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Exhibit 2.1
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This Distribution Agreement dated as of January 1, 2000 (the
"Agreement") between Intelligroup, Inc., a New Jersey corporation
("Intelligroup") and SeraNova, Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("SeraNova").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, SeraNova is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
Intelligroup;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Intelligroup has determined
that it is in the best interest of Intelligroup, its shareholders and SeraNova
to distribute to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, of Intelligroup (the "Intelligroup Common Stock") all of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of SeraNova (the "SeraNova
Common Stock") owned by Intelligroup;
WHEREAS, the Distribution is intended to qualify as a tax-free
spin-off under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto have determined that it is
necessary and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions
required to effect the Distribution and to set forth other agreements that will
govern certain other matters prior to or following the Distribution;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound thereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein,
have the following meanings:
"Action" means any claim, suit, action, arbitration, inquiry,
investigation or other proceeding by or before any court, governmental or other
regulatory or administrative agency or commission or any other tribunal.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with,
such other Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For
purposes of this Agreement, no member of one Group shall be treated as an
Affiliate of any member of either of the other Groups.
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"Azimuth Companies" means, collectively, Azimuth Consulting ,
Azimuth Corporation, Azimuth Holdings, Xxxxxxxxxxx Richmond and each Subsidiary
of the Azimuth Companies.
"Azimuth Consulting" means Azimuth Consulting Limited, a
corporation formed pursuant to the laws of New Zealand and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intelligroup.
"Azimuth Corporation" means Azimuth Corporation Limited, a
corporation formed pursuant to the laws of New Zealand and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intelligroup.
"Azimuth Holdings" means Azimuth Holdings Limited, a
corporation formed pursuant to the laws of New Zealand and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intelligroup.
"Xxxxxxxxxxx Richmond" means Xxxxxxxxxxx Richmond Limited, a
corporation formed pursuant to the laws of New Zealand and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intelligroup.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Distribution" means the distribution by Intelligroup on the
Distribution Date of the SeraNova Common Stock owned by Intelligroup to the
holders of Intelligroup Common Stock as of the Record Date.
"Distribution Agent" means American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company.
"Distribution Date" means the business day as of which the
Distribution shall be effected.
"Distribution Documents" means all of the agreements and other
documents entered into in connection with the Distribution or the other
transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, this Agreement,
the Contribution Agreement, Tax Sharing Agreement, Services Agreement and Space
Sharing Agreement.
"Effective Time" means immediately prior to the close of
business on the Distribution Date.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local
and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders, decrees, codes, plans, permits, licenses and governmental
restrictions, whether now or hereafter in effect, relating to the environment,
the effect of the environment on human health or to emissions, discharges,
releases, manufacturing, storage, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
disposal, transportation or handling of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or
petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic, radioactive or hazardous
substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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"Finally Determined" means, with respect to any Action or
other matter, that the outcome or resolution of such Action or matter has been
judicially determined by judgment or order not subject to further appeal or
discretionary review (or, in the case of any matter required to be resolved by
arbitration in accordance with Section 8.11, that the outcome or resolution of
such matter has been determined thereunder).
"Group" means, as the context requires, the SeraNova Group or
the Intelligroup Group.
"Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
"Intelligroup Business" means the Internet solutions provider
business conducted primarily by Intelligroup's Internet Solutions Group.
"Intelligroup Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the
second recital hereto.
"Intelligroup Group" means Intelligroup and its Subsidiaries
(other than any member of the SeraNova Group).
"Intelligroup Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1.
"Intelligroup India" means Intelligroup India Private
Limited., a corporation formed pursuant to the laws of India and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intelligroup.
"Intelligroup Liabilities" means all (i) Liabilities of the
Intelligroup Group under this Agreement or the other Distribution Documents,
(ii) except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in any other
Distribution Document, other Liabilities, whether arising before, on or after
The Distribution Date, of the parties hereto (or their respective Subsidiaries)
to the extent such Liabilities arise primarily from or relate primarily to the
management or conduct of the Intelligroup Business prior to the Effective Time
(the Liabilities listed in clauses (i) and (ii) are collectively referred to as
"True Intelligroup Liabilities") and (iii) that percentage of the Shared
Liabilities that are clearly attributable, or attributable by means of a
reasonable apportionment to the Intelligroup Group. The Intelligroup Liabilities
1999 included in Intelligroup's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended on such date other than the SeraNova Balance Sheet Liabilities.
"Liabilities" means any and all claims, debts, liabilities and
obligations, absolute or contingent, matured or not matured, liquidated or
unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising,
including all costs and expenses relating thereto, and including, without
limitation, those debts, liabilities and obligations arising under this
Agreement, any law (including Environmental Laws), rule, regulation, any action,
order, injunction or consent decree of any governmental agency or entity, or any
award of any arbitrator of any kind, and those arising under any agreement,
commitment or undertaking.
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"Losses" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
damage, loss, liability and expense incurred or suffered by such Person
(including, without limitation, reasonable expenses of investigation and
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses in connection with any and all Actions
or threatened Actions).
"Managing Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
"Nasdaq" means the Nasdaq Stock Market.
"Netpub" means Network Publishing, Inc., a Utah corporation
and wholly-owned subsidiary of Intelligroup.
"Participating Party" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.6.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association, trust or other entity or organization,
including a governmental or political subdivision or an agency or
instrumentality thereof.
"Pre-Distribution Policy" has the meaning set forth in Section
7.4.
"Record Date" means the date determined by Intelligroup's
Board of Directors (or determined by a committee of such Board of Directors or
by any person pursuant to authority delegated to such committee or such person)
as the record date for determining the holders of Intelligroup Common Stock
entitled to receive SeraNova Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution.
"Representatives" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"SeraNova Balance Sheet Liabilities" has the meaning set forth
in this Section 1.1 in the definition of "SeraNova Liabilities."
"SeraNova Business" means the business of providing Internet
solutions.
"SeraNova Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the
second recital hereto.
"SeraNova Form 10" means the registration statement on Form 10
filed by SeraNova with the SEC on or about January 27, 1999, to effect the
registration of SeraNova Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection
with the Distribution, as such registration statement may be amended from time
to time.
"SeraNova Group" means SeraNova and its Subsidiaries as of
(and, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, after) the Effective
Time (including all predecessors to
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such Persons). The members of the SeraNova Group are SeraNova, SeraNova Limited,
NetPub, the Azimuth Companies and Intelligroup India.
"SeraNova Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.2.
"SeraNova Information Statement" means the information
statement that forms a part of the SeraNova Form 10 and is to be sent to each
holder of Intelligroup Common Stock in connection with the Distribution.
"SeraNova Liabilities" means all (i) Liabilities of the
SeraNova Group under this Agreement or the other Distribution Documents, (ii)
except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in any other Distribution
Document, other Liabilities, whether arising before, on or after the
Distribution Date, of the parties hereto (or their respective Subsidiaries) to
the extent such Liabilities arise primarily from or relate primarily to the
management or conduct of the SeraNova Business (other than Shared Corporate
Liabilities) prior to the Effective Time (the Liabilities listed in clauses (i)
and (ii) are collectively referred to as "True SeraNova Liabilities") and (iii)
that percentage of the Shared Liabilities that are clearly attributable, or
attributable by means of a reasonable apportionment to the SeraNova Group. The
SeraNova Liabilities include all Liabilities set forth on the balance sheet of
SeraNova as of September 30, 1999 included in the SeraNova Information Statement
(the "SeraNova Balance Sheet Liabilities").
"Services Agreement" means the Services Agreement by and
between Intelligroup, Inc. and SeraNova, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2000.
"Shared Liability" means any Liability (whether arising
before, on or after the Distribution Date) of the parties hereto or their
respective Subsidiaries which (i) arises from or relates to the management or
conduct prior to the Effective Time of the businesses of Intelligroup and its
Subsidiaries and (ii) is not a True Intelligroup Liability or a True SeraNova
Liability.
Shared Liabilities include, without limitation, Liabilities listed on Schedule
1.1 hereto.
"Shared Liability Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.6.
"Space Sharing Agreement" means the Space Sharing Agreement by
and between Intelligroup, Inc. and SeraNova, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2000.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing
similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.
"Tax" means Tax as such term is defined in the Tax Sharing
Agreement.
"Tax Sharing Agreement" means the Tax Sharing Agreement
Agreement by and between Intelligroup, Inc. and SeraNova, Inc. dated as of
January 1, 2000.
"Third-Party Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
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"True Intelligroup Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in
this Section 1.1 in the definition of "Intelligroup Liabilities."
"True SeraNova Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in this
Section 1.1 in the definition of "SeraNova Liabilities."
ARTICLE 2.
CERTAIN ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE DISTRIBUTION DATE
Section 2.1. Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws.
Intelligroup and SeraNova shall take all action necessary so that, at the
Distribution Date, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of SeraNova shall be in the forms attached hereto as Schedule 2.1(a) and
Schedule 2.1(b), respectively.
Section 2.2. Issuance of Stock. Prior to or as of the
Distribution Date, the parties hereto shall take all steps necessary to
reclassify the outstanding shares of SeraNova Common Stock so that, except as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, immediately prior to or as of the
Distribution Date the number of shares of SeraNova Common Stock outstanding and
held by Intelligroup shall be equal to one to one (1/1) the number of shares of
Intelligroup Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.
Section 2.3. Transfer of Certain Other Assets and Assumption
of Liabilities. Effective prior to or as of the Distribution Date or as soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, subject to receipt of any necessary
consents or approvals of third parties or of governmental or regulatory agencies
or authorities and subject to Section 7.2, Intelligroup shall, or shall cause
the relevant member of the Intelligroup Group to, assign, contribute, convey,
transfer and deliver to SeraNova or to one or more members of the SeraNova Group
(a) all of the right, title and interest of Intelligroup or such member of the
Intelligroup Group in and to all assets (including all agreements), if any, held
by any member of the Intelligroup Group that relate predominantly to the
SeraNova Business and (b) all of the shares of capital stock of NetPub, the
Azimuth Companies, and Intelligroup India and SeraNova shall, or shall cause
such member or members of the SeraNova Group to, assume and take transfer of all
liabilities associated with such assets.
