.1
(Organization), 5.2
(Authorization; Validity of Agreement) and 5.3
(Consents and Approvals; No Violations)) to be true and correct exceeds $100,000
(the “Deductible”)
and,
in such event, the indemnifying party shall be required to pay only the amount
of such Losses that exceeds the Deductible. No claim for Losses may be made
for
indemnification or aggregated with any other claim for indemnification pursuant
to Section
9.2(a)(i)
or
Section
9.2(b)(i)
if the
amount of such claim does not exceed $10,000 (the “Per
Item Deductible”);
provided, that the Per Item Deductible shall not apply to (i) any claims for
indemnification pursuant to Section
9.2(a)(i)
or
Section
9.2(b)(i)
based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any of the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections
4.1
(Organization; Qualification), 4.2
(Authorization; Validity of Agreement), 4.3
(Consents and Approvals; No Violations), 4.5
(Title
to Properties; Liens), 4.12
(Tax
Matters), 5.1
(Organization), 5.2
(Authorization; Validity of Agreement) and 5.3
(Consents and Approvals; No Violations) to be true and correct in all respects
at the date hereof and at the Closing Date or (ii) claims for indemnification
due to Losses related to the Pipeline Loans or repurchases of Pipeline Loans
pursuant to Section
9.3(e).
(b) No
claim
for Losses may be made for indemnification or aggregated with any other claim
for indemnification by Purchaser under Section
9.2(a)(ii)
or
Seller under Section
9.2(b)(ii)
if the
amount of such claim does not exceed the Per Item Deductible (other than the
covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in Sections
6.5
(Further
Action), 6.6
(No
Solicitation of Competing Transaction), and 6.7
(Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality)); provided, however, once the aggregate
amount of claims subject to the Per Item Deductible and all other claims exceeds
the Deductible, each claim thereafter shall no longer be subject to the Per
Item
Deductible.
(c) Neither
Seller nor Purchaser shall be required to indemnify, any Person under
Section
9.2(a)(i)
or
9.2(b)(i)
for an
aggregate amount of Losses exceeding the Purchase Price (the “Cap”)
in
connection with Losses related to the breach of any of the representations
and
warranties of Seller or Purchaser in Articles IV
and
V,
respectively; provided, that the Cap limitation shall not apply to (i) Losses
related to the breach of any representation or warranty contained in
Sections
4.2
(Authorization; Validity of Agreement), 4.5
(Title
to Properties; Liens) and 5.2
(Authorization; Validity of Agreement) or (ii) claims for indemnification due
to
Losses related to the Pipeline Loans or repurchases of Pipeline Loans pursuant
to Section
9.3(e).
Neither
Seller nor Purchaser shall be required to indemnify, any Person under
Sections
9.2(a)(ii)
or
9.2(b)(ii)
for
breaches of the covenants, agreements or obligations set forth in Section
6.4
(Government Approvals) (but only to the extent that any such breach occurred
after the Closing), and Section
6.8
(use of
name) for an aggregate amount of Losses exceeding 25% of the Purchase
Price.
(d) For
purposes of (i) determining whether any representation or warranty was true
and
correct on the date hereof or as of the Closing Date, (ii) determining whether
any covenant, agreement or obligation under this Agreement was breached, or
(iii) calculating Losses hereunder, any materiality or Material Adverse Effect
qualifications in the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
shall be disregarded.
Section
9.5 Tax
Treatment of Indemnity Payments.
Seller
and Purchaser agree to treat any indemnity payment made pursuant to this Article
IX as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for all Tax purposes. Notwithstanding
the treatment required by the preceding sentence, the Liability of the
indemnifying party with respect to any Losses shall be reduced by the Tax
benefit actually realized and any insurance proceeds received by the indemnified
party as a result of any Losses upon which an indemnification claim is based,
and shall include any Tax detriment actually suffered by the indemnified party
as a result of such Losses and any payment under this Article IX.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
10.1 Fees
and Expenses.
