STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT Among INTERFACE, INC., INTERFACEFABRIC, INC., and OFFICE FABRICS HOLDING CORP. Dated as of June 19, 2007
EXECUTION
COPY
Among
INTERFACE,
INC.,
INTERFACEFABRIC,
INC.,
and
OFFICE
FABRICS HOLDING CORP.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I
|
DEFINITIONS;
CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
|
1
|
1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
|
1.2
|
Interpretation
and Rules of Construction
|
11
|
ARTICLE
II
|
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF SHARES
|
12
|
2.1
|
Purchase
and Sale of Shares
|
12
|
2.2
|
The
Closing
|
12
|
2.3
|
Purchase
Price
|
12
|
2.4
|
Closing
Deliveries
|
16
|
2.5
|
Adjustment
to Purchase Price
|
17
|
2.6
|
International
Acquisitions
|
18
|
ARTICLE
III
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
|
19
|
3.1
|
Organization
|
19
|
3.2
|
Power
and Authorization
|
20
|
3.3
|
Governmental
Authorizations
|
20
|
3.4
|
Noncontravention
|
20
|
3.5
|
Capitalization
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
|
20
|
3.6
|
Title
|
21
|
3.7
|
Financial
Statements
|
21
|
3.8
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
22
|
3.9
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
22
|
3.10
|
Real
Property
|
23
|
3.11
|
Intellectual
Property
|
25
|
3.12
|
Legal
Compliance
|
26
|
3.13
|
Tax
Matters
|
26
|
3.14
|
Company
Employee Plans
|
27
|
3.15
|
Environmental
Matters
|
28
|
3.16
|
Contracts
|
29
|
3.17
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
30
|
3.18
|
Employees
|
30
|
3.19
|
Litigation;
Governmental Orders
|
31
|
-i-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
3.20
|
Insurance
|
31
|
3.21
|
Brokers
and Other Advisors
|
31
|
3.22
|
Corporate
Records
|
32
|
3.23
|
Previous
Sales; Warranties
|
32
|
3.24
|
Items
on Schedules
|
32
|
3.25
|
No
Additional Representations or Warranties
|
32
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
|
33
|
4.1
|
Organization
|
33
|
4.2
|
Power
and Authorization
|
33
|
4.3
|
Governmental
Authorization
|
33
|
4.4
|
Noncontravention
|
33
|
4.5
|
Brokers
and Other Advisors
|
33
|
4.6
|
Litigation;
Government Orders
|
34
|
4.7
|
Investment
Intent
|
34
|
4.8
|
Availability
of Funds
|
34
|
4.9
|
No
Reliance
|
34
|
ARTICLE
V
|
COVENANTS
|
34
|
5.1
|
Conduct
of Business
|
34
|
5.2
|
Commercially
Reasonable Best Efforts
|
37
|
5.3
|
International
Acquisition Agreements; International Closings
|
38
|
5.4
|
Access
to Information; Confidentiality
|
39
|
5.5
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
39
|
5.6
|
Seller
Marks
|
40
|
5.7
|
Press
Releases
|
40
|
5.8
|
Employee
Benefits
|
40
|
5.9
|
Affiliate
Agreements
|
43
|
5.10
|
Transition
Services
|
44
|
5.11
|
No
Solicitation
|
44
|
5.12
|
Further
Assurances
|
44
|
5.13
|
Restrictive
Covenants of Seller
|
45
|
-ii-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
5.14
|
Restrictive
Covenants of Buyer
|
47
|
5.15
|
Berkshire
Agreement
|
47
|
5.16
|
Workers’
Compensation
|
48
|
5.17
|
Licenses
and Leases
|
48
|
5.18
|
Title
Commitments and Surveys
|
50
|
5.19
|
Unwanted
Assets
|
50
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
TAX
MATTERS
|
50
|
6.1
|
Section
338(h)(10) Election
|
50
|
6.2
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
51
|
6.3
|
Proration
of Certain Company Taxes
|
51
|
6.4
|
Tax
Returns and Reports
|
52
|
6.5
|
Tax
Sharing Agreements
|
52
|
6.6
|
Allocation
of Certain Taxes
|
52
|
6.7
|
Cooperation
|
53
|
6.8
|
Tax
Contests
|
53
|
6.9
|
Certain
Post-Closing Settlement Payments and Post-Closing Actions
|
54
|
6.10
|
Tax
Treatment of Indemnification Payments
|
54
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
CONDITIONS
TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS AT THE CLOSING
|
54
|
7.1
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
54
|
7.2
|
Performance
|
55
|
7.3
|
Officer’s
Certificate
|
55
|
7.4
|
Necessary
Approvals and Consents; HSR
|
55
|
7.5
|
International
Acquisitions
|
55
|
7.6
|
Delivery
of Stock Certificates
|
55
|
7.7
|
Legality
|
55
|
7.8
|
Closing
Deliveries
|
55
|
7.9
|
Material
Adverse Effect
|
55
|
7.10
|
FIRPTA
|
55
|
7.11
|
Transition
Marks License Agreement
|
55
|
-iii-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
7.12
|
Transition
Services Agreement
|
55
|
7.13
|
Third
Party Licenses
|
56
|
7.14
|
Surveys
|
56
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
CONDITIONS
TO THE SELLER’S OBLIGATIONS AT THE CLOSING
|
56
|
8.1
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
56
|
8.2
|
Performance
|
56
|
8.3
|
Officer’s
Certificate
|
56
|
8.4
|
Necessary
Approvals and Consents; HSR
|
56
|
8.5
|
Legality
|
56
|
8.6
|
Transition
Marks License Agreement
|
56
|
8.7
|
Transition
Services Agreement
|
56
|
8.8
|
Workers
Compensation Insurance
|
57
|
8.9
|
Closing
Deliveries
|
57
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
TERMINATION
|
57
|
9.1
|
Termination
of Agreement
|
57
|
9.2
|
Termination
of Obligations With Respect to International Acquisitions
|
58
|
9.3
|
Effect
of Termination
|
58
|
ARTICLE
X
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
58
|
10.1
|
By
the Seller
|
58
|
10.2
|
By
the Buyer
|
59
|
10.3
|
Indemnification
Procedure; Environmental Matters
|
59
|
10.4
|
Liability
Limit
|
61
|
10.5
|
Calculation
of Damages
|
61
|
10.6
|
Exclusive
Remedy
|
62
|
10.7
|
No
Right of Contribution
|
62
|
ARTICLE
XI
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
62
|
11.1
|
Survival
|
62
|
11.2
|
Notices
|
63
|
-iv-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
11.3
|
Succession
and Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiary
|
64
|
11.4
|
Amendments
and Waivers
|
64
|
11.5
|
Supplemental
Disclosures
|
64
|
11.6
|
Entire
Agreement
|
65
|
11.7
|
Schedules
|
65
|
11.8
|
Counterparts
|
65
|
11.9
|
Severability
|
65
|
11.10
|
Headings
|
65
|
11.11
|
Governing
Law
|
65
|
11.12
|
Jurisdiction;
Venue; Service of Process
|
65
|
11.13
|
Specific
Performance
|
66
|
11.14
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
66
|
-v-
This
Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”),
dated as of June 19, 2007, by and among Interface, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the “Seller”),
InterfaceFABRIC, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and Office Fabrics Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Buyer”).
W
I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS,
the Seller is the record and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding shares
of capital stock of the Company (the “Shares”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Buyer desires to purchase from the Seller, and the Seller desires to sell
to
the Buyer, all of the Shares upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement;
NOW
THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein made, and in
consideration of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained,
the parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS;
CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions.
As used herein, the following terms will have the following
meanings:
“338(h)(10)
Elections”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.1(a).
“Action”
shall mean any claim, suit, litigation, assessment, arbitration, investigation,
hearing, charge, complaint, demand, notice or proceeding (whether at law or
in
equity, whether civil or criminal) to, from, by or before any Governmental
Authority.
“Affiliate”
shall mean, when used with reference to a specified Person, (a) any Person
that
directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control
with
the specified Person, where “control” means the power, directly or indirectly,
to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of another
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise, (b) any Person who directly or indirectly beneficially owns at least
50% of any class of the Equity Interests of such specified Person or (c) any
Person which such specified Person or an Affiliate (as defined in clauses (a)
and (b)) directly or indirectly owns at least 50% of any class of the Equity
Interests at such time.
“Agreed
Equipment”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(a).
“Agreed
Leases”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(b).
“Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
1
“Arbitrator”
shall mean a reputable national or regional independent accounting firm as
the
Buyer and the Seller may designate by mutual agreement, or failing such
agreement, as may be designated by a panel of two reputable national or regional
independent accounting firms, one of which is selected by the Buyer and the
other of which is selected by the Seller if required. The Buyer and the Seller
shall each designate its accounting firm within ten (10) days after demand
of
the Buyer or the Seller, and their respective designated firms shall mutually
designate the Arbitrator within ten (10) days thereafter.
“Berkshire
Adjustment”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.15
of this Agreement.
“Berkshire
Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.15
of this Agreement.
“Berkshire
Note”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.15
of this Agreement.
“Berkshire
Transactions”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.15
of this Agreement.
“Business”
shall mean the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ business of developing, designing,
manufacturing, marketing or selling seating, panel, curtain and other fabrics
and related fabric services.
“Business
Day”
shall mean any day except Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banks in Atlanta,
Georgia, are authorized or required to be closed.
“Buyer”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Buyer’s
Health Plan”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.8(b).
“Camborne
Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.14.
“Cash”
shall mean cash and cash equivalents.
“Casualty
Loss”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.01(c).
“Closing”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Closing
Date”
shall mean the date on which the Closing actually occurs.
“COBRA”
shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended.
“Code”
shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common
Stock”
shall mean the common stock, par value $.01, of the Company.
“Company”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
2
“Company
Employee Plan”
shall mean all employee benefit plans, programs, Contracts, policies or
arrangements (whether or not in writing, qualified or non-qualified, funded
or
unfunded, currently effective or terminated) sponsored, maintained or
contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies, the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller that cover current or
former employees of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, including all retirement,
profit sharing, deferred compensation, severance pay, healthcare, dental,
retiree, disability, life insurance, stock option, change-in-control, retention,
bonus, incentive, stock purchase, equity-based and fringe benefit
plans.
“Company
Lease”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(c).
“Company
Leased Equipment”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(c).
“Compensation”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, all salaries, compensation,
remuneration, bonuses or benefits of any kind or character whatsoever (including
issuances or grants of Equity Interests), made directly or indirectly by the
Company or its Affiliates to such Person or Affiliates of such
Person.
“Confidentiality
Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.4(b).
“Contemplated
Transactions”
shall mean, collectively, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the other agreements and documents referred to herein, including (a) the sale
and purchase of the Shares and (b) the execution, delivery and performance
of
this Agreement.
“Contract”
shall mean any contract, agreement, lease, license, commitment, note or other
commitment, whether oral or written, that is legally binding on such Person
or
by which any property, business, operation or right of such Person is legally
subject or bound.
“Damages”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.1.
“Debt”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, all obligations (including all
obligations in respect of principal, accrued interest, penalties, fees and
premiums) of such Person (a) for borrowed money (including overdraft
facilities), (b) evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar Contracts,
(c)
for the deferred purchase price of property, goods or services (other than
trade
payables or accruals incurred in the ordinary course of business),
(d) under capital leases (in accordance with GAAP), (e) in respect of
letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances, whether or not drawn, (f) for
Contracts relating to interest rate protection, swap agreements and collar
agreements and (g) in the nature of Guarantees of the obligations described
in
clauses (a) through (f) above of any other Person.
“EBITDA”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c).
“EBITDA
Holdback Amount”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(a).
“Encumbrance”
shall mean any charge, claim, condition, defect of title, equitable interest,
lien, license, lease, option, pledge, security interest, mortgage, right of
way,
easement, encroachment, servitude, right of first offer or first refusal,
buy/sell agreement and any other restriction or covenant with respect to, or
condition governing the use, construction, voting (in the case of any Equity
Interest), transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of
ownership.
3
“Enforceable”
shall mean, with respect to any Contract stated to be enforceable by or against
any Person, that such Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of
such
Person enforceable by or against such Person in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that enforcement of the rights and remedies created thereby
is subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
“Environmental
Condition”
shall mean (a) any violation of Environmental Law by any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies first arising on or before the Closing Date; (b) any Release of a
Hazardous Substance first occurring on or before the Closing Date in, on, under
or from any property currently or formerly owned, operated or otherwise used
by
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies; or (c) any matter disclosed or required
to
be disclosed on Schedule 3.15.
“Environmental
Laws”
shall mean any Law, Permit, Governmental Order, or Contract with any
Governmental Authority relating to (a) releases or threatened releases of
Hazardous Substances, (b) pollution or protection of public health or the
environment, (c) the protection of health and the environment, worker health
and
safety, and/or (d) the manufacture, generation, distribution, formulation,
packaging, labeling, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage, disposal
or
Release of Hazardous Substances, including: the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401
et seq.; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,
33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act 49 U.S.C.
§§ 1801 et seq.; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act 7 U.S.C.
§§ 136 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C.
§§
6901 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.; the
Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.; the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. §§ 2701 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act of
1974, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300(f) et seq.; and the state analogies thereto, all as
amended or superseded prior to Closing and any common law doctrine, including
negligence, nuisance, trespass, personal injury or property damage, related
to
or arising out of the presence of, Release of, or exposure to, a Hazardous
Substance.
“Equity
Interests”
shall mean (a) any capital stock, share, partnership or membership interest,
unit of participation or other similar interest (however designated) in any
Person and (b) any option, warrant, purchase right, conversion right,
exchange rights or other Contract which would entitle any Person to acquire
any
such interest in such Person or otherwise entitle any Person to share in the
equity, profit, earnings, losses or gains of such Person (including stock
appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar
rights).
“ERISA”
shall mean the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
4
“Estimated
Working Capital”
means a good faith estimate of the Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date,
prepared and delivered by the Seller to the Buyer by written notice not less
than three days prior to the Closing Date, which estimate shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Buyer.
“Estimated
Working Capital Deficit”
shall mean the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Working Capital is less
than the Target Working Capital.
“Estimated
Working Capital Surplus”
shall mean the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Working Capital is greater
than the Target Working Capital.
“Final
Determination of EBITDA”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c).
“Final
Working Capital Schedule”
shall mean the Working Capital Schedule as finally determined pursuant to
Section
2.5.
“Financials”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.7.
“GAAP”
shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as
in
effect from time to time, provided that solely for purposes of Section 2.3
(b)-(i) and computations relating to the EBITDA Holdback Amount, “GAAP”
shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as
in
effect as of the date of this Agreement.
“Government
Order”
shall mean any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, ruling, determination
or award entered by any Governmental Authority.
“Governmental
Authority”
shall mean any United States federal, state or local or any foreign government,
or political subdivision thereof, or any multinational organization or authority
(including any governmental division, department, agency, commission,
instrumentality, official, organization, regulatory body, or other entity and
any court, arbitrator, or other tribunal) or any authority, agency or commission
entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative,
police, regulatory or taxing authority or power, any court or tribunal (or
any
department, bureau or division thereof), or any arbitrator or arbitral
body.
“Guarantee”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any guarantee of the payment or
performance of, or any contingent obligation in respect of, any Debt or other
Liability of any other Person, (b) any other arrangement whereby credit is
extended to any obligor (other than such Person) on the basis of any promise
or
undertaking of such Person (i) to pay the Debt or other Liability of such
obligor, (ii) to purchase any obligation owed by such obligor, (iii) to purchase
or lease assets under circumstances that are designed to enable such obligor
to
discharge one or more of its obligations or (iv) to maintain the capital,
working capital, solvency or general financial condition of such obligor and
(c) any liability as a general partner of a partnership or as a participant
in a joint venture in respect of Debt or other obligations of such partnership
or venture.
“Hazardous
Substance”
shall mean petroleum and its by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls,
toxic mold as defined by any Governmental Authority, urea formaldehyde, and
any
hazardous substance, waste or material that is defined as “hazardous,” “toxic,”
“pollutant,” “contaminant,” “radioactive,” or words of similar meaning or effect
in any Environmental Laws.
5
“HSR
Act”
shall mean the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976.
“Indemnification
Claim”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.3(a).
“Indemnified
Buyer Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.1.
“Indemnified
Seller Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.2.
“Indemnitee”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.3(a).
“Indemnitor”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.3(a).
“Insurance
Policies”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.20.
“Intellectual
Property”
means all foreign and domestic (a) copyright rights (whether registered or
unregistered) and copyright registrations, (b) trademarks (whether registered
or
unregistered), trade names, trade dress, domain names, and service marks
(registered or unregistered), together with the goodwill associated with any
of
the foregoing, (c) inventions (whether or not patentable), patents, patent
applications, trade secrets, proprietary models, formulas, software, databases,
websites, know-how, customer information and client lists, and (d) licenses
to
use any of the foregoing. Intellectual Property owned or licensed for use by
any
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies in connection with the Business shall be
referred to as “Company
Intellectual Property.”
Intellectual Property owned by any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies in
connection with the Business shall be referred to as “Company
Owned Intellectual Property.”
“InterfaceFABRIC
Balance Sheet”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.7.
“InterfaceFABRIC
Balance Sheet Date”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.7.
“InterfaceFABRIC
Canada Debt”
shall mean the indebtedness of InterfaceFABRIC Canada, Inc./InterfaceTISSU
Canada, Inc. to InterfaceFLOR Canada, Inc., in the aggregate amount of
CD$600,000 evidenced by a promissory note dated December 21, 2005.
“InterfaceFABRIC
Companies”
shall mean the Company, the International Companies and the Subsidiaries of
the
Company as of the Closing Date, and each shall be an “InterfaceFABRIC
Company”.
“International
Acquisition Agreements”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.6(a).
“International
Closings”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.6(b).
6
“International
Companies”
shall mean InterfaceFABRIC Canada, Inc./InterfaceTISSU Canada, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of Canada, and Interface Asia Pacific
Holdings, Ltd, a limited corporation organized under the laws of
Mauritius.
“International
Securities”
shall mean the capital stock of the International Companies.
“IRS”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge”
shall mean, with respect to the Seller or the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, the
actual knowledge of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxx, and with respect to any other Person, the actual knowledge
of such Person.
“Laws”
shall mean all federal, state, local, municipal or foreign constitutions,
statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, acts, codes, legislation, treaties,
conventions and similar laws and legal requirements and Government Orders as
in
effect from time to time.
“Lease”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.10(a).
“Lease
Confirmation”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(c).
“Lease
Consent”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(c).
“Leased
Property”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.10(a).
“Liability”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.8.
“Liquidated
Damages”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.3(b).
“Local
Laws”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.6(a).
“Loss
Amount”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.01(c).
“Marks”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.6.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
shall mean (i) any change in, or effect on, the Business, assets, Liabilities,
condition (financial or otherwise), or results of operations of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies which is, or is reasonably likely to be, materially
adverse to the Business, assets, Liabilities, condition (financial or
otherwise), or results of operations of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, taken
as
a whole; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any
change or effect arising out of or attributable to any of the following, either
alone or in combination: (a) changes or effects that generally affect the
fabrics industry or any segment thereof (including legal and regulatory changes,
and changes or effects generally affecting any international, national, regional
or local market for any fabrics service) after the date hereof, that do not
have
a commercially disproportionate impact on the Business or any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies; (b) changes or effects resulting from matters
disclosed in any Schedule hereto as of the date hereof; (c) general economic
conditions or events, circumstances, changes or effects affecting the financial
or securities markets generally after the date hereof, that do not have a
commercially disproportionate impact on the Business or any of the
7
InterfaceFABRIC
Companies; (d) changes in any Law or GAAP or any interpretation thereof, that
do
not have a commercially disproportionate impact on the Business or any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies; (e) changes or effects attributable to the
announcement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
or the taking of any action required or expressly permitted by this Agreement;
(f) changes or effects arising or resulting from acts of war (whether or not
declared), sabotage, terrorism, military actions or the escalations of any
of
the foregoing, any hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or other natural
disaster, or any other force majeure event occurring after the date hereof;
or
(ii) a material adverse effect on the ability of Seller or any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions.