Section 2.4. Conduct of Business Pending the Distribution
Date. Each of the parties hereto agrees that from the date hereof until the
Distribution Date, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, it will
use its best efforts to carry on the Intelligroup Business diligently in the
ordinary course and substantially in the same manner as heretofore conducted and
to preserve intact the business organization and goodwill of the Intelligroup
Business (including using its best efforts to cause its Subsidiaries to take
such actions.
Section 2.5. Refinancing. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that it will use reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the Distribution Date,
all necessary consents, waivers or amendments to each bank credit agreement,
debt security or other financing facility to which it and its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which it or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, or to refinance such
agreement, security or facility, in each case on terms satisfactory to
Intelligroup and
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SeraNova and to the extent necessary to permit the Distribution to be
consummated without any material breach of the terms of such agreement, security
or facility.
Section 2.6. Registration and Listing. Prior to the
Distribution Date (a) Intelligroup and SeraNova shall prepare the SeraNova
Information Statement and the SeraNova Form 10. SeraNova shall file the SeraNova
Form 10 with the SEC. Intelligroup and SeraNova shall use reasonable efforts to
cause the SeraNova Form 10 to become effective under the Exchange Act as
promptly as reasonably practicable. Intelligroup and SeraNova shall prepare the
SeraNova Information Statement; and after the SeraNova Form 10 becomes
effective, Intelligroup shall cause the SeraNova Information Statement to be
mailed to the holders of Intelligroup Common Stock as of the Record Date.
(b) The parties shall use their best efforts to take all such
action as may be necessary or appropriate under state securities and "blue sky"
laws in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Intelligroup and SeraNova shall prepare, and SeraNova
shall file and seek to make effective, an application for the trading of the
SeraNova Common Stock on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
(d) Intelligroup and SeraNova shall cooperate in preparing,
filing with the SEC and causing to become effective any registration statements
or amendments thereto that are appropriate to reflect the establishment of or
amendments to any employee benefit and other plans contemplated by this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 3.
THE DISTRIBUTION
Section 3.1. Intelligroup Board Action; Conditions Precedent.
(a) Intelligroup's Board of Directors shall, in its discretion, establish (or
delegate authority to establish) the Record Date and the Distribution Date and
any appropriate procedures in connection with the Distribution. In no event
shall the Distribution occur unless the following conditions shall have been and
continue to be satisfied:
(i) The transactions contemplated by Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3,
2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 shall have been consummated in all material respects;
(ii) the SeraNova Form l0 shall have become effective under
the Exchange Act and no stop order with respect thereto shall be in effect;
(iii) the SeraNova Common Stock to be delivered in the
Distribution shall have been approved for trading on Nasdaq, subject to official
notice of issuance;
(iv) the Board of Directors of Intelligroup shall be satisfied
that (a) at the time of the Distribution and after giving effect to the
Distribution and other related transactions, Intelligroup will not be insolvent
(in that, both before and immediately following the
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Distribution, (i) the fair market value of Intelligroup's assets would exceed
Intelligroup's liabilities, (ii) Intelligroup would be able to pay its
liabilities as they mature and become absolute and (iii) Intelligroup would not
have unreasonably small capital with which to engage in its business) and (b)
the Distribution shall be payable in accordance with applicable law;
(v) Intelligroup's Board of Directors shall have approved the
Distribution and shall not have abandoned, deferred or modified the Distribution
at any time prior to the Distribution Date;
(vi) SeraNova shall take such action as is necessary such that
its Board of Directors is comprised of those individuals named as directors in
the SeraNova Information Statement.
(vii) The Contribution Agreement, Tax Sharing Agreement, Space
Sharing Agreement and Services Agreement shall have been duly executed and
delivered by the parties thereto;
(viii) All authorizations, consents, approvals and clearances
of all federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies required to
permit the valid consummation by the parties hereto of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained; and no such
authorization, consent, approval or clearance shall contain any conditions which
would have a material adverse effect on (a) the Intelligroup Business, (b) the
assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Intelligroup Group,
in each case taken as a whole, or (c) the ability of Intelligroup or SeraNova to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; and all statutory requirements for
such valid consummation shall have been fulfilled;
(ix) No preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
ruling or decree issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a government,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, and no statute, rule,
regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by governmental authority,
shall be in effect preventing the payment of the Distribution;
(x) All necessary consents, amendments or waivers to each bank
credit agreement, debt security or other financing facility to which any member
of the Intelligroup Group is a party or by which any such member is bound shall
have been obtained, or each such agreement, security or facility shall have been
refinanced, in each case on terms satisfactory to Intelligroup and SeraNova and
to the extent necessary to permit the Distribution to be consummated without any
material breach of the terms of such agreement, security or facility; and
(xi) Intelligroup shall have received an opinion from Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit Schedule
3.1(xi) that the Distribution should be tax-free to Intelligroup and to U.S.
stockholders of the Intelligroup Common Stock.
(b) Any determination made by the Board of Directors of
Intelligroup in good faith prior to the Distribution Date concerning the
satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in this Section
3.1 shall be conclusive.
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Section 3.2. The Distribution. Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, (i) prior to the Distribution Date,
Intelligroup shall deliver to the Distribution Agent for the benefit of holders
of record of Intelligroup Common Stock on the Record Date, stock certificates,
endorsed by Intelligroup in blank, representing all of the then-outstanding
shares of SeraNova Common Stock owned by Intelligroup, (ii) the Distribution
shall be effective as of the close of business, New York City time, on the
Distribution Date and (iii) Intelligroup shall instruct the Distribution Agent
to distribute, on or as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, to each
holder of record of Intelligroup Common Stock as of the Record Date one share of
SeraNova Common Stock for each one share of Intelligroup Common Stock so held.
SeraNova agrees to provide all certificates for shares of SeraNova Common Stock
that Intelligroup shall require (after giving effect to Section 3.4) in order to
effect the Distribution.
Section 3.3. Stock Dividends to Intelligroup. On or prior to
the Distribution Date, SeraNova shall issue to Intelligroup as a stock dividend
the number of shares of SeraNova Common Stock as required to effect the
Distribution, as certified by the Distribution Agent. In connection therewith,
Intelligroup shall deliver to SeraNova for cancellation the share certificate
currently held by it representing SeraNova Common Stock.
Section 3.4. Fractional Shares. No certificates representing
fractional shares of SeraNova Common Stock will be distributed in the
Distribution. The Distribution Agent will be directed to determine the number of
whole shares and fractional shares of SeraNova Common Stock allocable to each
holder of Intelligroup Common Stock as of the Record Date. Upon the
determination by the Distribution Agent of such number of fractional shares, as
soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Distribution Agent, acting
on behalf of the holders thereof, shall sell such fractional shares for cash on
the open market and shall disburse the appropriate portion of the resulting cash
proceeds (net of any costs of selling the fractional shares) to each holder
entitled thereto.
ARTICLE 4.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 4.1. SeraNova Indemnification of the Intelligroup
Group. (a) Subject to Section 4.3, on and after the Distribution Date, SeraNova
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Intelligroup Group and the
respective directors, officers, employees and Affiliates of each Person in the
Intelligroup Group (the "Intelligroup Indemnitees") from and against any and all
Losses incurred or suffered by any of the Intelligroup Indemnitees (1) arising
out of, or due to the failure of any Person in the SeraNova Group to pay,
perform or otherwise discharge, any of the SeraNova Liabilities and (2) arising
out of the breach by any member of the SeraNova Group of any obligation under
this Agreement or any of the other Distribution Documents. This indemnification
is not intended to, and should not be construed as, limiting or amending
SeraNova's indemnification obligations defined in any of the other Distribution
Documents.
(b) Subject to Section 4.3, SeraNova shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless each of the Intelligroup Indemnitees and each Person, if any,
who controls any Intelligroup Indemnitee within the meaning of either Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section
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20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all Losses caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
SeraNova Form 10 or any amendment thereof or the SeraNova Information Statement
(as amended or supplemented), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except
insofar as such Losses are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished to
SeraNova in writing by Intelligroup expressly for use therein.
Section 4.2. Intelligroup Indemnification of SeraNova Group.
(a) Subject to Section 4.3, on and after the Distribution Date, Intelligroup
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SeraNova Group and the respective
directors, officers, employees and Affiliates of each Person in the SeraNova
Group (the "SeraNova Indemnitees") from and against any and all Losses incurred
or suffered by any of the SeraNova Indemnitees, (1) arising out of, or due to
the failure of any Person in the Intelligroup Group to pay, perform or otherwise
discharge, any of the Intelligroup Liabilities and (2) arising from any breach
by any member of the Intelligroup Group of any obligation made under this
Agreement or any of the other Distribution Documents. This indemnification is
not intended to, and should not be construed as, limiting or amending
Intelligroup's indemnification obligations defined in any of the other
Distribution Documents.
(b) Subject to Section 4.3, Intelligroup shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless each of the SeraNova Indemnitees and each Person, if
any, who controls any SeraNova Indemnitee within the meaning of either Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any
and all Losses caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the SeraNova Form 10 or any amendment thereof or in
the SeraNova Information Statement (as amended or supplemented), or caused by
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such Losses are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished to SeraNova in
writing by Intelligroup expressly for use therein.
Section 4.3. Insurance; Third-Party Obligations. Any
indemnification pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2 shall be paid net of the amount
of any insurance or other amounts that would be payable by any third party to
the Indemnified Party (as defined below) in the absence of this Agreement
(irrespective of time of receipt of such insurance or other amounts) and net of
any Tax Benefit (as defined in the Tax Sharing Agreement) to the Indemnified
Party attributable to the relevant payment or Liability. It is expressly agreed
that no insurer or any other third party shall be (i) entitled to a benefit it
would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the foregoing indemnification
provisions, (ii) relieved of the responsibility to pay any claims to which it is
obligated or (iii) entitled to any subrogation rights with respect to any
obligation hereunder.