All
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
consummation of the Transaction shall be paid by the party incurring such
expenses.
Section
10.2 Amendment
and Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified and supplemented
in
any and all respects, but only by a written instrument signed by all of the
parties hereto expressly stating that such instrument is intended to amend,
modify or supplement this Agreement.
Section
10.3 Publicity.
The parties hereto shall consult in good faith with each other as to the form
and substance of any press releases or other public announcements (including
investor presentations and related presentations or outlines prepared or used
by
the Seller or the Unitholder), including any related question and answer
guidelines prepared or used by the Seller or the Unitholder, related to the
transactions contemplated hereby and any filings with any Governmental Body
or
with any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation service with
respect thereto prior to issuing any press release or other public announcement
or making any filing. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit
any
party from making any disclosure or filing that it determines, upon the advice
of counsel, is required by law or by obligations pursuant to any listing
agreement with or rules of any national securities exchange or interdealer
quotation service or to prohibit the Seller or the Unitholder from making
disclosures in connection with other discussions, questions or comments in
connection with investor relations matters the principal focus of which is
not
specifically related to the transactions contemplated hereby provided that
such
disclosures or comments are not designed to adversely affect the reputation
or
business of Purchaser or its Affiliates.
Section
10.4 Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall
be
deemed given when mailed, delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed)
or sent by an overnight courier service, such as Federal Express, to the parties
at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specified by such party by like notice):
if to the Purchaser, to:
Prospect Mortgage Company, LLC
c/o Sterling Capital Partners II, L.P.
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Sterling
Capital Partners II, L.P.
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
and
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxx Chartered
000
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
if to the Seller or Unitholder, to:
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
General Counsel
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Hunton
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
Riverfront
Plaza, East Tower
000
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. XxXxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
Section
10.5 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when two or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to
the
other parties. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other
electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed
counterparts, provided receipt of such counterparts is confirmed.
Section
10.6 Entire
Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and all other agreement
or documents executed and delivered in connection with the Transaction
(a) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof and (b) are not intended to confer any
rights or remedies upon any Person other than the specified parties hereto
and
thereto.
Section
10.7 Severability.
Any term or provision of this Agreement that is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable in any
situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability
of
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability
of
the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid, void
or
unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall
have the power to reduce the scope, duration, area or applicability of the
term
or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid,
void or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid
and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the
invalid or unenforceable term or provision.
Section
10.8 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts
of law.
Section
10.9 Consent
to Jurisdiction; Forum Selection; Governing Law; Waiver of Jury
Trial.
(a) THE
PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT ANY ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE FEDERAL COURTS
LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. THE AFOREMENTIONED CHOICE OF VENUE IS INTENDED
BY
THE PARTIES TO BE MANDATORY AND NOT PERMISSIVE IN NATURE, THEREBY PRECLUDING
THE
POSSIBILITY OF LITIGATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO OR ARISING OUT
OF
THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THOSE SPECIFIED IN THIS
SECTION
10.9.
EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE DOCTRINE OF FORUM
NON-CONVENIENS OR SIMILAR DOCTRINE OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE WITH RESPECT TO ANY
PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION
10.9,
AND STIPULATES THAT THE FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SHALL HAVE
IN PERSONAL JURISDICTION AND VENUE OVER EACH OF THEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF
LITIGATING ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED
TO
THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HEREBY AUTHORIZES AND ACCEPTS SERVICE OF PROCESS
SUFFICIENT FOR PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN ANY ACTION AGAINST IT AS CONTEMPLATED
BY
THIS SECTION
10.9
BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, POSTAGE PREPAID,
TO
ITS ADDRESS FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICES AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, OR IN
THE
MANNER SET FORTH IN SECTION
10.9
OF THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICE. ANY FINAL JUDGMENT RENDERED AGAINST
A PARTY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AS TO THE SUBJECT OF
SUCH FINAL JUDGMENT AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN ANY MANNER
PROVIDED BY LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION
AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS RULES
OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW.