“Medical
Effective Date”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.8(b).
“Net
Working Capital”
shall mean those line items of current assets identified on Schedule
1.1(a) minus
those line items of current liabilities identified on Schedule
1.1(a),
each determined in accordance with the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ past
accounting principles and practices and, to the extent not inconsistent
therewith, in accordance with GAAP. Schedule 1.1(a) contains an illustration
of
the calculation of Net Working Capital as of the InterfaceFABRIC Balance Sheet
Date in accordance with past accounting principles and practices. The
adjustments to working capital set forth in illustration of the calculation
of
Net Working Capital on Schedule 1.1(a) shall be applied in calculating the
Estimated Working Capital and in preparing the Working Capital
Schedule.
“New
Leases”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(b).
“New
Software Licenses”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(a).
“Non-Competition
Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.13(a).
“Notice”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.3(a).
“Obligees”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.14.
“Organizational
Documents”
shall mean, with respect to any Person (other than an individual), (a) the
certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of, and any joint
venture, limited liability company, operating or partnership agreement of,
and
other, similar documents adopted, approved, agreed or filed in connection with
the creation, formation, organization or governance of, such Person and
(b) all bylaws, voting agreements and similar documents, instruments or
agreements relating to the organization or governance of such Person, in each
case, as amended or supplemented.
“Owned
Real Property”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.10(b).
“Permits”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.12.
8
“Permitted
Encumbrance”
shall mean (a) liens for Taxes, special assessments or other governmental
charges not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate
reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) mechanics’,
materialmen’s, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar liens arising or
incurred in the ordinary course of business which liens have not had and are
not
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) zoning,
entitlement, building and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental
Authorities having jurisdiction over any Owned Real Property which are not
violated in any material respect by the current use and operation of the Owned
Real Property, (d) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure
payment of, worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, pension or other
social security programs mandated under applicable Laws, (e) existing
covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, Encumbrances and other similar
matters of record affecting title or use of to the Owned Real Property, in
each
case, to the extent set forth the Title Commitments, (f) restrictions on the
transfer of Equity Interests arising under or required to comply with federal
and state securities Laws, (g) Encumbrances listed on Schedule 1.1(b) attached
hereto, and (h) matters with respect to any Owned Real Property that would
be
disclosed on an accurate survey.
“Person”
shall mean any individual or corporation, association, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, joint stock or other company, business trust,
trust, organization, Governmental Authority or other entity of any
kind.
“Post-Closing
Tax Period”
shall mean any taxable period or portion thereof beginning after the Closing
Date. If a taxable period begins on or prior to the Closing Date and ends after
the Closing Date, then the portion of the taxable period that begins on the
day
following the Closing Date shall constitute a Post-Closing Tax
Period.
“Pre-Closing
Tax Period”
shall mean any taxable period or portion thereof ending on or before the Closing
Date. If a taxable period begins on or prior to the Closing Date and ends after
the Closing Date, then the portion of the taxable period that ends on the
Closing Date shall constitute a Pre-Closing Tax Period.
“Purchase
Date”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(c).
“Purchase
Price”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(a).
“Real
Property”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.10(b).
“Release”
shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaching, leaking, migration, dumping,
emptying, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, or
leaching into the indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any
property.
“Restricted
Persons”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.13(a).
“Richloom
Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.15
of this Agreement.
“Richloom
Parties”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.15
of this Agreement.
“Section
338 Forms”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.1(a).
“Securities
Act”
shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
9
“Seller”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Seller
Group”
shall mean the “affiliated group” of which the Seller is the “common parent”,
each within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code.
“Seller’s
Health Plan”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.8(b).
“Shares”
shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Subsidiary”
shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, (a) any Person that directly
or indirectly is controlled by the specified Person, where “control” means the
power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of another Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise, or (b) each Person which such
specified Person directly or indirectly owns at least 50% of any class of the
Equity Interests at such time.
“Subsidiary
Shares”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.5.
“Survey
Defect”
means any title defect, exception, restriction, easement, right of way,
encumbrance, encroachment and other matter affecting title to any of the Real
Property listed on Schedule 1.1(c) shown on any new surveys obtained by the
Buyer (the “Surveys”)
that materially detracts from the value of or materially interferes with the
present use of any such Real Property but does not include any of the foregoing
that was shown on any existing survey provided to the Buyer by the Seller or
any
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or referred to in the Title Commitments.
“Target
Working Capital”
shall mean $44,888,000.
“Tax”
or “Taxes”
shall mean any and all federal, state, provincial, local, or foreign income,
gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, excise, license, documentary, windfall profits,
environmental, capital, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social
security (or similar items, including FICA (and, to the extent imposed under
the
federal laws of Canada or any province or territory therein Canada Pension
Plan
and provincial pension plan contributions, employment insurance and unemployment
insurance payments, and workers’ compensation premiums)), unemployment,
disability, real property, personal property, escheat, unclaimed property,
sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum,
or other tax, duty, fee, levy, or other assessment of any kind, and any
interest, penalty, or addition thereto.
“Tax
Contest”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.8(a).
“Tax
Return”
shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund or information
return or statement required to be filed with a Governmental Authority relating
to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any
amendment thereof.
“Term
Expiration Mandatory Purchase Requirement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.17(c).
10
“Termination
Date”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.1.
“Territory”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.13(a).
“Third
Party Claim”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.3(b).
“Title
Commitment”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.18(a).
“Title
Insurer”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.18(a).
“Title
Review Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.18(b).
“Trade
Secrets”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.13(c).
“Transition
Marks License Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.6.
“Transition
Services Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.10.
“Treasury
Regulations”
shall mean the regulations promulgated under the Code.
“Unwanted
Assets”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.19.
“Walk-Away
Date”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.1(b)(i).
“Workers’
Compensation Policies”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.16.
“Working
Capital Deficit”
shall mean the amount, if any, by which the Net Working Capital is less than
the
Estimated Working Capital.
“Working
Capital Schedule”
shall mean a statement of the Net Working Capital as of the close of business
on
the Closing Date.
“Working
Capital Surplus”
shall mean the amount, if any, by which the Net Working Capital is greater
than
the Estimated Working Capital.
1.2 Interpretation
and Rules of Construction.
Except as otherwise explicitly specified to the contrary, for purposes of this
Agreement, the following rules of interpretation shall apply: (a) a reference
to
a Section, Article, Exhibit or Schedule shall mean a Section or Article of,
or
Schedule or Exhibit, to this Agreement, unless another agreement is specified,
(b) the word “including” shall be construed as “including without limitation,”
(c) references to a particular statute or regulation shall include all rules
and
regulations thereunder and any predecessor or successor statute, rules or
regulation, in each case as amended or otherwise modified from time to time,
(d)
words in the singular or plural form shall include the plural and singular
form,
respectively, (e) references to gender shall include both genders, (f) words
such as “herein,” “hereof,” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context
otherwise requires and (g) references to a particular Person include such
Person’s successors and assigns to the extent not prohibited by this
Agreement.
11
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF SHARES
2.1 Purchase
and Sale of Shares.
At the Closing, on and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
the Seller shall sell, transfer and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer shall
purchase and accept from the Seller, the Shares,
free and clear of all Encumbrances other than those imposed by applicable
securities Laws.
2.2 The
Closing.
The closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the “Closing”)
shall take place at the offices of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, commencing at 9:00 a.m. Atlanta,
Georgia time, on the date that is two Business Days following the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Articles
VII
and VIII
(other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at closing),
or
such other date as is mutually agreed upon by the Buyer and the Seller. Except
as otherwise provided in Article
IX,
the failure to consummate the Contemplated Transactions provided for in this
Agreement on the date and time and at the place specified herein will not
relieve any party to this Agreement of any obligation under this
Agreement.
2.3 Purchase
Price.
(a) The
Buyer shall pay to the Seller at the Closing a cash purchase price in respect
of
the Shares and the International Securities (the “Purchase
Price”)
equal to (i) $70,000,000 minus
(ii) $6,500,000 (the EBITDA
Holdback Amount”)
minus
(iii) the InterfaceFABRIC Canada Debt plus
(iii) any Estimated Working Capital Surplus (iv) minus
any Estimated Working Capital Deficit and plus
(v) the Berkshire Adjustment, if any. The Purchase Price will be subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section
2.5
and will be paid in accordance with Section
2.4.
(b) The
EBITDA Holdback Amount shall be payable to the Seller in accordance with this
Section 2.3(b). In no event shall the EBITDA Holdback Amount be paid more than
once.
(i)
If
the EBITDA for any consecutive six calendar months during the period beginning
on the first day of the calendar month following the Closing Date and ending
on
December 31, 2008 (the “Interim
Period”)
equals or exceeds $7,500,000, then promptly following, and in no event later
than five days after, the Final Determination of EBITDA, the Buyer shall deliver
the EBITDA Holdback Amount to the Seller.
(ii)
If
the EBITDA for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008 equals or exceeds
$15,000,000, then promptly following, and in no event later than five days
after, the Final Determination of EBITDA, the Buyer shall deliver the EBITDA
Holdback Amount to the Seller.
(iii)
If
the EBITDA for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008 equals or exceeds
$12,500,000 but is less than $15,000,000, then promptly following, and in no
event later than five days after, the Final Determination of EBITDA, the Buyer
shall deliver to the Seller $2.60 for each $1.00 by which the EBITDA for the
calendar year ended December 31, 2008 exceeds $12,500,000.
12
(iv)
If
the EBITDA does not equal or exceed $7,500,000 for any six calendar months
during the Interim Period and does not equal or exceed $12,500,000 for the
calendar year ended December 31, 2008, then the EBITDA Holdback Amount will
not
be paid to the Seller and will be forfeited. If the EBITDA Holdback Amount
has
not become payable based on EBITDA for any six month period in the Interim
Period, and equals or exceeds $12,500,000 but does not equal or exceed
$15,000,000 for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008, then the amount
of
the EBITDA Holdback Amount not obligated to be paid to the Seller pursuant
to
Section
2.3(b)(iii)
will not be paid to the Seller and will be forfeited.
(c) For
purposes of this Section
2.3,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i)
“EBITDA”
for any period shall mean the consolidated net income or loss from
continuing operations of
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies for such period, (i) plus
the aggregate amount of any interest expense and minus
interest income, in each case used in computing consolidated net income or
loss
from continuing operations for such period, (ii) plus
the aggregate amount of any income taxes deducted in computing consolidated
net
income or loss from continuing operations for such period, (iii) plus
the aggregate amounts of depreciation and amortization in such period, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, (iv) plus
the amount of any fees paid to any Person pursuant to the terms of a management
services agreement between the Buyer (or any of its Affiliates) and any of
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies, and the amount of any other fees, expenses or charges
paid to Buyer (or any of its Affiliates) or to any other Affiliate of any of
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies other than in bona fide, arms-length transactions
entered into in the ordinary course of business, to the extent such fees are
deducted in computing consolidated net income or loss from
continuing operations for such period, (v) plus
any fees, costs or expenses incurred by the Buyer, the Company or any other
Person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
any
indemnification under this Agreement, in each case to the extent such fees,
costs or expenses are deducted in computing consolidated net income or loss
from
continuing operations for such period, (vi) minus
any gain resulting from currency exchange transactions or on the sale of assets
outside of the ordinary course of business and plus
any loss resulting from currency exchange transactions or the sale of assets
outside of the ordinary course of business, (vii) minus
any non-cash income and plus
any non-cash expenses, and (viii) plus
50% of any severance payment associated with the elimination of any employees
of
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies due to shifting volume into the facility assumed
in connection with the Berkshire Transactions.
(ii)
“Final
Determination of EBITDA”
shall mean (i) any calculation of EBITDA that is accepted in writing by Seller,
or (ii) if no calculation of EBITDA is accepted in writing by Seller, the
determination of the Arbitrator pursuant to Section 2.3(g).
13
(d) EBITDA
for each six-month period during the Interim Period shall be calculated based
on
and in accordance with the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ monthly financial
statements (which monthly financial statements shall be prepared in accordance
with GAAP and the historical accounting principles and policies of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies so long as such principles and policies are in
accordance with GAAP). EBITDA for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008
shall be calculated based on and in accordance the audited consolidated
financial statements of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies (which audited
consolidated financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP
and
the historical accounting principles and policies of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies so long as such principles and policies are in accordance with
GAAP). Promptly
following (i) the completion of the monthly statements for the last calendar
month in each six-month period during the Interim Period and (ii) the review
of
such statements by the Buyer, and in no event (A) more than 45 days after the
end of each such period if such financial statements are not reviewed or audited
by accountants or financial consultants selected by the Buyer, or (B) more
than
60 days after the end of each such period if such financial statements are
reviewed or audited by accountants or financial consultants selected by the
Buyer, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller a statement setting forth its
good
faith calculation of EBITDA for such period. Promptly following (i) the
completion of the audit of the financial statements of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008 and (ii) the review
of
such statements by the Buyer, and in no event more than 120 days after the
end
of such period, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller a statement setting forth
its good faith calculation of EBITDA for such year.
(e) The
Buyer shall cause the Company to (i) prepare in good faith and promptly deliver
(in no event more than 30 days after the end of each such period) to the Seller
financial statements covering (A) each month ending after the Closing Date
through the end of the Interim Period, and (B) each six-month period during
the
Interim Period and (ii) promptly deliver (in no event more than 90 days after
the end of such period) to the Seller following the completion of the audit,
the
audited financial statements for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008.
The
Seller shall have a period of (x) 90 days from the delivery of each of the
six-month financial statements and (y) 120 days from the delivery of the audited
financial statements, to have the financial statements reviewed or audited
by
accountants or financial consultants selected by the Seller. During such review
periods, the Buyer shall and shall cause the Company to provide the Seller
and
its representatives with access to all information which the Seller shall
reasonably request in connection with their review of the financial statements.
(f) The
Seller shall have 90 days following receipt of any EBITDA calculations delivered
pursuant to Section
2.3(d)
for any six-month period during the Interim Period, and 120 days following
receipt of any EBITDA calculations delivered pursuant to Section
2.3(d)
for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008, during which to notify the Buyer
of any dispute of any calculation or item with respect thereto, which notice
shall set forth in reasonable
detail
the basis for such dispute. The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate in good
faith to resolve any such dispute as promptly as possible. During any such
period, the Buyer shall provide the Seller with reasonable access to all
information which the Seller shall reasonably request (including, without
limitation, the working papers of the Buyer, the Company and its Subsidiaries
and their respective accountants, employees and representatives relating to
the
applicable calculation of EBITDA) in connection with their review of any EBITDA
calculations.
14
(g) In
the event the Buyer and the Seller are unable to resolve any dispute regarding
any EBITDA calculations delivered pursuant to Section
2.3(d)
within thirty (30) days following the Buyer’s receipt of notice of such dispute,
such dispute, together with any related dispute regarding the Company’s
financial statements for the period covered by the EBITDA calculation, shall
be
submitted to, and all issues having a bearing on such dispute shall be resolved
by the Arbitrator. The Arbitrator shall certify to the parties its impartiality
and neutrality in undertaking the engagement to serve as Arbitrator under this
Agreement. In resolving any such dispute, the Arbitrator shall consider only
those items or amounts with respect to the EBITDA calculation or financial
statements as to which the Seller has disagreed. The Buyer and the Seller shall
instruct the Arbitrator to make a final determination of the matters in dispute
in accordance with the guidelines and procedures set forth in this Agreement.
The Buyer and the Seller shall instruct the Arbitrator not to assign a value
to
any item in dispute greater than the greatest value for such item assigned
by
the Buyer, on the one hand, or the Seller, on the other hand, or less than
the
smallest value for such item assigned by the Buyer, on the one hand, or the
Seller, on the other hand. The Arbitrator’s determination of a dispute submitted
to it pursuant to this Section
2.3(g)
shall be final and binding on the parties. The Arbitrator shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to complete its work within thirty (30) days following its
engagement. The fees and expenses of the Arbitrator with respect to a dispute
under this Section
2.3
shall be shared equally by the Seller and the Buyer.
(h) For
purposes of Section
2.3
and any definitions relevant thereto, the terms “the Company, the International
Companies and the Company’s Subsidiaries” and “the InterfaceFABRIC Companies”
shall be deemed to refer to the collective business activities and operations
of
such entities whether or not maintained as separate entities as they now exist,
or merged, consolidated or otherwise integrated with or into the Company, the
Buyer or any Affiliate of the Company or the Buyer.
The Buyer shall cause the InterfaceFABRIC Companies to be accounted for on
a
consolidated basis separately from any other business activities and operations
of the Buyer or its Affiliates, and shall maintain such separate books and
records with respect thereto as shall be necessary to carry out the provisions
hereof. The Buyer will not, and will cause the InterfaceFABRIC Companies not
to,
conduct the affairs of such entities in a manner that is intended to cause
the
non-payment of, or reduce the amount of or payment of, the EBITDA Holdback
Amount.
(i) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions, in the event that prior to December 31, 2008 (A)
any
merger, sale of shares, sale of all or substantially all assets, or similar
transaction resulting in the Buyer or its Affiliates not owning, directly or
indirectly, voting securities of the Company (or any entity into which the
Company has been merged or consolidated) representing more than 50% of the
voting rights attached to
15
all
outstanding voting securities of the Company (or any entity into which the
Company has been merged or consolidated) (a “Change
of Control Transaction”),
(B) at
the time of such Change of Control Transaction the EBITDA Holdback Amount has
not been previously paid to the Seller and (C) the net proceeds payable to
the
stockholders of the Company in connection with such Change of Control
Transaction exceeds $100,000,000, then promptly following the consummation
of
such Change of Control Transaction, the Buyer shall deliver the EBITDA Holdback
Amount to the Seller. If the net proceeds payable to the stockholders of the
Company in connection with such Change of Control Transaction are less than
$100,000,000, then (X) the EBITDA Holdback Amount shall not be delivered to
the
Seller and (Y) the Buyer shall cause the surviving entity in such Change of
Control Transaction to assume the obligation to pay the EBITDA Holdback Amount
upon the terms and subject to the conditions of Section 2.3(b), provided that,
if the Change in Control Transaction occurs during the Interim Period and if
EBITDA for any consecutive six calendar months during the Interim Period equals
or exceeds $6,250,000 but is less than $7,500,000, then at the Seller’s option,
in lieu of such assumption by the surviving entity, promptly following the
consummation of such Change of Control Transaction, the Buyer shall deliver
to
the Seller $5.20 for each $1.00 by which the EBITDA for the applicable six
month
period exceeds $6,250,000, and upon such payment, the amount of the EBITDA
Holdback Amount not obligated to be paid to the Seller pursuant thereto will
not
be paid to the Seller and will be forfeited.
2.4 Closing
Deliveries.
