AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY AND AMONG U.S. DRY CLEANING CORPORATION, CLEANERS CLUB, INC., CLEANERS CLUB ACQUISITION SUB, INC., AND RIAZ CHAUTHANI December 21, 2006
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY
AND AMONG
U.S.
DRY CLEANING CORPORATION,
CLEANERS
CLUB, INC.,
CLEANERS
CLUB ACQUISITION SUB, INC.,
AND
XXXX
XXXXXXXXX
December
21, 2006
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
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ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
|
2
|
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Section
1.1
|
Defined
Terms
|
2
|
||
ARTICLE
II THE MERGER
|
7
|
|||
Section
2.1
|
The
Merger
|
7
|
||
Section
2.2
|
Closing
|
7
|
||
Section
2.3
|
Effective
Time
|
8
|
||
Section
2.4
|
Effect
of the Merger
|
8
|
||
Section
2.5
|
Articles
of Incorporation; Bylaws
|
8
|
||
Section
2.6
|
Directors;
Officers
|
8
|
||
Section
2.7
|
Effect
on Capital Stock
|
9
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||
Section
2.8
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
9
|
||
Section
2.9
|
No
Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock
|
9
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||
Section
2.10
|
Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
|
9
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||
Section
2.11
|
Taking
of Necessary Action; Further Action
|
10
|
||
Section
2.12
|
Adjustments
|
10
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||
|
||||
ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
|
10
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|||
Section
3.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Power
|
11
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||
Section
3.2
|
Subsidiaries
|
11
|
||
Section
3.3
|
Capitalization;
Title to the Shares
|
11
|
||
Section
3.4
|
Authority
|
12
|
||
Section
3.5
|
Financial
Statements
|
12
|
||
Section
3.6
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
13
|
||
Section
3.7
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
15
|
||
Section
3.8
|
Litigation
|
15
|
||
Section
3.9
|
Restrictions
on Business Activities
|
15
|
||
Section
3.10
|
Governmental
Authorization
|
15
|
||
Section
3.11
|
Takeover
Statutes
|
15
|
||
Section
3.12
|
Title
to Property
|
16
|
||
Section
3.13
|
Intellectual
Property
|
16
|
||
Section
3.14
|
Environmental
Matters
|
18
|
Section
3.15
|
Taxes
|
20
|
||
Section
3.16
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
23
|
||
Section
3.17
|
Employee
Matters
|
25
|
||
Section
3.18
|
Interested
Party Transactions
|
27
|
||
Section
3.19
|
Leased
Property
|
28
|
||
Section
3.20
|
Insurance
|
28
|
||
Section
3.21
|
Compliance
With Laws
|
29
|
||
Section
3.22
|
Minute
Books
|
29
|
||
Section
3.23
|
Internal
Controls
|
29
|
||
Section
3.24
|
Complete
Copies of Materials
|
29
|
||
Section
3.25
|
Brokers'
and Finders' Fees
|
30
|
||
Section
3.26
|
Board
Approval
|
30
|
||
Section
3.27
|
Customers
and Suppliers
|
30
|
||
Section
3.28
|
Material
Contracts
|
30
|
||
Section
3.29
|
No
Breach of Material Contracts
|
32
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||
Section
3.30
|
Third
Party Consents
|
32
|
||
Section
3.31
|
Accounts
Receivable and Payable
|
32
|
||
Section
3.32
|
Inventory
|
32
|
||
Section
3.33
|
Propriety
of Past Payments
|
33
|
||
Section
3.34
|
Representations
Complete
|
33
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER
SUB
|
34
|
|||
Section
4.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Power
|
34
|
||
Section
4.2
|
Authority
|
34
|
||
Section
4.3
|
Brokers’
and Finders’ Fees
|
35
|
||
Section
4.4
|
Board
Approval
|
35
|
||
|
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ARTICLE
V CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE
|
35
|
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Section
5.1
|
Conduct
of Business of the Company
|
35
|
||
Section
5.2
|
Restriction
on Conduct of Business of the Company
|
35
|
||
Section
5.3
|
No
Solicitation
|
38
|
||
Section
5.4
|
Further
Information
|
39
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
|
40
|
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Section
6.1
|
Public
Disclosure
|
40
|
ii
Section
6.2
|
Consents;
Cooperation
|
40
|
||
Section
6.3
|
Legal
Requirements
|
40
|
||
Section
6.4
|
Best
Efforts and Further Assurances
|
41
|
||
Section
6.5
|
Termination
of Plans
|
41
|
||
Section
6.6
|
Tax
Certificate
|
41
|
||
Section
6.7
|
Withholding
|
41
|
||
Section
6.8
|
Payment
of Certain Indebtedness
|
42
|
||
Section
6.9
|
Company
Disclosure Schedule
|
42
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
VII CONDITIONS TO THE CLOSING
|
42
|
|||
Section
7.1
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger
|
42
|
||
Section
7.2
|
Additional
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
|
43
|
||
Section
7.3
|
Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
|
43
|
||
Section
7.4
|
Frustration
of Conditions
|
45
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
46
|
|||
Section
8.1
|
Termination
|
46
|
||
Section
8.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
47
|
||
Section
8.3
|
Expenses
|
47
|
||
Section
8.4
|
Amendment
|
47
|
||
Section
8.5
|
Extension;
Waiver
|
47
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
IX INDEMNIFICATION
|
48
|
|||
Section
9.1
|
Indemnification
|
48
|
||
Section
9.2
|
Claims;
Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration
|
49
|
||
Section
9.3
|
Third-Party
Claims
|
50
|
||
Section
9.4
|
No
Right of Contribution
|
50
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
X GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
51
|
|||
Section
10.1
|
Survival
|
51
|
||
Section
10.2
|
Notices
|
51
|
||
Section
10.3
|
Interpretation
|
52
|
||
Section
10.4
|
Counterparts
|
53
|
||
Section
10.5
|
Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest
|
53
|
||
Section
10.6
|
Severability
|
53
|
||
Section
10.7
|
Governing
Law
|
53
|
||
Section
10.8
|
Rules
of Construction
|
54
|
iii
Section
10.9
|
Specific
Performance
|
54
|
||
Section
10.10
|
Descriptive
Headings
|
54
|
||
Section
10.11
|
Force
Majeure
|
54
|
||
Section
10.12
|
Attorneys’
Fees
|
54
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Agreement of Merger
|
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation
|
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
|
|
Exhibit
D
|
Form
of Company Counsel Legal Opinion
|
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Non-Compete Agreement
|
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Consulting Agreement
|
|
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement
|
COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
iv
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
This
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”),
dated
as of December 21, 2006, by and among U.S. Dry Cleaning Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (“Parent”),
Cleaners Club Acquisition Sub, Inc., a California corporation and a wholly
owned
subsidiary of Parent (“Merger
Sub”),
Cleaners Club, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”),
and,
solely for the purposes of ARTICLE
IX
and
ARTICLE
X
of this
Agreement, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, the sole shareholder of the Company (“Sole
Shareholder”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company has
adopted, and deems it advisable and in the best interests of its respective
shareholders to consummate, the merger (the “Merger”)
of the
Company with and into Merger Sub, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company has
unanimously adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, in accordance with the provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of California (“California
Law”)
and
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously determined that the
consideration to be paid to the Sole Shareholder is fair to the Sole Shareholder
and has resolved to recommend to the Sole Shareholder the approval of this
Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS,
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and as a condition and
inducement to Parent’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the Sole
Shareholder has approved this Agreement, the Agreement of Merger, the Merger
and
the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with California Law;
and
WHEREAS,
the sole shareholder of Merger Sub has approved this Agreement, the Agreement
of
Merger and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby in
accordance with the provisions of California Law.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and representations set forth
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1 Defined
Terms
As
used
herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings. Any of such terms,
unless the context otherwise requires, may be used in the singular or plural,
depending upon the reference.
“401(k)
Plan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
6.5.
“Acquisition
Transaction”
means
any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) the sale,
license, disposition or acquisition of all or a material portion of the business
or assets of the Company; (ii) the sale, issuance, grant, disposition or
acquisition of (A) the Company Common Stock or other equity security of the
Company, (B) any option, call, warrant or right (whether or not immediately
exercisable) to acquire any Company Common Stock or other equity security of
the
Company, or (C) any security, instrument or obligation that is or may
become convertible into or exchangeable for any Company Common Stock or other
equity security of the Company; or (iii) any merger, consolidation,
business combination, tender offer, share exchange, reorganization or similar
transaction involving the Company; provided,
however,
the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be
deemed an Acquisition Transaction in any case.
“Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Agreement
of Merger”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
“Annual
Financial Statements”
means
the audited balance sheet of the Company at December 31, 2005 and December
31,
2006, together with the related statements of income, shareholders’ equity and
cash flows, including the notes thereto.
“Audit”
means
any audit, assessment of Taxes, other examination by any Tax Authority, or
any
administrative or judicial proceeding or appeal of such proceeding relating
to
Taxes.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks are required
or authorized by Law to be closed in California.
“California
Law”
has
the
meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Closing”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Closing
Balance Sheet”
means
the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at the close of business on the
day prior to the Closing Date, including the notes thereto.
“Closing
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
“Closing
Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.12(a).
2
“COBRA”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(d).
“Code”
means
the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Company”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Company
Articles”
means
the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as in effect on the date
hereof.
“Company
Authorization”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.10.
“Company
Board”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.6.
“Company
Bylaws”
means
the Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date hereof.
“Company
Certificate”
means
a
certificate or certificates representing shares of Company Common
Stock.
“Company Common
Stock”
means
all shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company.
“Company
Debt”
means
all Indebtedness of the Company.
“Company
Disclosure Schedule”
has
the
meaning set forth in ARTICLE III.
“Company
Employee Plans”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
“Company
Financial Statements”
means
the Annual Financial Statements of the Company, the Interim Financial Statement
and the Monthly Financial Statements.
“Company
Intellectual Property”
means
the Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the business
of the Company as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be
conducted.
“Company
Owned Intellectual Property”
means
any Company Intellectual Property (including all of the intellectual property
set forth in Section 3.13(b)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule) which the Company represents herein to Parent
is
owned by the Company.
“Company
Subsidiary”
means
any corporation, association, business entity, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity of which the Company, either alone or together with
one
or more such entities, (i) directly or indirectly owns or controls securities
or
other interests representing more than fifty (50%) of the voting power of such
entity, or (ii) is entitled, by contract or otherwise, to elect, appoint or
designate directors constituting a majority of the members of such entity’s
board of directors or other governing body.
“Confidential
Information”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.13(f).
“Damages”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.1(a).
3
“Dollars”
or
“$”
means
the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Effective
Time”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
“Environmental
Claim”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.14(f)(1).
“Environmental
Laws”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.14(f)(2).
“ERISA”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.16(a).
“ERISA
Affiliate”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.16(a).
“Exchange
Ratio”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.7(a).
“Final
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
8.1(b).
“Financial
Statements”
means
the Annual Financial Statements, the Interim Financial Statements and the
Monthly Financial Statements.
“GAAP”
means
the United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental
Entity”
means
any arbitrator, court, agency, commission, tribunal, nation, government, any
state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising or
entitled to exercise executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, taxing or
administrative power or authority of any nature whatsoever, in each case,
whether foreign or domestic.
“Indebtedness”
means
(i) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price
of property or services (other than current liabilities incurred in the ordinary
course of business and payable in accordance with customary practices),
(ii) any other indebtedness that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or
similar instrument, (iii) all obligations under financing leases,
(iv) all obligations in respect of acceptances issued or created,
(v) all liabilities secured by any Lien on any property and (vi) all
guarantee obligations.
“Indemnitee”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Indemnitor”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, Internet domain names,
copyrights, and any applications therefor, trade secrets, know-how, technology,
inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to
practice), algorithms, processes, computer software programs or applications
(in
source code and/or object code form), databases, schematics, designs and
tangible or intangible proprietary information or material.
“Interim
Balance Sheet”
means
the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at September 30, 2006,
including the notes thereto.
4
“Interim
Financial Statements”
means
the Interim Balance Sheet and the related statements of income, shareholders’
equity and cash flows of the Company for the nine (9) months ended September
30,
2006, including the notes thereto.
“IRS”
means
the Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge”
means
(i) with respect to any natural person, the actual knowledge of such person
after due and diligent inquiry, or (ii) with respect to the Company, Parent
or
Merger Sub the actual knowledge of such party’s directors and officers or other
management-level personnel having responsibility for the matters represented
after due and diligent inquiry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall
not be deemed to have Knowledge of a particular fact if and only if, Xxxxx
Xxxxxx (a) actually knows of such fact or event, (b) fails to discose such
fact
or event on the Company Disclosure Schedule, if required, and (c) no other
director, officer or other management level personnel having responsibility
for
the matters represented has actual knowledge of such fact or event after due
and
diligent inquiry.
“Law”
or
“Laws”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.21.