(b) THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION
OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT, POWER, OR REMEDY UNDER OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTION OR UNDER OR IN CONNECTION
WITH
ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT, OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN
THE
FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY
RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTION,
AND
AGREE THAT ANY SUCH ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.
THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
10.9(b)
CONSTITUTE A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES ENTERING INTO THIS
AGREEMENT.
Section
10.10 Extension;
Waiver.
At any
time prior to the Closing, the parties may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the
other parties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant
to this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties with any of
the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on
the
part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set
forth
in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. The failure of
any
party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or
otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.
Section
10.11 Election
of Remedies. Neither the exercise of nor the failure to exercise a right of
set-off or to give notice of a claim under this Agreement will constitute an
election of remedies or limit the Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Indemnified
Parties in any manner in the enforcement of any other remedies that may be
available to any of them, whether at law or in equity.
Section
10.12 Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder
shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law
or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that
the Purchaser may assign, in its sole discretion, any or all of its rights
and
interests hereunder to any Affiliate of the Purchaser or to any Person that
the
Purchaser has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire on or before the
date hereof. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding
upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section
10.13 Interpretation.
The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not affect in any way the interpretation of this Agreement. No provision
of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed against any party hereto
solely because such party or its legal representative drafted such
provision.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Asset Purchase Agreement
as of the date first written above.
PROSPECT
MORTGAGE COMPANY,
LLC
By
Name:
Title:
OPTEUM
FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
Exhibit
1
“Acquisition
Proposal”
means
any proposal or offer made by any Person other than the Purchaser or any
Subsidiary of the Purchaser to acquire all or a substantial part of the Business
or Assets or any capital stock of the Seller, whether by merger, tender offer,
exchange offer, sale of assets or similar transactions involving the Seller
or
any division or operating or principal business unit of the Seller, other than
any proposal or offer made by any Person other than the Purchaser or any
Subsidiary of the Purchaser to acquire all or a substantial part of the conduit
or wholesale mortgage origination businesses, the Unitholder’s real estate
investment trust, or REIT, business, the telemarketing business of Homestar
Direct, LLC, servicing rights and other servicing assets, including all
contracts related thereto and rights thereunder, and any and all
residuals.
“Affiliate”
of
a
Person shall mean a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with
the
first mentioned Person.
“Agreement”
or
“this
Agreement”
means
this Asset Purchase Agreement, together with the Exhibits hereto and the
Disclosure Schedule.
“Announcement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
6.3.
“Assets”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“Assignee”
shall
mean any Person to whom the Purchaser assigns it rights and delegates its
obligations hereunder in accordance with Section
10.12.
“Assumed
Liabilities”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
“Balance
Sheet”
means,
as of any date, balance sheet of the Seller, prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
“Balance
Sheet Date”
means
March 31, 2007.
“Books
and Records”
means
all books and records of the Seller (in whatever form or media), including,
without limitation, accounting and operating ledgers, asset ledgers, inventory
records, budgets, customer lists, supplier lists, mailing lists, resale
certificates, advertising and sales materials, manuals, books, files,
procedures, systems, copies of all financial statements and all other
accounting, financial, operating and business records and other graphic or
electronically stored accounting, financial, operating and business
information.
“Business”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.
“Business
Day”
means
a
day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banks located in the State
of Illinois are authorized or obligated to close.
“Cap”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.4.
“Closing”
means
the consummation of the Transaction.
“Closing
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.1.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Computer
Software”
means
computer software programs, databases and all documentation related thereto,
other than “off the shelf” software that is generally available to the public
and has not been customized for use for the Business.
“Contracts”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
4.9(a).
“Copyrights”
means
U.S. and foreign registered and unregistered copyrights (including those in
Computer Software and databases), rights of publicity and all registrations
and
applications to register the same.