At the Closing, the following shall occur (any delivery being made in escrow
until all deliveries are complete):
(a) the
Seller shall deliver to the Buyer a certificate or certificates representing
the
Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by duly executed assignment
documents as shall be necessary or appropriate to vest in the Buyer good and
marketable title to the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than
those imposed by applicable securities Laws;
(b) all
consents, approvals, and other items set forth on Schedule 2.4(b) (the
“Required
Consents”),
which shall (i) be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer,
(ii) not be subject to the satisfaction of any condition that has not been
satisfied or waived, and (iii) be in full force and effect;
(c) executed
releases of all Encumbrances securing any Debt other than Debt set forth on
Schedule 10.1(b), which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Buyer;
(d) the
Buyer shall deliver the Purchase Price to the Seller by wire transfer of
immediately available funds;
(e) the
Seller and the Buyer shall deliver to each other such other documents as are
contemplated by Article
VII
and VIII,
respectively;
(f) such
other instruments of conveyance and transfer, in forms reasonably satisfactory
to the Buyer and Seller and their respective counsel, as shall be necessary
and
effective to transfer and assign to, and vest in, the Buyer all of the Seller’s
right, title, and interest in and to the Shares;
16
(g) the
Seller shall deliver to the Buyer (i) good standing certificates for each of
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies (except for the International Companies, for which
such good standing certificates shall only be delivered if the Seller can
deliver such certificates by using commercially reasonably efforts), (ii)
certified resolutions of the directors and shareholders of the Company
evidencing approval of the Contemplated Transactions, (iii) resignations of
officers and directors of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies that are continuing
employees of Seller, and (iv) a cross receipt; and
(h) subject
to the terms of Section
5.2,
the Seller shall use commercially reasonably efforts to deliver to Buyer a
landlord’s estoppel certificate for the leased properties located at (i) 0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, (ii) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx and (iii) Xx. 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx.
2.5 Adjustment
to
Purchase Price
(a) As
promptly as practicable following the Closing Date (but in any event within
ninety (90) days thereafter), the Buyer shall prepare and deliver to the Seller
the Working Capital Schedule and its calculation of the Working Capital Surplus
or the Working Capital Deficit, as applicable, based thereon. The Working
Capital Schedule shall be prepared on a consolidated basis for the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies in accordance with the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’
accounting principles and policies and, to the extent not inconsistent
therewith, in accordance with GAAP used in the calculation of the Target Working
Capital.
(b) The
Seller shall have thirty (30) days following receipt of the Working Capital
Schedule delivered pursuant to Section
2.5(a)
during which to notify the Buyer of any dispute of any item contained therein,
which notice shall (i) set forth in reasonable
detail
the basis for such dispute (which shall be limited to whether the Working
Capital Schedule (A) was prepared in accordance with Section 2.5(a), and (B)
contains a mathematical error) and (ii) include the Seller’s draft of the
Working Capital Schedule. The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate in good
faith
to resolve any such dispute as promptly as possible, and upon such resolution,
the Working Capital Schedule shall be prepared in accordance with the agreement
of the Buyer and the Seller. During such thirty (30) day period, the Seller
shall have reasonable access to the working papers of the Buyer and the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies and their respective accountants and representatives
relating to the calculation of Working Capital Deficit or Working Capital
Surplus. During any period of dispute, the parties shall have reasonable access
to the working papers of the other party and such other party’s respective
accountants and representatives relating to such other party’s calculation of
Working Capital Deficit or Working Capital Surplus. In the event the Seller
does
not notify the Buyer of any such dispute within such thirty (30) day period
or
notifies the Buyer within such period that it does not dispute any item
contained therein, the Working Capital Schedule delivered pursuant to
Section
2.5(a)
and the Buyer’s calculation of the Working Capital Deficit or Working Capital
Surplus, as the case may be, shall be final and binding upon the
parties.
17
(c) In
the event the Buyer and the Seller are unable to resolve any dispute regarding
the Working Capital Schedule delivered pursuant to Section
2.5(a)
within thirty (30) days following the Buyer’s receipt of notice of such dispute,
such dispute shall be submitted to, and all issues having a bearing on such
dispute shall be resolved by the Arbitrator. The Arbitrator shall certify to
the
parties its impartiality and neutrality in undertaking the engagement to serve
as Arbitrator under this Agreement. In resolving any such dispute, the
Arbitrator shall consider only those items or amounts in the Working Capital
Schedule as to which the Seller has disagreed. The Buyer and the Seller shall
instruct the Arbitrator to make a final determination of the matters in dispute
in accordance with the guidelines and procedures set forth in this Agreement.
The Buyer and the Seller shall instruct the Arbitrator not to assign a value
to
any item in dispute greater than the greatest value for such item assigned
by
the Buyer, on the one hand, or the Seller, on the other hand, or less than
the
smallest value for such item assigned by the Buyer, on the one hand, or the
Seller, on the other hand. The Arbitrator’s determination of the Working Capital
Schedule and the Working Capital Deficit or Working Capital Surplus, as the
case
may be, based thereon, shall be final and binding on the parties. The Arbitrator
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete its work within thirty
(30) days following its engagement. The fees and expenses of the Arbitrator
shall be shared
by the Seller and the Buyer in proportion to the aggregate differences between
their respective calculations of Net Working Capital as embodied in the Buyer’s
draft of the Working Capital Schedule and the Seller’s draft of the Working
Capital Schedule, as applicable, and the Net Working Capital shown on the Final
Working Capital Schedule.
(d) Within
five (5) Business Days following the determination of the Final Working Capital
Schedule as set forth above, if there is a Working Capital Deficit, the Seller
shall pay to the Buyer an amount equal to the Working Capital Deficit, and
if
there is a Working Capital Surplus, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller an amount
equal to the Working Capital Surplus. Any payment made by a party pursuant
to
this Section
2.5(d)
shall include simple interest at the rate of 5% per annum from the Closing
Date
through the date of such payment and shall be made by wire transfer of
immediately available funds.
2.6 International
Acquisitions.
(a) On
and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Seller and the Buyer (or
an
Affiliate of the Buyer) shall enter into and, if and to the extent required,
file with the appropriate Governmental Authorities, such agreements or
instruments (the “International
Acquisition Agreements”)
providing for the sale, transfer, assignment, delivery or other direct or
indirect conveyance of the International Securities located outside the United
States that, in Buyer’s reasonable opinion, must be or reasonably should be
documented separately from this Agreement pursuant to requirements of applicable
Laws in the jurisdiction where located (“Local
Laws”).
The forms of such International Acquisition Agreements shall be negotiated
in
good faith between the Seller and the Buyer. Notwithstanding any provision
of
this Agreement to the contrary, the
18
parties
agree that each International Acquisition Agreement shall only contain the
provisions required by applicable Local Laws or as are otherwise reasonably
appropriate to permit enforcement of the parties’ respective rights and
obligations hereunder or otherwise reasonable in giving effect to the
Contemplated Transactions in or with respect to any relevant jurisdiction.
To
the extent that the provisions of any International Acquisition Agreement are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, (i) the provisions of this
Agreement shall prevail and the inconsistent provisions of the International
Acquisition Agreement shall be given effect only to the extent required to
comply with applicable Local Laws, and (ii) the parties shall nonetheless to
the
maximum extent permitted by Law comply with the applicable provisions of this
Agreement as though they were bound by such provisions of this Agreement instead
of the applicable provisions of the relevant International Acquisition
Agreement, and if not permitted by applicable Law to comply with this Agreement
strictly in accordance with its terms, such parties shall implement such
arrangements as may be necessary to afford to each such party as nearly as
practicable the benefits and burdens such party would have enjoyed and been
subject to had the parties been permitted to comply with this Agreement strictly
in accordance with its terms.
(b) The
closing of the purchase and sale of the International Securities to be completed
outside the United States pursuant to any International Acquisition Agreements
shall take place on the Closing Date at such place and times as may be specified
in the respective International Acquisition Agreements (the “International
Closings”).
(c) No
additional consideration is to be paid by the Buyer for the International
Securities other than the Purchase Price specified in Section
2.3,
and, for the avoidance of doubt, each International Acquisition Agreement shall
set out the amount of the Purchase Price allocable to the International
Securities that are the subject of such Agreement, such amount to be agreed
upon
by the parties prior to the Closing.
(d) At
the International Closings, there shall be no other closing deliveries required
except for those specified in Section
2.4
and any additional deliveries that are required by applicable Local
Laws.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
The
Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer, on and as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as follows:
3.1 Organization.
Schedule 3.1 sets
forth for each of the Seller, the Company and its Subsidiaries its name and
jurisdiction of organization. Each of the Seller and the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies is (a) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) is duly
qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
it
owns or leases Real Property and in each other jurisdiction in which the failure
to so qualify would have, or is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse
Effect.
19
3.2 Power
and Authorization.
The
execution, delivery and performance by each of the Seller and the Company of
this Agreement and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions are within
the power and authority of the Seller and the Company and have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Seller and the Company.
This Agreement (a) has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller and
the Company and (b) is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller
and the Company, Enforceable against the Seller and the Company in accordance
with its terms.
3.3 Governmental
Authorizations.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.3, no action by (including any
authorization, consent or approval), or in respect of, or filing with, any
Governmental Authority is required for, or in connection with, the valid and
lawful (a) authorization, execution, delivery and performance by any of the
Seller or any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies of this Agreement or (b) the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions by each of the Seller and the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies.
3.4 Noncontravention.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.4, neither the execution, delivery and
performance by the Seller or the InterfaceFABRIC Companies of this Agreement
nor
the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will:
(a) assuming the taking of any action by (including any authorization, consent
or approval), or in respect of, or any filing with, any Governmental Authority,
in each case, as disclosed on Schedule 3.3, violate any Law applicable to the
Seller or the InterfaceFABRIC Companies;
(b) result in a breach or violation of, or default under, any material Contract
of the Seller or any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies; or (c) result in a breach
or violation of, or default under, the Organizational Documents of the Seller
or
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies.
3.5 Capitalization
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 3,000 shares of Common
Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, 1,000 shares of Common Stock of the
Company are issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of Common Stock
of
the Company are
held by the Seller and have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights,
and have been issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws.
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, there are no outstanding options, warrants,
conversion rights, subscriptions, Equity Interests or other rights entitling
any
Person to acquire or receive, or requiring the Company to issue, any shares
of
its capital stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, such
shares of capital stock.
(b) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.5, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of,
or other Equity Interests in, each of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies other than
the Company are owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear
of
Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances. Schedule 3.5 sets forth for
each
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies other than the Company, (i) the number of
shares of authorized capital stock of each class of its capital stock, and
(ii)
the number of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock
and the names of the holder thereof (the “Subsidiary
Shares”).
All Subsidiary Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights,
and have been issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws.
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, there are no outstanding options, warrants,
conversion rights, subscriptions, Equity Interests or other rights entitling
any
Person to acquire or receive, or requiring an InterfaceFABRIC Company other
than
the Company to issue, any shares of its capital stock or securities convertible
into, or exchangeable for, such shares of capital stock.
20
3.6 Title.
(a) The
Seller is the record and beneficial owner of the Shares and has good and valid
title to the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances except as are imposed
by
applicable securities Laws. The Seller has full right, power and authority
to
transfer and deliver to the Buyer valid title to the Shares, free and clear
of
all Encumbrances. Immediately following the Closing, (i) the Buyer will be
the
record and beneficial owner of the Shares, and have good and valid title to
such
Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances except as are imposed by applicable
securities Laws or Encumbrances created by, through or under the Buyer, and
(ii)
the Company will be the direct or indirect owner of the Subsidiary Shares,
and
have good and valid title to such Subsidiary Shares, free and clear of all
Encumbrances except as are imposed by applicable securities Laws or Encumbrances
created by, through or under the Buyer. Except pursuant to this Agreement,
there
is no Contract or other arrangement pursuant to which the Seller has, directly
or indirectly, granted any option, warrant or other right to any Person to
acquire any Shares or other Equity Interests in any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies.
(b) The
InterfaceFABRIC Companies have good and valid title to, valid leasehold
interests in, or valid licenses to use all of the assets owned, used, or
possessed by them, free from any Encumbrances, other than Permitted
Encumbrances. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.6(b), such assets are sufficient
for the continued operation of the Business after the Closing in substantially
the same manner as operated by the InterfaceFABRIC Companies prior to Closing.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.6(b), the material assets of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies are adequate for the uses to which such assets are
currently being put, are free from known material defects, and are in good
operating condition, subject to normal wear and tear. This Section
3.6(b)
does not apply to Real Property, which is instead addressed exclusively in
Section
3.10.
3.7 Financial
Statements.
Attached to Schedule 3.7(a) are true and complete copies of
the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Fabrics Group operating segment
of the Seller as of April 1, 2007 (respectively, the “InterfaceFABRIC
Balance Sheet”
and the “InterfaceFABRIC
Balance Sheet Date”)
and December 31, 2006 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of
income, cash flow and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Fabrics Group
operating segment of the Seller for the fiscal year then ended
(collectively, the “Financials”).
Except as otherwise indicated in the Financials or as set forth on Schedule
3.7,
the Financials fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries, together with the
International Companies, as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated
results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, together with
the
International Companies, and changes in financial position for the respective
periods covered thereby
in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied (subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments and the absence of notes).
21
3.8 Undisclosed
Liabilities.
To the Knowledge of the Company, no InterfaceFABRIC Company has any Debt or
any
other material outstanding claims, liabilities or obligations (“Liabilities”),
except: (a) Liabilities disclosed or reflected in the Financials; (b)
Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices; and (c) Liabilities that are set forth on Schedule 3.8, none of
which
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
disclosed on Schedule 3.8, no InterfaceFABRIC Company will have any Debt as
of
the Closing Date.
3.9 Absence
of Certain Changes.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9, since April 1, 2007, (a) the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies have carried on and operated their respective
businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices and (b) there have not been any events, changes
or occurrences that have had a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on Schedule 3.9,
since April 1, 2007, no InterfaceFABRIC Company has:
(i)
declared,
set aside for payment or paid any dividend on, or made any other distribution
in
respect of, any shares of its capital stock or other Equity Interests by way
of
dividends, purchase, or redemption of shares or otherwise, except for regular
dividends consistent with past practice made in compliance with applicable
Law;
(ii)
made
any increase in the compensation payable or to become payable to any director,
officer, employee, or agent, except for increases for non-officer employees
or
agents made in the ordinary course of business, nor any other change in any
employment or material consulting contract;
(iii)
entered
into any employment retention, severance, change in control, or similar contract
with any Person;
(iv) established
or amended any Company Employee Plan, except to the extent required by
applicable Law;
(v)
acquired,
sold, leased, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise disposed of, any material assets
or properties, except for acquisitions or dispositions of assets in the ordinary
course of business;
(vi)
amended
any existing lease, sublease, or license relating to Real Property;
(vii)
mortgaged,
pledged, or subjected to any Encumbrance other than a Permitted Encumbrance,
any
asset;
(viii)
other
than in the ordinary course of business, waived or released any claim or right
or cancellation of any Debt held;
22
(ix)
allowed
or agreed to allow the lapse of any right with respect to any of the material
Intellectual Property or any license for any material Intellectual Property;
(x)
made
any payments to any Affiliate of any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, other
than wages and reimbursements in the ordinary course of business;
(xi)
made
any material change to its financial statements or taken any action other than
as required by GAAP, with respect to accounting policies or practices;
(xii)
made
any change in any Tax election, Tax accounting method or any other Tax practice
or settled any Tax claim relating to any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies,
the
Business, or their assets;
(xiii)
defaulted
under, or taken or failed to take any action that (with or without notice or
lapse of time or both) would constitute a default under, any term or provision
of any material Contract;
(xiv)
experienced
any material loss or reduction in business from (A) any of the five largest
customers of the Business or (B) any of the five largest suppliers to the
Business, or any other supplier that constitutes a sole source of supply of
any
material product or service; or
(xv)
entered
into any Contract involving payments, assets or liabilities with a value of
greater than $250,000 in the aggregate, or altered, amended, modified or
exercised any option under any existing Contract involving payments, assets
or
liabilities with a value of greater than $250,000 in the aggregate, other than
(A) in the ordinary course of business, (B) pursuant to an existing budget
that
has been provided to the Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement or (C) in
connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise provided in this
Agreement.
3.10 Real
Property.
(a) Schedule
3.10 identifies all real properties leased, subleased, or licensed by any of
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies (the “Leased
Property”).
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10, an InterfaceFABRIC Company, as the case
may be, holds a valid leasehold to each of the Leased Properties, under which
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies uses or occupies or has a right to use
or
occupy such property, whether as landlord, tenant, subtenant or pursuant to
another occupancy arrangement free and clear of all Encumbrances other than
Permitted Encumbrances (each a “Lease”
and collectively, the “Leases”).
True, complete and correct copies of the Leases have been delivered or made
available to the Buyer. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10: (i) each Lease
is
in full force and effect in accordance with its terms; (ii) the other party
to
such Lease is not an affiliate of, and otherwise does not have any economic
interest in, Seller or any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies; (iii) the
transaction does not require the
23
consent
of or notice to any other party to any material Lease, will not result in a
breach or default under the Leases, will not give rise to any recapture or
similar rights, and will not otherwise cause any of the Leases to not be legal,
valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect on identical terms
following the Closing; (iv) all such Leased Property is held subject to written
leases under which any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has not received a
written notice of any existing defaults or events of default on the part of
such
InterfaceFABRIC Company, except for any such default which would not have a
Material Adverse Effect; (v) to the Knowledge of the Company, no security
deposit or portion thereof deposited with respect to any Lease has been applied
in respect of a breach or default under any Lease which has not been redeposited
in full; (vi) no InterfaceFABRIC Company is in default of any material capital
expenditure requirements or material remodeling obligations of Seller or any
of
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies under the Leases other than ordinary maintenance
and repair obligations; (vii) none of the Leases have been leased, subleased,
licensed or otherwise assigned to a third party by Seller or any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies, and the Seller and the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
have
not collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in such Lease
or any interest therein to any other person; and (viii) there are no outstanding
termination fees or contingent Liabilities related to any leases that have
expired or been terminated.
(b) Schedule
3.10 identifies all real property owned by the InterfaceFABRIC Companies (the
“Owned
Real Property”
and, together with the Leased Property, the “Real
Property”)
and contains the address for each such Owned Real Property. Except as set forth
in Schedule 3.10, (i) an InterfaceFABRIC Company, as the case may be, holds
good
and marketable fee simple title to the Owned Real Property, free of all
Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances; (ii) neither the Company nor
any
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has, within the last five years, made any
title
claims, or has outstanding any title claims, under any policy of title insurance
respecting the Owned Real Properties; (iii) no condemnation, eminent domain,
environmental, zoning, or other land use regulation proceedings against any
of
the Owned Real Property is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened, (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no condemnation, eminent
domain, environmental, zoning, or other land use regulation proceedings against
any of the Leased Real Property is pending or threatened, (v) except for
Permitted Encumbrances and as set forth on Schedule 3.10, there are no leases,
subleases, licenses, concessions, or other agreements, written or oral, granting
to any Person the right of use or occupancy of any portion of such Owned Real
Property; (vi) there are no outstanding options or rights of first refusal
to
purchase such Owned Real Property (other than the right of Purchaser pursuant
to
this Agreement), or any potion thereof or interest therein; and (vii) except
with respect to the Berkshire Transactions, Seller is not a party to any
agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest therein. Each
parcel of land collectively constituting the Owned Real Property is separate
and
distinct from any other tax lot allocated to any parcel of land that is not
part
of the Owned Real Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10, the use and
operation of each Owned Real Property now is, and at the time of Closing will
be, in material compliance with applicable Laws. The Seller has obtained all
Permits, easements and rights of way required from all Governmental Authorities
having jurisdiction over the Owned Real Property or from other Persons to ensure
free and unimpeded vehicular and pedestrian ingress to and egress from the
Owned
Real Property.
24
(c) All
material utilities currently servicing the Owned Real Property and Leased Real
Property are installed, connected and operating.