Section 4.4. Notice and Payment of Claims. If any Intelligroup
Indemnitee or SeraNova Indemnitee (the "Indemnified Party") determines that it
is or may be entitled to indemnification by any party (the "Indemnifying Party")
under Article 4 (other than in connection with any Action subject to Section 4.5
or 4.6), the Indemnified Party shall deliver to the
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Indemnifying Party a written notice specifying, to the extent reasonably
practicable, the basis for its claim for indemnification and the amount for
which the Indemnified Party reasonably believes it is entitled to be
indemnified. Within 30 days after receipt of such notice, the Indemnifying Party
shall pay the Indemnified Party such amount in cash or other immediately
available funds unless the Indemnifying Party objects to the claim for
indemnification or the amount thereof. If the Indemnifying Party does not give
the Indemnified Party written notice objecting to such indemnity claim and
setting forth the grounds therefor within such 30-day period, the Indemnifying
Party shall be deemed to have acknowledged its liability for such claim and the
Indemnified Party may exercise any and all of its rights under applicable law to
collect such amount. In the event of such a timely objection by the Indemnifying
Party, the amount, if any, that is Finally Determined to be required to be paid
by the Indemnifying Party in respect of such indemnity claim shall be paid by
the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party in cash within 15 days after
such indemnity claim has been so Finally Determined.
Section 4.5. Notice and Defense of Third-Party Claims Other
Than Those for Shared Liabilities. Promptly following the earlier of (i) receipt
of notice of the commencement by a third party of any Action against or
otherwise involving any Indemnified Party or (ii) receipt of information from a
third party alleging the existence of a claim against an Indemnified Party, in
either case, with respect to which indemnification may be sought pursuant to
this Agreement (a "Third-Party Claim"), the Indemnified Party shall give the
Indemnifying Party written notice thereof. The failure of the Indemnified Party
to give notice as provided in this Section 4.5 shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent
that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such failure to give notice. Within
30 days after receipt of such notice, the Indemnifying Party may (i) by giving
written notice thereof to the Indemnified Party, acknowledge liability for such
indemnification claim and at its option elect to assume the defense of such
Third-Party Claim at its sole cost and expense or (ii) object to the claim for
indemnification set forth in the notice delivered by the Indemnified Party
pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 4.5; provided that if the
Indemnifying Party does not within such 30-day period give the Indemnified Party
written notice objecting to such indemnification claim and setting forth the
grounds therefor, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have acknowledged
its liability for such indemnification claim. If the Indemnifying Party has
acknowledged liability and elected to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim,
(x) the defense shall be conducted by counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party
and reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, provided that the
Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in such proceedings and to
be represented by counsel of its own choosing at the Indemnified Party's sole
cost and expense; and (y) the Indemnifying Party may settle or compromise the
Third-Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party so
long as such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified
Party from all claims that are the subject of such Third-Party Claim, provided
that the Indemnifying Party may not agree to any such settlement pursuant to
which any remedy or relief, other than monetary damages for which the
Indemnifying Party shall be responsible hereunder, shall be applied to or
against the Indemnified Party, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the
Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim for which
it has acknowledged liability for indemnification hereunder, the Indemnified
Party will act in good faith with respect thereto and may require the
Indemnifying Party to
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reimburse it on a current basis for its reasonable expenses of investigation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
defending against such Third-Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party shall be
bound by the result obtained with respect thereto by the Indemnified Party;
provided that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement
effected without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
If the Indemnifying Party objects to a claim for indemnification, (a) the
Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to assume the defense of the related
Third-Party Claim, (b) the Indemnified Party shall act in good faith with
respect to such Third-Party Claim, (c) the dispute as to whether the Indemnified
Party is entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be resolved in accordance
with Section 8.11 if it is determined that the Indemnified Party is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Indemnifying Party will be responsible for all
Losses of the Indemnified Party arising from such Third-Party Claim. The
Indemnifying Party shall pay to the Indemnified Party in cash the amount, if
any, for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to be indemnified hereunder
within 15 days after such Third-Party Claim has been Finally Determined, in the
case of a Third-Party Claim as to which the Indemnifying Party has acknowledged
liability or, in the case of any Third-Party Claim as to which the Indemnifying
Party has not acknowledged liability, within 15 days after such Indemnifying
Party's objection to liability hereunder has been Finally Determined to be
unfounded. This Section 4.5 shall govern all claims under this Article 4 for
indemnification against Third-Party Claims except Third-Party Claims in respect
of Shared Liabilities, as to which Section 4.6 shall govern.
Section 4.6. Notice and Defense of Third-Party Claims for
Shared Liabilities. Promptly following the earlier of (i) receipt of notice of
the commencement of a Third-Party Claim in respect of a Shared Liability (a
"Shared Liability Claim") or (ii) receipt of information from a third party
alleging the existence of a Shared Liability Claim, the party receiving such
notice or information shall give the other parties written notice thereof. The
failure of the party receiving notice or information with respect to a Shared
Liability Claim in respect to give notice as provided in this Section 4.6 shall
not relieve another party of its indemnification obligations under this
Agreement with respect thereto, except to the extent that such party is
prejudiced by such failure to give notice.
Each party hereto shall be entitled to participate in the
defense of such Shared Liability Claim if either the Shared Liability Claim has
been asserted or threatened against such party or such party has acknowledged in
writing its obligation to bear a portion of the potential liability in respect
of such Shared Liability Claim. (Each party that is so entitled to participate
in the defense of such Shared Liability Claim is referred to herein as a
"Participating Party".) Without limiting the terms of Sections 4.1(a) and
4.2(a), the party against whom the Shared Liability Claim is made shall have
management and administrative responsibility in respect thereof; provided that
if SeraNova is a Participating Party it shall have management and administrative
responsibility in respect thereof. The party responsible for the management and
administration of a Shared Liability Claim is referred to herein as the
"Managing Party" and such management and administrative responsibility shall
entail the defense of such Shared Liability Claim, negotiation with claimants
and potential claimants (subject to the limitations in the following paragraph)
and other reasonably related activities. The Managing Party shall retain counsel
selected by it and reasonably satisfactory to the other Participating Parties,
provided that the other Participating Parties shall have the right to
participate in such proceedings and to be
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represented by counsel of its or their own choosing at its or their sole cost
and expense. The legal or other expenses in respect of a Shared Liability Claim
incurred by or on behalf of any person other than the Managing Party shall not
be Losses for purposes of this Agreement. All parties hereto shall cooperate
with the Managing Party and each other in the defense or prosecution of such
Shared Liability Claim.
In no event will the party against which the claim was made
admit any liability with respect to, or settle, compromise or discharge, any
Shared Liability Claim without the prior written consent of each other
Participating Party; provided, however, that the party against which the claim
was made may settle or compromise the Shared Liability Claim without the prior
written consent of the other Participating Parties if such party releases each
of the other Participating Parties from their respective indemnification
obligations hereunder with respect to such Shared Liability Claim and such
settlement, compromise or discharge would not otherwise adversely affect the
other Participating Parties. The Managing Party shall act in good faith with
respect to the Shared Liability Claim and may require the other parties to
reimburse it on a current basis for its reasonable expenses of investigation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
defending against such Shared Liability Claim, and the other parties shall be
bound by the result obtained with respect thereto; provided that a Participating
Party shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If a party objects to, or does not
within 30 days of notice acknowledge in writing its indemnification obligations
hereunder in respect of a portion of the liability for a Shared Liability Claim,
(a) such party shall not be entitled to participate in the defense of such
Shared Liability Claim, and (b) the dispute as to whether such party is required
to provide indemnification hereunder with respect thereto shall be resolved in
accordance with Section 8.11 hereof. Each Indemnifying Party in respect of a
Shared Liability Claim shall pay to the Indemnified Party in cash the amount, if
any, for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to be indemnified hereunder by
such Indemnifying Party within 15 days after such Shared Liability Claim has
been Finally Determined, in the case of a Shared Liability Claim as to which the
Indemnifying Party has acknowledged liability or, in the case of any Shared
Liability Claim as to which the Indemnifying Party has not acknowledged
liability, within 15 days after such Indemnifying Party's objection to liability
hereunder has been Finally Determined to be unfounded.
Section 4.7. Contribution. If for any reason the
indemnification provided for in Section 4.1 or 4.2 is unavailable to any
Indemnified Party, or insufficient to hold it harmless, then the Indemnifying
Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party
as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect all
relevant equitable considerations.
Section 4.8. Non-Exclusivity of Remedies. The remedies
provided for in this Article 4 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights
or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Party at law or
in equity.
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ARTICLE 5.
EMPLOYEE MATTERS
Section 5.1. Employee Matters Generally. (a) Stock options
outstanding under the Intelligroup Equity-Based Plans will be adjusted so that
following the Distribution the exercise price of such options shall be adjusted
to take into account the Distribution and to ensure that the aggregate intrinsic
value of the adjusted Intelligroup options after the record date in respect of
the Distribution is equal to or less than, the aggregate intrinsic value of the
related Intelligroup option prior to the record date in respect of the
Distribution.
(b) In partial consideration for all Services provided or to
be provided (including by any member of the SeraNova Group to any member of the
Intelligroup Group or by any member of the Intelligroup Group to any member of
the SeraNova Group) and other consideration provided pursuant to this Agreement
(including the transfers of assets and assumptions of liabilities as provided
herein), SeraNova and Intelligroup shall use their best efforts to accomplish
the foregoing including, but not limited to, making such grants of options and
issuing such shares of Intelligroup Common Stock and SeraNova Common Stock as
may be required hereunder.
(c) Intelligroup options held by SeraNova employees will cease
to vest beyond those options vested as of the Distribution Date. Further, such
vested options will be caused to expire 90 days after the Distribution Date.