“Customers”
means
(i) customers of the Seller with respect to the Business, and (ii) prospective
customers of the Seller with respect to the Business that have been derived
from
leads and/or lists developed by the Seller.
“Deductible”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.4.
“Disclosure
Schedule”
means
the disclosure schedule of even date herewith prepared by the Seller and
delivered to the Purchaser simultaneously with the execution
hereof.
“Environmental
Claim”
means
any claim, action, cause of action, investigation or written notice by any
Person alleging actual or potential liability for investigatory, cleanup or
private or governmental response costs, or natural resources or property
damages, or personal injuries, attorney’s fees or penalties relating to the
presence, or release into the environment, of any Materials of Environmental
Concern at any location owned, leased, operated or managed by the Seller or
at
which the Seller has any legal or equitable interest including by virtue of
foreclosure, now or in the past, or (ii) circumstances forming the basis of
any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law.
“Environmental
Law”
means
each federal, state, local and foreign law and regulation relating to pollution,
protection or preservation of human health or the environment, including without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface
strata, and natural resources, and including each law and regulation relating
to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Materials of
Environmental Concern, or otherwise relating to the manufacturing, processing,
presence distribution, use, treatment, generation, storage, containment (whether
above ground or underground), disposal, transport or handling of Materials
of
Environmental Concern, or the preservation of the environment or mitigation
of
adverse effects thereon and each law and regulation with regard to record
keeping, notification, disclosure and reporting requirements respecting
Materials of Environmental Concern.
“Equipment,
Fixtures and Furniture”
means
all equipment, machinery, furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements, office
equipment and computer hardware and software of the Seller and all other items
of a similar nature owned by the Seller.
“Excluded
Assets”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Financial
Statements”
means
(a) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Seller as at
December 31, 2006 together with statements of income and cash flows for the
year then ended, which consolidated financial statements have been certified
by
an independent certified public accounting firm, whose reports thereon are
included herein, (b) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Seller
as of February 28, 2007, and unaudited consolidated statements of income and
cash flows for the period then ended.
“GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental
Entity”
means
any federal, state or local court, arbitral tribunal, administrative agency
or
commission or other governmental or other regulatory authority or
agency.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all of the following: Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, Licenses,
and all domain names, URLs and other similar property or property
rights.
“Leases”
means
those leases or a portion thereof set forth in Exhibit
2
pursuant
to which the Seller leases any real or personal property for the conduct of
the
Business that provide for annual lease obligations in excess of
$50,000.
“Liability”
means
any debt, loss, damage, adverse claim, liability or obligation (whether direct
or indirect, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent,
accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due,
and
whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise), and including all
costs and expenses relating thereto.
“Licenses”
means
all licenses and agreements pursuant to which the Seller has acquired rights
in
or to any Trademarks, Patents or Copyrights, or licenses and agreements pursuant
to which the Seller has licensed or transferred the right to use any of the
foregoing.
“Lien”
means
any mortgage, lien (except for any lien for taxes not yet due and payable),
charge, restriction, pledge, security interest, option, lease or sublease,
claim, right of any third party, easement, encroachment or encumbrance.