(d) To
the Knowledge of the Company, no Governmental Authority has given any unresolved
written notice of plans to change or restrict access to the Owned Real Property
from any railway, highway, or road system necessary for access to maintain
operations as currently provided.
(e) To
the Knowledge of the Company, there are no material agreements, orders,
licenses, permits, conditions or other directives issued by a Governmental
Authority which require any change in the present use or operations of the
Owned
Real Property and Leased Real Property.
(f) To
the Knowledge of the Company, there are no defects in the material buildings,
improvements and structures or fixtures located on or at the Real Property
which
would materially impair the conduct of the Business as currently conducted.
3.11 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule
3.11(a) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all registered, pending
applications for, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, other material Company Owned
Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(a) or 3.11(b),
to
the Knowledge of the Company, (i) the InterfaceFABRIC Companies have good title
to each registration and application for Company Owned Intellectual Property,
free and clear of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrance; (ii) the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies own or have the right to use pursuant to license,
sublicense, agreement or permission all material items of Company Intellectual
Property used in the operation of the Business of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies,
as presently conducted. The inadvertent failure of the Company to list an item
of Company Owned Intellectual Property on Schedule 3.11 shall not constitute
a
material breach of this Agreement.
(b) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.11(b), (i) no Action is pending or, to the Company’s
Knowledge, threatened against any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or any of
their respective properties, which challenge the validity or use of, or the
ownership by, the InterfaceFABRIC Companies of the Company Intellectual
Property; (ii) the Company has no Knowledge of any infringement or infringing
use of any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property by third parties; (iii)
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies have taken all commercially reasonable actions
to
maintain and protect the material Company Owned Intellectual Property referenced
on Schedule 3.11(a); (iv) to the Company’s Knowledge, since December 31, 2002 no
infringement, misappropriation or violation of any Intellectual Property right
or other proprietary right of any third Person has occurred from the conduct
of
the Business of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or from the signing and execution
of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
and no Action is pending, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, against
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies by any third party based upon an allegation
of any such infringement; (v) no Company Owned Intellectual Property is subject
to any outstanding judgment, injunction, order or decree restricting the use
thereof by any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies with respect to the Business
or
restricting the licensing thereof by any of them to any Person; and (vi) no
InterfaceFABRIC Company has licensed any material Company Owned Intellectual
Property referenced on Schedule 3.11(a) to any third Person.
25
(c) Except
as disclosed on Schedule 3.11(c), the InterfaceFABRIC Companies own, license,
lease, or otherwise lawfully use all material software and information
technology used in the Business, and such products that are material to the
Business function in all material respects in accordance with their applicable
specifications.
3.12 Legal
Compliance.
Except with respect to Taxes, ERISA and Environmental Laws, which are the
subjects of Sections
3.13,
3.14,
and 3.16
respectively:
(a) The
Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with all Laws and Permits
applicable to it, its properties or other assets or its businesses or
operations.
(b) The
InterfaceFABRIC Companies have in effect all material approvals, authorizations,
certificates, filings, franchises, licenses, notices and permits of or with
all
Governmental Authorities (collectively, “Permits”)
necessary for each to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to
carry on its Business as presently conducted. There has occurred no material
violation of or default under any such Permit.
(c) The
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, in and of itself, would not
cause
the revocation, cancellation, non-renewal or adverse modification of any such
Permit.
3.13 Tax
Matters.
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, since December 31, 2002:
(a) Each
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has timely filed, or has caused to be timely
filed on its behalf, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it. All
material Taxes which are due and payable by the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
(whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid in full. There
are no Encumbrances with respect to Taxes upon any asset other than Permitted
Encumbrances.
(b) The
InterfaceFABRIC Companies have deducted, withheld and timely paid to the
appropriate Governmental Authority all material Taxes required to be deducted,
withheld or paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third party, and the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies have complied in all material respects with all
reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
(c) None
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has received written notice from a Governmental
Authority regarding any dispute, audit, investigation, proceeding or claim
concerning any Tax Liability of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies that has not
been
resolved.
26
(d) None
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has waived any statute of limitations in
respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax
assessment or deficiency. None of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has executed
any
power of attorney with respect to any Tax, other than powers of attorney that
are no longer in force.
(e) None
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has made any payments, or has been or is a
party to any Contract, arrangement or plan that could result in it making
payments, that have resulted or would result, separately or in the aggregate,
in
the payment of any “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section
280G or in the imposition of an excise Tax under Code Section 4999 (or any
corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign Tax law).
(f) Since
the Seller has owned the Company, none of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has
been
a member of an “affiliated group” within the meaning of Code
Section 1504(a) filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than
the “affiliated group” the common parent of which is the Seller).
(g) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.13, no InterfaceFABRIC Company that is incorporated
in a non-U.S. jurisdiction has an investment in “United States property” within
the meaning of Section 956(c) of the Code.
3.14 Company
Employee Plans.
(a) Schedule
3.14(a) sets forth a true and complete list of all Company Employee Plans.
(b) Seller
has made available to Buyer true and complete copies of (i) the current plan
documents (and any amendments) for each Company Employee Plan (or, with respect
to any Company Employee Plan that is not written, a detailed description of
all
material provisions of such unwritten arrangements), and (ii) current summary
plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications and memoranda, employee
handbooks, and other written communications describing each Company Employee
Plan.
(c) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.14(c), the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) entitle any current or former
employee of any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies to severance pay or any other
Compensation, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase
the
amount of, Compensation due to any such employee.
(d) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.14(d), neither the Buyer nor any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies shall have or incur, relative to any person who was
or
is (on or before the Closing Date) an employee of an InterfaceFABRIC Company,
any Liability (under any Law that governs the rights of employees and
obligations of employers) based upon, arising from or related to (i) any Company
Employee Plan, (ii) the changes to or termination of, prior to, at, or after
the
Closing, rights that such InterfaceFABRIC Company employees had under any
Company Employee Plan, or (iii) the Seller’s termination, prior to, at, or after
the Closing, of its obligations to such employees or to the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies regarding the rights of such employees under any Company Employee
Plan.
27
3.15 Environmental
Matters.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.15:
(a) during
the time that the Seller has owned any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies that
owned, operated or used the applicable property, the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
have not released any Hazardous Substances on the Real Property in material
violation of Environmental Law and there have been no Releases of Hazardous
Substances at, on, in, under or from any property currently or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, formerly owned, operated or otherwise used by any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies or any of their predecessors or, to the Knowledge
of
the Company, at any property at which Hazardous Substances have been deposited
or disposed by or at the behest or direction of any of the foregoing in
quantities or concentrations that could give rise to material obligations,
responsibilities or Liabilities under or require abatement or remediation under
Environmental Laws;
(b) the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies are not, and during the past five years have not
been,
in material violation of any applicable Environmental Laws, and the Real
Property is free and clear of any liens imposed pursuant to any applicable
Environmental Laws;
(c) the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ use, handling, treatment and storage of Hazardous
Substances in their current operations materially complies with applicable
Environmental Laws;
(d) no
InterfaceFABRIC Company has received written notice from any Governmental
Authority of any violation or potential or actual Liability under any
Environmental Laws that remains unresolved;
(e) the
Seller has not received notice of any actual or threatened claim alleging that
any current or former employee of the Business in the course of his or her
employment has been exposed to any Hazardous Substances generated, produced
or
used by the Business in concentrations exceeding those permitted under
applicable Environmental Laws;
(f) no
property currently or, to the Knowledge of the Company, formerly owned, operated
or otherwise used by any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or any of their
predecessors contains any: (i) underground storage tanks, (ii) underground
injection xxxxx, (iii) septic tanks in which any Hazardous Substances have
been
disposed, or (iv) any asbestos requiring remediation or removal under any
Environmental Laws or equipment using polychlorinated biphenyls, except such
equipment that is owned and operated by a third party including, but not limited
to, the local utility or power company;
(g) the
Company has provided the Buyer with true and complete copies of, or access
to,
all material written environmental assessments, correspondence, reports, data,
analyses and compliance audits with respect to the compliance of the Company,
the Business or any property currently or formerly owned, operated or otherwise
used by the
28
Company
with Environmental Laws or the presence of Hazardous Substances on, in, under
or
from any property currently or formerly owned, operated or otherwise used by
the
Company, that were: (i) prepared for the Seller or any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies or (ii) prepared for other persons and, in each case, are in the
possession, custody or control of the Seller or any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies; and
(h) there
is no Action pending or, to Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any
of
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies under any Environmental Laws.
3.16 Contracts.
(a) Except
as disclosed on Schedule 3.16, none of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies is bound
by
or a party to:
(i)
any
Contract (or group of related Contracts) for the purchase or sale of inventory,
raw materials, commodities, supplies, goods, products, equipment or other
personal property, or for the furnishing or receipt of services, in each case,
(A) the performance of which, to the Knowledge of the Company, extends over
a
period of more than one year (other than any such Contract that is terminable
upon notice of 90 days or less), or (B) which provides for payments to or by
any
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, in excess of $150,000 per year;
(ii)
(A)
any capital lease or (B) to the Knowledge of the Company, any other lease
providing for aggregate rental payments in excess of $50,000, under which any
equipment is held or used by any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies;
(iii)
any
Contract under which any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies is, or may become,
obligated to pay any amount in respect of indemnification obligations, purchase
price adjustment or similar payments in connection with any (A) acquisition
or
disposition of assets outside of the ordinary course of business or securities,
(B) merger, consolidation or other business combination or (C) series or group
of related transactions or events of the type specified in clauses (A) and
(B)
above;
(iv)
any
partnership, limited liability company or joint venture agreement;
(v)
any
Contract (or group of related Contracts) (A) under which any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies has created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any
Debt
or (B) under which any asset of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies secures any
Debt;
(vi)
any
Contract under which any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies is, or may become,
obligated to incur any severance pay or special Compensation obligations which
would become payable by reason of, this Agreement or the Contemplated
Transactions;
29
(vii)
any
profit sharing, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation, deferred
compensation or severance plan;
(viii)
any
Contract (A) providing for the employment of an individual on a full-time,
part-time, or other basis or (B) providing for consultancy with an individual,
the performance of which, to the Knowledge of the Company, extends over a period
of more than one year (other than any such Contract that is terminable upon
notice of 90 days or less), or
which provides for Compensation or other benefits in excess of $150,000 per
year;
(ix)
any
material agency, dealer, distributor, or sales representative agreement which
involves in excess of $250,000 over the life of such Contract;
(x)
any
Contract under which any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has advanced or loaned
an amount to any of its Affiliates or employees other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices;
or
(xi)
any
other Contract (or group of related Contracts) (a) the performance of which
involves consideration in excess of $250,000 over
the life of such Contract, (b) imposes non-competition or non-solicitation
obligations on any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, (c) otherwise is material
to any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, (d) which provides for payments in
excess of $150,000 per year or
(e), to the Knowledge of the Company, which extends over a period of more than
one year (other than any such Contract that is terminable upon notice of 90
days
or less).
(b) Each
Contract required to be disclosed on Schedule 3.16 is Enforceable against the
applicable InterfaceFABRIC Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company, is
Enforceable against each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect,
and, subject to obtaining any necessary consents disclosed in Schedules 3.3
and
3.4, will continue to be so Enforceable and in full force and effect on
identical terms following the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions
and,
to the Company’s Knowledge, no party to any such Contract is in breach or
violation of any material provision thereunder.
Neither the Seller nor any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has received any
written communication from, or given any written communication to, any other
party to any such Contract indicating that the applicable InterfaceFABRIC
Company or such other party, as the case may be, is, or with the passage of
time
or the giving of notice, would be, in default under any such Contract.
3.17 Affiliate
Transactions.
Except for the matters disclosed on Schedule
3.17, neither
Seller nor any of its Affiliates (other than the InterfaceFABRIC Companies),
nor
any director or officer of any of the Seller or any of its Affiliates is a
party
to any Contract with any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or any officer,
director, or employee of any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies.
30
3.18 Employees.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, there are no material labor troubles
(including any material work slowdown, lockout, stoppage, picketing or strike)
pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened between any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies, on the one hand, and its employees, on the other
hand. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, (a) no employee of any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies is represented by a labor union, (b) none of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies is a party to, or otherwise subject to, any collective
bargaining agreement or other labor union contract, (c) to the Knowledge of
the
Company, no petition has been filed or proceedings instituted by an employee
or
group of employees of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies with any labor relations
board seeking recognition of a bargaining representative and (d) to the
Knowledge of the Company there is no organizational effort currently being
made
or threatened by, or on behalf of, any labor union to organize employees of
any
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies and no demand for recognition of employees
of
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has been made by, or on behalf of, any
labor union. The Company has not engaged in any employee layoff activities
since
June 1, 2005 that at the time of such layoff activities violated or required
notice by the Company prior to the date hereof under the Worker Adjustment
and
Retraining Notification Act, as amended, or any similar state or local mass
layoff Law.
3.19 Litigation;
Governmental Orders.
(a) Except
as disclosed on Schedule 3.19, there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened to which any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies is
a
party (either as plaintiff or defendant).
(b) There
is no other Action involving, directly or indirectly, the Business or any of
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies, pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened, (i) which may affect any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or its
ownership of, or interest in, any material asset or the use or exercise by
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies of any material asset, (ii) which, in any manner
challenges or seeks the rescission of, or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or
materially delay the consummation of, or otherwise relates to, this Agreement
and the Contemplated Transactions, or (iii) which may result in any change
in
the current equity ownership of any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies.
(c) Except
as disclosed on Schedule 3.19, no Government Order has been issued which is
applicable to, or otherwise affects, any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or
its
assets or the Business in any material respect.
3.20 Insurance.
Schedule
3.20 sets forth a list of all insurance policies under which the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies, or their assets, employees, officers or directors or the Business
are
currently insured (the “Insurance
Policies”).
Except
as disclosed on Schedule
3.20, since December 31, 2004, no insurer (a) has questioned, denied or
disputed (or otherwise reserved its rights with respect to) the coverage of
any
claim currently pending under any Insurance Policy and related to the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies or their respective assets, employees, officers or
directors, or the Business or (b) has threatened to cancel any Insurance
Policy.
3.21 Brokers
and Other Advisors.
Except
for Wachovia Securities, Inc., the fees and expenses of which will be paid
by
the Seller or one of its Affiliates (other than the InterfaceFABRIC Companies),
no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled
to
any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission,
or the reimbursement of expenses, in connection with the Contemplated
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies.
31
3.22 Corporate
Records.
The copies of the minute books of the Company and its Subsidiaries provided
to
the Buyer contain true, complete, correct, and current copies of their
respective Organizational Documents and of all minutes of meetings, resolutions,
and other proceedings and actions of their boards of directors, managers, and
equity holders, as applicable. The copies of the stock record books of the
Company and its Subsidiaries provided to the Buyer are true, complete, correct,
and current.
3.23 Previous
Sales; Warranties.
None of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies has breached any express or implied
warranties in connection with the sale or distribution of goods or the
performance of services, except for breaches that individually or in the
aggregate are not material or for which reserves have been established in the
Financials.
3.24 Items
on Schedules.
The Seller has provided true and complete copies or made available to the Buyer
in the electronic datasite true and complete copies of each document that is
referred to on the Schedules hereto.
3.25 No
Additional Representations or Warranties.
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSITION SERVICES
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSITION MARKS LICENSE AGREEMENT, NEITHER THE SELLER NOR
THE
INTERFACEFABRIC COMPANIES NOR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, NOR ANY OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, SHAREHOLDERS, PARTNERS, MEMBERS
OR
REPRESENTATIVES, HAS MADE, OR IS MAKING, ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY
WHATSOEVER TO THE BUYER OR ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES AND THE
CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS ARE “AS IS”. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE BUYER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT, TOGETHER WITH ITS ADVISORS, HAS MADE ITS OWN INVESTIGATION
OF THE INTERFACEFABRIC COMPANIES AND IS NOT RELYING ON (A) ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OR (B) EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSITION
SERVICES AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSITION MARKS LICENSE AGREEMENT, ANY REPRESENTATION
OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER AS TO THE PROSPECTS (FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE) OR THE
VIABILITY OR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS OF THE BUSINESS OF THE INTERFACEFABRIC
COMPANIES AFTER THE CLOSING, PROVIDED ORALLY OR CONTAINED IN ANY MATERIALS
PROVIDED BY THE INTERFACEFABRIC COMPANIES OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES OR ANY
OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, SHAREHOLDERS, PARTNERS, MEMBERS
OR REPRESENTATIVES OR OTHERWISE.
32
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
The
Buyer hereby represents and warrants to the Seller, on and as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as follows:
4.1 Organization.
The Buyer is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
4.2 Power
and Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and
the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions are within the power and authority
of the Buyer and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part
of the Buyer. This Agreement (a) has been duly executed and delivered by
the Buyer and (b) is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Buyer,
Enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its terms.
4.3 Governmental
Authorization.
Except for compliance with the applicable requirements of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, no action by (including any authorization,
consent or approval), or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental
Authority is required for, or in connection with, the valid and lawful (a)
authorization, execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this
Agreement or (b) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions by the
Buyer.
4.4 Noncontravention.
Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement
nor the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will:
(a) assuming the taking of any action by (including any authorization, consent
or approval) or in respect of, or any filing with, any Governmental Authority,
in each case, the matters referred to in Section
4.3,
violate any provision of any Law applicable to the Buyer;
(b) result in a breach or violation of, or default under, any Contract of the
Buyer;
or (c) result in a breach or violation of, or default under, the Buyer’s
Organizational Documents.
4.5 Brokers
and Other Advisors.
No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to
any
broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, or
the reimbursement of expenses, in connection with the Contemplated Transactions
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Buyer.
33
4.6 Litigation;
Government Orders.
(a) There
is no Action to which the Buyer is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant),
or to which its assets are subject, pending, or to the Knowledge of the Buyer,
threatened, which may affect the Buyer or its ownership of, or interest in,
any
material asset or the use or exercise by the Buyer of any material asset. There
is no Action to which the Buyer is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant),
or to which its assets are subject, pending, or to the Knowledge of the Buyer,
threatened, which (i) in any manner challenges or seeks the rescission of,
or
seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the consummation of, or
otherwise relates to, this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, or
(ii)
may result in any change in the current equity ownership of the
Buyer.
(b) No
Government Order has been issued which is applicable to, or otherwise affects,
the Buyer or its assets or the business of the Buyer.
4.7 Investment
Intent.
The Buyer acknowledges that the Shares have not been registered under the
Securities Act and that the Shares may not be resold absent such registration
or
unless an exemption therefrom is available. The Buyer is an “accredited
investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities
Act, as amended, and is acquiring the Shares for its own account, for investment
purposes only and not with a view toward distribution thereof. The Buyer will
not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares except in compliance with
the
registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and
any
other applicable securities Laws.
4.8 Availability
of Funds.
The Buyer has cash available or has existing borrowing facilities or firm
financing commitments that together are sufficient to enable it to pay the
Purchase Price and to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.
4.9 No
Reliance.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Buyer
acknowledges and agrees that neither the Seller nor the Company nor any of
their
respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members
or
representatives, has made or will make any representations or warranties
whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the Seller
in
Article
III
of this Agreement. The Buyer further acknowledges that neither the Company
nor
the Seller shall have or be subject to any liability to the Buyer or any other
Person resulting from the distribution to the Buyer, or the Buyer’s use of or
reliance on, any information regarding any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
furnished or made available to the Buyer and its representatives in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions, except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
5.1 Conduct
of Business.