“Lease
Agreements”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.19.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, encumbrance or restriction of any kind in respect
of
such asset; provided,
however,
that
the term “Lien” shall not include (i) statutory liens for Taxes, which are not
yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and disclosed in Section
3.16
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) statutory or common law liens to secure
landlords, lessors or renters under leases or rental agreements confined to
the
premises rented, (iii) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure
payment of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pension or
other social security programs mandated under applicable Laws, (iv) statutory
or
common law liens in favor of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics to secure claims
for labor, materials or supplies incurred in the ordinary course of business
and
(x) not yet delinquent or (y) being contested in good faith and other like
liens, and (v) restrictions on transfer of securities imposed by applicable
state and federal securities laws.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means,
with respect to any entity or group of entities, any event, change or effect
that (x) is, or is reasonably expected to be, materially adverse to the
condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets (including intangible
assets), prospects, liabilities, business, operations or results of operations
of such entity and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (y) would prevent
or
materially alter or delay any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
“Material
Contracts”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.28.
“Materials
of Environmental Concern”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.14(f)(3).
“Merger”
has
the
meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger
Sub”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
5
“Merger
Shares”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.7(a).
“Monthly
Financial Statements”
means
the unaudited balance sheets of the Company for each fiscal month completed
prior to the Closing Date, beginning with the month ended September 30,
2006 and the related statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows
for the monthly periods then ended.
“Net
Working Capital”
means
the (x) cash less (y) total current accounts payable based on Company’s existing
terms, in each case, as of the close of business on the day before the Closing
Date.
“Officer’s
Certificate”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Parent”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Parent Common
Stock”
means
all shares of common stock, par value $0.001
per
share, of Parent.
“Purchaser
Damages”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.1(a).
“Representatives”
means
officers, directors, employees, attorneys, accountants, advisors, agents,
distributors, licensees, shareholders, subsidiaries and lenders of a
party.
“Secretary
of State”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
“Seller
Damages”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.1(b).
“Sole
Shareholder”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Superior
Offer”
means
an unsolicited, bona fide written offer made by a third party to acquire,
directly or indirectly, pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, merger,
consolidation or other business combination, all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or a majority of the total outstanding voting securities
of the Company, on terms that the Company Board has in good faith concluded
(after the receipt of advice of its outside legal counsel and its financial
adviser), taking into account, among other things, all legal, financial,
regulatory and other aspects of the offer and the person making the offer,
including the likelihood of consummation, to be more favorable, from a financial
point of view, to the Sole Shareholder than the terms of the
Merger.
“Store
EBITDA”
means
the Company’s EBITDA less the Company headquarters general and administrative
expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP and consistent with industry
standards.
“Surviving
Corporation”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“Tax”
or
“Taxes”
means
all United States federal, state, local and foreign taxes, and other assessments
of a similar nature including, without limitation: (i) taxes or other charges
on
or with respect to income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross
receipts, profits, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, employment, social
security, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation or net worth;
(ii) taxes or other charges in the nature of excise, withholding,
ad valorem,
stamp,
transfer, value added or gains taxes; (iii) license, registration and
documentation fees; and (iv) customs duties, tariffs and similar charges,
in each case, whether imposed directly or through withholding, and including
any
interest, additions to tax, or penalties applicable thereto.
6
“Tax
Authority”
means
the IRS and any other national, regional, state, municipal, foreign or other
governmental or regulatory authority or administrative body responsible for
the
administration of any Taxes.
“Tax
Return”
means
all United States federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, declarations,
statements, reports, schedules, forms and information returns or other documents
and any amendments thereto required to be filed with a Tax
Authority.
“Third
Party Claim”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9.3.
“Transaction
Expenses”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
8.3.
“Treasury
Regulations”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.17(b).
“Voting
Debt”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3.3(b).
“WARN
Act”
means
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
Section
2.1 The
Merger
At
the
Effective Time and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the applicable provisions of California Law, the Company shall
be
merged with and into Merger Sub, the separate corporate existence of the Company
shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation and
a
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub, as the surviving corporation
after the Merger, is hereinafter referred to as the “Surviving
Corporation.”
Section
2.2 Closing
The
closing of the Merger (the “Closing”)
shall
take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time, on a date to be specified by the parties,
which shall be no later than three (3) Business Days after satisfaction or
waiver of all of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII
of this
Agreement (other than conditions which can be satisfied only by the delivery
of
certificates or other documents at the Closing) (the “Closing
Date”)
at the
offices of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP, located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx
0000,
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, unless another time, date or place is agreed to by
the
parties hereto. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is their
intention that the Closing occur (subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement) as soon as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII.
7
Section
2.3 Effective
Time
Upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing,
the parties hereto shall file the agreement of merger in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit
A
(the
“Agreement
of Merger”)
and
the officers’ certificates of the Company and Merger Sub, in each case, in such
forms as are required by California Law with the Secretary of State of the
State
of California (the “Secretary
of State”),
whereupon the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub, which shall
survive the Merger, pursuant to the provisions of California Law. The parties
hereto shall make all other filings, recordings or publications required by
California Law in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective
upon the filing of the Agreement of Merger with the Secretary of State pursuant
to California Law or at such later time as shall be agreed upon by the parties
and specified in the Agreement of Merger (the “Effective
Time”).
Section
2.4 Effect
of the Merger
From
and
after the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in
this
Agreement and the applicable provisions of California Law.
Section
2.5 Articles
of Incorporation; Bylaws
(a) Immediately
after the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation shall be the articles of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time and as set forth in Exhibit
B
to this
Agreement, and such articles of incorporation shall be the articles of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided
by Law and such articles of incorporation.
(b) Immediately
after the Effective Time, the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be
the
bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and
as
set forth in Exhibit
C
to this
Agreement, and such bylaws shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
until thereafter amended as provided by Law and such bylaws.
Section
2.6 Directors;
Officers
(a) Immediately
after the Effective Time, the directors of Merger Sub at the Effective Time
shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their
resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected
and
qualified, as the case may be. In furtherance thereof, the Company shall secure,
effective at the Effective Time, resignations of all of its incumbent directors
(the “Company
Board”),
and
the Company shall take all actions available to the Company to cause the
directors of Merger Sub to be so elected or appointed at the Effective Time.
(b) Immediately
after the Effective Time, the officers of Merger Sub at the Effective Time
shall
be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their
resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly
appointed.
8
Section
2.7 Effect
on Capital Stock
(a) Conversion
of Stock.
Each
share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time, other than shares of Company Common Stock to be canceled
pursuant to Section
2.7(c),
shall
be converted into the right to receive 780 (the “Exchange Ratio”) fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (collectively, the “Merger
Shares”);
provided, that in no event shall the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable in accordance with this section exceed 780,000 shares.
(b) Capital
Stock of Merger Sub.
As of
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of any of the parties hereto or any holder of securities of Merger Sub, each
share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
and
exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation. Each stock certificate of Merger Sub
evidencing ownership of any such shares of common stock shall evidence ownership
of such shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(c) Cancellation
of Company Common Stock Owned by Parent.
As of
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of any of the parties hereto, all shares of Company Common Stock that are owned
by Parent or by any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished
without any conversion thereof.
Section
2.8 Exchange
of Certificates
At
the
Closing, the Sole Shareholder shall surrender the Company Certificate(s) held
by
him, together with a duly completed and validly executed letter of transmittal
in such form as Parent may reasonably request, and, as soon as practicable
following the Closing, Parent shall deliver the Merger Shares to the Sole
Shareholder, and the Company Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be
canceled.
Section
2.9 No
Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock
At
the
Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and
thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of any shares
of
Company Common Stock on the records of the Company.
Section
2.10 Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
In
the
event that any Company Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
Parent shall cause to be paid in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Company Certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Sole
Shareholder, such payment of Parent Common Stock as may be required pursuant
to
this ARTICLE
II;
provided,
however,
that
Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance
thereof, require the Sole Shareholder to deliver a bond in such sum as it may
reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Parent
or the Surviving Corporation with respect to the Company Certificates alleged
to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
9
Section
2.11 Taking
of Necessary Action; Further Action
If,
at
any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving
Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets, property,
rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company, the officers and
directors of Parent, the Company and the Surviving Corporation are fully
authorized in the name of their respective corporations to take, and will take,
all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent
with this Agreement.
Section
2.12 Adjustments
(a) On
the
day prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Parent a statement
(the “Closing
Statement”)
in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent setting forth the Net
Working Capital, Store EBITDA, Company Revenues and Company Debt as of the
Closing Date. No later than two (2) Business Days prior to Closing, the Company
shall deliver to Parent a draft Closing Statement setting forth the Company’s
best estimate of the Net Working Capital, Store EBITDA, Company Revenues and
Company Debt as of the Closing Date.
(b) In
the
event the Net Working Capital as set forth in the Closing Statement is less
than
One Dollar ($1.00), the Sole Shareholder shall pay to Parent an amount equal
to
the amount by which Net Working Capital Amount is less than One Dollar
($1.00).
(c) In
the
event the Company Debt as set forth in the Closing Statement is greater than
Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000), the Sole Shareholder shall pay to
Parent an amount equal to the amount by which the Company Debt is greater than
Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000).
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
Any
reference to any event, change, condition or effect being “material” with
respect to any entity or group of entities means any event, change, condition
or
effect which (i) is or would reasonably be expected to be material to the
condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets (including intangible
assets), prospects, liabilities, business, operations or results of operations
of such entity or group of entities, taken as a whole or (ii) would or
would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially alter or delay any of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each
statement contained in any certificate signed by an officer of the Company
and
delivered to Parent pursuant to Section 7.3(b)
shall
constitute a representation and warranty hereunder by the Company to Parent
as
to the matters covered thereby.
10
Except
as
disclosed in that section of the document to be delivered by the Company to
Parent after the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Company
Disclosure Schedule”)
corresponding to the Section of this Agreement to which the following
representations or warranties pertain, the Company represents and warrants
to
Parent as of the Closing Date as follows:
Section
3.1 Organization,
Standing and Power
The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of the State of California. The Company has the requisite
corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified to
do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure
to be
so qualified and in good standing would or would reasonably be expected to
have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company has delivered a true
and
correct copy of the Company Articles and Company Bylaws, each as amended to
date
and as currently in effect, to Parent. The Company is not in violation of any
of
the provisions of the Company Articles or Company Bylaws.
Section
3.2 Subsidiaries
The
Company does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interest
in,
or any interest convertible or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or
similar interest in, any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, business association or other entity.
Section
3.3 Capitalization;
Title to the Shares
(a) The
authorized capital stock
of the
Company consists of (i) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Since inception,
the Company has never authorized the issuance of any preferred stock, option
plan, warrants or other securities exercisable or convertible into capital
stock
of the Company. As of the date hereof, 1,000 shares of Company Common Stock
are
issued and outstanding and all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are
issued to the Sole Shareholder. All of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(b) Except
as
set forth above, as of the date hereof and, as of the Closing (i) there are
no shares of capital stock or any other securities of the Company authorized,
issued or outstanding; (ii) there are no existing options, warrants, calls,
preemptive rights, Indebtedness having general voting rights or debt convertible
into securities having such rights (“Voting
Debt”)
or
subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any
character (including any shareholder rights plan or similar plan commonly
referred to as a “poison pill”), relating to the issued or unissued capital
stock of the Company obligating the Company to issue, transfer or sell or cause
to be issued, transferred or sold any shares of capital stock or Voting Debt
of,
or other equity interest in, the Company or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, or obligating the Company
to
make any payment linked to the value of the Company Common Stock or the sale
price of the Company, or obligating the Company to grant, extend or enter into
any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement,
arrangement or commitment; and (iii) there are no outstanding contractual
obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire the Common
Stock, or other capital stock of the Company or to provide funds to make any
investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any
other entity.
11
(c) There
are
no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company
is a
party with respect to the voting of the Company Common Stock.
Section
3.4 Authority
The
Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the
extent that enforceability may be limited by the effect, if any, of any
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other Laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or any general
principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered
in
a proceeding at law or in equity. Neither the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will conflict with, or result in any breach or violation of, or default
under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss
of
any benefit under (i) any provision of the Company Articles or the Company
Bylaws, (ii) any contract, agreement, license or understanding to which the
Company is a party or to which any of its properties or assets are bound or
(iii) any Law applicable to the Company, or any of its properties or
assets, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such conflicts,
breaches, violations, defaults, rights or losses which could not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. No notice
to, filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
Governmental Entity, or any other person is necessary for the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company or, except for the filing and
recordation of the Agreement of Merger in accordance with the requirements
of
California Law, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section
3.5 Financial
Statements
Attached
hereto as Section
3.5
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule are true and correct copies of the Financial
Statements. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with
the
Company’s past practice and fairly present in all material respects the
financial position as at such dates and the results of operations and cash
flows
for such periods of the Company. As of the Closing, the Closing Balance Sheet
has been prepared in accordance with the Company’s past practice and fairly
presents in all material respects the financial position of the Company as
at
the day before the Closing Date.