“Losses”
means
all damages (including, without limitation, amounts paid in settlement with
the
consent of an indemnitor which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), losses (including, without limitation, any losses resulting from
any
exercise of any right of rescission provided by applicable law), obligations
(including, without limitation, mortgage loan repurchase and indemnification
obligations), liabilities, liens, deficiencies, costs (including reasonable
costs of investigation and reasonable defense and attorneys’ and other
professionals’ fees incurred in connection with the investigation and defense of
any Third Party Claim and any other indemnification claim pursuant to which
an
indemnified party receives a payment or payments from the indemnifying party
for
such indemnification claim), Taxes, penalties, fines, interest, restitution
payments, monetary sanctions, punitive damages, consequential damages and
expenses incurred by the indemnified party, including, without limitation,
attorneys’ fees and litigation costs incurred to comply with injunctions and
other court and agency orders, and other costs and expenses incident to any
Proceeding or to establish or enforce the indemnified party’s right to
indemnification.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
or
“Material
Adverse Change”
means
(i) a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), assets or results of operations of the Business, taken as a whole,
or (ii) a material impairment of, or delay in, the Seller’s or Unitholder’s
ability to effect the Closing or to perform their respective obligations under
this Agreement; provided, that none of the following shall be deemed to
constitute or shall be taken into account in determining whether there has
been
a “Material Adverse Effect”: any event, circumstance, change or effect arising
out of or attributable to (a) changes in the economy or financial markets,
including, prevailing interest rates and market conditions, generally in the
United States or that are the result of acts of war or terrorism, except to
the
extent any of the same materially disproportionately affects Seller or
Unitholder as compared to other companies in the industry in which Seller or
Unitholder operate; (b) changes that are caused by factors generally affecting
the industry in which Seller or Unitholder operate, except to the extent any
of
the same materially disproportionately affects Seller or Unitholder; (c) any
loss of, or adverse change in, the relationship Seller or Unitholder with their
customers (other than Referral Sources) or suppliers caused by the announcement
of the Transactions; (d) changes in, or in the application of, GAAP; (e) changes
in applicable laws except to the extent any of the same materially
disproportionately affects Seller or Unitholder as compared to other companies
in the industry in which Seller operates; and (f) so long as the condition
set
forth in Section
7.1(a)(vii)
is
satisfied, changes related to any employee employed by Seller in a sales
function (including loan officers and production managers) who are intended
to
become Transferred Employees.
“Materials
of Environmental Concern”
means
chemicals; pollutants; contaminants; wastes; and toxic or hazardous substances,
materials and wastes, including without limitation, petroleum and petroleum
products; asbestos and asbestos-containing materials; polychlorinated biphenyls;
lead and lead-based paints and materials and lead in water; and
radon.
“Mortgage”
means
a
mortgage, deed of trust or other similar security instrument that creates a
Lien
on real property.
“Mortgage
Loan”
means
any loan that is, or upon closing or funding, will be, evidenced by a Mortgage
or Mortgage Note and secured by a Mortgaged Property.
“Mortgage
Note”
means,
with respect to a Mortgage Loan, a promissory note or notes, or other evidence
of indebtedness, with respect to such Mortgage Loan secured by a Mortgage or
Mortgages, together with any assignment, reinstatement, extension, endorsement
or modification thereof.
“Mortgaged
Property”
means
a
fee simple property (or such other estate in real property as is commonly
accepted as collateral for mortgage loans that are subject to secondary mortgage
sales or securitizations) that secures a Mortgage Note and that is subject
to a
Mortgage.
“Patents”
means
issued U.S. and foreign patents and pending patent applications, patent
disclosures, and any and all divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part,
reissues, reexaminations, and extension thereof, any counterparts claiming
priority therefrom, utility models, patents of importation/confirmation,
certificates of invention and like statutory rights.
“Per
Item Deductible”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.4.
“Permitted
Liens”
shall
mean (i) Liens for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments that
are
not yet due and payable, or that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and (ii) Liens that do not materially adversely affect
the Assets from the period commencing on the execution of this Agreement and
extending to the Closing.
“Person”
means
a
natural person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business
trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture,
Governmental Entity or other entity or organization.
“Pipeline
Loans”
means
any residential mortgage loan for which an application has been taken by the
Seller’s employees on or before the Closing Date, and that has not been closed,
for which a check has not been issued or wire has not been sent as of the
Closing Date and which relates to the Business..
“Proceeding”
means
any formal or informal proceeding, charge, complaint, examination, inquiry,
investigation, audit, hearing, claim, demand, notice, action, suit, litigation,
arbitration or mediation (in each case, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative) commenced, conducted, heard or pending by or before any
Governmental Entity, arbitrator or mediator.