(a) Between
the date hereof and the Closing Date, except as set forth in Schedule 5.1 and
except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement (including
34
those
exceptions expressly set forth in Sections
5.1(b)(i)-(iv)
and 5.1(c))
unless the Buyer otherwise consents in writing, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, the Seller shall cause the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies to conduct its business in a prudent and business-like
manner and according to the ordinary course of business, and to use its
reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its business organization, goodwill,
properties and assets, to maintain satisfactory relationships with licensors,
licensees, lessors, suppliers, contractors, subscribers, customers and others
having material business relationships with it and to conduct its normal and
usual maintenance of the properties and assets of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as set forth in Schedule
5.1 and except as otherwise expressly provided in or contemplated by this
Agreement, prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall cause the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies not to take any of the following actions without the prior written
consent of the Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed
or conditioned:
(i)
(A)
issue, sell or grant any shares of its capital stock, or any securities or
rights convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or evidencing the
right to subscribe for any shares of its capital stock, or any rights, warrants
or options to purchase any shares of its capital stock, or any securities or
rights convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or evidencing the
right to subscribe for, any shares of its capital stock or other Equity
Interests; (B) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares
of
its capital stock, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any shares
of
its capital stock or other Equity Interests; or (C) split, combine, subdivide
or
reclassify any shares of its capital stock;
(ii)
liquidate
or dissolve;
(iii)
other
than the distribution of Unwanted Assets pursuant to Section
5.19,
take or fail to take any action within its control, as a result of which any
of
the changes or events listed in Section 3.9 would be likely to occur;
or
(iv)
enter
into any Contract to take any of the foregoing actions.
(c) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as set forth in Schedule
5.1 and except as otherwise expressly provided in or contemplated by this
Agreement unless the Buyer otherwise consents in writing, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, prior to the Closing
Date,
the Seller shall cause the InterfaceFABRIC Companies to use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to:
(i)
maintain
in full force and effect, and renew and extend when required to prevent their
lapse, all material authorizations as set forth on Schedule 3.3;
(ii) comply
in all material respects with the obligations under (A) each material lease
and
each material license as set forth on Schedule 3.10, and (B) each material
Contract;
35
(iii)
(A)
adhere to current practice with respect to bad debt of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies, collection of accounts and deactivation of delinquent account
service; and (B) collect accounts receivable of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
only in the ordinary course of business;
(iv)
(A)
maintain all inventory and expendable supplies at levels consistent with past
practices; and (B) if any loss, damage, impairment, confiscation or condemnation
of or to any of the material assets of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies occurs,
ordinary wear and tear excepted (“Casualty
Loss”),
the Seller shall either, at the Seller’s option (1) prior to the Closing, (A)
cause the applicable InterfaceFABRIC Company to repair, replace or restore
such
material assets to their prior condition or (B) make arrangements to have such
material assets repaired, replaced or restored after the Closing on terms
approved by the Buyer (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld),
and
the Seller shall be entitled to use or receive any and all proceeds of Insurance
Policies of the Seller or any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies in effect prior
to the Closing, condemnation awards or claims against third parties relating
to
such Casualty Loss or (2) notify the Buyer prior to Closing that it does not
intend to repair, replace or restore such assets prior to the Closing, in which
event, the Buyer may, at its option (X) terminate this Agreement and in such
case neither party shall have any further obligation to the other hereunder,
or
(Y) choose to close in which case the Seller shall assign to any applicable
InterfaceFABRIC Company at the Closing all of the Seller’s right, title and
interest in and to any proceeds or claims based on such Casualty Loss under
any
applicable Insurance Policies of Seller covering Casualty Losses.
(v)
maintain
in full force and effect, and with existing coverage, the existing Insurance
Policies for the Company listed on Schedule 3.20 except for any changes to
such
policies that are made in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with
good business practice; provided that nothing herein shall obligate the Seller
or any of its Affiliates to obtain or to continue any insurance coverage for
any
period after the Closing.
(d) The
Buyer agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement until
the
Closing Date, the Buyer shall
not acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by
purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or Equity Interest in, or
by
any other manner, any Person or portion thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree
to acquire any assets or rights, or permit any of its Affiliates to do any
of
the foregoing if the entering into of a definitive agreement relating to or
the
consummation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation would
reasonably be expected to (i)
impose any material delay in the obtaining of, or significantly increase the
risk of not obtaining, any authorizations, consents, orders, declarations or
approvals of any Governmental Authority necessary to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions or the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period,
(ii) significantly increase the risk of any Governmental Authority entering
an
order prohibiting or impeding the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions
or (iii) otherwise materially delay the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions.
36
5.2 Commercially
Reasonable Best Efforts.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall
cooperate with the other parties and use (and shall cause their respective
Subsidiaries to use) their respective commercially reasonable best efforts
promptly (i) to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to
be
done, all things, necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to
Closing to be satisfied as promptly as practicable and to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Contemplated
Transactions, including preparing and filing promptly and fully all
documentation to effect all necessary filings, notices, petitions, statements,
registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents
(including any required or recommended filings under the HSR Act), (ii) to
obtain the consent of the lenders under the Wachovia Credit Agreement
and
(iii)
to obtain all other approvals, consents, registrations, permits, authorizations
and other confirmations from any Governmental Authority or third party
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions
(including all such actions, consents, approvals, notifications, waivers,
authorizations, orders or filings listed on Schedules 3.3 and 3.4
and the estoppel certificates referenced in Section
2.4(h))
except to the extent such third party approvals, consents, registrations,
permits, authorizations and other confirmations would cause the party obtaining
the foregoing to waive or forfeit any of its rights hereunder or incur any
additional Liabilities or material expenses (subject to Section
5.17),
other than counsel fees and similar out-of-pocket expenses.
(b) In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each party hereto agrees
to
make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the
HSR
Act with respect to the Contemplated Transactions as promptly as practicable
and
in any event within five (5) Business Days of the date hereof, request early
termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the
Contemplated Transactions and use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to
supply as promptly as practicable any additional information and documentary
material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act and use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions
consistent with this Section
5.2
necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting
periods under the HSR Act (including any extensions thereof) as soon as
practicable.
The Buyer shall be responsible for all filing fees in connection with the
filings to be made under the HSR Act.
(c) Each
of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
(i)
cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any filing or
submission with a Governmental Authority in connection with the Contemplated
Transactions and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry by or
before a Governmental Authority relating to the Contemplated Transactions,
including any proceeding initiated by a private party, and (ii) keep the other
party informed in all material respects and on a reasonably timely basis of
any
material communication received by such party from, or given by such party
to,
any Governmental Authority and of any material communication received or given
in connection with any proceeding by a private party, in each case regarding
any
of the Contemplated Transactions. Subject to applicable Laws relating to the
exchange or disclosure of information, each of the parties
37
hereto
shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each
will consult the other on, all the information relating to the other parties
and
their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, that appears in any filing
made with, or written materials submitted to, any third party and/or any
Governmental Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions. Each
party will provide counsel for the other party with copies of all filings and
submissions made by such party and all correspondence between such party (and
its advisors) with any Governmental Authority and any other information supplied
by such party and such party’s Affiliates to a Governmental Authority or
received from such a Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that neither party shall
be
obligated to provide such access or information if the providing party
determines, in its reasonable judgment, that doing so would violate applicable
Law or a Contract or obligation of confidentiality owing to a third-party or
jeopardize the protection of an attorney-client or other privilege. Each party
shall have the right to attend conferences and meetings between the other party
and regulators concerning the Contemplated Transactions to the extent permitted
by applicable Law.
(d) In
furtherance and not in limitation of the covenants of the parties contained
in
this Section
5.2,
each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to
resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted by a Governmental Authority
or other Person with respect to the Contemplated Transactions. Without limiting
any other provision of this Agreement, the Buyer and the Seller shall each
use
its commercially reasonable best efforts to avoid or eliminate each and every
impediment under any Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority
with
respect to the Contemplated Transactions so as to enable the consummation of
the
Contemplated Transactions to occur as soon as reasonably possible (and in any
event no later than the Walk-Away Date). Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, in no event will this Agreement require the Buyer
or
its Affiliates (a) to divest, license, sell, or hold separately any of its
assets or properties, (b) to consent to any other structural or conduct remedy
or enter into any settlement or agree to any order regarding antitrust matters
respecting the Contemplated Transactions, (c) to take any actions that could
affect the normal and regular operations of the Buyer, its Affiliates or the
Company after the Closing, or (d) to contest, administratively or in court,
any
Governmental Order or other Action of any Governmental Authority or any other
Person respecting the Contemplated Transactions.
5.3 International
Acquisition Agreements; International Closings.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the respective International
Acquisition Agreements, the Seller shall, and shall cause the International
Companies to, and the Buyer shall, perform all of its agreements and obligations
under, and use their respective commercially reasonable best efforts to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, each International Acquisition
Agreement to which it is now or hereafter a party, in each case by the Closing
Date. It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement, notwithstanding
the
provisions of any International Acquisition Agreement, that no purchase and
sale
contemplated by any International Acquisition Agreement shall be consummated
earlier than simultaneously with the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
Accordingly, each of the parties hereto will take such action as may be
necessary to ensure that no closing under any International Acquisition
Agreement occurs prior to the Closing hereunder.
38
5.4 Access
to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) From
the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, subject to applicable Laws
relating to the exchange or disclosure of information, the Company shall afford
to the Buyer and the Buyer’s representatives reasonable access during normal
business hours after reasonable prior notice to the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’
properties, books, Contracts, employees and records, and the Seller and the
Company shall (i) furnish promptly to the Buyer information concerning its
and
its Subsidiaries’ business and Real Property as the Buyer may reasonably request
and (ii) promptly notify the Buyer in writing of (A) any Material Adverse
Effect, and (B) any information that, if known on the date hereof, would have
been required to be disclosed in the Schedules to this Agreement in order for
the representations and warranties set forth herein to be true as of the date
hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to provide
such access or information if the Company determines, in its reasonable
judgment, that doing so would violate applicable Law or a Contract or obligation
of confidentiality owing to a third-party or jeopardize the protection of an
attorney-client or other privilege. Prior to the Closing Date, (x) Buyer shall
not be permitted to, without the prior written consent of the Company and the
Seller’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer (which consent may
be conditioned upon coordination with the Seller’s Chief Executive Officer or
Chief Financial Officer), contact or otherwise communicate with the customers
or
suppliers of the Business and (y) Buyer shall not be permitted to, without
either (I) the prior written consent of the Seller’s Chief Executive Officer or
Chief Financial Officer or (II) in coordination with or through Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx or Xxxx Xxxx, contact or otherwise
communicate with employees of the Business.
(b) The
Buyer and the Buyer’s representatives shall hold in confidence in accordance
with the provisions of the confidentiality agreement, dated February 15, 2007
(the “Confidentiality
Agreement”),
between the Buyer and the Seller any information regarding the financial
condition or business operations of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies that is
received or obtained in connection with consummating the Contemplated
Transactions, including during any due diligence. At the Closing, without any
further action by any party, the Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate
automatically.
5.5 Fees
and Expenses.
Subject
to the provisions of Articles
VI
and except as otherwise provided in Section
5.2(b):
(a) The
Seller (and not the Company) shall pay all of the fees, costs and expenses
incurred by the Seller and the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies
incident to or in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions hereby and thereby;
39
(b) The
Buyer shall pay all of the fees, costs and expenses incurred by it incident
to
or in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions, whether or not the Contemplated Transactions are consummated;
provided, however, that if the Closing occurs, the Company (and not the Seller)
shall pay all of such fees, costs, and expenses on behalf of the
Buyer.
5.6 Seller
Marks.
Except as otherwise provided in a Transition Marks License Agreement to be
entered into by the Buyer, the Seller and the Company prior to or
contemporaneously with the Closing in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A
(the “Transition
Marks License Agreement”),
the Buyer acknowledges that the Buyer and its Subsidiaries have no right, title
or interest in or to any trademarks, tradenames, service marks or service names,
any registrations or applications with respect to the foregoing, or any goodwill
associated with the foregoing, of the Seller or of any of its Affiliates (the
“Marks”),
including without limitation the names “Interface” and “InterfaceFABRIC”, and
agrees to terminate and cause any Subsidiary to terminate any and all uses
of
any of the Marks immediately upon Closing and to execute and deliver to the
Seller at such time a written disclaimer of any rights to the Marks and an
acknowledgment that the Marks and the goodwill associated therewith are
proprietary rights belonging to the Seller or an Affiliate of the Seller and
that such entities are the sole owners of all trademark and other rights, titles
and interests in and to the Marks.
5.7 Press
Releases.
No public filing, release or announcement concerning this Agreement or the
Contemplated Transactions shall be issued by any party or its Affiliates without
the prior written consent of the other parties (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), unless such disclosure is
required by any Government Order, by Law or to comply with the obligations
of
any accounting standards and applicable securities Laws and other laws and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or state or local
government regulations or any applicable securities exchange or self-regulatory
organization; provided, however, that the party intending to make such release
shall use commercially reasonable best efforts consistent with such Government
Order, Law or obligation to give the other parties prior notice and to consult
with the other parties with respect to the text thereof; provided, further,
that
following the Closing, each party shall be entitled to issue any such press
release or make any such public statement without the consent of the other
parties if such party determines in good faith that such disclosure is or may
be
required to comply with the obligations of any accounting standards and
applicable securities Laws and other laws and regulations of the Securities
and
Exchange Commission or state or local government regulations or any applicable
securities exchange or self-regulatory organization.
5.8 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided herein, effective as of the Closing, all current and
former employees of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies shall cease active
participation in all Company Employee Plans, and the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
shall cease to be a participating employer in all Company Employee Plans for
all
periods of time on and after the Closing. Any rights or benefits to which any
current or former employee of an InterfaceFABRIC Company is entitled shall
be
determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Company
Employee Plan. Neither the
40
Seller
nor any of its Affiliates shall be obligated to continue any insurance coverage
with respect to the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, and neither the Buyer nor the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies shall have any claims or rights under or against
any
insurance policies maintained by the Seller or any of its Affiliates.
(b) The
Buyer shall be responsible for establishing a group health and dental plan
(the
“Buyer’s
Health Plan”)
for the InterfaceFABRIC Companies effective September 1, 2007 (or such
later date as provided for in the Transition Services Agreement to be executed
by the parties pursuant to Section
5.10
(the “Transition
Services Agreement”))
in which the employees of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies who were employed by
any
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies immediately prior to such date (and their
eligible dependents) shall be eligible to participate immediately.
The
Buyer shall notify all such employees of their (and
their eligible dependents’) eligibility
to participate in the Buyer’s Health Plan prior to the effective date of such
plan. Except
as otherwise provided for in the Transition Services Agreement, coverage for
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees (and their eligible dependents) under the
group health and dental plan maintained by the Seller (the “Seller’s
Health Plan”)
shall continue in accordance with the terms of such plan through August 31,
2007
(or such later date as provided for in the Transition Services Agreement) (the
“Medical
Effective Date”).
The Seller and the Buyer agree that, after the Medical Effective Date, the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees and their eligible dependents shall cease
to be covered under the Seller’s Health Plan. For the period ending on the
Medical Effective Date, the Seller’s Health Plan shall be responsible for
providing continuation health care coverage required under Code Section 4980B
and ERISA Sections 601 through 608 (collectively, “COBRA”)
with respect to any “qualifying event” (as that term is defined in COBRA)
occurring on or before the Medical Effective Date, with respect to the employees
of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their eligible dependents; provided,
immediately following the Medical Effective Date, any current or former employee
of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies (and any qualified beneficiary of such
employee) who has elected (or is otherwise eligible) to receive COBRA
continuation coverage under the Seller’s Health Plan with respect to a
qualifying event occurring after the Closing Date (the “Post-Closing
COBRA Beneficiaries”)
shall begin receiving (or become eligible to receive) COBRA continuation
coverage under the Buyer’s Health Plan and shall cease receiving (or being
eligible to receive) such coverage under the Seller’s Health Plan. The Buyer
shall be responsible for complying with the requirements of COBRA with respect
to any Post-Closing COBRA Beneficiary and the Seller shall retain responsibility
for complying with such requirements for all other persons who may be entitled
to COBRA coverage as a result of their participation in the Seller’s Health
Plan. In
addition to any amount due in the month in which the Closing occurs from the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies to the Seller for the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’
participation in the Seller Health Plan during the month preceding the Closing,
under the Seller’s customary, established payment process, the Buyer and/or the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies shall pay to the Seller, for the coverage of the
current and former InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees and their eligible
dependents and any Post-Closing COBRA Beneficiaries under the Seller Health
Plan
during the period beginning on the first day of the month that includes the
Closing and ending on the Medical Effective Date (the “Coverage Period”), (x)
the
amounts of benefits payable to, or with respect to,
41
InterfaceFABRIC
Companies’ employees and their eligible dependents and any Post-Closing COBRA
Beneficiaries under the Seller’s Health Plan with respect to claims incurred
during the Coverage Period, plus (y) the allocable portion of third party
administrator fees and stop loss insurance premiums, minus (z) the premium
amounts paid to the Seller under the Seller’s Health Plan by current and former
InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees and their eligible dependents and any
Post-Closing COBRA Beneficiaries with respect to the Coverage Period, whether
for regular coverage or COBRA continuation coverage. For purposes of this
Section 5.8(b), a claim shall be deemed to have been incurred on the date when
services are rendered, supplies are provided or medications are prescribed
and
not when the condition arose.
(c) Effective
as of the Closing, (i) the Buyer shall be liable for all workers compensation
claims of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees relating to occupational
illnesses and injuries that are incurred after the Closing Date, and (ii) the
Seller shall remain liable for all workers compensation claims of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees relating to occupational illnesses and
injuries that are incurred on or before the Closing Date.
(d) The
Seller shall remain liable for, and shall indemnify and hold the Buyer
and
the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies harmless
from and against (i) an claims made by an employee of the Company or its
Subsidiaries (including claims for a Company or a Subsidiary employee’s
dependent or beneficiary) for payment or reimbursement of life insurance,
vision, and long term disability with respect to events that occur on or prior
to the Medical Effective Date, (ii) with respect to employees of the Company
and
its Subsidiaries who are not salaried exempt employees, short term disability
claims for payment or reimbursement with respect to events that occur on or
prior to the Medical Effective Date; (iii) with respect to salaried exempt
employees, short-term disability claims for payment or reimbursement with
respect to events that occur on or prior to the Closing Date, and (iv) any
and
all InterfaceFABRIC Canada, Inc./InterfaceTISSU Canada, Inc. employee claims
(including claims for an InterfaceFABRIC Canada, Inc./InterfaceTISSU Canada,
Inc. employee’s dependent or beneficiary) for payment or reimbursement of
medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment,
and
disability benefits with respect to events that occur on or prior to the Medical
Effective Date. The Buyer and the Company shall be liable for, and shall
indemnify and hold the Seller harmless from and against (i) any and all claims
made by an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including claims for
such an employee’s dependent or beneficiary) for payment or reimbursement of
life insurance, vision, and long term disability with respect to events that
occur after the Medical Effective Date, (ii) with respect to employees who
are
not salaried exempt employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, short term
disability with respect to events that occur after the Medical Effective Date,
(iii) with respect to salaried exempt employees, short-term disability claims
for payment or reimbursement with respect to events that occur after the Closing
Date, and (iv) any and all InterfaceFABRIC Canada, Inc./InterfaceTISSU Canada,
Inc. employee claims (including claims for an InterfaceFABRIC Canada,
Inc./InterfaceTISSU Canada, Inc. employee’s dependent or beneficiary) for
payment or reimbursement of medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental
death and dismemberment, and disability benefits with respect to events that
occur after the Medical Effective Date. For purposes of this Section 5.8(d),
a
claim shall be deemed to have been incurred on the date when services are
rendered, supplies are provided or medications are prescribed and not when
the
condition arose.