12
Section
3.6 Absence
of Certain Changes
Except
as
and to the extent set forth in the Financial Statements, from the date of the
Interim Balance Sheet to the date of this Agreement, the Company has conducted
its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and has not:
(a) suffered
any Material Adverse Effect;
(b) incurred
any liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise),
except for non-material items incurred in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice or Transaction Expenses, that have been paid
by
the Company, or increased, or experienced any change in any assumptions
underlying or methods of calculating, any bad debt, contingency or other
reserves;
(c) paid,
discharged or satisfied any claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise) other than the payment, discharge or
satisfaction in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice,
of liabilities and obligations reflected or reserved against in the Interim
Balance Sheet or incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with
past practice;
(d) initiated
or settled any litigation;
(e) permitted
or allowed any of its properties or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible
or
intangible) to be subjected to any Liens;
(f) written
down the value of any inventory or written off as uncollectible any notes or
accounts receivable, except for immaterial write-downs and write-offs in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice;
(g) cancelled
any debts or waived any claims or rights of substantial value;
(h) sold,
transferred, or otherwise disposed of any of its properties or assets (real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible), except in the ordinary course of
business, consistent with past practice;
(i) granted
or acquired, agreed to grant to or acquire from any person or entity any
licenses of Intellectual Property, abandoned, disposed of or permitted to lapse
any rights to the use of any Intellectual Property, or disposed of or disclosed
to any person other than representatives of Parent any trade secret, formula,
process or know-how or other Intellectual Property not theretofore a matter
of
public knowledge;
(j) increased
in any manner (including acceleration or funding provisions) the compensation
or
benefits of any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant
of
the Company (including any such increase pursuant to any bonus, pension, profit
sharing, incentive compensation or other plan, policy, program, agreement,
arrangement or commitment) or increased in any manner (including acceleration
or
funding provisions) the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable
to
any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company,
except, in the case of employees other than officers of the Company, for such
increases in compensation or benefits made in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice;
13
(k) adopted,
entered into or amended any bonus, pension, profit sharing, incentive
compensation, employment, consulting, severance, termination, deferred
compensation or other plan, program, policy, agreement, arrangement or
commitment, other than as required pursuant to applicable Law, or made any
change in any change in control, severance or termination plan, policy,
practice, program, agreement or arrangement;
(l) entered
into or amended any Material Contract;
(m) entered
into any operating lease or operating license for property or
assets;
(n) made
capital expenditures or commitments or acquired any property, plant and
equipment that would be treated as a capital expenditure in accordance with
GAAP
consistently applied for a cost in excess of an aggregate amount of Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000);
(o) declared,
paid or set aside for payment any dividend or other distribution in respect
of
its capital stock or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, directly or
indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other securities of the
Company;
(p) made
or
changed an election in respect of Taxes, adopted or changed any accounting
method in respect of Taxes, failed to file, on a timely basis, with the
appropriate Tax Authorities, all Tax Returns required to be filed for taxable
periods ending on or before the Closing Date and due on or prior to the Closing
Date, which such Tax Returns shall be true in all material respects, correct
and
complete, or failed to pay or remit, on a timely basis, any Taxes required
to be
paid, amended any Tax Return, entered into any closing agreement, settled or
consented to any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, consented to any
extension or waiver of the statutory period of limitations applicable to any
claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, or other made any Tax payments outside
of the ordinary course of business;
(q) paid,
loaned or advanced any amount to, or sold, transferred or leased any properties
or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to, or entered
into
any agreement or arrangement with, any of its employees, officers, directors
or
shareholders or any affiliate or associate of any of its employees, officers,
directors or shareholders (except for directors' fees and compensation to
officers at rates not inconsistent with the Company's past practice in
connection with business related travel or other expenses incurred on behalf
of
the Company) and advances to employees; or
(r) agreed,
whether in writing or otherwise, to take any action described in this
Section 3.6.
14
Section
3.7 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
Except
(i) as disclosed on the Interim Balance Sheet, (ii) for liabilities
and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with
past practice since the date of the Interim Balance Sheet, and
(iii) Transaction Expenses that have been paid by the Company, the Company
does not have any liabilities (whether contingent or absolute, direct or
indirect, known or unknown to the Company or matured or unmatured or otherwise)
that would be required by GAAP consistently applied to be reflected on a balance
sheet of the Company (including the notes thereto). There are no off balance
sheet arrangements to which the Company is a party or otherwise involving the
Company. Except as set forth in Section 3.7
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not have any
Indebtedness.
Section
3.8 Litigation
There
is
no private or governmental action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, claim, arbitration
or investigation pending before any agency, court or tribunal, foreign or
domestic, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company,
any of its properties or any of its officers or directors (in their capacities
as such), or which questions or challenges the validity of this Agreement or
any
of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to the Knowledge of the Company,
there is no valid basis for any such action, suit, proceeding, claim,
arbitration or investigation. There is no judgment, decree or order against
the
Company, or any of its directors or officers (in their capacities as such),
that
could prevent, enjoin, or materially alter or delay any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Company does not have any litigation pending
against any other party.
Section
3.9 Restrictions
on Business Activities
There
is
no agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company
which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting
or
impairing any current business practice of the Company, any acquisition of
property by the Company or the conduct of business by the Company as currently
conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted.
Section
3.10 Governmental
Authorization
The
Company has obtained all federal, state, county, local or foreign governmental
consents, licenses, permits, grants, or other authorizations of a Governmental
Entity (i) pursuant to which the Company currently operates or holds (or
currently proposes to operate or hold) any interest in any of its properties
or
(ii) that is required for the operation of the business of the Company or
the holding of any such interest ((i) and (ii) are herein collectively called
“Company
Authorizations”).
The
Company has complied in all respects with all such Company Authorizations,
and
all Company Authorizations are in full force and effect.
Section
3.11 Takeover
Statutes
The
Company Board has taken all actions so that any restrictions in any “fair
price,” “control share acquisition” or other similar Law, will not apply to
Parent or Merger Sub with respect to the Merger, including the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger
and
the other transactions contemplated hereby.
15
Section
3.12 Title
to Property
The
Company has good and marketable title to all of its properties, interests in
properties and assets that it purports to own (tangible and intangible),
including all the properties and assets reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet
or acquired after the date of the Interim Balance Sheet (except for properties,
interests in properties and assets having an aggregate book value not in excess
of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) sold or otherwise disposed of since the date
of the Interim Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with
past practice), free and clear of all Liens. The property and equipment of
the
Company that are used in the operations of business are in good operating
condition and repair, subject to normal wear and tear, are adequate for the
uses
to which they are being put and have been maintained and serviced in accordance
with prudent practice and in material compliance with all applicable Laws.
For
purposes of this Section 3.12
only,
the terms “property” and “assets” do not include Intellectual Property.
Section
3.13 Intellectual
Property
(a) The
Company owns or is licensed to use all Company Intellectual Property. The
Company Owned Intellectual Property and the conduct of the business of the
Company has not violated, infringed or misappropriated, do not violate, infringe
or misappropriate, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, will not violate,
infringe or misappropriate, in the ordinary course of business as currently
conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted, any Intellectual Property
of a third party, any right to privacy or publicity, or any applicable Laws
regulating unfair competition or trade practices.
(b) Section
3.13(b)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate listing of all
patents and patent applications, all registered trademarks, service marks,
and
trade names and applications therefor, all registered Internet domain names
and
applications therefor, and all registered copyrights and copyright applications
owned or purported to be owned by the Company, including the jurisdictions
in
which each such Intellectual Property right subsists, has been issued or
registered or in which any application for such issuance and registration has
been filed. All Company Owned Intellectual Property is solely owned by the
Company free and clear of all Liens, and the Company is listed in the records
of
the appropriate United States, state or foreign agency as the sole owner of
record for each issued patent, and each registered trademark, service xxxx,
trade name, Internet domain name and copyright, and applications therefor,
listed in Section 3.13(b)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has not received any written notice
or
claim challenging the Company's ownership of any of the Company Owned
Intellectual Property or suggesting that any other person has any claim of
legal
beneficial ownership thereto. There are no extant forbearances to xxx, consents,
settlement agreements, judgments, orders or similar litigation-related,
inter
partes
or
adversarial-related, or government-imposed obligations to which the Company
is a
party or is otherwise bound, that (i) restrict the rights of the Company to
use, transfer, license or enforce any of its Intellectual Property rights;
(ii) restrict the conduct of the business of the Company in order to
accommodate a third party's Intellectual Property rights; or (iii) grant
any third party any right with respect to any Company Intellectual Property
rights.
16
(c) All
issued patents, registered trademarks, registered copyrights, registered trade
names, registered service marks and registered Internet domain names set forth
in Section 3.13(b)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule are valid and enforceable, have not expired or
been
canceled or abandoned, and are not subject to any pending or, to the Company's
Knowledge, threatened judicial or administrative proceeding involving the
validity, enforceability or scope thereof. To the Knowledge of the Company,
no
person is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Company Owned
Intellectual Property or Intellectual Property exclusively licensed to the
Company. The Company has not: (i) received any written notice of any claim
of infringement or misappropriation by the Company of any Intellectual Property
right of any person; (ii) been sued in any suit, action or proceeding which
involves a claim of infringement or misappropriation by the Company of any
Intellectual Property right of any person; (iii) brought any action, suit
or proceeding for infringement or misappropriation of Intellectual Property
or
breach of any license or agreement involving Intellectual Property against
any
person; (iv) delegated, assigned or otherwise transferred any right to
bring a claim or suit against any person for infringement or misappropriation
of
Company Intellectual Property; or (v) entered into any agreement to
indemnify any person against any charge of infringement or misappropriation
of
any Intellectual Property in response to an actual or suspected threat of
infringement or misappropriation; and, with respect to (ii) and (iii) above,
no
such suit, action or proceeding has been threatened.
(d) The
Company is not a party to or bound by any agreement containing any covenant
(i)
limiting the right of the Company to engage or compete in any line of business
or to compete with any person, (ii) granting to any person any exclusive
rights or sublicensing rights, (iii) providing “most favored nations” clauses to
any person, or (iv) which otherwise adversely affects or would reasonably
be expected to adversely affect the right of the Company to sell, distribute
or
manufacture any Company products or Company Intellectual Property or to purchase
or otherwise obtain any software, components, parts or subassemblies.
(e) Section
3.13(f)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule lists all computer software that is owned, licensed,
leased or otherwise used in the business of the Company (“Company
Software”),
other
than commercially available, off-the-shelf software with an acquisition cost
of
less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500), and identifies which is owned, licensed,
leased or otherwise used, as the case may be.
(f) The
Company has taken reasonable measures consistent with industry practice to
protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets owned, used,
appropriated or disclosed by the Company and not otherwise protected by patents
or copyright (“Confidential
Information”).
All
use, disclosure or appropriation of Confidential Information owned by the
Company by or to a third party has been pursuant to the terms of an agreement
or
other legal obligation between the Company, on the one hand, and such third
party, on the other hand, pursuant to which the third party undertakes to
protect and not disclose such Confidential Information. All use, disclosure
or
appropriation by the Company of Confidential Information not owned by the
Company has been pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between the
Company and the owner of such Confidential Information, or is otherwise lawful.
Neither the Company or any person under the control of the Company has
materially breached any confidentiality agreements that such person is subject
to, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to any such
confidentiality agreement is in material breach thereof.
17
(g) No
current or former shareholder, member, partner, director, officer or employee
of
the Company or any of its predecessors in interest will, after the consummation
of the Merger, own or retain any rights in, to, or under any of the Company
Intellectual Property.
(h) The
Company has at all times complied in all material respects with all applicable
legal requirements relating to privacy, data protection and the collection
and
use of personal information gathered or accessed in the course of the operations
of the Company. The Company has at all times complied in all material respects
with all rules, policies and procedures established by the Company from time
to
time with respect to the foregoing. No claims are pending and, to the Knowledge
of the Company, no claims have been asserted or threatened against the Company
or are likely to be asserted or threatened against the Company by any person
or
entity alleging a violation of such person's or entity's privacy, personal
or
confidentiality rights under any such Laws, policies or procedures. The
consummation of the Merger will not breach or otherwise cause any violation
of
any such Laws, policies or procedures.
(i) With
respect to all personal information described in Section 3.13(h),
the
Company has taken all steps reasonably necessary (including, without limitation,
implementing and monitoring compliance with measures with respect to technical
and physical security) to protect the information in a manner consistent with
the Laws, policies or procedures referred to in Section
3.13(h).
There
has been no unauthorized access to or other misuse of that
information.