(d) Retained Employees (as defined in Section 5(a)(ii) of the
Services Agreement executed contemporaneously with the execution of this
Distribution Agreement) to whom Intelligroup options have previously been
granted will be required to forfeit such options as follows, or will be
ineligible for grants of SeraNova options:
(i) as of the Distribution Date, all unvested options will be
forfeited immediately; and
(ii) vested options as of the Distribution Date, will be
forfeited if not exercised within 90 days of such date.
ARTICLE 6.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Section 6.1. Provision of Corporate Records. Prior to or as
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, each Group shall provide or
make available to each other Group all documents, contracts, books, records and
data (including but not limited to minute books, stock registers, stock
certificates and documents of title) in its possession relating to such other
Group or such other Group's business and affairs; provided that if any such
documents, contracts, books, records or data relate to both Groups or the
business and operations of both Groups, each such Group shall provide or make
available to the other Group true and complete copies of such documents,
contracts, books, records or data.
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Section 6.2. Access to Information. From and after the
Distribution Date, each Group shall afford promptly to each other Group and its
accountants, counsel and other designated representatives reasonable access
during normal business hours to all documents, contracts, books, records,
computer data and other data in such Group's possession relating to such other
Group or the business and affairs of such other Group (other than data and
information subject to an attorney/client or other privilege), insofar as such
access is reasonably required by such other Group, including, without
limitation, for audit, accounting, litigation and disclosure and reporting
purposes.
Section 6.3. Litigation Cooperation. Each Group shall use
reasonable efforts to make available, upon written request, its directors,
officers, employees and representatives as witnesses to each other Group and its
accountants, counsel, and other designated representatives, and shall otherwise
cooperate with each other Group, to the extent reasonably required in connection
with any legal, administrative or other proceedings arising out of any Group's
business and operations prior to the Distribution Date in which the requesting
party may from time to time be involved.
Section 6.4. Reimbursement. Each Group providing information
or witnesses to any other Group, or otherwise incurring any expense in
connection with cooperating, under Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3 shall be entitled to
receive from the recipient thereof, upon the presentation of invoices therefor,
payment for all costs and expenses as may be reasonably incurred in providing
such information, witnesses or cooperation.
Section 6.5. Retention of Records. Except as otherwise
required by law or agreed to in writing, each party shall, and shall cause the
members of its respective Group to, retain all information relating to any other
Group's business and operations in accordance with the past practice of such
party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party may destroy or otherwise dispose
of any such information at any time, provided that, prior to such destruction or
disposal, (i) such party shall provide not less than 90 days' prior written
notice to the other parties, specifying the information proposed to be destroyed
or disposed of, and (ii) if a recipient of such notice shall request in writing
prior to the scheduled date for such destruction or disposal that any of the
information proposed to be destroyed or disposed of be delivered to such
requesting party, the party proposing the destruction or disposal shall promptly
arrange for the delivery of such of the information as was requested at the
expense of the requesting party or parties.
Section 6.6. Confidentiality. Each party shall hold and shall
cause its Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents, consultants and advisors ("Representatives") to hold in
strict confidence all information concerning any other party or its Affiliates
unless (i) such person is compelled to disclose such information by judicial or
administrative process or, in the opinion of its counsel, by other requirements
of law or (ii) such information can be shown to have been (A) in the public
domain through no fault of such party or its Representatives or (B) lawfully
acquired after the Distribution Date on a non-confidential basis from other
sources. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such party may disclose such information
to its Representatives so long as such Persons are informed by such party of the
confidential nature of such information and are directed by such party to treat
such information
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confidentially. If a party or any of its Representatives becomes legally
compelled to disclose any documents or information subject to this Section 6.6,
such party will promptly notify the other applicable party so that such other
party may seek a protective order or other remedy or waive compliance with this
Section 6.6. If no such protective order or other remedy is obtained or waiver
granted, the party subject to compulsion will furnish only that portion of the
information which it is advised by counsel is legally required and will exercise
its reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment
will be accorded such information. Each party agrees to be responsible for any
breach of this Section 6.6 by its Representatives.
Section 6.7. Inapplicability of Article 6 to Tax Matters.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 6, Article 6 shall not apply
with respect to information, records and other matters relating to Taxes, all of
which shall be governed by the Tax Sharing Agreement.
ARTICLE 7.
CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS
Section 7.1. Further Assurances and Consents. In addition to
the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the
parties hereto shall use its reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary,
proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and agreements or
otherwise to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including but not limited to using its reasonable efforts to obtain
any consents and approvals and to make any filings and applications necessary or
desirable in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; provided that no party hereto shall be obligated to pay any
consideration therefor (except for filing fees and other similar charges) to any
third party from whom such consents or approvals are requested or to take any
action or omit to take any action if the taking of or the omission to take such
action would be unreasonably burdensome to the party, its Group or its Group's
business.
Section 7.2. Intellectual Property Rights and Licenses. Except
as set forth in that certain Contribution Agreement by and between Intelligroup,
Inc. and SeraNova, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2000, none of the Groups shall
have any right or license in or to any technology, software, intellectual
property (including any trademark, service xxxx, patent or copyright), know-how
or other proprietary right owned, licensed or held for use by another Group.
Section 7.3. Insurance. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein or in any Distribution Document to the contrary, nothing contained herein
or in any Distribution Document shall constitute an assignment or transfer of
any insurance policy or the rights thereunder to the extent any such assignment
or transfer would cause the coverage under such policy to be reduced. If any
such assignment or transfer would result in such a reduction, the party that
would have assigned or transferred such rights will enforce the rights
thereunder for the benefit of the party to whom such assignment or transfer
would have been made but for the effect of the preceding sentence and shall hold
any payment received in respect thereof in trust for such party. Each party
hereunder hereby appoints Intelligroup as its agent to administer any claim it
or any
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member of its Group may have under any insurance policy held by Intelligroup or
any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Distribution Date (each, a
"Pre-Distribution Policy") with respect to any claim or occurrence arising prior
to the Distribution Date. If, as a result of any retrospective loss adjustment,
stop loss, deductible, coverage limit or other similar arrangement, any party
(or any member of its Group) is required to make any payment in respect of, or
is not paid the full amount it may claim under, any Pre-Distribution Policy, the
amount of any such payment or shortfall shall be allocated among the parties
hereto in an equitable manner as determined in good faith by SeraNova, and each
party hereto shall make such payments to the other parties hereto as shall be
required in order to effect such equitable allocation.
ARTICLE 8.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Notices. All notices and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including telex, telecopy or similar
writing) and shall be deemed given when received addressed as follows:
If to Intelligroup, to: Intelligroup, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Copy to: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Professional Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
If to SeraNova, to: SeraNova, Inc.
c/o Intelligroup, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Copy to: Xxxxxxxx Ingersoll Professional Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Any party may, by written notice so delivered to the other
parties, change the address to which delivery of any notice shall thereafter be
made. All such notices shall be
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deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received
prior to 5 p.m. in the place of receipt and such day is a business day in the
place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice shall be deemed not to have been
received until the next succeeding business day in the place of receipt.
Section 8.2. Amendments; No Waivers. (a) Any provision of this
Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is
in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by Intelligroup and
SeraNova, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to
be effective.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and
remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
remedies provided by law.
Section 8.3. Expenses. Except as specifically provided
otherwise in this Agreement or the Tax Sharing Agreement (including, without
limitation, in Article 4, Sections 6.4, 6.5, and 8.7(c) and Schedule 5.1 of this
Agreement), all costs and expenses incurred after the date hereof in connection
with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Distribution Documents and
the consummation of the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated
hereby (including the fees and expenses of all counsel, accountants and
financial and other advisors of each Group in connection therewith, and all
expenses in connection with preparation, filing and printing of the SeraNova
Form 10 and the SeraNova Information Statement) shall be Shared Liabilities;
provided (i) that Intelligroup shall be responsible for and pay the fees,
expenses and other amounts payable to the lenders in respect of Intelligroup's
credit facilities and all other fees and expenses incurred in connection
therewith (including the fees and expenses of Intelligroup's counsel in
connection with the preparation and negotiation of all documentation relating to
such credit facilities) and (ii) that the SeraNova Group shall be responsible
for and pay the fees, expenses and other amounts payable to the lenders under
the SeraNova Group's credit facilities and all other fees and expenses incurred
in connection therewith (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the
SeraNova Group in connection with the preparation and negotiation of all
documentation relating to such credit facilities).
Section 8.4. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign,
delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this
Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto.
Section 8.5. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed
in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New Jersey (other
than the laws regarding choice of laws and conflicts of laws) as to all matters,
including matters of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies.
Section 8.6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other
Distribution Documents constitute the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter
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hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings and
negotiations, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof. No representation, inducement, promise,
understanding, condition or warranty not set forth herein or in the other
Distribution Documents has been made or relied upon by any party hereto. Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof is intended to confer upon any Person
other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder. To the extent
that the provisions of this Agreement are inconsistent with the provisions of
any other Distribution Document, the provisions of such other Distribution
Document shall prevail.
Section 8.7. Tax Sharing Agreement; Setoff; Certain Transfer
Taxes. (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall not govern
any Tax, and any and all claims, losses, damages, demands, costs, expenses or
liabilities relating to Taxes shall be exclusively governed by the Tax Sharing
Agreement.
(b) If, at the time any party hereto is required to make any
payment to any other party under this Agreement, the party entitled to the
payment owes the obligor any amount under this Agreement or the Tax Sharing
Agreement, then such amounts shall be offset and the excess shall be paid by the
party liable for such excess.
(c) The party or parties that is or are required by applicable
law to file any Return (as defined in the Tax Sharing Agreement) or make any
payment with respect to any such Tax shall do so, and the other party or parties
shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary. The non-paying party or
parties shall reimburse the paying party in accordance with this Section 8.7
within 5 business days after it or they receive notice of the payment of such
Tax.