42
(e) Effective
as of the Closing, the Company shall assume and become solely responsible and
liable, or if currently responsible and liable, shall remain solely responsible
and liable, for (i) all payroll obligations for the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’
employees and (ii) the Company Employee Plans set forth on Schedule 5.8(e).
The
Company shall, and the Company shall cause the InterfaceFABRIC Companies to,
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Seller from and against any liabilities
assumed or retained by the Company under this Section 5.8(e). Except as
specified in this Section 5.8, the Company is not assuming and shall not be
liable or responsible for any liabilities or obligations under any Company
Employee Plan arising on or prior to the Closing Date. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Company shall not be liable or responsible
for
any obligations set forth on Schedule 3.14(c).
(f) Within
thirty (30) days after the Medical Effective Date, the Seller shall transfer
to
the Buyer an amount equal to the aggregate balance remaining in the flexible
spending accounts of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ employees, adjusted for
claims submitted but not yet reimbursed from such accounts as of such date.
The
Buyer shall be liable for any claims submitted after the date of such transfer.
The Seller also shall provide to the Buyer such information and cooperation
as
may be necessary for the Buyer to administer such accounts for the remainder
of
the current plan year.
5.9 Affiliate
Agreements.
(a) Prior
to or contemporaneously with the Closing, the Seller shall, and shall cause
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies and the Seller’s other Affiliates to, terminate the
Contracts and intercompany transactions between any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies and the Seller or such Affiliates and other items listed on Schedule
3.17 and
to enter into mutual releases of claims with respect to such Contracts and
intercompany transactions.
(b) In
the event the Seller or any of its Affiliates remains after the Closing as
a
guarantor under any Guarantee with respect to the Leases and Contracts listed
on
Schedule 5.9(b), (i) the Company shall, and the Company shall cause the other
InterfaceFABRIC Companies to, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Seller
and its Affiliates from and against any payment or performance by the Seller
or
its Affiliates that results from, arises out of, or relates to any such
Guarantee, and (ii) the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause the
other
InterfaceFABRIC Companies not to, without the written consent of the Seller,
enter into any amendment, expansion, renewal or extension of the underlying
Lease or Contract that is subject to the Guarantee, or otherwise amend, expand,
renew or extend the terms thereof, unless the Company shall first obtain a
release of such Guarantee.
(c) Promptly
following the Closing (and in no event later than five days following the
Closing Date), the Company shall cause InterfaceFABRIC Canada,
Inc./InterfaceTISSU Canada, Inc. to pay the InterfaceFABRIC Canada Debt to
InterFLOR Canada, Inc.
43
5.10 Transition
Services. Prior
to or contemporaneously with the Closing, the Seller and the Company shall
enter
into a Transition Services Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B
(the “Transition
Services Agreement”).
5.11 No
Solicitation.
Until the earlier of (a) the Closing Date or (b) the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Article
IX,
neither the Seller, nor the Company, nor any of their respective Subsidiaries
or
Affiliates will, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or encourage
any
proposal or offer from any Person or enter into any agreement or accept any
offer relating to any (A) reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or
recapitalization of any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, (B) merger or
consolidation involving any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, (C) purchase
or
sale of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies, or (D) similar transaction or business combination
involving any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies; or (ii) furnish any information
with respect to, assist or participate in any effort or attempt by any Person
to
do or seek to do any of the foregoing. The Seller and the Company will direct
their advisors, agents, and other representatives not to (i) solicit, initiate
or encourage any proposal or offer from any Person or enter into any agreement
or accept any offer relating to any (A) reorganization, liquidation, dissolution
or recapitalization of any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, (B) merger or
consolidation involving any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, (C) purchase
or
sale of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies, or (D) similar transaction or business combination
involving any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies; or (ii) furnish any information
with respect to, assist or participate in any effort or attempt by any Person
to
do or seek to do any of the foregoing.
5.12 Further
Assurances.
(a) From
and after the Closing Date, the Seller shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries
to, from time to time, execute and deliver such additional instruments,
documents, conveyances or assurances and take such other actions as shall be
necessary, or otherwise reasonably requested by Buyer, to fully vest the Shares
in the Buyer and, indirectly, the International Securities in Buyer, and to
confirm and assure the rights and obligations provided for in this Agreement
and
the International Acquisition Agreements and render effective the consummation
of the Contemplated Transactions; and
(b) From
and after the Closing, the Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to,
from
time to time, execute and deliver such additional instruments, documents,
conveyances or assurances and take such other actions as shall be necessary,
or
otherwise reasonably requested by the Seller, to confirm and assure the rights
and obligations provided for in this Agreement and the International Acquisition
Agreements and render effective the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions.
44
5.13 Restrictive
Covenants of Seller.
(a) The
Seller covenants that, commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the third
anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Non-Competition
Period”),
except as otherwise provided in this Section
5.13,
the Seller shall not, and it shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and its
Subsidiaries’ officers and employees (the “Restricted
Persons”),
not to, engage in, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, or have any direct
or indirect ownership or financial interest in, or permit the Seller’s or any
such Restricted Person’s name to be used in connection with, any business in the
world (the “Territory”),
which is engaged in the business of developing, designing, manufacturing,
marketing or selling of seating fabrics (including automotive seating), panel
fabrics, window treatment fabrics, cubicle curtain fabrics, molded or formed
seating and panel products, 3-dimensional and technical knitting fabrics,
performance enhanced fabrics (such as krypton coating) and wallcovering fabrics
(the “Products”)
and fabric cutting, fabric coating and fabric laminating services with respect
to the Products (the “Restricted
Business”);
provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prevent or restrict
Seller or any of its Restricted Persons from acquiring or being acquired by,
acquiring an interest in or selling any interest to, or merging, consolidating
or combining with, any business or Person that is engaged in, directly or
indirectly, in any capacity, or has any direct or indirect ownership or
financial interest in, any business which is engaged in the Business, or from
owning, operating or continuing the activities of such business or Person
thereafter; provided further, that if the Seller or any of its Restricted
Persons acquires any Person that derives in excess of 25% of its revenue
(determined in accordance with GAAP) from Restricted Business and more than
one
year remains in the Non-Competition Period, then the Seller shall or shall
cause
its applicable Restricted Person to divest the division or entity that engages
in the Restricted Business as promptly as practicable and in any event within
one year after the closing of such acquisition. It is recognized that the
Restricted Business is expected to be conducted by Buyer throughout the
Territory and that more narrow geographical limitations of any nature on this
non-competition covenant (and the non-solicitation covenants set forth in
Sections
5.13(b)
and (c)
and the non-use covenant set forth in Section
5.13(d))
are therefore not appropriate.
(b) The
Seller covenants that, during the Non-Competition Period, the Seller shall
not,
and it shall cause its Restricted Persons not to, directly or indirectly,
solicit or entice, or attempt to solicit or entice, any clients or customers
of
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies or potential clients or customers of any
of
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies for purposes of diverting Restricted Business
from
any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies.
(c) The
Seller covenants that, commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the second
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Seller shall not, and it shall cause its
Restricted Persons not to, solicit the employment or engagement of services
of,
or hire or engage, any Person who is or was employed as an employee by any
of
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies as of the date hereof on a full- or part-time
basis; provided, however, nothing herein shall prohibit Seller or one of its
Restricted Persons from hiring an individual who responds to a general
solicitation or advertisement provided that the group that is so solicited
is
defined by criteria other than as employees of any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies; provided, further, in no event shall the Seller or any of its
Restricted Persons hire Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx or
Xxxx
Xxxx prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) five years after the Closing
Date and (ii) one year after the date that such individual is no longer an
employee of, or consultant to, the Buyer or any of its Affiliates.
45
(d) The
Seller recognizes and acknowledges that by reason of its involvement with the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies and the Business, it has had access to trade secrets
and other confidential information relating to the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
and
the Business (the “Trade
Secrets”).
The Seller acknowledges that such Trade Secrets are a valuable and unique asset
to the InterfaceFABRIC Companies and the Business and covenants that it will
not
allow the disclosure of any such Trade Secrets to any Person for any reason
whatsoever or at any time whatsoever, unless such information is in the public
domain through no wrongful act of the Seller or its Restricted Persons or such
disclosure is required by applicable Law.
(e) For
the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section
5.13
shall prohibit Seller or any of its Restricted Persons from (i) engaging in,
directly or indirectly, in any capacity, or having any direct or indirect
ownership or financial interest in, or permit the Seller’s or any such
Restricted Person’s name to be used in connection with, the design, production
and sale of carpet, carpet tile or other floor-covering products, regardless
of
how used, or other products for the commercial interiors industry other than
the
Restricted Business, or (ii) owning up to 2% of any class of publicly traded
securities of any Person engaged in the Restricted Business. For the avoidance
of doubt, once any Restricted Person is no longer a Restricted Person, the
Seller shall have no obligation thereafter to cause such Restricted Person
to
comply with this Section 5.13, which shall not be binding on such Restricted
Person.
(f) The
Seller acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Section
5.13
are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Buyer
and constitute a material inducement to the Buyer to enter into this Agreement
and consummate the Acquisition. The Seller acknowledges that any violation
of
this Section
5.13
will result in irreparable injury to the Buyer and agrees that the Buyer shall
be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, without the
necessity of proving actual damages, as well as an equitable accounting of
all
earnings, profits and other benefits arising from any violation of this
Section
5.13,
which rights shall be cumulative and in addition to any other rights or remedies
to which Buyer may be entitled.
(g) In
the event that any covenant contained in this Section
5.13
should ever be adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, product or service,
or other limitations permitted by applicable Law in any jurisdiction, then
any
court is expressly empowered to reform such covenant, and such covenant shall
be
deemed reformed, in such jurisdiction to the maximum time, geographic, product
or service, or other limitations provided herein and permitted by applicable
Law. The covenants contained in this Section
5.13
and each provision thereof are severable and distinct covenants and provisions.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any such covenant or provision as written
shall not invalidate or render unenforceable the remaining covenants or
provisions hereof, and any such invalidity or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such covenant or
provision in any other jurisdiction.
46
5.14 Restrictive
Covenants of Buyer.
The Buyer covenants that, commencing on the Closing Date and ending on April
21,
2009, the Buyer shall cause the InterfaceFABRIC Companies to comply with the
restrictive covenants set forth in Section 13 of the agreement dated April
21,
2006, among Seller, Interface Europe Ltd. and Phabrics Limited (the
“Camborne
Agreement”)
as if the InterfaceFABRIC Companies are members of the “Seller Group” defined
therein.
5.15 Berkshire
Agreement.
(a) The
Company has entered into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 22,
2007, (the “Berkshire
Agreement”)
with Richloom Fabrics Group, Inc., Richloom Fabrics Corp. and Berkshire Weaving
Corp. (each, a “Richloom
Party”;
collectively, the “Richloom
Parties”).
Pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions in the Berkshire Agreement,
the Company has agreed to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities
of the Richloom Parties for a specified purchase price, part of which is payable
in cash at closing and part of which is payable pursuant to a promissory note
to
be made at closing, a form of which is attached as an exhibit to the Berkshire
Agreement (the “Berkshire
Note”).
The Company would also hire certain of the employees of the Richloom Parties
at
its facility located at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
and
lease the real estate at the facility for 5 years pursuant to a lease to be
executed at closing, a form of which is attached as an exhibit to the Berkshire
Agreement (the “Berkshire
Lease”).
(b) Buyer
acknowledges and agrees that, pursuant to and in accordance with the Berkshire
Agreement, the InterfaceFABRIC Companies may close the transactions contemplated
by the Berkshire Agreement (in accordance with the terms thereof) and enter
into
the Berkshire Note (in the form attached as an exhibit to the Berkshire
Agreement) and Berkshire Lease (in the form attached as an exhibit to the
Berkshire Agreement) at or prior to Closing (such actions, the “Berkshire
Transactions”),
and, in such case, the parties hereby agree that the Purchase Price shall be
increased by the cash portion of the purchase price paid by the Seller of the
Company to the Richloom Parties, not to exceed $1,875,000 (which purchase price,
for the avoidance of doubt, includes both the payment made at closing of the
Berkshire Transactions and the $300,000 payment made to the Richloom Parties
prior to closing) (the “Berkshire
Adjustment”).
Buyer further acknowledges and agrees that, whether or not the Berkshire
Transactions have occurred at or prior to Closing, (i) on and as of the date
of
this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Seller and the Company shall not make
or be deemed to make to Buyer any representation or warranty pursuant to
Article
III or
otherwise with respect to any of the assets, liabilities, operations or
employees that were assets, liabilities, operations or employees of the Richloom
Parties at any time prior to the closing of the Berkshire Transaction, (ii)
the
effect of the closing of the Berkshire Transactions (on the terms set forth
above) or the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ ownership, operation or employment of
the assets, liabilities, operations or employees that were assets, liabilities,
operations or employees of the Richloom Parties shall not constitute the
nonfulfillment,
47
nonperformance,
nonobservance or other breach or violation of, or default under, any covenant,
agreement or undertaking of the Seller or the Company pursuant to Article
V
or otherwise or constitute a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) provided that
the Berkshire Transactions are completed in accordance with the terms of the
Berkshire Agreement, Seller shall have no liability or obligation to indemnify,
defend or hold harmless or otherwise pay, reimburse or make whole for or on
account of any Buyer Damages that an Indemnified Buyer Party may sustain,
suffer, or incur or that result from, arise out of or relate to, the Berkshire
Transactions or any Debt, Taxes, Liabilities or employee benefit plans of the
Richloom Parties or any Affiliate of any Richloom Party.
5.16 Workers’
Compensation.
Prior to the Closing, the Company and the Buyer shall use their respective
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain policies on behalf of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies to insure for workers’ compensation benefits for
employees of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies after the Closing (the “Workers’
Compensation Policies”),
such Workers’ Compensation Policies to be effective upon the Closing. Commencing
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Seller shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with and assist the Company and
the
Buyer in seeking to obtain such Workers’ Compensation Policies, and the Company
and the Buyer shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to
cooperate with and assist the Seller in connection with the termination of
the
Seller’s or the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ self-insured workers’ compensation
plans or licenses for employees of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies, in each case
except
to the extent such effort and cooperation would cause the party to waive or
forfeit any of its rights hereunder or incur any additional Liabilities or
material expenses other than counsel fees and similar out-of-pocket
expenses.
5.17 Licenses
and Leases.
(a) Prior
to the Closing, the Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain on behalf of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies new licenses (or assignments
of licenses) to continue to use after the Closing the software identified on
Schedule
5.17
(together, the “Agreed
Software”),
which Agreed Software (i) is currently being used by the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies under license agreements of the Seller, or (ii) is subject to a
license agreement that requires consent of the counterparty to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the “New
Software Licenses”).
The New Software Licenses shall include user quantities (or CPUs or other
applicable measure) and other terms materially consistent with the terms
previously provided to the Buyer. Any maintenance or support of the Agreed
Software after the Closing shall be the responsibility of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies and not paid for by the Seller. Commencing with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Seller will confer and consult with the Buyer
regarding the applicable discussions with the relevant software vendors, and
shall advise the Buyer from time to time with respect to the status of the
licensing efforts under the preceding sentence. The Buyer shall cooperate with
and assist the Seller in seeking to obtain such New Software Licenses.
48
(b) Prior
to the Closing, the Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain on behalf of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies new leases to continue to
use
after the Closing the equipment leased (the “Agreed
Equipment”)
pursuant to the leases identified as items 12 and 20 on Schedule 3.17 under
lease agreements of the Seller (the “New
Leases”),
such New Leases to be on the existing terms applicable to the Agreed Equipment.
Commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Seller will
confer and consult with the Buyer regarding the applicable discussions with
the
relevant equipment lessors, and shall advise the Buyer from time to time with
respect to the status of the leasing efforts under the preceding sentence.
The
Buyer shall cooperate with and assist the Seller in seeking to obtain such
New
Leases. In lieu of obtaining a new lease to any Agreed Equipment, the Seller
may
obtain the lessor’s consent for the Seller partially to assign Seller’s rights
under its existing lease for such equipment, and if the Seller does so it and
the Company will execute such a partial assignment prior to Closing and cause
the Company to assume and be solely responsible for the obligations of the
lease
applicable to the Agreed Equipment. The
Seller shall be responsible for any lease (or consent) fees required to obtain
such New Leases (or consent to assignment), provided that the Seller at its
option may elect not to pay any fee required to obtain such New Lease or consent
to assignment. In the event that the Seller elects not to pay any such fee,
or
is otherwise unable to obtain any New Lease or consent to assignment by the
Closing, use of the Agreed Equipment shall be governed by the Transition
Services Agreement for the remaining term of the lease agreement covering such
Agreed Equipment, provided that in that event the Seller may obtain such New
Lease or consent to assignment after Closing, the parties will effect such
New
Lease or partial assignment for the then remaining term of such lease
agreement.
(c) Prior
to the Closing, the Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain the consent of the lessor under the equipment lease of the Company
identified as item 19 on Schedule 3.16 (the “Company
Lease”)
to the sale of the shares of the Company hereunder (the “Lease
Consent”).
The Seller may also request such lessor to release the outstanding guarantee
by
the Seller of the Company Lease, and to confirm the absence of any mandatory
obligation by the Company to purchase the equipment leased to the Company
pursuant to such lease (the “Company
Leased Equipment”)
at the expiration of the scheduled term of such lease (a “Term
Expiration Mandatory Purchase Requirement”).
If, after the Closing, the Company continues to lease the Company Leased
Equipment pursuant to the Company Lease for the balance of the scheduled term
of
the Company Lease, and if the Seller has not obtained either a written
confirmation of the lessor that no Term Expiration Mandatory Purchase
Requirement exists or a waiver by the lessor of any Term Expiration Mandatory
Purchase Requirement (either, a “Lease
Confirmation”)
on or before the 30th
day before the date on which the Company would be required to purchase the
Company Lease Equipment pursuant to any such Term Expiration Mandatory Purchase
Requirement (the “Purchase
Date”),
then on or before such 30th
day before the Purchase Date, the Company at its option may give the Seller
notice that it has elected not to purchase the Company Leased Equipment on
the
Purchase Date, and that it has elected to require the Seller to purchase in
its
stead. Upon receipt of such notice, the Seller shall be deemed to have assumed
the Company’s obligation to purchase pursuant to the Term Expiration Mandatory
Purchase Requirement and shall purchase the Company Leased Equipment on the
Purchase Date from the lessor for the purchase price required under the Company
Lease and otherwise on the terms of the Term Expiration Mandatory Purchase
Requirement. Upon such purchase, the Seller may retain, sell or otherwise
dispose of the Company Leased Equipment in such manner as it deems appropriate
in its sole discretion. The Seller shall not be obligated to pay any consent
fees or other amounts to obtain a Lease Consent or Lease Confirmation. If the
Seller shall become obligated hereunder to purchase the Company Leased Equipment
pursuant to the Term Expiration Mandatory Purchase Requirement, the Buyer and
the Company shall cooperate with the Seller to facilitate its purchase and
taking possession of the Company Leased Equipment. Nothing contained in this
Section shall affect any rights or obligations the Seller may have as guarantor
of the Company Lease.
49
5.18 Title
Commitments and Surveys.
(a) The
Buyer has obtained and furnished to the Seller the title commitments issued
by
First American Title Insurance Company (the “Title
Insurer”)
for the Real Property (each title commitment, together with any amendment,
revision or update of same from time to time, a “Title
Commitment”).