Section
3.14 Environmental
Matters
(a) The
Company is in full compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance
includes, but is not limited to, the possession by the Company of all permits
and other governmental authorizations required under all Environmental Laws,
and
compliance with the terms and conditions thereof. The Company has not received
any communication (written or oral), whether from a Governmental Entity,
citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company is not
in
such full compliance, and there are no circumstances that may prevent or
interfere with such full compliance in the future. All permits and other
governmental authorizations currently held by the Company pursuant to all
Environmental Laws are identified in Section
3.14
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.
(b) There
is
no Environmental Claim pending or, to the Company's Knowledge, threatened
against the Company or against any person or entity whose liability for any
Environmental Claim the Company has retained or assumed either contractually
or
by operation of law.
(c) There
are
no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or
incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge,
presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that could form
the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company or against any person
or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company has retained
or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, or otherwise result
in
any costs or liabilities under Environmental Law.
18
(d) Without
in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) all on-site and
off-site locations where the Company has stored, disposed or arranged for the
disposal of Materials of Environmental Concern are identified in Section
3.14(d)(i)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) all underground storage tanks, and the
capacity and contents of such tanks, located on any property owned, leased,
operated or used by the Company are identified in Section
3.14(d)(ii)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) except as set forth in Section
3.14(d)(iii)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no asbestos contained in or forming part
of any building, building component, structure or office space owned by the
Company or by any affiliate of the Company or Sole Shareholder, (iv) except
as
set forth in Section
3.14(d)(iv)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no
asbestos contained in or forming part of any building, building component,
structure or office space leased, operated or used by the Company and (v) except
as set forth in Section
3.14(d)(v)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, no polychlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated
biphenyl-containing items are used or stored at any property owned, leased,
operated or used by the Company.
(e) The
Company has provided to Parent all written assessments, reports, data, results
of investigations or Audits, and other information that is in the possession
of
or reasonably available to the Company regarding environmental matters
pertaining to or the environmental condition of the business of the Company
or
the compliance (or noncompliance) by the Company with any Environmental
Laws.
(f) The
Company is not required by virtue of the transactions set forth herein and
contemplated hereby, or as a condition to the effectiveness of any transactions
contemplated hereby, (i) to perform a site assessment for Materials of
Environmental Concern, (ii) to remove or remediate Materials of
Environmental Concern, (iii) to give notice to or receive approval from any
Governmental Entity pursuant to any Environmental Law, or (iv) to record or
deliver to any person or entity any disclosure document or statement pertaining
to environmental matters.
For
purposes of this Agreement:
(1) “Environmental
Claim” means any claim, action, cause of action, suit, proceeding,
investigation, order, demand or notice (written or oral) by any person or entity
alleging potential liability (including, without limitation, potential liability
for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, natural
resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, or penalties) arising
out of, based on or resulting from (a) the presence, or release into the
environment, of, or exposure to, any Material of Environmental Concern at any
location, whether or not owned or operated by the Company or (b) circumstances
forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental
Law.
(2) “Environmental
Laws” means all federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, ordinances,
requirements of governmental authorities, and common law in effect as of the
date hereof, relating to pollution or protection of human health or the
environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground
water, land surface or subsurface strata, and natural resources), including,
without limitation, Laws relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or
threatened releases of, or exposure to, Materials of Environmental Concern,
(ii)
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern, (iii)
recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting requirements regarding
Materials of Environmental Concern, and (iv) endangered or threatened species
of
fish, wildlife and plant and the management or use of natural
resources.
19
(3) “Materials
of Environmental Concern” means chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes,
toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products,
asbestos or asbestos-containing materials or products, polychlorinated
biphenyls, lead or lead-based paints or materials, radon, fungus, mold,
mycotoxins or other substances that may have an adverse effect on human health
or the environment.
Section
3.15 Taxes
(a) The
Company has filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it, and all such
Tax
Returns were true, complete and correct in all material respects. All Taxes
required to be paid by the Company have been timely paid other than those (i)
currently payable without penalty or interest, or (ii) being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and for which, in the case of both clauses
(i)
and (ii), adequate reserves have been established on the books and records
of
the Company in accordance with the Company’s past practice.
The
Company does not have any liability for unpaid Taxes accruing after the date
of
the Interim Balance Sheets other than unpaid Taxes arising in the ordinary
course of business.
(b) There
are
no Liens for Taxes upon any property or assets of the Company.
(c)
The
Company has not made any change in accounting methods, received a ruling from
any taxing authority or signed an agreement with respect thereto or signed
any
closing agreement with respect to any Tax year.
(d) The
Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws, rules and
regulations relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including
withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code or similar
provisions under any foreign Laws) and has, within the time and the manner
prescribed by Law, withheld and paid over to the proper taxing authorities
all
amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under applicable
Laws.
(e) The
Company is not required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section
481(a) of the Code by reason of any voluntary change in accounting method (nor
has any Governmental Entity proposed in writing any such adjustment or change
of
accounting method).
20
(f) No
Audits
are presently pending with regard to any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company
and
a list of all Audits commenced or completed with respect to the Company with
respect to taxable periods ending after January 1, 1999 is set forth in
Section 3.15(f)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule. No written notification has been received by the
Company that such an Audit is pending or threatened with respect to any Taxes
due from or with respect to or attributable to the Company or any Tax Return
filed by or with respect to the Company.
(g) All
Tax
deficiencies that have been claimed, proposed or asserted against the Company
have been fully paid or finally settled, and no issue has been raised in any
examination by any taxing authority that, by application of similar principles,
could reasonably be expected to result in the proposal or assertion of a Tax
deficiency for another year not so examined.
(h) There
are
no outstanding requests, agreements, consents or waivers to extend the statutory
period of limitations applicable to the assessment of any Taxes or deficiencies
against the Company.
(i) No
power
of attorney has been granted by or with respect to the Company with respect
to
any matter relating to Taxes.
(j) The
Company is not a party to, is not bound by or has any obligation under any
Tax
sharing agreement, Tax indemnification, or Tax allocation agreement or similar
agreement, contract or arrangement, and the Company does not have any potential
liability or obligation to any person as a result of, or pursuant to, any such
agreement, contract or arrangement.
(k) The
Company is not a party to any agreement, plan, contract or arrangement (whether
oral or in writing) that could result, separately or in the aggregate, in the
payment of any “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of
the Code.
(l) The
deductibility of compensation paid by the Company will not be limited by Section
162(m) of the Code.
(m) All
transactions that could give rise to an understatement of the federal income
tax
liability of the Company within the meaning of Section 6662(d) of the Code
are
adequately disclosed on Tax Returns in accordance with Section 6662(d)(2)(B)
of
the Code if there is or was no substantial authority for the treatment giving
rise to such understatement.
(n) The
Company is not and has not been a U.S. real property holding company (as defined
in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in
Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(o) There
are
no unresolved questions or claims concerning Tax liability of the
Company.
(p) Other
than any Tax Returns that have not yet been required to be filed, the Company
has made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of the United
States federal income Tax Return and any state, local or foreign Tax Return
for
the Company for any jurisdiction for each of the taxable periods ended
December 31, 2001 through December 31, 2005.
21
(q) The
net
operating loss and credit carryovers, if any, available to the Company, and
their expiration dates, is set forth in the Disclosure Schedule. As of the
date
of this Agreement, none of such net operating loss and credit carryovers are
subject to the limitations imposed by Sections 382, 383 or 384 of the Code
(or
any predecessor thereto) or otherwise.
(r) Section
3.15(r)
of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) all elections with respect to Taxes made
by
the Company and (ii) all foreign, state and local jurisdictions in which the
Company is or has been subject to Tax and each type of Tax payable in such
jurisdiction during the taxable year ending December 31, 2005.
(s) The
Company has delivered or made available to Parent complete and accurate copies
of each of (i) all Audit reports, letter rulings, technical advice memoranda
and
similar documents issued by a Governmental Entity relating to the United States
or foreign Taxes due from or with respect to the Company, (ii) all closing
agreements entered into by the Company with any Taxing Authority existing on
the
date hereof and (iii) copies of any correspondence to any Tax
Authority.
(t) The
Company does not have any liability with respect to income, franchise or similar
Taxes relating to the operation of the Company prior to the date of the Interim
Balance Sheet in excess of the amounts that are accrued with respect thereto
and
are reflected in the Interim Financial Statements, and since the date of the
Interim Balance Sheets, the Company has not incurred any liability for Taxes,
except with respect to operations in the ordinary course of business after
the
date of the Interim Balance Sheets. All Taxes owed and due by the Company
relating to operations on or prior to the date of the Interim Balance Sheets
(whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid on a timely
basis.
(u) The
Company has not received written notice of any claim made by an authority in
a
jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns, that the Company
is or
may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(v)
No
taxing authority is asserting or, to the Company's Knowledge, threatening to
assert a claim against the Company under or as a result of Section 482 of the
Code or any similar provision Law.
(w) The
Company has not been a member of any affiliated group within the meaning of
Section 1504(a) of the Code, or any similar affiliated or consolidated group
for
tax purposes under state, local or foreign Law (other than a group the common
parent of which is the Company), or has any liability for Taxes of any person
(other than the Company) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign Law as a transferee or successor,
by contract or otherwise.
22
(x) The
Company has not distributed stock of another entity, or has had its stock
distributed by another entity, in a transaction that was purported or intended
to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(y) The
Company has not engaged in any reportable transactions that were required to
be
disclosed pursuant to Section 1.6011-4 of the Code.
(z) The
Company has delivered or made available to Parent a copy of all of the Company's
tax returns and other records and workpapers related to Taxes, which include
information that would allow Parent to determine: (i) a complete list of the
types of Tax Returns being filed by the Company in each taxing jurisdiction,
(ii) the year of the commencement of the filing of each such type of Tax Return
in each jurisdiction, (iii) all closed years with respect to each such type
of
Tax Return filed in each jurisdiction, (iv) all material Tax elections filed
in
each jurisdiction by the Company, (v) the tax basis of the assets of the
Company, (vi) any deferred intercompany gain with respect to the transactions
to
which the Company has been a party, (vii) the accumulated earnings and profits
and any loss carryovers of the Company and (viii) deferred income
taxes.
(aa) The
Company is registered with the relevant Tax Authority for Tax
purposes.
Section
3.16 Employee
Benefit Plans
(a) Section
3.16(a)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule lists, with respect to the Company and any trade
or
business (whether or not incorporated) which is treated as a single employer
with the Company (an “ERISA
Affiliate”)
within
the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code, (i) all employee
benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)),
(ii)
each loan to any current or former non-officer employee, officer or director
and
any stock option, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation right,
equity based award, supplemental retirement, severance, termination, change
in
control, sabbatical, medical, dental, vision care, disability, employee
relocation, cafeteria benefit (Code Section 125) or dependent care (Code Section
129), life insurance or accident insurance plans, programs or arrangements,
(iii) all bonus, pension, profit sharing, savings, deferred compensation or
incentive plans, programs, policies, agreements or arrangements, (iv) other
fringe, welfare or employee benefit plans, programs, policies, agreements or
arrangements, and (v) any current or former employment or, consulting,
retention, executive compensation or severance agreements or arrangements,
written or otherwise, for the benefit of, or relating to, any present or former
employee, consultant or director of the Company with respect to which the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate could have any liability (together, the
“Company
Employee Plans”).
(b) The
Company has made available to Parent a copy of each of the Company Employee
Plans and related material plan documents (including trust documents, insurance
policies or contracts, employee booklets, summary plan descriptions, summary
of
material modifications, prospectuses and other authorizing documents) and has,
with respect to each Company Employee Plan that is subject to ERISA reporting
requirements, made available copies of the Form 5500 reports (including all
applicable schedules) filed for the last three (3) plan years. Any Company
Employee Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has
either obtained from the IRS a favorable determination letter as to its
qualified status under the Code, or the expiration of the requisite period
under
applicable regulations promulgated by the IRS under the Code (“Treasury
Regulations”)
or IRS
pronouncements in which to apply for such determination letter and to make
any
amendments necessary to obtain a favorable determination has not occurred or
has
been established under a standardized prototype plan for which an IRS opinion
letter has been obtained by the plan sponsor and is valid and sufficient as
to
the adopting employer. The Company has also furnished or made available to
Parent the most recent IRS determination, notification, advisory, or opinion
letter issued with respect to each such Company Employee Plan, and, to the
Company's Knowledge, nothing has occurred since the issuance of each such letter
that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of the tax-qualified status
of any Company Employee Plan subject to Section 401(a) of the Code.