Section 8.8. Existing Arrangements. Except as otherwise
contemplated hereby or as set forth on Schedule 8.8, all prior agreements and
arrangements, including those relating to goods, rights or services provided or
licensed, between any member of one Group and any member of another Group shall
be terminated effective as of the Distribution Date, if not theretofore
terminated. No such agreements or arrangements shall be in effect after the
Distribution Date unless embodied in the Distribution Documents or set forth in
Schedule 8.8.
Section 8.9. Termination Prior to the Distribution. The
Intelligroup Board of Directors may at any time prior to the Distribution
abandon the Distribution and, by notice to SeraNova, terminate this Agreement
(whether or not the Intelligroup Board of Directors has theretofore approved
this Agreement and/or the Distribution).
Section 8.10. Captions. The captions herein are included for
convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or
interpretation hereof.
Section 8.11. Arbitration; Dispute Resolution. Unless
otherwise provided for in this Agreement, any conflict or disagreement arising
out of the interpretation, implementation or compliance with the provisions of
this Agreement shall be finally settled pursuant to the provisions of Article 6
(Arbitration; Dispute Resolution) of that certain Contribution Agreement by and
between Intelligroup, Inc. and SeraNova, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2000, which
provisions are incorporated herein by reference.
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Section 8.12. Severability. In the event any one or more of
the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good faith
negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions, the
economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this
Distribution Agreement to be duly executed by these respective authorized
officers as of the date first above written.
INTELLIGROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SERANOVA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: CEO
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SCHEDULE 1.1
SHARED LIABILITIES
1. Shared Corporate Liabilities.
2. Liabilities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
arising from acts or omissions of Intelligroup prior to the Distribution Date,
other than Liabilities arising from the filing by Intelligroup of a Current
Report on Form 8-K containing information on the Intelligroup Group.
23
SCHEDULE 2.1(a)
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF SERANOVA, INC.
24
CERTIFICATE REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SERANOVA, INC.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 14A:9-5(5) of the New Jersey
Business Corporations Act, the undersigned corporation hereby executes the
following certificate:
1. The name of the corporation is SeraNova, Inc. (the "Corporation").
2. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation on December 1, 1999 and by the sole
shareholder of the Corporation on December 1, 1999.
3. The number of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote on the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is 1,000 shares of Common
Stock. All outstanding shares of Common Stock voted for the foregoing Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and no shares of Common Stock voted
against the foregoing Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
4. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates,
integrates and amends in its entirety the provisions of the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed this Certificate on
behalf of the Corporation this 25th day of January, 2000.
By: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer and President
25
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SERANOVA, INC.
Pursuant to Section 14A:9-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act
(the "Act"), the undersigned corporation hereby executes this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
FIRST: The name of the Corporation is SeraNova, Inc. (the
"Corporation").
SECOND: The purpose or purposes for which the Corporation is organized
is to engage in any lawful activity within the purposes for which corporations
may be organized under Title 14A of the Act.
THIRD: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty five million (45,000,000)
shares. The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock designated
"Common Stock" and "Preferred Stock," respectively. The total number of shares
of Common Stock authorized to be issued by the Corporation is forty million
(40,000,000), each such share of Common Stock having a par value of $.01. The
total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued by the
Corporation shall be five million (5,000,000), each such share of Preferred
Stock having a par value of $.01, all of which is undesignated.
The undesignated Preferred Stock may be issued from time to
time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is hereby
authorized, by adopting a resolution or resolutions and filing a certificate or
certificates pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act, to establish from
time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series of
Preferred Stock, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of
the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, including but not limited to the fixing or alteration of
the dividend rights, dividend rate or rates, conversion rights, voting rights,
rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), the
redemption price or prices, and the liquidation preferences of any wholly
unissued series of shares of Preferred Stock, or any of them, and to increase or
decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares
of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then
outstanding. In the event the number of shares of any series shall be so
decreased, the shares removed from such series by such decrease shall resume the
status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing
the number of shares of such series.
FOURTH: The address of the registered office of the Corporation shall
be 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000. The registered agent of the
Corporation at its registered office shall be Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx.
26
FIFTH: The number of directors constituting the current Board of
Directors is three. The names and addresses of each of such directors is as
follows:
Name Address
---------------------- ------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx c/o SeraNova, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx c/o SeraNova, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Xxxx Xxxxx c/o SeraNova, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
SIXTH: The following provisions are included for the management of the
business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further
definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of
its Board of Directors and shareholders:
(i) The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation,
subject to any limitation thereof contained in the Bylaws. The
shareholders also shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the
Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, except as set forth
below in clause (ii), in addition to any vote of the holders of any
class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least sixty six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%)
of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be
required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the
Corporation;
(ii) in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or
series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of
the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal
any provision of ARTICLE XI of the Bylaws of the Corporation entitled
"INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE."
(iii) Upon the earlier of (i) the consummation of an initial
public offering of securities of the Corporation under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) the registration of the Corporation's
Common Stock under the
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shareholders of the
Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a
meeting.
(iv) Special meetings of shareholders may be called at any
time only by the President, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation (if any) or a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of shareholders
shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes set
forth in the notice of such special meeting.
(v) The Board of Directors of the Corporation, when evaluating
any offer of another party (a) to make a tender or exchange offer for
any equity security of the Corporation or (b) to effect a business
combination, merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Corporation, shall, in connection with the
exercise of its judgment in determining what is in the best interests
of the Corporation as a whole, be authorized to give due consideration
to any such factors as the Board of Directors of the Corporation
determines to be relevant, including, without limitation:
(1) the short term and long term interests of the
Corporation and the Corporation's shareholders, including the
possibility that these interests might be best served by the
continued independence of the Corporation;
(2) whether the proposed transaction might violate
federal or state laws;
(3) not only the consideration being offered in the
proposed transaction, in relation to the then current market
price for the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation,
but also to the market price for the capital stock of the
Corporation over a period of years, the estimated price that
might be achieved in a negotiated sale of the Corporation as a
whole or in part or through orderly liquidation, the premiums
over market price for the securities of other corporations in
similar transactions, current political, economic and other
factors bearing on securities prices and the Corporation's
financial condition and future prospects; and
(4) the social, legal and economic effects upon
employees, suppliers, creditors, customers and others having
similar relationships with the Corporation, upon the
communities in which the Corporation operates its business and
upon the economy of the state, region and nation.
In connection with any such evaluation, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation is authorized to conduct such investigations and engage in
such legal proceedings as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may
determine.
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(vi) in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or
series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least sixty six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the
voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock
of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to
amend any provision of Article SIXTH of this Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (other than clause (ii) of Article SIXTH).
(vii) in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or
series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of
the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to amend any provision of
clause (ii) of Article SIXTH or Article SEVENTH of this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
SEVENTH: No director or officer shall be personally liable to the
Corporation or its shareholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to the
Corporation or its shareholders, except that this provision shall not relieve a
director or officer from liability for any breach of duty based on an act or
omission (a) in breach of such person's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or
its shareholders, (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law,
or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit. No
amendment to, expiration of or repeal of this Article shall have any effect on
the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation
for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director or officer
occurring prior to such amendment, expiration or repeal.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation on behalf of the Corporation this 25th day
of January, 2000.
SERANOVA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer and President
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SCHEDULE 2.1(b)
BY-LAWS OF SERANOVA, INC.
31
BY-LAWS
OF
SERANOVA, INC.
(FORMERLY INFINIENT, INC.)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
1.01 Registered Office: The initial registered office of the
Corporation shall be c/o Intelligroup, Inc., 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxx 00000. The Board of Directors may change the registered office from time
to time.
1.02 Other Offices: The Corporation may have such other offices
either within or without the State of New Jersey as the Board of Directors may
designate or as the business of the Corporation may require from time to time.
ARTICLE II
SEAL
2.01 Seal: The corporate seal shall be in the form adopted by the Board
of Directors and may be altered by them from time to time.
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ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
3.01 Place: All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at the
registered office of the Corporation or at such other place or places, either
within or without the State of New Jersey, as may from time to time be selected
by the Board of Directors.
3.02 Annual Meetings: The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held
at such time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. At that meeting the
shareholders shall elect, by a plurality vote, a Board of Directors, and
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
3.03 Special Meetings: Special meetings of the shareholders may be
called only by the President, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation (if any) or by order of a majority of the Board of Directors. Such
written request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Business transacted at a special meeting shall be confined to the purpose or
purposes stated in the notice calling such meeting.
3.04 Notice of Shareholders' Meetings: Written notice of the time,
place and purpose or purposes of every meeting of shareholders shall be given
not less than ten or more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, either
personally or by mail (to the last address appearing on the books of the
Corporation), to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting and
to each shareholder otherwise entitled to notice by law, unless a greater period
of notice is required by statute in a particular case.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, it shall not be
necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting if the time and place to which
the meeting is adjourned are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment
is taken and at the adjourned meeting only such business is transacted as might
have been transacted at the original meeting. However, if after the adjournment
the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the
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adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record on the new record
date entitled to notice.
3.05 Waiver of Notice: Notice of a meeting need not be given to any
shareholder who signs a waiver of such notice, in person or by proxy, whether
before or after the meeting. The attendance of any shareholder at a meeting, in
person or by proxy, without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting
the lack of notice of such meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by that
shareholder.
Whenever shareholders are authorized to take any action after the lapse
of a prescribed period of time, the action may be taken without such lapse if
such requirement is waived in writing, in person or by proxy, before or after
the taking of such action, by every shareholder entitled to vote thereon as of
the date of the taking of such action.
3.06 Action by Shareholders Without Meeting:
(1) Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting
of shareholders by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the
Corporation may be taken without a meeting if all the shareholders entitled to
vote thereon consent thereto in writing, except that in the case of any action
to be taken pursuant to Chapter 10 (concerning mergers, etc.) of the New Jersey
Business Corporation Act (the "Act"), such action may be taken without a meeting
only if all shareholders entitled to vote consent thereto in writing and the
Corporation provides to all other shareholders the advance notification required
by paragraph (2)(b) of this section.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation and subject to the provisions of this subsection, any action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders by the Act, the
Certificate of Incorporation, or By-laws, other than the annual election of
Directors, may be taken without a meeting upon the written consent of
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shareholders who would have been entitled to cast the minimum number of votes
which would be necessary to authorize such action at a meeting at which all
shareholders entitled to vote thereon were present and voting.