(b) The
Buyer shall have until the fifteenth (15th)
day after the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the fifth (5th)
day after Buyer’s receipt of any surveys it obtains of any of the Real Property
(the “Title
Review Period”)
to notify the Seller, in writing, of its objection to any Survey Defects shown
on surveys obtained by the Buyer. In the event of any such notice, the Seller
shall furnish to the Seller the Survey that shows the Survey Defect. If any
Survey is not received within fifteen (15) days after the date of this Agreement
or if Buyer’s written objection is not received by the Seller within the Title
Review Period, the Buyer shall be deemed to have approved all Survey Defects
and
other matters indicated on such Survey and such Survey Defects shall be deemed
to be Permitted Encumbrances hereunder. If the Buyer timely objects in writing
to one or more such Survey Defects as provided for above, the Seller may, at
the
Seller’s discretion, endeavor to cure such objections by either eliminating such
Survey Defects or causing the Title Insurer to insure over such Survey Defect(s)
within thirty (30) days after the Buyer’s delivery of a notice of objection. If
the Seller does not cure each Survey Defect to which the Buyer has timely
objected within 30-day period specified above, then the Buyer may, as its sole
remedy for the existence of any such Survey Defect and such failure to cure
each
such Survey Defects, terminate this Agreement by delivering written notice
to
the Seller within five (5) days after the expiration of the 30-day period
specified above.
5.19 Unwanted
Assets.
Prior to the Closing, the Company shall transfer to the Seller or its designee
title to the assets set forth on Schedule 5.19 (the “Unwanted
Assets”)
as a distribution with respect to Seller’s shares in the Company.
ARTICLE
VI
TAX
MATTERS
6.1 Section
338(h)(10) Election.
(a) The
Buyer and the Seller shall jointly make an election under Section 338(h)(10)
of
the Code (and any comparable election under state or local Law) (the
“338(h)(10)
Elections”)
with respect to the acquisition of the Company and its U.S. Subsidiaries by
the
Buyer. The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate fully with each other in the
making of the 338(h)(10) Elections. The Buyer shall be responsible for the
preparation and filing of all Tax Returns and forms (the “Section
338 Forms”)
required under applicable law to be filed in connection with making the
338(h)(10) Elections. The Seller shall deliver to the Buyer within a reasonable
time prior to the date the Section 338 Forms are required to be filed, such
documents and other forms as are reasonably required by the Buyer to properly
complete the Section 338 Forms. The Buyer shall prepare a complete set of
Section 338 Forms and any additional data or materials required to be attached
to IRS Form 8023 for the Seller’s review and approval, provided that the Seller
shall not unreasonably withhold such approval.
50
(b) The
Buyer and the Seller shall allocate the Purchase Price in the manner required
by
Section 338 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
Within thirty (30) days after the Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller
a schedule setting forth a proposed allocation of the Purchase Price consistent
with the foregoing sentence. Within thirty (30) days after its receipt of such
proposed allocation schedule, the Seller shall provide the Buyer with any
suggested revisions to the proposed allocation schedule for the Buyer’s review
and approval, provided that the Buyer shall not unreasonably withhold such
approval. Such allocation shall be used for purposes of determining the
aggregate deemed sales price under the applicable Treasury Regulations and
in
reporting the deemed sale of assets of the Company in connection with the
338(h)(10) Elections.
6.2 Transfer
Taxes.
At the Closing or, if due thereafter, promptly when due, all transfer taxes,
real property transfer taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, excise taxes, stamp taxes,
conveyance taxes and any other similar Taxes applicable to, arising out of
or
imposed upon the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be split equally
and
paid by the Buyer and the Seller, except that any such Taxes resulting from
any
338(h)(10) Election and the distribution of the Unwanted Assets shall be paid
by
the Seller. The Seller and the Buyer shall cooperate in the preparation and
filing of any returns relating to such Taxes.
6.3 Proration
of Certain Company Taxes.
All real property, personal property and similar ad valorem Taxes payable by
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies attributable to the InterfaceFABRIC Companies’ assets
at Closing, for the fiscal year during which the Closing occurs shall be
allocated proportionately to the portion of such fiscal year or other period
ending on the Closing Date and the portion of such year or other period
beginning after the Closing Date by allocating such Taxes on a per diem basis
for the entire taxable period to which such Taxes relate. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement, any such Taxes allocated to the
pre-Closing period shall be included on the Final Working Capital Schedule
as a
liability to the extent such Taxes remain unpaid as of the Closing Date, and
to
the extent so included the Company shall pay the same when and as due. Any
such
Taxes allocated to the post-Closing period shall be included in the Company’s
current assets on the Final Working Capital Schedule to the extent such Taxes
have been paid by the Company on or before the Closing Date. No such Taxes
allocated to the post-Closing period shall be included on the Final Working
Capital Schedule as a liability. If the amount of such Taxes for the taxable
period including the Closing Date has not been fully determined by the Closing
Date, then when the amount is finally determined, the parties shall reimburse
each other to the extent necessary so that, taking into account related
inclusions on the Final Working Capital Schedule, the Buyer only pays those
Taxes which are attributable to the taxable period beginning after the Closing
Date on a per diem basis.
51
6.4 Tax
Returns and Reports.
The Seller shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and the Seller and the Buyer
shall cause the Company to timely file, all Tax Returns for the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies for Tax periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date which are
to be
filed on or after the Closing Date. All such returns shall be prepared in a
manner consistent with past practice, except to the extent otherwise required
by
Law. The Seller shall permit the Buyer to review and comment on each such Tax
Return prior to filings and shall make such revisions to such Tax Returns as
are
reasonably requested by the Buyer. The Seller shall pay all Taxes required
to be
paid in connection with such Tax Returns, including any deferred income from
intercompany transactions triggered into income by Section 1.1502-13 of the
Treasury Regulations and any excess loss accounts taken into income under
Section 1.1502-19 of the Treasury Regulations triggered by reason of the
departure of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies from the Seller Group. The Buyer
shall prepare or cause to be prepared and timely file or cause to be timely
filed all Tax Returns for the InterfaceFABRIC Companies for Tax periods
beginning prior to the Closing Date and ending after the Closing Date. All
such
returns shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice, except
to
the extent otherwise required by Law. The Buyer shall permit the Seller to
review and comment on each such Tax Return prior to filing and shall make such
revisions to such Tax Returns as are reasonably requested by the Seller. The
Buyer shall pay all Taxes required to be paid in connection with such Tax
Returns, subject to indemnification for the portion of such Taxes required
to be
indemnified by Seller as attributable to any Pre-Closing Tax Period. Unless
otherwise mandated by Law, neither the Buyer nor any of its Affiliates or any
successor thereto will file any amended Tax Return with respect to any Tax
period ending on or prior to the Closing Date.
6.5 Tax
Sharing Agreements.
All Tax sharing agreements or similar agreements with respect to or involving
the Company shall be terminated as of the Closing Date and, from and after
the
Closing Date, neither the Seller nor any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies shall
be obligated to make any payment to any Person pursuant to any such agreement
or
arrangement, and all other rights and obligations resulting from any such
agreement or arrangement shall cease.
6.6 Allocation
of Certain Taxes.
(a) If
the InterfaceFABRIC Companies are permitted but not required under applicable
state, local, or foreign income Tax Laws to treat the Closing Date as the last
day of a taxable period, then the parties shall treat that day as the last
day
of a taxable period.
(b) In
the case of Taxes arising in a taxable period of the any of the InterfaceFABRIC
Companies that includes, but does not end on, the Closing Date, except as
provided in Section
6.3,
the allocation of such Taxes between the Pre-Closing Tax Period and the
Post-Closing Tax Period shall be made on the basis of an interim closing of
the
books as of the end of the Closing Date. If a taxable period begins on or prior
to the Closing Date and ends after the Closing Date, then the portion of the
taxable period that begins on the day following the Closing Date shall
constitute a Post-Closing Tax Period. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes
of this Agreement, any Taxes resulting from (i) any 338(h)(10) Election, (ii)
the distribution of the Unwanted Assets, (iii) the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement (including the transactions described on Schedule 5.1), and
(iv)
the departure of any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies from the Seller Group
(resulting from the triggering into income of items from deferred intercompany
transactions under Section 1.1502-13 of the Treasury Regulations or excess
loss
accounts under Section 1.1502-19 of the Treasury Regulations or otherwise)
are
attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period.
52
6.7 Cooperation.
The Seller and the Buyer shall cooperate, and shall cause their respective
Affiliates and representatives to cooperate, fully with the Company and each
other in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return, amended
Tax Return or claim for refund, determining liability for Taxes or a right
to
refund of Taxes, or in conducting any audit, litigation or other proceeding
with
respect to Taxes. Such cooperation and information shall include providing
copies of all relevant portions of relevant Tax Returns, together with relevant
accompanying schedules and relevant work papers, relevant documents relating
to
rulings and other determinations by Taxing Authorities, and relevant records
concerning the ownership and Tax basis of property, which any such party may
possess. Each party will retain all books and records and all material Tax
information relating to periods of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies ending on
or
before or including the Closing Date until the later of the expiration of the
statutes of limitations (as such statutes may be extended) with respect to
Taxes
for such periods and the conclusion of all litigation with respect to such
Taxes, and shall provide each other, as reasonably requested, access to
personnel and such books and records and information to the employees, agents
and representatives of the requesting party. The Buyer and the Seller further
agree, upon request, to use their commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain
any certificate or other document from any Governmental Authority or any other
Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax that could
be imposed with respect to the Business or the Contemplated
Transactions.
6.8 Tax
Contests.
(a) The
Buyer shall promptly notify the Seller in writing within ten (10) days from
its
receipt of written notice of any pending or threatened assessment or claim
in
any audit, litigation or other proceeding in respect of any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies related
to Taxes for which the Seller may be liable under this Agreement. Such notice
shall be accompanied by copies of any notice or other documents it has received
from any Governmental Authority. If the Buyer fails to promptly notify the
Seller in accordance with this Section
6.8(a),
then (i) if the Seller is precluded from contesting the asserted Tax liability
in any forum as a result of the failure to give prompt notice, the Seller shall
have no obligation to indemnify the Buyer for any Taxes arising out of such
asserted Tax liability, and (ii) if the Seller is not precluded from contesting
such asserted Tax liability in any forum, but such failure to give prompt notice
results in a monetary detriment to the Seller, then any amount that the Seller
is otherwise required to pay the Buyer pursuant to Section
10.1
shall be reduced by the amount of such detriment.
53
(b) The
Seller shall have the right to represent the interests of any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies
in any audit, litigation or other proceeding (collectively, “Tax
Contest”)
relating to Taxes for which the Seller may be liable under this Agreement,
to
employ counsel of its choice at its expense and to control the conduct of such
Tax Contest, including settlement or other disposition thereof, provided,
however, that Buyer shall have the right to consult with the Seller regarding
any such Tax Contest that may adversely affect any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies
for any periods ending after the Closing Date at Buyer’s own expense; and
provided, further, that any settlement or other disposition of any such Tax
Contest may only be made with the consent of the Buyer, which consent will
not
be unreasonably withheld, and provided, further, that to the extent that the
Buyer unreasonably withholds consent, the Seller’s obligation under Section
10.1
to indemnify the Buyer for such Tax shall terminate and Buyer shall reimburse
Seller for the reasonably incurred costs of such contest.
6.9 Certain
Post-Closing Settlement Payments and Post-Closing Actions.
If any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies (a) receives any refund of Tax, or
(b)
utilizes the benefits of any overpayment of Tax which relates to Taxes paid
or
accrued by any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies with respect to a taxable period
ending before or including the Closing Date in either case which was not taken
into account in determining Net Working Capital, the Buyer shall transfer,
or
cause to be transferred, to the Seller within ten (10) days of receipt the
entire amount of the refund or overpayment, net of any Tax payable by the Buyer
with respect thereto received or utilized by the Buyer. If the Seller (a)
receives any refund of Tax, or (b) utilizes the benefit of any overpayment
of
Tax which relates to Taxes paid by the Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries with
respect to a taxable period, or portion thereof, beginning after the Closing
Date, or which was taken into account in determining Net Working Capital, the
Seller shall transfer, or cause to be transferred, to the Buyer within ten
(10)
days of receipt the entire amount of the refund or overpayment, net of any
Tax
payable by the Seller with respect thereto received or utilized by the
Seller.
6.10 Tax
Treatment of Indemnification Payments.
Except as otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties shall treat any
indemnification payment made hereunder as an adjustment to Purchase Price.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS AT THE CLOSING
The
obligations of the Buyer to consummate the Contemplated Transactions at the
Closing are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions
(unless waived by the Buyer in accordance with Section
11.4):
7.1 Representations
and Warranties.
The representations and warranties of the Seller in this Agreement that are
qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct
in all respects, and those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all
material respects, as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date,
except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to
an
earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties qualified as
to
materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall have been true and correct in
all
respects, and those not so qualified shall have been true and correct in all
material respects, on and as of such earlier date).
54
7.2 Performance.
Each of the Company and the Seller will have performed and complied in all
material respects with all agreements, obligations and covenants contained
in
this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by them at
or
prior to the Closing.
7.3 Officer’s
Certificate.
The Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Seller
by an
executive officer of the Seller certifying that the conditions set forth in
Sections
7.1
and 7.2
as to the Seller have been satisfied.
7.4 Necessary
Approvals and Consents; HSR.
The Seller and the Buyer shall have obtained all consents, approvals, actions
and releases of any Person or Governmental Authority specified in Schedule
7.4.
The applicable waiting period, if any, under the HSR Act shall have expired
or
been terminated.
7.5 International
Acquisitions.
The Seller and Buyer shall have, concurrently with the Closing hereunder,
consummated the transactions contemplated by the International Acquisition
Agreements.
7.6 Delivery
of Stock Certificates.
The Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate or certificates
representing the Shares being sold by the Seller, duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by duly executed assignment documents with evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Buyer that all Encumbrances affecting the Shares shall
have
been released.
7.7 Legality.
No Law or Government Order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated, or
enforced by any Governmental Authority that is in effect and (a) has the effect
of making the purchase and sale of the Shares illegal or otherwise prohibiting
the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions or (b) has a reasonable
likelihood of causing a Material Adverse Effect.
7.8 Closing
Deliveries.
All deliveries expressly required to be made at Closing pursuant hereto by
any
Person other than the Buyer shall have been made.
7.9 Material
Adverse Effect.
There shall not have been any fact, circumstance, or occurrence that has had
or
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.10
FIRPTA.
The Seller shall have provided the Buyer with a properly prepared and executed
certificate of non-foreign status pursuant to Treasury Regulation §
1.1445-2(b)(2).
7.11
Transition
Marks License Agreement.
The Seller shall have executed and delivered the Transition Marks Agreement
in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
7.12
Transition
Services Agreement.
The Seller shall have executed and delivered the Transition Services Agreement
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
55
7.13
Third
Party Licenses.
The Company shall have entered into New License Agreements for the Agreed
Software in accordance with and subject to the terms of Section
5.17(a).
7.14
Surveys.
The Seller shall have cured any Survey Defects that had properly been the
subject of a timely notice thereof provided to the Seller in accordance with
Section
5.18.
ARTICLE
VIII
CONDITIONS
TO THE SELLER’S OBLIGATIONS AT THE CLOSING
The
obligations of the Seller to consummate the Contemplated Transactions at the
Closing is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions
(unless waived by the Seller in accordance with Section
11.4):
8.1 Representations
and Warranties.
The representations and warranties of the Buyer in this Agreement that are
qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct
in all respects, and those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all
material respects, as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date,
except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to
an
earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties qualified as
to
materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall have been true and correct in
all
respects, and those not so qualified shall have been true and correct in all
material respects, on and as of such earlier date).
8.2 Performance.
The Buyer will have performed and complied with, in all material respects,
all
agreements, obligations and covenants contained in this Agreement that are
required to be performed or complied with by the Buyer at or prior to the
Closing.
8.3 Officer’s
Certificate.
The Seller shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Buyer
by an
executive officer of the Buyer certifying that the conditions set forth in
Sections
8.1
and 8.2
as to the Buyer have been satisfied.
8.4 Necessary
Approvals and Consents; HSR.
The Buyer shall have obtained all consents, approvals, actions and releases
of
any Person or Governmental Authority specified in Schedule 8.4. The applicable
waiting period, if any, under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated.
8.5 Legality.
No Law or Government Order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated, or
enforced by any Governmental Authority that is in effect and has the effect
of
making the purchase and sale of the Shares illegal or otherwise prohibiting
the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
8.6 Transition
Marks License Agreement.
The Buyer and the Company shall have executed and delivered the Transition
Marks
Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
8.7 Transition
Services Agreement.
The Buyer and the Company shall have executed and delivered the Transition
Services Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
56
8.8 Workers
Compensation Insurance.
The Company and the Buyer shall have obtained Workers’ Compensation Policies
that are effective as of the Closing.
8.9 Closing
Deliveries.
All deliveries expressly required to be made at Closing pursuant hereto by
any
Person other than the Company and the Seller shall have been made.
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION
9.1 Termination
of Agreement.
This Agreement may be terminated (the date on which the Agreement is terminated,
the “Termination
Date”)
at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) By
mutual written consent of the Buyer and the Seller;
(b) By
either the Buyer or the Seller:
(i)
by
providing written notice to the other at any time after September 30, 2007
(the
“Walk-Away
Date”);
provided, however, that such right to terminate shall not be available to any
party if the failure of the Closing to occur by the Walk-Away Date is the result
of one or more breaches or violations of, or inaccuracy in any covenant,
agreement, representation or warranty of this Agreement by such terminating
party; or
(ii)
if
a final, nonappealable Government Order permanently enjoining, restraining
or
otherwise prohibiting the Closing has been issued by a Governmental Authority
of
competent jurisdiction;
(c) By
the Buyer:
(i)
pursuant
to Section
5.1(c)(iv);
or
(ii)
if
there is a breach in any material respect of, or inaccuracy in any material
respect in, any representation or warranty of the Seller contained in this
Agreement, or the Company or the Seller shall have breached or violated in
any
material respect any of their respective covenants and agreements contained
in
this Agreement, which breach, inaccuracy or violation would give rise, or could
reasonably be expected to give rise, to a failure of a condition set forth
in
Article
VII
and cannot be or has not been cured on or before thirty (30) days after the
Buyer notifies the Seller of such breach, inaccuracy or violation; or
(iii)
if
the Seller discloses, or the Buyer otherwise discovers, the existence of a
Material Adverse Effect
(d) By
the Seller if there is a breach in any material respect of, or inaccuracy in
any
material respect in, any representation or warranty of the Buyer contained
in
this Agreement or the Buyer shall have breached or violated in any material
respect any of its covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, which
breach, inaccuracy or violation would give rise, or could reasonably be expected
to give rise, to a failure of a condition set forth in Article
VIII
and cannot be or has not been cured on or before thirty (30) days after the
Seller notifies the Buyer of such breach, inaccuracy or violation.
57
9.2 Termination
of Obligations With Respect to International Acquisitions.
The rights and obligations of the Seller and the Buyer relating to the
International Acquisitions under this Agreement may be terminated as provided
in
the International Acquisition Agreements; provided, however, that in the event
of a termination of this Agreement, the International Acquisition Agreements
shall automatically terminate.
9.3 Effect
of Termination.