23
(c) None
of
the Company Employee Plans promises or provides retiree medical or other retiree
welfare benefits to any person, except as required by applicable Law. There
has
been no non-exempt “prohibited transaction,” as such term is defined in Section
406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to any Company Employee
Plan. Each Company Employee Plan has been administered in accordance with its
terms and in compliance with the requirements prescribed by any and all
applicable statutes, rules and regulations (including ERISA, the Code and any
and all applicable federal or state securities laws). Neither the Company nor
any of its ERISA Affiliates is subject to any liability or penalty under
Sections 4976 through 4980 of the Code or Title I of ERISA with respect to
any
of the Company Employee Plans. All contributions required to be made by the
Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates to any Company Employee Plan have been
made on or before their due dates. With respect to each Company Employee Plan,
no “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA (excluding any
such event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has been waived
under the regulations to Section 4043 of ERISA) nor any event described in
Section 4062, 4063 or 4041 or ERISA has occurred. Each Company Employee Plan
can
be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing Date in
accordance with its terms, without liability to Parent (other than ordinary
administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event). With respect
to each Company Employee Plan subject to ERISA as either an employee pension
plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA or an employee welfare benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA, the Company has prepared
in
good faith and timely filed all requisite governmental reports (which, to the
Company's Knowledge, were true and correct as of the date filed). No suit,
administrative proceeding, action or other litigation has been brought or is
pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, is threatened, against or with
respect to any such Company Employee Plan, including any Audit or inquiry by
the
IRS, United States Department of Labor, the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission or any other Governmental Entity, other than requests for
payments in the ordinary course or requests for qualified domestic relations
orders.
(d) With
respect to each Company Employee Plan, the Company has complied with (i) the
applicable health care continuation and notice provisions of the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”)
and
the regulations (including proposed regulations) thereunder, (ii) the applicable
requirements of the Family Medical and Leave Act of 1993 and the regulations
thereunder and (iii) the applicable requirements of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations (including
proposed regulations) thereunder.
24
(e) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, by themselves or in conjunction with any
other
agreements, events or occurrences will (i) entitle any current or former
employee, director or other service provider of the Company or any ERISA
Affiliates to severance benefits or any other payment, except as expressly
provided in this Agreement, (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable
by the Company or (iii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting of Company
Options or any benefit, or increase the amount of compensation due any such
employee, director or service provider.
(f) There
has
been no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether or not
written) by the Company or any ERISA Affiliates relating to, or change in
participation or coverage under, any Company Employee Plan which would increase
the expense of maintaining such Company Employee Plan above the level of expense
incurred with respect to that Company Employee Plan for the most recent fiscal
year included in the Financial Statements.
(g) The
Company does not maintain, sponsor, participate in or contribute to, nor has
it
ever maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed to,
any
pension plan (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) which is subject
to
Section 302 of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
(h) Neither
the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates is a party to, or has made any
contribution to or otherwise incurred any obligation to contribute to, any
“multi-employer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
(i) Neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is obligated to make any parachute payments
as such term is defined in Section 280G of the Code, and neither is a party
to
any agreement that under certain circumstances is reasonably likely to obligate
it, or any successor in interest, to make any parachute payments that will
not
be deductible under Section 280G of the Code. Neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliate is obligated to make reimbursement or gross-up payments to any person
in respect to excess parachute payments.
(j) No
amounts paid by the Company by any Company Employee Plan would fail to be
deductible under Sections 404 or 404A of the Code.
Section
3.17 Employee
Matters
(a) The
Company
is and
has been in material compliance with all currently applicable Laws and
regulations respecting employment, discrimination in employment, terms and
conditions of employment, termination of employment, wages, hours, occupational
safety and health, employee whistle-blowing, immigration, employee privacy,
employment practices and classification of employees, consultants and
independent contractors, and are not engaged in any unfair labor practice,
as
defined in the National Labor Relations Act or other applicable
Law.
25
(b) The
Company has withheld all amounts required by Law or by agreement to be withheld
from the wages, salaries, and other payments to employees or consultants; and
is
not liable for any arrears of wages or any taxes or any penalty for failure
to
comply with any of the foregoing. The Company is not liable for any payment
to
any trust or other fund or to any governmental or administrative authority,
with
respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits
or obligations for employees (other than routine payments to be made in the
normal course of business, consistent with past practice). There are no pending
claims against the Company under any workers compensation plan or policy or
for
long term disability.
(c) There
are
no charges, complaints or controversies pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened, between the Company and any of its employees, former
employees, consultants, independent contractors or applicants which charges,
complaints or controversies have resulted or could reasonably be expected to
result in an action, suit, proceeding, claim, grievance, arbitration or
investigation before any Governmental Entity. The Company has not received
notice, nor to the Company's Knowledge does any Governmental Entity responsible
for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws intend to conduct an
investigation with respect to the Company, and no such investigation is in
progress.
(d) Since
the
enactment of the WARN Act, (i) the Company has not effectuated a “plant closing”
(as defined in the WARN Act) affecting any site of employment or one or more
facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility of
the
Company, (ii) there has not occurred a “mass layoff” (as defined in the WARN
Act) affecting any site of employment or facility of the Company, (iii) the
Company has not been affected by any transaction or engaged in layoffs or
employment terminations sufficient in number to trigger application of any
similar Law and (iv) none of the Company's employees has suffered an “employment
loss” (as defined in the WARN Act) during the six (6) month period prior to the
date hereof.
(e) The
Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement or similar
agreement with any labor organization or work council, or work rules or
practices agreed to with any labor organization, work council or employee
association applicable to employees of the Company. None of the employees of
the
Company are represented by any labor organization or work council and, to the
Company's Knowledge, there have been no union or work council organizing
activities or proceedings among any of its employees, nor does any question
concerning representation exist concerning such employees.
(f) There
is
no labor strike, dispute, corporate campaign, slowdown, stoppage or lockout
actually pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company and during the last three (3) years there has not been
any
such action.
(g) All
personnel policies and procedures applicable to employees of the Company are
in
writing. There are no personnel manuals, handbooks, policies, rules or
procedures applicable to employees of the Company, other than those set forth
in
Section
3.17(g)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, true and complete copies of which have heretofore
been made available to Parent.
26
(h) To
the
Company's Knowledge, no employees of the Company are in violation of any term
of
any employment contract, invention assignment agreement, patent disclosure
agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, or any
restrictive covenant to a former employer relating to the right of any such
employee to be employed by the Company because of the nature of the business
conducted by the Company or to the use of trade secrets or proprietary
information of others.
(i) Section
3.17(i)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of (i) the
names
and current salaries of all employees, directors and elected and appointed
officers of the Company, and the family relationships, if any, among such
persons and (ii) all group insurance programs in effect for employees of the
Company. The Company is not in default with respect to any of its obligations
referred to in the preceding sentence. No key employees or officers of the
Company have given notice to the Company, nor does the Company have Knowledge,
that any such key employee or officer intends to terminate his or her employment
with the Company.
(j) The
Company does not have any (i) existing service or other agreements with any
officers or employees of the Company which subject to legal requirements cannot
be fairly terminated by three (3) months' notice or less without giving rise
to
a claim for damages or compensation; (ii) liability for compensation to
ex-employees; (iii) obligation to re-instate or re-employ any ex-officer or
ex-employee of the Company; (iv) knowledge of grounds for dismissal of any
employee of the Company; (v) policy, practice or obligation regarding redundancy
payments to employees which is more generous than the applicable award(s) or
legislation; or (vi) industrial agreement or enterprise agreement (whether
registered or not) or plans to introduce any such agreement, that applies to
any
employee or officer of the Company.
(k) Except
as
set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule, no person has any agreement with
the Company under which that person acts as an independent contractor,
consultant, or in a similar capacity for the Company whether on a full time
or a
part time or retainer basis or otherwise.
Section
3.18 Interested
Party Transactions
The
Company is not indebted to any director, officer, employee, consultant or
shareholder of the Company (except for current amounts due as normal salaries
and bonuses and in reimbursement of ordinary expenses), and no such person
is
indebted to the Company. No
officer, director or shareholder of the Company owns or holds, directly or
indirectly, any interest in (excepting holdings solely for passive investment
purposes of securities of publicly held and traded entities constituting less
than five percent (5%) of the equity of any such entity), or is an officer,
director, employee or consultant of any person that is, a competitor, lessor,
lessee, customer or supplier of the Company or
which
conducts a business similar to any business conducted by the Company. No
officer, director or shareholder of the Company (a)
owns
or holds, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any Company Intellectual
Property, (b) has any claim, charge, action or cause of action against the
Company, except for claims for reasonable unreimbursed travel or entertainment
expenses, accrued vacation pay or accrued benefits under any employee benefit
plan existing on the date hereof, (c) has made, on behalf of the Company, any
payment or commitment to pay any commission, fee or other amount to, or to
purchase or obtain or otherwise contract to purchase or obtain any goods or
services from, any other person of which any officer, director or shareholder
of
the Company (or, to the Knowledge of the Company, a relative of any of the
foregoing) is a partner or shareholder (except holdings solely for passive
investment purposes of securities of publicly held and traded entities
constituting less than five percent (5%) of the equity of any such entity)
or
(d) has any material interest in any property, real or personal, tangible or
intangible, used in or pertaining to the business of the Company.
27
Section
3.19 Leased
Property
Section
3.19
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete list of the real property
leased by the Company and
a
description of the terms of each lease (the “Lease
Agreements”).
Each
Lease Agreement is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms
and the Company has a valid and binding leasehold interest in, and enjoys
peaceful possession of, the real property described in Section
3.19
of the
Disclosure Schedule. The Company does not lease any real property other than
the
real property subject to the Lease Agreements. There are no disputes, oral
agreements, or forbearance programs in effect as to the Lease Agreements. There
are no existing defaults by the Company under any Lease Agreement, and no event
has occurred that (with the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) would
constitute a default by the Company under any Lease Agreement. The Company
has
not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust, or encumbered
any interest in the leasehold or any of its rights under any Lease Agreement,
and the leasehold estate created by each such lease is free and clear of all
Liens. The Company is not engaged in any negotiation for the reviewing of the
rent payable under any Lease Agreement. The Company does not own any real
property.
Section
3.20 Insurance
The
Company has policies of insurance and bonds of the type and in the amounts
customarily carried by persons conducting businesses or owning assets similar
to
those of the Company. Section
3.20(i) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a complete list of the policies and
contracts of insurance maintained by the Company other than employee benefit
plans listed on Section
3.16
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule. All such policies and bonds are in full force
and
effect, all premiums due and payable to date under all such policies and bonds
have been paid and the Company is otherwise in compliance with the terms of
such
policies and bonds. There is no claim pending under any such policies or bonds
as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters
of such policies or bonds. The Company has not received any notice of
cancellation or non-renewal of any such policies or bonds from any of its
insurance carriers, nor to the Company's Knowledge, is the termination of any
such policies or bonds threatened. The Company has not received any notice
from
any of its insurance carriers that any insurance premiums will be increased
in
the future or that any insurance coverage presently provided will not be
available to the Company in the future on substantially the same terms as now
in
effect. Except as disclosed on Section
3.20(ii)
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, none of such policies or bonds provides for any
retrospective premium adjustment, experience-based liability or loss sharing
arrangement affecting the Company.
28
Section
3.21 Compliance
With Laws
The
Company has complied in a timely manner and in all material respects with all
statutes, laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, rules, orders, judgments, writs,
injunctions, acts, guidelines, policies, directions or decrees of any
Governmental Entity, whether or not having the force of law (“Law”
or
“Laws”)
that
affect the business, properties or assets of the Company, and no notice, charge,
claim, action or assertion has been received by the Company or to the Company's
Knowledge, has been filed, commenced or threatened against the
Company alleging
any violation of any of the foregoing. The Company has not at any time received
any notice or direction from any Governmental Entity challenging or questioning
the legal right of the Company to design, market, offer or sell any of its
products or services or the use of its assets in the present manner or style
thereof.
Section
3.22 Minute
Books
The
minute books of the Company made available to Parent contain a complete and
accurate summary of all meetings of directors and shareholders and all actions
by written consent since the time of incorporation of the Company, through
the
date of this Agreement, and reflect all transactions and other corporate actions
referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.
Section
3.23 Internal
Controls
The
Company (i) makes and keeps accurate books and records that fairly reflect
the
transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company and (ii) maintains
internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (a)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial
statements in accordance with the Company’s past practice, (b) receipts and
expenditures are made only in accordance with general or specific authorizations
of management and directors of the Company, (c) access to its assets is
permitted only in accordance with general or specific authorizations of
management and directors of the Company, and (d) the reported accounting for
its
assets and liabilities is compared with existing assets and liabilities at
reasonable intervals.
Section
3.24 Complete
Copies of Materials
The
Company has delivered to Parent, or made available for Parent to review,
complete copies of each document which has been requested by Parent, its counsel
and other advisors in connection with their legal and accounting review of
the
Company, including, without limitation, (i) the Company Articles and Company
Bylaws as amended to date and as currently in effect, (ii) all material permits,
orders, and consents issued by any regulatory agency with respect to the
Company, or any securities of the Company, and all applications for such
permits, orders, and consents, (iii) agreements relating to Intellectual
Property, and (iv) the stock transfer books of the Company setting forth all
transfers of any capital stock, in each case, as currently in
effect.