(a) If any shareholder shall have the right to
dissent from a proposed action, pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Act, the Board
shall fix a date on which written consents are to be tabulated; in any other
case, it may fix a date for tabulation. If no date is fixed, consents may be
tabulated as they are received. No consent shall be counted which is received
more than sixty days after the date of the Board action authorizing the
solicitation of consents or, in a case in which consents, or proxies for
consents, are solicited from all shareholders who would have been entitled to
vote at a meeting called to take such action, more than sixty days after the
date of mailing of solicitation of consents, or proxies for consents.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (2)(c), the
Corporation, upon receipt and tabulation of the requisite number of written
consents, shall promptly notify all non-consenting shareholders, who would have
been entitled to notice of a meeting to vote upon such action, of the action
consented to, the proposed effective date of such action, and any conditions
precedent to such action. Such notification shall be given at least twenty days
in advance of the proposed effective date of such action in the case of any
action taken pursuant to Chapter 10 of the Act, and at least ten days in advance
in the case of any other action.
(c) The Corporation need not provide the notification
required to be given by paragraph (2)(b) if it
(i) solicits written consents or proxies for
consents from all shareholders who would have been entitled to vote at a meeting
called to take such action,
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and at the same time gives notice of the proposed action to all other
shareholders who would have been entitled to notice of a meeting called to vote
upon such action;
(ii) advises all shareholders, if any, who
are entitled to dissent from the proposed action, as provided in Chapter 11 of
the Act, of their right to do so and to be paid the fair value of their shares;
and
(iii) fixes a date for tabulation of
consents not less than twenty days, in the case of any proposed action to be
taken pursuant to Chapter 10 of the Act, or not less than ten days in the case
of any other proposed action, and not more than sixty days after the date of
mailing of solicitations of consents or proxies for consents.
(d) Any consent obtained pursuant to paragraph (2)(c)
may be revoked at any time prior to the day fixed for tabulation of consents.
Any other consent may be revoked at any time prior to the day on which the
proposed action could be taken upon compliance with paragraph (2)(b). The
revocation must be in writing and be received by the Corporation.
(3) Whenever action is taken pursuant to subsection (1) or
(2), the written consents of the shareholders consenting thereto or the written
report of inspectors appointed to tabulate such consents shall be filed with the
minutes or proceedings of shareholders.
(4) In case the Corporation is involved in a merger,
consolidation or other type of acquisition or disposition regulated by Chapters
10 and 11 of the Act, the pertinent provisions of the statute should be referred
to and strictly complied with.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.06,
immediately following the consummation of an initial public offering under the
Securities Act of 1933, as
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amended, or registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
by the Corporation of any of its capital stock, shareholders of the Corporation
may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
3.07 Fixing Record Date:
(1) The Board may fix, in advance, a date as the record date
for determining the Corporation's shareholders with regard to any corporate
action or event and, in particular, for determining the shareholders who are
entitled to
(a) notice of or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders or any adjournment thereof;
(b) give a written consent to any action without a
meeting; or
(c) receive payment of any dividend or allotment of
any right.
The record date may in no case be more than sixty days prior to the
shareholders' meeting or other corporate action or event to which it relates.
The record date for a shareholders' meeting may not be less than ten days before
the date of the meeting. The record date to determine shareholders to give a
written consent may not be more than sixty days before the date fixed for
tabulation of the consents or, if no date has been fixed for tabulation, more
than sixty days before the last day on which consents received may be counted.
(2) If no record date is fixed,
(a) the record date for a shareholders' meeting shall
be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is
given, or, if no notice is given, the day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held; and
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(b) the record date for determining shareholders for
any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
resolution of the Board relating thereto is adopted.
(3) When a determination of shareholders of record for a
shareholders' meeting has been made as provided in this section, such
determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board fixes a
new record date under this section for the adjourned meeting.
3.08 Voting Lists: The officer or agent having charge of the stock
transfer books for shares of the Corporation shall make a complete list of
shareholders entitled to vote at a shareholders' meeting or any adjournment
thereof. A list required by this section may consist of cards arranged
alphabetically or any equipment which permits the visual display of the
information required. Such list shall be arranged alphabetically within each
class, series or group of shareholders maintained by the Corporation for
convenience of reference, with the address of, and the number of shares held by,
each shareholder; be produced (or available by means of a visual display) at the
time and place of the meeting; be subject to the inspection of any shareholder
for reasonable periods during the meeting; and be prima facie evidence of the
identity of the shareholders entitled to examine such list or to vote at any
meeting.
If the requirements of this section have not been complied with, the
meeting shall, on the demand of any shareholder in person or by proxy, be
adjourned until the requirements are complied with. Failure to comply with the
requirements of this section shall not affect the validity of any action taken
at such meeting prior to the making of any such demand.
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3.09 Quorum: Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation or by statute, the presence of holders of shares (in person or by
proxy) entitled to cast a majority of the votes at a meeting shall constitute a
quorum at such meeting. The shareholders present in person or by proxy at a duly
organized meeting may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum. Less than a
quorum may adjourn.
Whenever the holders of any class or series of shares are entitled to
vote separately on a specified item of business, the provisions of this section
shall apply in determining the presence of a quorum of such class or series for
the transaction of such specified item of business.
3.10 Voting: Each holder of shares with voting rights shall be entitled
to one vote for each such share registered in his/her name, except as otherwise
provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever any action, other than
the election of Directors, is to be taken by vote of the shareholders, it shall
be authorized by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders by
the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon, unless a greater plurality is
required by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Every shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or to
express consent without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act
for him/her by proxy. Every proxy shall be executed in writing by the
shareholder or his/her agent, except that a proxy may be given by a shareholder
or his/her agent by telegram or cable or its equivalent. No proxy shall be valid
for more than eleven months unless a longer time is expressly provided therein.
Unless it is coupled with an interest, a proxy shall be revocable at will. A
proxy shall not be revoked by the death or incapacity of the shareholder but
such proxy shall continue in force until revoked by the personal representative
or guardian of the shareholder. The presence at any meeting of any
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shareholder who has given a proxy shall not revoke such proxy unless the
shareholder shall file written notice of such revocation with the Secretary of
the meeting prior to the voting of such proxy.
3.11 Election of Directors: At each election of Directors every
shareholder entitled to vote at such election shall have the right to vote the
number of shares owned by him for as many persons as there are Directors to be
elected and for whose election he has a right to vote. Directors shall be
elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the election, except as otherwise
provided by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Elections of Directors need not be by ballot unless a shareholder
demands election by ballot at the election and before the voting begins.
3.12 Inspectors of Election: The Board may, in advance of any
shareholders' meeting, or of the tabulation of written consents of shareholders
without a meeting, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or any
adjournment thereof or to tabulate such consents and make a written report
thereof. If inspectors to act at any meeting of shareholders are not so
appointed or shall fail to qualify, the person presiding at a shareholders'
meeting may, and on the request of any shareholder entitled to vote there at
shall, make such appointment.
Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall
take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his ability. No person shall be
elected a Director in an election for which he has served as an inspector.
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3.13 Conduct of Meetings:
(1) The President of the Corporation, and in the President's
absence, the Vice President of the Corporation, shall preside at all meetings of
shareholders. In the absence of the President and the Vice President, the
shareholders present shall, by a simple majority vote, elect a chairman of the
meeting.
(2) The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Secretary of
all meetings of shareholders; in the Secretary's absence, the chairman presiding
at any such meeting shall appoint a person to act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
4.01 Number of Directors: The number of Directors constituting the
entire Board shall be one or such greater number as shall be set by the vote of
a majority of the Board of Directors then authorized to hold office. A Director
shall be at least eighteen years of age and need not be a United States citizen
or resident of this State or a shareholder in the Corporation. Each Director
shall be elected by the shareholders, at the annual meeting of shareholders of
the Corporation, and shall be elected for the term of one year, and until his
successor shall be elected and shall qualify.
4.02 Term of Directors: The Directors named in the Certificate of
Incorporation shall hold office until the first annual meeting of shareholders,
and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the first
annual meeting of shareholders and at each annual meeting thereafter, the
shareholders shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding
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annual meeting. Each Director shall hold office for the term for which he/she is
elected and until a successor shall have been elected and qualified.
4.03 Removal of Directors: Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate
of Incorporation, any or all of the Directors of the Corporation may be removed
with or without cause by the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the
majority of all shares then entitled to vote for the election of the Directors.
4.04 Quorum of Board of Directors and Committees; Action of Directors
Without a Meeting:
(1) The participation of Directors with a majority of the
votes of the entire Board of Directors, or of any Committee thereof, shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(2) Any action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to
authorization voted at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any Committee
thereof, may be taken without a meeting if, prior or subsequent to such action,
all members of the Board or such Committee, as the case may be, consent thereto
in writing and such written consents are filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the Board or Committee.
4.05 Place of Board of Directors Meeting: Meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held either within or without the State of New Jersey, at such
times and places as the Board of Directors shall determine.
4.06 Annual Meeting: An annual meeting of the newly elected Board of
Directors shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders
(or immediately following any adjournment thereof) at the place of such annual
meeting of shareholders, for the
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organization of such Board of Directors and for the transaction of any other
business as may conveniently and properly be brought before such meeting.
4.07 Meetings of the Board of Directors:
(1) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held
with or without notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held
upon notice to the Directors and may be called by the President upon at least
one days notice to each Director either personally or by mail, wire, or
telephone; special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in a
like manner upon written request of one or more Directors. Notice of any meeting
need not be given to any Director who signs a written waiver of notice, whether
before or after the meeting. The attendance of any Director at a meeting,
without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of
such meeting, shall constitute an effective waiver of notice by that Director.
Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the
Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such
meeting.
(2) Where appropriate communication facilities are reasonably
available, any or all Directors shall have the right to participate in all or
any part of a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any Committee thereof, by
means of conference telephone or any means of communication by which all persons
participating in the meeting are able to hear each other.
4.08 Adjournment: A majority of the Directors present, whether or not a
quorum is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. Notice of
the adjournment shall be given to all Directors who were absent at the time of
the adjournment. Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given to any
Directors who were present at the time of the adjournment only if the time and
place are fixed at the meeting adjourning and if the period of adjournment does
not exceed ten days in any one adjournment.
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4.09 Powers of Directors: The Board of Directors shall manage or direct
the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. In addition to
the powers and authorities expressly conferred upon them by these By-laws, the
Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful
acts and things as are not by statute or by these By-laws directed or required
to be exercised or done by the shareholders.
4.10 Compensation of Directors: The Board, by the affirmative vote of a
majority of Directors in office and irrespective of any personal interest of any
of them, shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation of Directors
for services to the Corporation as Directors, officers or otherwise.
4.11 Executive Committees: The Board of Directors, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the entire Board, may appoint from among its members an
executive committee and one or more other committees, each of which shall have
one or more members. Each such committee shall have and may exercise all the
authority delegated to it by the Board, except that no such committee shall
make, alter or repeal any By-law of the Corporation; elect or appoint any
Director, or remove any officer or Director; submit to shareholders any action
that requires shareholders' approval; or amend or repeal any resolution
theretofore adopted by the Board which by its terms is amendable or repealable
only by the Board.
Actions taken at a meeting of any such committee shall be reported to
the Board at its next meeting following such committee meeting; except that,
when the meeting of the Board is held within two days after the committee
meeting, such report shall, if not made at the first meeting, be made to the
Board at its second meeting following such committee meeting.
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ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.01 Officers: The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and, if desired, a Chairman of the Board,
one or more Vice Presidents, and such other officers as the Board deems
appropriate. The officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors at its
annual meeting and shall hold office for one year and until their successors are
elected and have qualified, subject to earlier termination by removal or
resignation. The Board may also choose such employees and agents as it shall
deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall have such
authority and shall perform such duties as from time to time shall be prescribed
by the Board.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these By-laws, any two or more offices may be held by the same person but no
officer shall execute, acknowledge, or verify any instrument in more than one
capacity if such instrument is required by law or by these By-laws to be
executed, acknowledged, or verified by two or more officers.
5.02 Salaries: The salaries of all officers, employees and agents of
the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
5.03 Removal: Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of
Directors may be removed by the Board with or without cause. An officer elected
by the shareholders may be removed, with or without cause, only by vote of the
shareholders but his authority to act as an officer may be suspended by the
Board for cause.
5.04 President: The President shall be the chief executive officer of
the Corporation; he/she shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and
Directors; he/she shall have general and active management of the business of
the Corporation, shall see that all orders and
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resolutions of the Board are carried into effect, subject, however, to the right
of the Directors to delegate any specific powers, except such as may be by
statute exclusively conferred on the President, or to any other officer or
officers of the Corporation. He/she shall execute bonds, mortgages and other
contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation. He/she shall be
EX-OFFICIO a member of all committees, and shall have the general powers and
duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of President
of the Corporation. He/she shall present a report of the condition of the
business of the Corporation at each annual meeting of the shareholders and the
Board of Directors.
5.05 Vice President: The Vice President, if one has been appointed,
shall be vested with all the powers and be required to perform all the duties of
the President in his/her absence or refusal to act. He/she shall also exercise
such powers and perform such duties as may be properly delegated by the
President or the Board of Directors.
5.06 Chairman of the Board: The Chairman of the Board, if one has been
appointed, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be
provided in the resolution proposing that a Chairman of the Board be elected.
5.07 Secretary: The Secretary shall keep full minutes of all meetings
of the shareholders and Directors; he/she shall be EX-OFFICIO Secretary of the
Board of Directors; he/she shall attend all sessions of the Board, shall act as
clerk thereof, and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book
to be kept for that purpose; and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees when required. He/she shall give or cause to be given, notices of all
meetings of the shareholders of the Corporation and the Board of Directors, and
shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors
or President, under whose supervision he/she shall be.
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5.08 Chief Financial Officer: The Chief Financial Officer shall keep,
or cause to be kept, the books and records of account of the Corporation. The
Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name
and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated
from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. He or she shall
disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of
Directors, shall render to the President and the Board, whenever they request
it, an account of all of his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the
financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and
perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board or
as the President may from time to time delegate.
5.09 Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, and shall
deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of
the Corporation, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of
Directors. He/she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered
by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to
the President and Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board, or whenever
they may require it, an account of all his/her transactions as Treasurer and of
the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall submit a full financial
report at the annual meeting of the shareholders.
5.10 Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer: Any Assistant
Secretary or Assistant Treasurer, if one has been appointed, shall be vested
with all the powers and be required to perform all the duties of the Secretary
or Treasurer, respectively, in his/her absence or refusal to act. He/she shall
also exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be properly delegated
by the President or the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE VI
VACANCIES
6.01 Directors: Any directorship not filled at the annual meeting, any
vacancy, however caused, occurring in the Board, and newly created directorships
resulting from an increase in the authorized number of Directors, may be filled
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors even though
less than a quorum of the Board, or by a sole remaining Director. A Director so
elected by the Board shall hold office until his successor shall have been
elected and qualified. If, for any reason, the Corporation shall at any time
have no Directors then in office, any shareholder may call a special meeting of
shareholders for the election of Directors and, over his/her signature, shall
give notice of such meeting in accordance with these By-laws.
6.02 Officers: Any vacancy occurring among the officers, however
caused, shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
6.03 Resignations: Any Director or other officer may resign by written
notice to the Corporation. The resignation shall be effective upon receipt
thereof by the Corporation or at such subsequent time as shall be specified in
the notice of resignation.
ARTICLE VII
SHARE CERTIFICATES
7.01 Certificates: The share certificates of the Corporation shall be
in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe and shall
be numbered consecutively and registered in the transfer records of the
Corporation as they are issued. When issued, they shall bear the holder's name,
the number of shares, the date of issue, and shall be signed by the
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President of the Corporation. The Share certificates may also be countersigned
by the Secretary of the Corporation and may be sealed with the corporate seal or
a facsimile thereof. Any or all signatures upon a certificate may be a
facsimile.
7.02 Uncertificated Shares: The Board of Directors may provide that
some or all of the shares of any class or series shall be represented by
uncertificated shares. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer
of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner
thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or
stated on certificates as provided in Chapter 7 of the Act.
7.03 Transfer of Shares: Upon surrender to the Corporation or the
transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, and cancel the old certificate. Every such transfer
shall be entered on the transfer book of the Corporation which shall be kept at
its principal office. No transfer shall be made within fifteen days next
preceding the annual meeting of shareholders.
7.04 Fractional Shares. The Corporation may, but shall not be required
to, issue certificates for fractions of a share where necessary to effect
authorized transactions, or the Corporation may pay in cash the fair value of
fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such
fractions are determined, or it may issue scrip in registered or bearer form
over the manual or facsimile signature of an officer of the Corporation or of
its agent, exchangeable as therein provided for full shares, but such scrip
shall not entitle the holder to any rights of a shareholder except as therein
provided.
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7.05 Loss of Certificates: In the event that a share certificate shall
be lost, destroyed or mutilated, a new certificate may be issued therefor upon
such terms and indemnity to the Corporation as the Board of Directors may
prescribe.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS
8.01 Records: The Corporation shall keep books and records of account
and minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, Board of Directors and
executive committee, if any. Such books, records and minutes may be kept outside
this State. The Corporation shall keep at its principal office, its registered
office, or at the office of its transfer agent, a record or records containing
the names and addresses of all shareholders, the number, class and series of
shares held by each and the dates when they respectively became the owners of
record thereof. Any of the foregoing books, minutes or records may be in written
form or in any other form capable of being converted into readable form within a
reasonable time.
8.02 Inspection: Any person who shall have been a shareholder of record
of the Corporation for at least six months immediately preceding his demand, or
any person holding, or so authorized in writing by the holders of, at least five
percent of the outstanding shares of any class or series, upon at least five
days written demand shall have the right for any proper purpose to examine in
person or by agent or attorney, during usual business hours, the minutes of the
proceedings of the shareholders and record of shareholders and to make extracts
therefrom at the places where the same are kept.
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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9.01 Monetary Disbursements: All checks or demands for money and notes
of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers as the Board of
Directors may from time to time designate.
9.02 Fiscal Year: The Board of Directors shall be authorized to choose
the initial fiscal year of the Corporation, and to change that fiscal year from
time to time.
9.03 Dividends: The Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends
upon the outstanding shares of the Corporation from time to time and to such
extent as they deem advisable, in the manner and upon the terms and conditions
provided by statute and the Certificate of Incorporation.
9.04 Reserve: Before payment of any dividend there may be set aside
such sum or sums as the Directors, from time to time, in their absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Directors shall think conducive to
the interests of the Corporation, and the Directors may abolish any such reserve
in the manner in which it was created.
9.05 Giving Notice: Whenever written notice is required to be given to
any person, it may be given to such person, either personally or by sending a
copy thereof through the mail. If notice is given by mail, the notice shall be
deemed to be given when deposited in the mail addressed to the person to whom it
is directed at his last address as it appears on the records of the Corporation,
with postage pre-paid thereon. Such notice shall specify the place, day and hour
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of the meeting and, in the case of a shareholders' meeting, the general nature
of the business to be transacted.
In computing the period of time for the giving of any notice required
or permitted by statute, or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws
or any resolution of Directors or shareholders, the day on which the notice is
given shall be excluded, and the day on which the matter noticed is to occur
shall be included.
9.06 Loans to Directors, Officers or Employees: The Corporation may
lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist, any
Director, officer or employee of the Corporation or of any subsidiary, whenever
it may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation.