“Purchase
Price”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.4.
“Purchaser”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.
“Purchaser
Indemnified Parties”
means
the Purchaser and each of its officers, directors, employees, agents, Affiliates
and successors and assigns.
“Purchaser
Material
Adverse Effect”
means
(i) a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), assets or results of operations of the business of the Purchaser
or
the Assignee, as the case may be, taken as a whole, or (ii) a material
impairment of, or delay in, the Purchaser’s or Assignee’s, as the case may be,
ability to effect the Closing or to perform their respective obligations under
this Agreement; provided, that none of the following shall be deemed to
constitute or shall be taken into account in determining whether there has
been
a “Material Adverse Effect”: any event, circumstance, change or effect arising
out of or attributable to (a) changes in the economy or financial markets,
including, prevailing interest rates and market conditions, generally in the
United States or that are the result of acts of war or terrorism, except to
the
extent any of the same materially disproportionately affects the Purchaser
or
the Assignee, as the case may be, as compared to other companies in the industry
in which the Purchaser or the Assignee, as the case may be, operate; (b) changes
that are caused by factors generally affecting the industry in which the
Purchaser or the Assignee, as the case may be, operate, except to the extent
any
of the same materially disproportionately affects the Purchaser or the Assignee,
as the case may be; and (c) changes in, or in the application of, GAAP; (e)
changes in applicable laws except to the extent any of the same materially
disproportionately affects the Purchaser or the Assignee, as the case may be,
as
compared to other companies in the industry in which Seller
operates.
“Referral
Source”
means
any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
association, trade group or other entity that refers Customers or that has
provided leads and/or lists of Customers with respect to the
Business.
“Representatives”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
6.3.
“Retained
Employees”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
6.10.
“Seller”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.
“Seller
Indemnified Persons”
means
the Seller and each of its officers, directors, employees, agents, Affiliates
and successors and assigns.
“Seller
Intellectual Property”
means
all Intellectual Property that is currently used or held for use in the Business
or that is necessary to conduct the Business as presently
conducted.
“Seller
Closing Certificates”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
7.1(a)(iv).
“Sublease”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
6.12.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at least a majority of the
securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly
or
indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by any one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries or
(b) such Person or any other Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner
(excluding any such partnership where such Person or any Subsidiary of such
party does not have a majority of the voting interest in such
partnership).
“Survival
Period”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.1.
“Tax”
means
any (a) Federal, state, local or foreign tax, fee or other like assessment
or charge of any kind, including, without limitation, any net income,
alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use,
ad
valorem, value-added, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding on
amounts paid to or by the taxpayer, payroll, employment, excise, severance,
stamp, capital stock, occupation, property, environmental or windfall tax,
premium, customs duty or other tax, together with any interest, penalty and
additions to tax; (b) liability for the payment of Tax as the result of
membership in any combined, unitary, consolidated or other affiliated group
of
which the Seller is or has been a member on or before the Closing; and
(c) transferee or secondary liability in respect of any Tax (whether
imposed by law or contractual arrangement).
“Tax
Indemnification Period”
means
the period (including all prior taxable years) ending at and including the
Closing Date.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return (including estimated returns), declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any such
document prepared on an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group
basis and any schedule or attachment thereto.
“Third
Party Claim”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.3(b).
“Trademarks”
means
U.S. and foreign registered and unregistered trademarks, trade dress, service
marks, logos, trade names, corporate names and all registrations and
applications to register the same.
“Tradename”
means
Opteum Financial Services and any derivation thereof.
“Trade
Secrets”
means
all categories of trade secrets as defined in the Uniform Trade Secrets Act
including business information.
“Transaction”
means
the transactions provided for or contemplated by this Agreement.
“Transaction
Documents”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
7.1(a)(viii).
“Transferred
Employees”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
6.10.
“Transition
Services Agreement”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
6.11.
“Unitholder”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.
“WARN
Act”
means
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
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