29
Section
3.25 Brokers'
and Finders' Fees
The
Company has not incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any
liability for brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions or investment
bankers' fees or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.
Section
3.26 Board
Approval
The
Company Board has unanimously (i) adopted and approved this Agreement and the
Merger, (ii) determined that the transactions contemplated herein and therein
are advisable and in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company
and
on terms that are fair to such shareholders and (iii) resolved to recommend
that
the shareholders of the Company approve this Agreement and the Merger, and
none
of the aforesaid actions by the Company Board has been amended, rescinded or
modified.
Section
3.27 Customers
and Suppliers
No
customer which individually accounted for five percent (5%) or more of the
Company's gross revenues during the twelve (12) month period preceding the
date
hereof, and no supplier of the Company has canceled or otherwise terminated,
or
communicated any threat to the Company to cancel or otherwise terminate its
relationship with the Company, or has decreased materially its services or
supplies to the Company in the case of any such supplier, or its usage of the
services or products of the Company in the case of any such customer, and to
the
Company's Knowledge, no such supplier or customer intends to cancel or otherwise
terminate its relationship with the Company or to decrease materially its
services or supplies to the Company or its usage of the services or products
of
the Company.
Section
3.28 Material
Contracts
Except
for the contracts and agreements described in Section
3.28
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (the “Material
Contracts”),
the
Company is not a party to or bound by any material contract, including without
limitation:
(a) any
distributor, sales, advertising, agency or manufacturer's representative
contract;
(b) any
continuing contract for the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment or
services involving in the case of any such contract more than Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000) over the life of the contract;
(c) any
contract, commitment or agreement relating to the acquisition by the Company
of
any assets of a substantial nature, operating business or capital stock of
any
other person, the participation in a joint venture or similar arrangement with
any other person or the making of any other investment in any other
person;
(d) any
contract or commitment granting exclusive marketing or distribution or other
exclusive rights;
30
(e) any
contract, commitment, offer or proposal made by or binding upon the Company
to
any customer or potential customer for the sale of products or services having
a
value of more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in a twelve (12) month
period;
(f) any
contract that expires or may be renewed at the option of any person other than
the Company so as to expire more than one (1) year after the date of this
Agreement;
(g) any
contract or commitment requiring the Company to sell or otherwise provide
current or future products or services, or to provide support for any current
or
future products or services, in each case, for any period expiring more than
six
(6) months from the date hereof;
(h) any
trust
indenture, mortgage, promissory note, loan agreement or other contract or
instrument for the borrowing of money, any currency exchange, commodities or
other hedging arrangement or any leasing transaction of the type required to
be
capitalized in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(i) any
contract or commitment for capital expenditures in excess of Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in the aggregate;
(j) any
contract or commitment limiting the freedom of the Company to engage in any
line
of business or to compete with any other person;
(k) any
contract purporting to impose confidentiality or nondisclosure obligations
on
the Company;
(l) any
contract involving the lease of real property;
(m) any
contract for the lease of any machinery, equipment, motor vehicles, office
furniture, fixtures or other personal property;
(n) any
employment agreement or any other agreement that contains any severance or
termination pay liabilities or obligations;
(o) any
contract with any shareholder, officer, director, affiliate or associate of
the
Company, or any family member thereof except the grant of Company
Options;
(p) any
collective bargaining agreement, labor contract or similar agreement governing
any employee of the Company; or
(q) any
agreement of guarantee, support, indemnification, assumption or endorsement
of,
or any similar contract or commitment with respect to, the obligations,
liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) or indebtedness
of any other person.
31
Section
3.29 No
Breach of Material Contracts
All
Material Contracts are in written form. The Company has performed in all
material respects its obligations under and is entitled to all benefits under
all Material Contracts, and to the Knowledge of the Company, is not alleged
to
be in default in respect of any Material Contract. Each of the Material
Contracts is in full force and effect, and there exists no default or event
of
default or event, occurrence, condition or act, with respect to the Company
or,
to the Knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other contracting party,
which, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any
other event or conditions, would reasonably be expected to become a default
or
event of default under the terms of any Material Contract. True, correct and
complete copies of all Material Contracts have been delivered or made available
to Parent.
Section
3.30 Third
Party Consents
Section
3.30
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule lists all contracts and agreements to which the
Company is a party or by which its properties or assets are bound that require
a
novation, waiver, consent or approval, as the case may be, in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section
3.31 Accounts
Receivable and Payable
Subject
to any reserves set forth in the Interim Balance Sheet, all accounts receivable
of the Company shown on the Interim Balance Sheet and, as of the Closing Date,
all accounts receivable of the Company shown on the Closing Balance Sheet,
are
valid receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims, represent and will
represent bona fide claims against debtors for sales and other charges, and
are
not subject to discount except for normal cash and immaterial trade discounts.
The amount carried for doubtful accounts and allowances disclosed in the Interim
Balance Sheet are sufficient to provide for any losses which may be sustained
on
realization of the receivables. The amounts carried as reserves for expenses,
including, without limitation, all expenses for services rendered and goods
purchased, and warranty claims on the Interim Balance Sheets are sufficient
for
the payment of (i) expenses incurred prior to the Closing Date, other than
Transaction Expenses (ii) current warranty claims and (iii) warranty claims
which arise prior to twelve (12) months from the date of the Interim Balance
Sheet. There are no unpaid invoices or bills representing amounts alleged to
be
owed by the Company, or other alleged obligations of the Company, which the
Company has disputed or determined to dispute or refuse to pay.
Section
3.32 Inventory
The
inventories of the Company, whether shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or
thereafter acquired by the Company, consist of items of a quantity and quality
usable or salable in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practice. Since the date of the Interim Balance Sheet, the Company has continued
to replenish inventories in a normal and customary manner consistent with past
practices. The Company has not received written or oral notice that it will
experience in the foreseeable future any material difficulty in obtaining,
in
the desired quantity and quality and at a reasonable price and upon reasonable
terms and conditions, the raw materials, supplies or component products required
for the manufacture, assembly or production of its products. The values at
which
inventories are carried reflect the inventory valuation policy of the Company,
which is in accordance with the Company’s past practice. As of the date hereof,
the Company's inventory on hand and commitments to purchase inventory do not
exceed, in the aggregate, an amount greater than Twenty Thousand Dollars
($20,000).
32
Section
3.33 Propriety
of Past Payments
(a) No
unrecorded fund or asset of the Company has been established for any purpose,
(b) no accumulation or use of corporate funds of the Company has been made
without being properly accounted for in the books and records of the Company,
(c) no payment has been made by or on behalf of the Company with the
understanding that any part of such payment is to be used for any purpose other
than that described in the documents supporting such payment and (d) none of
the
Company, any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other
person associated with or acting for or on behalf of the Company has, directly
or indirectly, made any illegal contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff,
influence payment, kickback or other payment to any person, private or public,
regardless of form, whether in money, property or services, (i) to obtain
favorable treatment for any Company Shareholder, the Company, or any affiliate
of the Company in securing business, (ii) to pay for favorable treatment for
business secured for any Company Shareholder, the Company or any affiliate
of
the Company, (iii) to obtain special concessions, or for special concessions
already obtained, for or in respect of any Company Shareholder, the Company,
or
any affiliate of the Company or (iv) otherwise for the benefit of any
Company Shareholder, the Company, or any affiliate of the Company in violation
of any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational
or other administrative order, constitution, Law, ordinance, principle of common
law, regulation, statute, or treaty (including existing site plan approvals,
zoning or subdivision regulations or urban redevelopment plans relating to
real
property). None of the Company, or any current director, officer, agent,
employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has (i) used funds
for
unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related
to political activity or (ii) accepted or received any unlawful contribution,
payment, gift, kickback, expenditure or other item of value.
Section
3.34 Representations
Complete
None
of
the representations or warranties made by the Company herein or in any Schedule
hereto, including the Company Disclosure Schedule, or certificate furnished
by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, when all such documents are read
together in their entirety, contains or will contain at the Closing Date any
untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit at the Closing Date
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which made, not
misleading. The Company has not failed to disclose to Parent herein or in the
Company Disclosure Schedule any facts material to the business, results of
operations, assets, liabilities, financial condition or prospects of the
Company.
33
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
AND MERGER SUB
Parent
and Merger Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:
Section
4.1 Organization,
Standing and Power
Each
of
Parent and Merger Sub are a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the Laws of the State of California. Each of Parent and
Merger Sub have the requisite corporate power to own their properties and to
carry on their business as now being conducted and as currently proposed to
be
conducted and are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in
each
jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would
or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent
or
Merger Sub. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is in violation of any of the
provisions of their respective Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.
Section
4.2 Authority
Each
of
Parent and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and constitutes the valid
and binding obligations of Parent and Merger Sub enforceable against Parent
and
Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforceability may be limited by the effect, if any, of any applicable
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other Laws affecting
the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or any general principles of equity,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at
law
or in equity. Neither the execution and delivery by Parent or Merger Sub of
this
Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
conflict with, or result in any breach or violation of, or default under (with
or without notice or lapse of time, or both) or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or obligation or loss of any benefit under (i)
any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or other equivalent
charter documents, as applicable, of Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) any mortgage,
indenture, lease, contract, agreement, instrument or understanding to which
Parent or Merger Sub is a party or to which any of its properties or assets
is
bound or (iii) any Law applicable to either Parent or Merger Sub or any of
their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (ii)
and
(iii) above, any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, rights or
losses, which would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially
and adversely delay the consummation by Parent or Merger Sub of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No notice to, filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity, or any other
person is necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent
or Merger Sub or, except for the filing and recordation of the Agreement of
Merger in accordance with the requirements of California Law, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No approval by the
shareholders of Parent is required for the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
34
Section
4.3 Brokers’
and Finders’ Fees
Parent
and Merger Sub have not incurred, nor will either incur, directly or indirectly,
any liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or
investment bankers’ fees or any similar charges in connection with this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.
Section
4.4 Board
Approval
The
Board
of Directors of each of Parent and Merger Sub have adopted and approved this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE
V
CONDUCT
PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE
Section
5.1 Conduct
of Business of the Company.
Except
as
contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section
5.1
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, during the period from the date of this Agreement
and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the
Effective Time, the Company shall, except to the extent expressly contemplated
by this Agreement or as consented to in writing by Parent: (i) carry on its
business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore conducted and (ii) use all reasonable best efforts
consistent with past practice and policies to (x) preserve its present business
organizations, keep available the services of its present officers and employees
and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors,
licensors, licensees, and others having business dealings with it,
(y) preserve and protect its owned and leased properties and (z) conduct
its business in material compliance with all applicable Laws. The Company shall
promptly notify Parent of any event or occurrence not in the ordinary course
of
its business, consistent with past practice, and of any event which could have
a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section
5.2 Restriction
on Conduct of Business of the Company.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier
of
the termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, except as set forth
in
Section
5.2
of the
Company Disclosure Schedule or except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, the Company shall not do or cause any of the following, without
the
prior written consent of Parent which shall not be unreasonably
withheld:
(a) Charter
Documents.
Cause
any amendments to the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws or organize any
subsidiary or acquire any capital stock or other securities, or equity or
ownership interest in the business, of any other person;
35
(b) Dividends;
Changes in Capital Stock.
Declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any Company Common Stock,
or
split, combine or reclassify any Company Common Stock or issue or authorize
the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of Company Common Stock, or repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly
or indirectly, any shares of Company Common Stock;
(c) Issuance
of Securities.
Issue,
deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery or sale of,
or
purchase or propose the purchase of, any shares of Company Common Stock or
securities convertible into, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options
to
acquire, or other agreements or commitments of any character obligating it
to
issue any such shares or other convertible securities, other than the issuance
of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Company Options
outstanding as of the date of this Agreement;
(d) Stock
Option Plans.
Accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability or vesting of any
Company stock options, other rights granted under or restrictions applicable
to
Company option plans or authorize cash payments in exchange for any Company
stock options or other rights granted under any Company option
plan.
(e) Indebtedness.
Incur
any Indebtedness, guarantee any such Indebtedness, issue or sell any debt
securities or guarantee any debt securities of others;
(f) Liens.
Mortgage, pledge or encumber any assets;
(g) Acquisitions.
Acquire
or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a
substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
or
any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or
division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets, except,
in each such case, which are immaterial and are in the ordinary course of the
Company’s business, consistent with past practice;
(h) Dispositions.
Sell,
lease, license or otherwise dispose of or encumber any of its properties or
assets, individually or in the aggregate, material to its business except sales
of inventory in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice;
(i) Leases.
Terminate, amend or enter into any lease with respect to real or personal
property;
(j) Payment
of Obligations.
Pay,
discharge or satisfy any claim, liability or obligation (absolute, accrued,
asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise) arising other than in the
ordinary course of business other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction
of
liabilities reflected or reserved against in the Interim Balance Sheet and
other
than Transaction Expenses;
(k) Accounts
Payable and Accounts Receivable.