9.07 Disallowed Compensation: Any payments made to an officer or
employee of the Corporation as salary, commission, bonus, interest or rent,
which shall be disallowed in whole or in part as a deductible expense by the
Internal Revenue Service, shall be reimbursed by such officer or employee to the
Corporation to the full extent of such disallowance. It shall be the duty of the
Directors, as a Board, to enforce payment of each such amount disallowed. In
lieu of payment by the officer or employee, subject to the determination of the
Directors, proportionate amounts may be withheld from his future compensation
payments until the amount owed to the Corporation has been recovered.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
10.01 Amendments: The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt,
amend or repeal these By-laws. By-laws adopted by the Board of Directors may be
repealed or changed, and new
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By-laws made, by the shareholders, and the shareholders may prescribe that any
By-law made by them shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to
adopt, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation, subject, however, to any
limitation thereof contained in these By-laws. The shareholders also shall have
the power to adopt, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation; provided,
however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of
stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation,
the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two-thirds percent
(66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
Directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend
or repeal any provision of the By-laws of the Corporation; and provided further
that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of
the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting
power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any
provision of ARTICLE XI of the By-laws of the Corporation entitled
"INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE."
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
11.01 Indemnification: The Corporation shall indemnify and hold
harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action or
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suit, whether or not by or in the right of the Corporation, or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (collectively, a
"proceeding") by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the
legal representative, is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
Director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with
respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss, including
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid
in settlement, incurred, suffered or paid by or on behalf of such person, and
expenses (including attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred by such person.
11.02 Payment of Expenses: The Corporation shall pay the expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of
its final disposition, provided, however, that the payment of expenses incurred
by a Director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding
shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or officer to
repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the
Director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or
otherwise.
11.03 Claims: The right to indemnification and payment of expenses
under the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws or otherwise shall be a
contract right. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this
Article is not paid in full within sixty days after a written claim therefor has
been received by the Corporation, the claimant may file suit to recover the
unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be
entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action
the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not
entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under
applicable law.
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11.04 Non-Exclusivity of Rights: The rights conferred on any person by
this Article shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may
have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation, these By-laws, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested
Directors or otherwise.
11.05 Other Indemnification: The Corporation's obligation, if any, to
indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a Director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person
may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit enterprise.
11.06 Insurance: The Board of Directors may cause the Corporation to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director
or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a Director or officer of another Corporation, or as its
representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such
capacity or arising out of such status, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify such person.
11.07 Amendment or Repeal: Any repeal or modification of the foregoing
provisions of this Article XI shall not adversely affect any right or protection
hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the
time of such repeal or modification.
* * * * * * * *
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SCHEDULE 3.1(xi)
OPINION OF XXXXXX XXXXXXXX LLP
RELATING TO TAX-FREE DISTRIBUTION
56
March 3, 2000 XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Board of Directors Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP
Intelligroup, Inc. 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx XX 00000-0000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 Tel 000 000 0000
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion as to certain U.S. federal income tax
consequences under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("the Code"),
resulting from the proposed contribution (the "Contribution") of the "Internet
Solutions Group Division" by Intelligroup, Inc. ("ITIG") to SeraNova, Inc.
("SeraNova") followed by the distribution by ITIG of SeraNova stock pro rata to
the shareholders of ITIG (the "Distribution") under Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and
3551 pursuant to a plan described in the Contribution Agreement and the
Distribution Agreement dated January 1, 2000 (the "Principal Agreements").2 All
other terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to
them in the Principal Agreements.
In rendering our opinion, we have assumed that the Contribution and the
Distribution will occur in accordance with the Principal Agreements, and that
there are no other formal or informal arrangements between ITIG, any parties to
the Distribution, any parties to the Principal Agreements, or any shareholders
thereof. In addition, we have assumed the due authorization, execution and
delivery by each party thereto of all documents, the genuineness of all
signatures, the authority of all persons signing such documents on behalf of
each party thereto, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity
of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the original
document of any document submitted to us as a certified, conformed, or photostat
copy. Further, we have relied on and assumed to be accurate, as of the date
hereof and as of the date of the Distribution, and without further inquiry (and
without limitation as to knowledge and belief), the certifications and
representations made by, and on behalf of, ITIG, SeraNova, and the stockholders,
and all other parties contained in the representation letter addressed to us. We
have not audited or otherwise attempted to verify the accuracy or completeness
of any of the foregoing.
(a) Premise of Opinion
Our opinion is limited to the federal income tax matters addressed herein, and
no other opinions are rendered with respect to other federal tax matters or to
any issues arising under the tax laws of any
--------
1 Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue
Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
2 The term Principal Agreements refers to the Contribution Agreement dated
January 1, 2000 and the Distribution Agreement dated January 1, 2000. Any
reference to the "Principal Agreements" also includes Registration Statement
filed on Form 10 by SeraNova with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 27, 2000.
57
foreign country, state, or locality. The opinion expressed herein is based on
our interpretation of the Code, income tax regulations thereunder, court
decisions, rulings and procedures issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the
"Service") as of the date of this letter, and other authorities that we deemed
relevant. Should there be any change, including any change having retroactive
effect, in the Code, the regulations and rulings issued thereunder, judicial
interpretations thereof, or in current understanding and interpretation of tax
accounting practices, the opinion expressed herein would necessarily have to be
reevaluated in light of any such changes. Additionally, should any of the
representations or facts set forth herein prove to be either incomplete or
inaccurate, as of the date hereof, our opinion may change. We have no
responsibility to update our opinion for changes in facts, assumptions,
representations, or technical authorities that arise after the date of our tax
opinion.
We have not considered any non-income tax or any state, local, foreign, or other
income tax consequences, and therefore we express no opinion regarding the
treatment that would be accorded the Distribution for such purposes. We also
express no opinion on non-tax issues, such as corporate or securities law
matters, including whether any tax disclosures included in documents made
available to the shareholders of ITIG or the public are adequate within the
requirements of the securities or corporate laws that govern the issuance of
such documents and disclosures. Further, our opinion does not address the
potential tax ramifications to the parties named herein or the stockholders of
any transaction other than the Distribution and Contribution described herein.
Our opinion does not address the tax consequences of the Distribution to a ITIG
stockholder that has a special status, including insurance companies; tax-exempt
entities; financial institutions or broker-dealers; foreign corporations;
estates and trusts not subject to U.S. federal income tax on their income
regardless of source; persons who are not citizens or residents of the United
States; and persons who acquired their ITIG common stock as a result of the
exercise of an employee stock option, pursuant to an employee stock purchase
plan, or otherwise as compensation.
Opinion
We are of the opinion, based upon our interpretation of the Code, the Treasury
regulations, existing administrative and judicial interpretations thereof and
the foregoing facts, information, assumptions and representations, all assumed
to be accurate as of the date hereof, that for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
1. The transfer by ITIG to SeraNova of the assets of the Internet Solutions
Group Division in exchange for all the stock of SeraNova, plus the
assumption by SeraNova of liabilities associated with the Internet
Solutions Group Division, followed by the pro rata distribution of all of
the stock of SeraNova to ITIG's shareholders should qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. ITIG
and SeraNova should each be a "party to the reorganization" within the
meaning of Section 368(b).
2. ITIG should recognize no gain or loss on the transfer of assets to, and the
assumption of the liabilities referred to above by, SeraNova in exchange
for the stock of SeraNova. Sections 361(a) and 357(a) of the Code.
3. SeraNova should recognize no gain or loss on the receipt of the assets from
ITIG in exchange for SeraNova stock. Section 1032(a) of the Code.
4. SeraNova's basis in the assets received from ITIG should be equal to the
basis of such assets in the hands of ITIG immediately before such transfer.
Section 362(b) of the Code.
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5. SeraNova's holding period of each asset received from ITIG should include
the period during which ITIG held such asset. Section 1223(2) of the Code.
6. ITIG should recognize no gain or loss upon its distribution of all the
SeraNova stock to the ITIG shareholders. Section 361(c)(1) of the Code.
7. The ITIG shareholders should recognize no gain or loss (and no amount
should be included in the income of the ITIG shareholders) upon the receipt
of SeraNova stock in the Distribution. Section 355(a)(1) of the Code.
8. The aggregate basis of the ITIG stock and the SeraNova stock in the hands
of each ITIG shareholder after the Distribution should be the same as the
aggregate basis of the ITIG stock held by each ITIG shareholder immediately
before the Distribution, allocated between the ITIG stock and the SeraNova
stock in proportion to the fair market value of each in accordance with
Treas. Reg. Section1.358-2(a)(2). Section 358(a)(1), (b)(2), and (c) of the
Code.
9. The holding period of the SeraNova stock received by the each ITIG
shareholder should include the period that the ITIG shareholder has held
the ITIG stock as of the date of the Distribution, provided that the ITIG
stock is held as a capital by such shareholder on the date of the
Distribution. Section 1223(1) of the Code.
10. As provided in section 312(h), proper allocation of earnings and
profits between ITIG and SeraNova should be made in accordance with
Treas. Reg. Section1.312-10(a).
This opinion is not binding on the Service, and there can be no assurance that
the Service will not take positions contrary to the opinion expressed herein.
However, if the Service challenges the tax treatment of the Distribution, the
opinion expressed herein reflects our assessment of the probable outcome of
litigation based solely on an analysis of the existing tax authorities relating
to the issues that are the subject of this opinion.
This opinion is solely for the benefit of ITIG, SeraNova, and their stockholders
and is not intended to be relied upon by any other party. Except to the extent
expressly permitted hereby, and without the prior written consent of this firm,
our opinion may not be quoted in whole or in part, or otherwise referred to in
any documents or delivered to any person or entity. Any such authorized other
party receiving a copy of our opinion must consult and rely upon the advice of
their own counsel, accountant, or other advisor.
Very truly yours,
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX LLP
By
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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SCHEDULE 8.8
SURVIVING AGREEMENTS
1. Distribution Documents