(a) In
the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.1,
written notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties, specifying
the provision of this Agreement pursuant to which such termination is made,
and
this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void (other than Sections
5.4,
5.5,
5.6,
9.3(b),
11.11,
11.12
and 11.14,
all of which shall survive the termination of this Agreement), and there shall
be no liability on the part of the Buyer, the Seller or the Company or their
respective directors, officers and Affiliates, except that nothing shall relieve
any party from liability for fraud or any willful breach of this
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 9.3(a), in the event the Seller terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d) as a result of the Buyer’s material breach
of any covenant or agreement of the Buyer contained in this Agreement, then
promptly following such termination (and in no event later than ten days after
such termination), the Buyer shall pay to the Seller $10,000,000 (the
“Liquidated
Damages”),
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in
writing by the Seller, as liquidated damages and as the Seller’s sole and
exclusive remedy with respect to such breach, regardless of whether such claim
is based on breach of contract, tort or otherwise. The parties hereto
acknowledge that the actual damages to the Seller from any such breach would
be
uncertain and difficult or impossible to determine with precision and the
Liquidated Damages are not a penalty, but instead are a fair and reasonable
estimate of actual damages, including costs and expenses.
(c) In
the event of the termination of any rights or obligations of any party under
Section
9.2
(other than related to a termination of this Agreement for which notice has
been
given in accordance with Section
9.3(a)),
written notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties, specifying
the provision of the International Acquisition Agreement pursuant to which
such
termination is made. Upon such termination, no party shall have any further
rights or obligations relating to the International Acquisition Agreements,
and
there shall be no liability on the part of any party thereto or their respective
directors, officers and Affiliates, except that nothing shall relieve any party
from liability for fraud or any willful breach of this Agreement.
58
ARTICLE
X
INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 By
the Seller.
From and after the Closing Date, the Seller shall indemnify, defend, and hold
harmless the Buyer, its Affiliates (including the InterfaceFABRIC Companies),
and their respective successors and assigns (if any), and their respective
officers, directors, employees, stockholders, agents, and any Person who is
an
Affiliate of such Persons (each, an “Indemnified
Buyer Party”)
from and against any Liabilities, claims, demands, judgments, losses, costs,
damages, or expenses whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’, consultants’,
and other professional fees and disbursements of every kind, nature, and
description incurred by such Indemnified Buyer Party in connection therewith)
(collectively, “Damages”)
that such Indemnified Buyer Party may sustain, suffer, or incur and that result
from, arise out of, or relate to (a) any breach of any of the covenants or
agreements of the Seller (and the Company, prior to the Closing) contained
in
Sections
2.3,
2.5,
5.5,
5.8,
5.9(a),
5.12,
5.13,
5.16, 5.17(c)
and Article VI of this Agreement, (b) any Debt incurred by any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies in whole or part prior to the Closing other than
Debt
set forth on Schedule 10.1(b), (c) subject to the terms of Article VI, all
Taxes
imposed on or relating to any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies for any
Pre-Closing Tax Period, (d) all Taxes of any Person imposed on any of the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies under Treasury Regulation § 1.1502-6 by reason of any
affiliation existing on or before the Closing Date, and all Taxes imposed under
the federal laws of Canada or any province or territory therein arising in
a
Post-Closing Tax Period attributable to an event occurring or a deduction or
credit claimed in a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (e) any Liability of the Seller
or
its other Affiliates (other than of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies and other
than
those Liabilities set forth on Schedule 10.1(e) or any Liability for which
the
Buyer or the InterfaceFABRIC Companies are responsible under the express terms
of this Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement or the Transition Marks
License Agreement), (f) subject to the terms of Section
5.8,
any Company Employee Plan, and (g) subject to the limitation set forth in
Section
10.4(b),
any Environmental Condition, to the extent such Environmental Condition has
occurred and exists on the Closing Date.
10.2 By
the Buyer.
From and after the Closing Date, the Buyer shall indemnify, defend, and hold
harmless the Seller, its Affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns
(if any), and their respective officers, directors, employees, stockholders,
agents, and any Person who is an Affiliate of such Persons (each, an
“Indemnified
Seller Party”)
from and against any Damages that such Indemnified Seller Party may sustain,
suffer, or incur and that result from, arise out of, or relate to (a) any breach
of any of the covenants or agreements of the Buyer (and the Company, after
the
Closing) contained in Sections
2.3,
2.5,
5.5,
5.6,
5.8,
5.9(b),
5.9(c),
5.12,
5.14,
5.15(b),
5.17(c)
and Article VI, of this Agreement, (b) subject to the terms of Article VI,
all
Taxes imposed on or relating to any of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies for any
Post-Closing Tax Period, or (c) any Liability of the InterfaceFABRIC Companies
except to the extent such Liability constitutes a Liability for which the Seller
is required to indemnify the Buyer pursuant to Section
10.1.
59
10.3 Indemnification
Procedure; Environmental Matters.
(a) In
the event that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall sustain
or
incur any Damages in respect of which indemnification may be sought by such
Person pursuant to this Article
X
(other than indemnification in respect of Taxes, contests relating to which
shall be governed by Section
6.8),
the Person seeking such indemnification (the “Indemnitee”)
shall assert a claim for indemnification (“Indemnification
Claim”)
by giving prompt written notice thereof (the “Notice”)
to the party (i.e., the Seller or the Buyer) providing indemnification (the
“Indemnitor”)
and shall thereafter keep the Indemnitor reasonably informed with respect
thereto; provided that failure of the Indemnitee to give the Indemnitor prompt
notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnitor of any of its
obligations hereunder except and to the extent that the Indemnitor is prejudiced
as a result of such failure. The Notice shall set forth with reasonable
particularity the basis for the Indemnification Claim and, if estimable, the
Indemnitee’s good faith estimate of Damages resulting from such Indemnification
Claim. Any dispute relating to an Indemnification Claim shall be resolved by
(i)
the mutual agreement of the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee, (ii) binding
arbitration, if arbitration is agreed to in writing by the Indemnitor and the
Indemnitee or (iii) a final order, decree or judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal having expired and no appeal having been
perfected). No Indemnitee may settle or compromise any claim or consent to
the
entry of any judgment with respect to which indemnification is being sought
hereunder without the prior written consent of the Indemnitor (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), unless (i) the
Indemnitor fails to assume and maintain the defense of such claim pursuant
to
this Section
10.3(a)
and (ii) such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional
release of the Indemnitor and its officers, directors, employees and Affiliates
from all liability arising out of such claim. An Indemnitor may not, without
the
prior written consent of the Indemnitee, settle or compromise any claim or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to which indemnification
is
being sought hereunder unless (A) such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of the Indemnitee and its officers, directors,
employees and Affiliates from all liability arising out of such claim, (B)
does
not contain any admission or statement suggesting any wrongdoing or liability
on
behalf of the Indemnitee and (C) does not contain any equitable order, judgment
or term that in any manner affects, restrains or interferes with the business
of
the Indemnitee or any of the Indemnitee’s Affiliates.
(b) In
case any third party claim, action or proceeding (a “Third
Party Claim”)
is brought against any Indemnitee, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to assume
the defense thereof, by written notice to the Indemnitee of its intention to
do
so within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee, at the Indemnitor’s own expense. Notwithstanding
the assumption by the Indemnitor of the defense of any Third Party Claim as
provided in this Section
10.3(b),
the Indemnitee shall be permitted to join in the defense of such Claim and
to
employ counsel at its own expense.
60
(c) If
the Indemnitor fails to notify the Indemnitee of its desire to assume the
defense of any such Third Party Claim within the prescribed period of time,
or
shall notify the Indemnitee that it will not assume the defense of any such
Third Party Claim, then the Indemnitee may assume the defense of any such Third
Party Claim, in which event it may do so in such manner as it may reasonably
deem appropriate, provided that (i) the Indemnitee may not settle the Third
Party Claim without the Indemnitor’s consent, which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, and (ii) the Indemnitor may participate in
such defense at its own expense.
(d) Amounts
payable by the Indemnitor to the Indemnitee in respect of any Damages for which
such party is entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be payable by the
Indemnitor as incurred by the Indemnitee, except to the extent that the claim
for indemnification is disputed. The Indemnitor and the Indemnitee shall provide
reasonable cooperation and assistance, and shall cause their Affiliates to
provide reasonable cooperation and assistance, to the other and its counsel
in
connection with the defense or settlement of any Third Party Claim. Any expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee or its Affiliates in providing such cooperation
and
assistance at the Indemnitor’s request shall be paid by the Indemnitor to the
extent such expenses constitute Damages that the Indemnitor is required to
indemnify against under this Article
X.
(e) The
Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate with one another with respect to resolving
any claim or liability with respect to which any party is obligated to indemnify
another party hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, without the written consent of the Buyer,
the
Seller shall not be entitled to assume the defense of, but may participate
in
the defense of, any matter (each, a “Prohibited
Action”)
to the extent that: (i) the matter seeks, in addition to or in lieu of monetary
damages, any injunctive or other equitable relief against the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries; (ii) the matter relates to or arises in connection with any
criminal proceeding, action, indictment, allegation, or investigation; or (iii)
with respect to a matter involving an Environmental Condition, the amount of
claimed Liabilities in such matter (together with any matters involving
Environmental Conditions previously asserted or paid and counted against the
Environmental Cap) exceeds the Environmental Cap; provided, however, that in
no
event shall Buyer settle any Prohibited Action unless Seller has consented
thereto in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed
or
conditioned).
(g) In
connection with any claim involving an Environmental Condition, the Buyer shall
consult with the Seller, including, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Director of Environmental
Management for the Seller, so long as she is employed by the
Seller.
10.4 Liability
Limit.
Except with respect to claims against a Person under applicable Law based on
fraud or intentional misrepresentation of that Person, the aggregate amount
of
the liability of:
(a) either
party for Damages with respect to claims made pursuant to Section 10.1(a)
or 10.2(a)
(except for a breach of the covenants and agreements of the Buyer and the
Company after the Closing in Section
5.6)
shall be limited to an amount equal to $63,500,000; and
61
(b) the
Seller for Damages with respect to claims made pursuant to Section 10.1(g)
shall be $500,000 (the “Environmental
Cap”);
provided, that, the Seller shall have no obligation to indemnify the Buyer
pursuant to Section
10.1(g)
until the aggregate amount of the Buyer’s Damages exceed $300,000 and then only
to the extent the Buyer’s Damages with respect to claims made pursuant to
Section
10.1(g)
exceed $300,000.
10.5 Calculation
of Damages.
The amount of any Damages shall be reduced by any insurance proceeds actually
received by an Indemnitee with respect to such Damages (net of any increases
in
premium costs and expenses attributable to the collection of such insurance
proceeds); provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall not be obligated to
pursue insurance proceeds, but may in lieu thereof authorize the Indemnitor
to
do so. Except to the extent included in Damages asserted by third parties in
Third Party Claims, Damages payable by an Indemnitor under this Article
X
shall not include punitive damages, damages related to mental or emotional
distress, exemplary damages, special damages, lost profits, diminution in value
or other indirect damages. For
the avoidance of doubt, except as provided above, Damages for breach of this
Agreement may include consequential damages if and to the extent such Damages
are available under applicable Law for breach of contract claims of the type
asserted.
10.6 Exclusive
Remedy.
After the Closing, and except with respect to claims against a Person under
applicable Law based on fraud or intentional misrepresentation of such Person,
the indemnities provided for or cross-referenced in this Article
X
shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedy of any Indemnified Party for
damages arising out of, resulting from or incurred in connection with any claims
related to this Agreement or arising out of the Contemplated Transactions;
provided, however, that this exclusive remedy for damages does not preclude
a
party from bringing an action for specific performance or other equitable remedy
to require a party to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
10.7 No
Right of Contribution.
The Seller acknowledges and agrees that, upon and after the Closing, none of
the
InterfaceFABRIC Companies shall have any liability or obligation to indemnify,
save or hold harmless or otherwise pay, reimburse or make whole for or on
account of any Buyer Damages or any untruth, inaccuracy or incorrectness of,
or
other breach of, any representation or warranty or the nonfulfillment,
nonperformance, nonobservance or other breach or violation of, or default under,
any covenant, agreement or undertaking of the Company, and the Seller shall
have
no right of contribution against the InterfaceFABRIC Companies.
ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Survival.
This Article XI
and the covenants and agreements of the parties contained in Sections
2.3 2.5,
2.6,
5.5,
5.6,
5.8,
5.9,
5.12,
5.13,
5.14,
5.15(b),
5.17(c), Article
VI
and Article
X
of this Agreement shall survive the Closing of this Agreement. All other
covenants and other agreements in this Agreement and all of the representations
and warranties in this Agreement shall not survive the Closing of this
Agreement, other than claims against a Person for fraud or intentional
misrepresentation of that Person under applicable Law based on breaches of
the
representations and warranties, which representations and warranties shall
62
survive
for purposes of any such claim and
such claim under applicable Law shall not be affected by the nonsurvival of
such
representations and warranties for purposes of this Agreement and the
indemnification provisions hereof.
Any claim for indemnification shall be made by giving a notice prior to: (a)
with respect to claims made pursuant to Section
10.1(c),
10.1(d)
or 10.2(b),
the date that is 60 days after the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations, (b) with respect to claims made pursuant to Section
10.1(g),
the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date, (c) with respect to claims made
pursuant to Section
10.1(a)
or 10.2(a)
based on any breach of the covenants set forth in Section
2.3
5.8, 5.9, 5.13, 5.14, 5.17(c)
or Article
VI,
the expiration of the term of the applicable covenant, and (d) with respect
to
any other claim, the second anniversary of the Closing Date.
11.2 Notices.
All notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications required or
permitted to be delivered, given or otherwise provided under this Agreement
must
be in writing and must be delivered, given or otherwise provided:
(a) by
hand (in which case, it will be effective upon delivery);
(b) by
facsimile (in which case, it will be effective upon receipt of confirmation
of
good transmission); or
(c) by
overnight delivery by a nationally recognized courier service (in which case,
it
will be effective on the second Business Day after being deposited with such
courier service);
in
each case, to the address (or facsimile number) listed below:
If
to the Buyer, to it at:
Office
Fabrics Holding Corp.
0000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone
number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
number: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and C. Xxxxx Xxxxx
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Bockius LLP
Xxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone
number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
number: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
63
If
to the Seller or the Company and its Subsidiaries, to it at:
c/o
Interface, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone
number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
number: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
General Counsel
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone
number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
number: (404) 815 -6555
Attention:
W. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Each
of the parties to this Agreement may specify different address or facsimile
number by giving notice in accordance with this Section
11.2
to each of the other parties hereto.
11.3 Succession
and Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiary.
Subject to the immediately following sentence, this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, each of which such successors and permitted
assigns shall be deemed to be a party hereto for all purposes hereof;
provided,
however,
that prior to or after the Closing, the Buyer may assign all of its rights
hereunder to (i) any Affiliate of the Buyer, provided that no such assignment
shall relieve the Buyer of its obligations hereunder, (ii) any financial
institution, lender, or investor providing to the Buyer debt or equity financing
in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, provided that no such
assignment shall relieve the Buyer of its obligations hereunder, or (iii) any
Person that acquires, by purchase of stock, purchase of assets, merger, or
other
form of transaction, all or substantially all of the business and assets of
the
Buyer or its Subsidiaries. No party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer
either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder
without the prior written approval of the other parties. Except as expressly
provided herein, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties and
their
successors and permitted assignees and nothing herein expressed or implied
shall
give or be construed to give any Person, other than the parties and such
successors and permitted assignees, any legal or equitable rights
hereunder.
11.4 Amendments
and Waivers.
No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid and
binding unless it is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by
each
of the parties hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom
the
waiver is to be effective. No waiver by any party of any breach, violation
or
default of or inaccuracy in, any representation, warranty or covenant hereunder,
whether intentional or not, shall be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent
breach, violation, default of, or inaccuracy in, any such representation,
warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising by virtue
of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. No delay or omission on the part
of
any party in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver thereof.
64
11.5 Supplemental
Disclosures.
The Seller and the Buyer shall, from time to time prior to the Closing, by
written notice in accordance with this Agreement, supplement, amend or update
the Schedules to correct, supplement or update any matter which constituted
upon
execution and delivery of this Agreement or would constitute as of the Closing
Date a breach of any representation and warranty contained herein, provided
that
any such update shall not be effective for purposes of establishing the
satisfaction of the conditions contained in Section
7.1
or Section
8.1
insofar as such condition relates to the truth and accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Seller and the Buyer, respectively, as
of
the date of this Agreement.
11.6 Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement and all other
documents, instruments and certificates explicitly referred to herein,
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions,
negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings, representations,
warranties and agreements, whether written or oral, with respect
thereto.
11.7 Schedules.
If an item is disclosed in any part of any Schedule and the existence of such
item or its contents are relevant to any other Schedule, then such item will
be
deemed to be disclosed in such other Schedule to the extent such item or its
contents would be reasonably understood to apply to the information called
for
by such other Schedule. No disclosure on any Schedule shall be deemed an
admission as to the materiality of any item so disclosed. Any matter disclosed
in any Schedule shall be deemed to be disclosed with respect to any section
or
subsection of this Agreement specifically identified in the Schedule whether
or
not the applicable section or subsection of this Agreement refers to a schedule.
11.8 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including by
facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together
will constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become
effective when duly executed by each party hereto.
11.9 Severability.
Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in
any
situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability
of
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability
of
the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction. In the event that any provision hereof would, under applicable
law, be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, each party hereto intends
that
such provision shall be construed by modifying or limiting it so as to be valid
and Enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with, and possible under,
applicable law.
11.10 Headings.
The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience purposes only
and
shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation hereof.
11.11 Governing
Law.
This Agreement, the rights of the parties and all Actions arising in whole
or in
part under or in connection herewith, shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic substantive laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would
cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
65
11.12 Jurisdiction;
Venue; Service of Process.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Sections
2.5(c),
each party to this Agreement, by its execution hereof, (i) hereby irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts of the State of New
York or the United States District Court located in the Southern District of
New
York for the purpose of any Action between the parties arising in whole or
in
part under or in connection with this Agreement, including any Action pursuant
to Section
11.13,
(ii) hereby waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees
not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such Action,
any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the
above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or
execution, that any such Action brought in one of the above-named courts should
be dismissed on grounds of forum
non conveniens,
should be transferred or removed to any court other than one of the above-named
courts, or should be stayed by reason of the pendency of some other proceeding
in any other court other than one of the above-named courts, or that this
Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court
and (iii) hereby agrees not to commence any such Action other than before one
of
the above-named courts. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, a party may
commence any Action in a court other than the above-named courts solely for
the
purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the above-named
courts. Each party further waives any claim, and shall not assert, that venue
should properly lie in any other location within the selected
jurisdiction.
(b) Each
party hereby (i) consents to service of process in any Action between the
parties arising in whole or in part under or in connection with this Agreement
in any manner permitted by New York Law, (ii) agrees that service of process
made in accordance with clause (i) or made by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section
11.2,
will constitute good and valid service of process in any such Action and (iii)
waives and agrees not to assert (by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise)
in any such Action any claim that service of process made in accordance with
clause (i) or (ii) does not constitute good and valid service of
process.
11.13 Specific
Performance.
Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that the other parties would be
damaged irreparably in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are
not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise are breached
or
violated. Accordingly, each of the parties agrees that, without posting bond
or
other undertaking, the other parties will be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches or violations of the provisions of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and the terms and
provisions hereof in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled,
at law or in equity. Each party further agrees that, in the event of any action
for specific performance in respect of such breach or violation, it will not
assert that the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
66
11.14 Waiver
of Jury Trial.
TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, THE
PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE, AND COVENANT THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS
PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION
ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OF
THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND
WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY
OF
THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF
THE
KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY
TO
WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS AND THAT
ANY
PROCEEDING WILL INSTEAD BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A
JUDGE
SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.
[Signatures
on Following Page]
67
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as an agreement under seal
as of the date first above written.
OFFICE
FABRICS HOLDING CORP.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title:
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
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INTERFACEFABRIC,
INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
President
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INTERFACE,
INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
President
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