Except in the ordinary course of business, take any action reasonably likely
to
(i) accelerate the payment of customer accounts receivable (including by
shortening payment terms, providing incentives for early payment or otherwise),
or (ii) delay the payment on accounts payable to suppliers, vendors or
others;
36
(l) Capital
Expenditures.
Make
any capital expenditures, capital additions or capital improvements in excess
of
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) individually or in excess of Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in the aggregate;
(m) Termination
or Waiver.
Terminate or waive any material right;
(n) Employees;
Employee Benefit Plans; New Hires; Pay Increases.
Adopt,
amend, fund or accelerate payment under any employee benefit, incentive
compensation, fringe benefit, retention, stock purchase, option, or other equity
based plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement, or hire any new employee,
terminate any key employee, pay any special bonus or special remuneration to
any
current or former employee, consultant or director, or increase the salaries,
wage rates or other benefits or compensation of any of its current or former
employees, consultants or directors or enter into a collective bargaining
agreement, trade union agreement or similar agreement or arrangement under
which
any employee or consultant would be subject or would otherwise receive any
benefit;
(o) Severance
Arrangements.
Grant
any severance, change in control or termination pay (i) to any current or former
director, consultant or officer or (ii) to any other current or former employee;
(p) Contracts.
Enter
into any contract or commitment (including the issuance or acceptance of any
purchase order) with a value exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), or
violate, amend or otherwise modify or waive any of the terms of any of its
contracts;
(q) Intellectual
Property.
Transfer to any person or entity any rights to Company Intellectual Property
other than pursuant to non-exclusive license arrangements in the ordinary course
of business, consistent with past practice, or abandon, permit to lapse or
otherwise dispose of any Company Intellectual Property or make any material
change in any Company Intellectual Property;
(r) Exclusive
Rights.
Enter
into or amend any agreements pursuant to which any other party is granted
exclusive marketing or distribution or other exclusive rights of any type or
scope with respect to any of the Company’s products or technology;
(s) Litigation.
Initiate or settle any litigation except for the commencement of legal action
(i) in such cases where the Company in good faith determines that failure to
commence suit would result in the material impairment of a valuable aspect
of
its business, provided that it consults with Parent prior to the commencement
of
such a suit, or (ii) for a breach of this Agreement;
(t) Insurance.
Fail to
keep in full force and effect the Company’s current insurance policies or other
comparable insurance affecting the business of the Company, or reduce the amount
of any insurance coverage provided by existing insurance policies;
37
(u) Taxes.
Make or
change any material election in respect of Taxes, adopt or change any accounting
method in respect of Taxes, file any material Tax Return other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and other than those
for which extensions have been received as set forth in the Company Disclosure
Schedule or any amendment to a material Tax Return, enter into any closing
agreement, settle any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, or consent to
any
extension or waiver of the statutory period of limitations applicable to any
claim or assessment in respect of Taxes;
(v) Accounting
Policies and Procedures.
Make
any material change to its accounting methods, principles, policies, procedures
or practices;
(w) Revaluation.
Revalue
any of its assets, including writing down the value of inventory or writing
off
notes or accounts receivable other than in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice; or
(x) Other.
Agree
in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions described in this
Section
5.2.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier
of
the termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, the Company will notify
Parent in writing not less than five (5) days prior to making any material
personnel changes.
Section
5.3 No
Solicitation.
(a) Until
the
earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, the Company
and the officers, directors, employees or other agents of the Company will
not,
directly or indirectly (i) initiate, solicit or encourage (including, without
limitation, by way of furnishing information), or take any action to facilitate
any inquiry or the making of, any offer or proposal which constitutes or is
reasonably likely to lead to any Acquisition Transaction, (ii) propose,
enter into or participate in negotiations or discussions with, or provide any
information or data to, any person (other than Parent, Merger Sub or any of
their respective affiliates or representatives) relating to any Acquisition
Transaction, (iii) make or authorize any statement, recommendation or
solicitation in support of, or approve, any Acquisition Transaction or (iv)
enter into any letter of intent or similar document or any contract, agreement
or commitment contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction
or transaction contemplated thereby. Upon execution of this Agreement, the
Company will immediately cease any existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of the
foregoing. The Company will promptly notify Parent after receipt after the
date
of this Agreement of any proposal for an Acquisition Transaction or any notice
that any person is considering an Acquisition Transaction or any request for
information relating to the Company or for access to the properties, books
or
records of the Company by any person that has advised the Company that it may
be
considering, or has proposed, an Acquisition Transaction and will keep Parent
timely informed of the status and details of any such Acquisition Transaction
notice, request or any correspondence or communications related thereto and
shall provide Parent with a true and complete copy of such Acquisition
Transaction notice or request or correspondence or communications related
thereto, if it is in writing, or a written summary thereof (which shall include
the identity of the person considering or proposing such Acquisition Transaction
and the material terms thereof), if it is not in writing. Neither the Company
Board nor any committee thereof shall (x) withdraw or modify, or propose to
withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the approval
or
recommendation by the Company Board or any such committee of this Agreement
or
the Merger, or (y) approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend,
any
Acquisition Transaction or (z) enter into any agreement with respect to any
Acquisition Transaction.
38
Section
5.4 Further
Information.
(a) The
Company shall afford Parent and its accountants, counsel and other
representatives, reasonable access during normal business hours during the
period prior to the Closing to (i) all of the properties, books, contracts,
commitments and records, patent application files and personnel of the Company
and (ii) all other information concerning the business of the Company, their
respective properties and personnel as Parent may reasonably request.
(b) Subject
to compliance with applicable Laws, from the date hereof until Closing, the
Company shall confer on a regular and frequent basis with one or more
representatives of Parent to report operational matters of materiality and
the
general status of ongoing operations.
(c) No
information or Knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this
Section
5.4
shall
affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement or the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate
the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) The
Company shall give prompt notice to Parent upon learning of (a) the
occurrence or non-occurrence of any event whose occurrence or non-occurrence,
as
the case may be, would reasonably be likely to cause either (i) any
representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement to be
untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at the date hereof or at the
Closing or (ii) any condition set forth in ARTICLE
VII
to be
unsatisfied at the Closing Date (except to the extent it refers to a specific
date) and (b) any material failure of the Company or Parent to comply with
or
satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied
by
it hereunder; provided,
however,
that
the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section
5.4(d)
shall
not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party
receiving such notice or the representations or warranties of the parties hereto
or the conditions to the obligations of the parties hereto.
(e) As
soon
as such information becomes available, and in any event not later than thirty
(30) days after the end of each fiscal month, the Company shall provide to
Parent an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such month and the related
statements of results of operations and statements of cash flows for such period
together with a list of the ages and amounts of all accounts and notes due
and
uncollected as of the end of such month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company agrees to provide to Parent and its accountants, counsel and other
representatives copies of the Company’s internal financial statements promptly
upon request.
39
ARTICLE
VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
Section
6.1 Public
Disclosure.
(a) Parent
and the Company shall, prior to Closing, consult with each other before issuing
or authorizing any press release or any other public statement or making (or
authorizing) any other disclosure to any third party (whether or not in response
to an inquiry) regarding the existence or terms of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, and, prior to the Closing, neither shall
(or
permit any of their respective subsidiaries, representatives or advisors to)
issue any such press release or make any such statement or disclosure without
the prior written approval of the other, except as may be required by applicable
Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national
securities exchange, in which case the disclosing party shall provide to the
other party such advance notice as is reasonable under the circumstances prior
to the making of, and shall consult with the other party regarding the form
of,
any such required disclosure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and the
Company may reveal the existence and terms of this Agreement to their respective
representatives and advisors (a) who need to know the terms of this Agreement
for the purpose of evaluating the Merger, (b) who are informed of the
confidential nature of the Agreement and (c) who agree to act in accordance
with
the terms of this Section
6.1.
(b) The
Sole
Shareholder shall not, prior to or following the Closing, issue any press
release, make any other public statement or make any other disclosure to any
third party (whether or not in response to an inquiry) regarding the existence
and terms of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without
the
prior written approval of Parent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sole
Shareholder may reveal the existence and terms of this Agreement to their
respective representatives and advisors (a) who need to know the terms of this
Agreement for the purpose of evaluating the Merger, (b) who are informed of
the
confidential nature of the Agreement and (c) who agree to act in accordance
with
the terms of this Section
6.1.
Section
6.2 Consents;
Cooperation
Each
of
Parent and the Company shall promptly apply for or otherwise seek, and use
its
reasonable best efforts to obtain, all consents, waivers and approvals required
to be obtained by it for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section
6.3 Legal
Requirements
Subject
to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of Parent, Merger Sub and
the
Company will, and Parent will cause its subsidiaries to, take all reasonable
actions necessary to comply in all material respects promptly with all legal
requirements which may be imposed on it with respect to the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and will take all reasonable actions
necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with the other parties hereto in
obtaining) any consent, approval, order or authorization of, or any
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or other
person, required to be obtained or made by it in connection with the taking
of
any action contemplated by this Agreement.
40
Section
6.4 Best
Efforts and Further Assurances
Prior
to
the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement,
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agree to use best efforts to take, or cause
to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary,
proper or advisable (subject to any applicable Laws) to consummate and make
effective the Merger as promptly as practicable including, but not limited
to,
the satisfaction of the other parties’ conditions to Closing.
Section
6.5 Termination
of Plans
Prior
to
the Effective Time, the Company shall adopt resolutions to terminate the
Company’s Company 401(k) plan (the “401(k) Plan”) immediately prior to the
Closing. Parent shall receive from the Company evidence that the Company Board
has adopted resolutions to terminate the 401(k) Plan (the form and substance
of
which resolutions shall be subject to review and approval of Parent, which
approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), effective as of the
day
immediately preceding the Closing Date but contingent on the Closing. Parent
shall permit each employee of the Company who participates in Parent’s 401(k)
plan following the Effective Time and who has received an eligible rollover
distribution (as defined in Section 402(c)(4) of the Code) from the 401(k)
Plan
to roll such eligible rollover distribution, into an account under Parent’s
401(k) plan.
Section
6.6 Tax
Certificate
The
Company shall, prior to the Closing Date, provide Parent with a properly
executed FIRPTA certificate, substantially in the form agreed to by the parties
hereto, which states that shares of capital stock of the Company do not
constitute “United States real property interests” under Section 897(c) of the
Code, for purposes of satisfying Parent’s obligations under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1445-2(c)(3). In addition, simultaneously with delivery of such
Notification Letter, the Company shall have provided to Parent, as agent for
the
Company, a form of notice to the IRS in accordance with the requirements of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h)(2) and in the customary form along
with written authorization for Parent to deliver such notice form to the IRS
on
behalf of the Company upon the Closing of the Merger.
Section
6.7 Withholding
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any
shareholder such amounts as the Company or Parent has determined is required
to
be deducted and withheld with respect to any of the transactions under any
provision of United States federal, state, local or foreign tax Law. To the
extent that amounts are so withheld, such withheld amounts shall be treated
for
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the shareholder in respect
of which such deduction and withholding was made.
41
Section
6.8 Payment
of Certain Indebtedness. Following
the Closing, the Surviving Corporation shall perform all of its obligations
relating to the Company’s loans and leases that are personally guaranteed by
Sole Shareholder and set forth on Schedule 6.8 (collectively, the “Company
Agreements”). If the Surviving Corporation defaults under any of the Company
Agreements and such default is not cured in accordance with such agreement,
at
Sole Shareholder’s sole and absolute discretion, upon written notice to Parent
and without releasing Parent from any obligation under such Company Agreement,
Sole Shareholder may make, perform, observe, take or do the same in such manner
and to such extent as Sole Shareholder may deem necessary to protect his
interest in such agreement as provided in this Section 6.8. In furtherance
of the foregoing rights, the Surviving Corporation does hereby irrevocably
appoint the Sole Shareholder, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the
Surviving Corporation with full power of substitution, for it and in its name
(i) to make any payment which Parent is obligated to make under such
agreement (ii) to ask, demand, collect, or receive in lieu of the Surviving
Corporation, all rents, issues, profits, avails, distributions, income, an
payment draws of the Surviving Corporation.
Any
default under the Company Agreements which is not cured in accordance with
such
agreement shall be a material breach of this Section and this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Parent and Merger Sub will
indemnify and hold harmless Sole Shareholder from and against any Seller Damages
arising out of a breach of Section 6.8 of the Agreement as well as any
other liability under any third party guaranty, however arising, up to maximum
amount of the total obligations under the Company Agreements as of the
Closing.
Section
6.9 Company
Disclosure Schedule. As
soon
as practicable following the date hereof, the Company shall deliver to Parent
the Company Disclosure Schedule. Prior to the Closing, if any event, condition,
fact or circumstance that is required to be disclosed on the Company Disclosure
Schedule prior to the Closing would require a change to the Company Disclosure
Schedule if the Company Disclosure Schedule were dated as of the date of the
occurrence, existence or discovery of such event, condition, fact or
circumstance, then the Company shall promptly deliver to Parent an update to
the
Company Disclosure Schedule specifying such change and shall use its best
efforts to remedy same, as applicable.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO THE CLOSING
Section
7.1 Conditions
to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger
The
respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to consummate and effect
the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, by agreement of all the
parties hereto:
(a) Shareholder
Approval.
This
Agreement, the Agreement of Merger and the Merger shall have been approved
by
the requisite vote of the Sole Shareholder.
(b) No
Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality.
No
temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order
issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory
restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be
in
effect, nor shall any proceeding brought by an administrative agency or
commission or other Governmental Entity or instrumentality, domestic or foreign,
seeking any of the foregoing be pending; nor shall there be any action taken,
or
any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted, entered or enforced, which
makes
the consummation of the Merger illegal. In the event an injunction or other
order shall have been issued, each party agrees to use its reasonable efforts
to
have such injunction or other order lifted.
42
(c) Governmental
Approval.
Parent,
the Company and their respective subsidiaries shall have timely obtained from
each Governmental Entity all approvals, waivers and consents, if any, necessary
for consummation of, or in connection with, the several transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section
7.2 Additional
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
The
obligations of the Company to consummate and effect the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of which
may be waived, in writing, by the Company:
(a) Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
The
representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub in this Agreement shall
be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations
and warranties that are qualified by their terms by a reference to materiality
or Material Adverse Effect which representations and warranties as so qualified
shall be true in all respects) on and as of the Effective Time as though such
representations and warranties were made on and as of such time (except for
such
representations and warranties which speak as of a particular time which
representations and warranties need be true and correct only as of such time)
and Parent and Merger Sub shall each have performed and complied in all material
respects with all covenants, obligations and conditions of this Agreement
required to be performed and complied with by them as of the Effective
Time.
(b) Certificate
of Parent.
The
Company shall have received from Parent an officer’s certificate certifying to
the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Section 7.2(a).
Section
7.3 Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger
Sub
The
obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate and effect the Merger and
the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of which
may be waived, in writing, by Parent or Merger Sub:
(a) Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
The
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement shall be true
and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and
warranties that are qualified by their terms by a reference to materiality
or
Material Adverse Effect which representations and warranties as so qualified
shall be true in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date as though such
representations and warranties were made on and as of such date (except for
such
representations and warranties which speak as of a particular time which
representations and warranties need be true and correct only as of such time)
and the Company shall in all material respects have performed and complied
with
all covenants, obligations and conditions of this Agreement required to be
performed and complied with by it as of the Effective Time.
43
(b) Certificate
of the Company.
Parent
shall have received a certificate of the Company executed by an officer
certifying fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section
7.3(a),
Section
7.3(c),
Section
7.3(e),
and
Sections
7.3(g)-(o).
(c) Third
Party Consents.
Parent
shall have been furnished with evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent of
the
consent or approval of those persons whose consent or approval shall be required
for the Company (i) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
(ii) to comply with and perform all of the Company’s obligations as
contemplated hereby.
(d) Legal
Opinion.
Parent
shall have received a legal opinion from Best Best & Xxxxxxx LLP, legal
counsel to the Company, in substantially the form of Exhibit D
attached
to this Agreement and with customary qualifications and
limitations.
(e) No
Material Adverse Changes.
There
shall not have occurred any material adverse change in the condition (financial
or otherwise), properties and assets (including intangible assets), liabilities,
business, operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company;
provided,
however,
that
for purposes of determining whether there shall have been any such material
adverse change, any adverse change that results from the taking of any action,
or the failure to act, as required by this Agreement shall be disregarded.
(f) Resignation
of Officers and Directors.
The
officers and directors of the Company in office immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall have resigned as officers and directors of the Company,
effective as of the Effective Time, and Parent shall have received letters
of
resignation in form and substance satisfactory to Parent from such persons.
(g) Dissenting
Shares.
Holders
of Common Stock representing a minimum of ninety percent (90%) of the aggregate
number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding shall have voted in favor
of the Merger or waived their appraisal rights under California
Law.
(h) Closing
Statement.
The
Company shall have delivered to Parent the Closing Statement pursuant to
Section
2.8(a)
hereof
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent.
(i) Termination
of 401(k) Plan.
The
401(k) Plan shall have been terminated.
(j) Tax
Certificates.
The
Company shall have provided Parent with the properly executed certificates
pursuant to Section 6.6.
44
(k) Non-Compete
Agreement.
The
Sole Shareholder shall have delivered to Parent an executed non-compete
agreement effective upon the Closing in the form of Exhibit
E
attached
to this Agreement.
(l) Employment
Offer Letters.
Key
employees to be mutually agreeable between the parties shall each have delivered
to Parent an executed offer letter of employment from Merger Sub, with
employment effective immediately following the Effective Time.
(m) Consulting
Agreement.
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx shall have delivered to Parent an executed consulting agreement
effective upon the Closing in the form of Exhibit
F
attached
to this Agreement.
(n) Registration
Rights Agreement.
The
Sole Shareholder shall have delivered to Parent an executed registration rights
agreement in the form of Exhibit
G
attached
to this Agreement.
(o) Closing
Balance Sheet.
The
Company shall have delivered to Parent the Closing Balance Sheet in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent.
(p) Closing
Statement.
The
Company shall have delivered to Parent the Closing Statement in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent.
(q) Company
Revenues.
The
Company revenues calculated in accordance with GAAP based on the seasonalized
annual run-rates determined in accordance with industry standards for the period
commencing on August 1, 2006 through and including September 30, 2006 shall
be Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000).
(r) Store
EBITDA.
The
Store EBITDA based on the seasonalized annual run-rates determined in accordance
with industry standards for the period commencing on August 1, 2006 through
and
including September 30, 2006 shall be Five Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars
($540,000).
(s) Transaction
Expenses.
The
Company shall have provided Parent with evidence reasonably satisfactory to
Parent that the Company has paid in full all Transaction Expenses incurred
by
the Company.
(t) Company
Disclosure Schedule.
The
Company shall have provided Parent with the Company Disclosure
Schedule.
Section
7.4 Frustration
of Conditions
Neither
Parent nor the Company may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in
this ARTICLE
VII
to be
satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to comply with or
perform any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement.
45
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section
8.1 Termination
At
any
time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the
matters presented in connection with the Merger to the Sole Shareholder, this
Agreement may be terminated:
(a) by
mutual
consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by
either
Parent or the Company, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
such
date that is sixty (60) days following the date hereof (the “Final
Date”);
provided
that the
right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
8.1(b)
shall
not be available to any party whose action or failure to act has been the cause
of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date
and
such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this
Agreement;
(c) by
Parent, if the Company shall breach any representation, warranty, obligation
or
agreement hereunder such that the conditions set forth in Section
7.3(a)
would be
incapable of being satisfied by the Final Date, and such breach shall not have
been cured, or by its nature cannot be cured, within ten (10) days of receipt
by
the Company of written notice of such breach; provided
that
Parent has not breached any of its representations, warranties, obligations
or
agreements hereunder;
(d) by
the
Company, if Parent or Merger Sub shall breach any representation, warranty,
obligation or agreement hereunder, such that the conditions set forth in
Section
7.2(a)
would be
incapable of being satisfied by the Final Date, and such breach shall not have
been cured, or by its nature cannot be cured, within ten (10) days following
receipt by Parent of written notice of such breach; provided
that the
Company has not breached any of its representations, warranties, obligations
or
agreements hereunder;
(e) by
Parent, if Sole Shareholder has not approved and adopted this Agreement and
the
transactions contemplated hereby within the period set forth in Section
5.4(a);
and
(f) by
Parent, Merger Sub or the Company if any permanent injunction or other order
of
a court or other competent authority preventing the consummation of the Merger
shall have become final and nonappealable;
(g) by
Parent, if any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), properties and assets (including intangible assets), liabilities,
business, operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company has
occurred since the date hereof; provided,
however,
that
for purposes of determining whether there shall have been any such material
adverse change, any adverse change that results from the taking of any action,
or the failure to act, as required by this Agreement shall be disregarded;
and
46
(h) by
Parent, if the Company Disclosure Schedule contains any event, condition, fact
or circumstance that is not satisfactory to Parent, in its sole and absolute
discretion.
Section
8.2 Effect
of Termination
In
the
event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section
8.1,
this
Agreement shall forthwith become void, and except as provided in Section
8.3,
there
shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Merger Sub or the
Company or their respective officers, directors, shareholders, shareholders
or
affiliates, except to the extent that such termination results from fraud;
provided
that the
provisions of Section
6.1
(Public
Disclosure), this Section
8.2,
Section
8.3
(Expenses) and ARTICLE
IX
shall
remain in full force and effect and survive any termination of this Agreement.
Section
8.3 Expenses
Whether
or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses arising out of,
relating to or incidental to the discussion, evaluation, negotiation and
documentation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of legal
counsel and financial advisors and accountants, if any) (in the aggregate,
“Transaction
Expenses”),
shall
be paid by the party incurring such expense; it being understood that all such
costs and expenses incurred by the Company shall be paid by the Company in
cash
prior to the Closing, and shall in no event be borne by Parent, the Surviving
Corporation or Merger Sub.
Section
8.4 Amendment
The
parties hereto may cause this Agreement to be amended at any time by execution
of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto,
except as otherwise required by Law.
Section
8.5 Extension;
Waiver
Any
party
hereto may, subject to Section
8.4
and to
the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the performance of any
of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive
any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such party
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and
(iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the
benefit of such party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver by any
party hereto shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing
extension or waiver. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party.
47
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
9.1 Indemnification
(a) Indemnification
by Sole Shareholder.
The
Sole Shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless Parent and its affiliates
(including the Surviving Corporation) and their Representatives, from and
against any and all losses, costs, damages, liabilities, Taxes and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses)
(collectively, “Purchaser
Damages”)
arising out of or relating to (i) any misrepresentation or breach of, or default
in connection with, any of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements given or made by the Company in this Agreement, as modified by the
Company Disclosure Schedule, or in any exhibit or schedule to, or certificate
delivered in connection with, this Agreement or (ii) any inaccuracy contained
in
the Closing Statement.
Subject
to the following sentence, in no event shall the obligations of the Sole
Shareholder to provide indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1(a)
exceed
an amount equal to Five-Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000). The right
of
Parent and its affiliates (including the Surviving Corporation) and their
Representatives to obtain indemnification pursuant to this Section
9.1(a)
shall be
the exclusive remedy for any breach by the Company of the terms of this
Agreement, other than (i) actions for specific performance pursuant to
Section
10.9,
(ii)
Purchaser Damages arising out of or relating to fraud, willful misrepresentation
or intentional breach, and (iii) offsets against any amounts payable to the
Sole
Shareholder pursuant to Section
2.12.
The
right to indemnification, payment of Purchaser Damages or other remedy will
not
be affected by any investigation conducted with respect to, or any Knowledge
acquired (or capable of being acquired) at any time, whether before or after
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing Date, with respect
to
the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement made by the Company or any other matter. The waiver of
any
condition based on the accuracy of any such representation or warranty, or
on
the performance of or compliance with any such covenant or agreement, will
not
affect the right to indemnification, payment of Purchaser Damages, or any other
remedy based on any such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement. Parent
shall be entitled to offset an amount equal in value to the full amount of
all
Purchaser Damages from any and all amounts Parent is obligated to pay Sole
Shareholder other than amounts Parent is obligated to pay Sole Shareholder
pursuant to that certain employment agreement between Sole Shareholder and
Parent dated as of the date hereof. In determining the amount of any Purchaser
Damages attributable to such breach, any materiality standard contained in
a
representation, warranty or covenant of the Company shall be
disregarded.
(b) Indemnification
by Parent and Merger Sub.
Parent
and Merger Sub will indemnify and hold harmless Sole Shareholder from and
against any and all losses, costs, damages, liabilities, Taxes and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses)
(collectively, “Seller
Damages”)
arising out of or relating to (i) any misrepresentation or breach of, or default
in connection with, any of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements given or made by Parent or Merger Sub in this Agreement, or in any
exhibit or schedule to, or certificate delivered in connection with this
Agreement.
Subject
to the following sentence, in no event shall the obligations of Parent or Merger
Sub to provide indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)
exceed
an amount equal to Five-Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub will indemnify and hold
harmless Sole Shareholder from and against any Seller Damages arising out of
a
breach of Section 6.8
of the
Agreement as well as any other liability under any third party guaranty, however
arising, up to a maximum amount of the total obligations under the Company
Agreements as of the Closing. The right of Sole Shareholder to obtain
indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)
shall be
the exclusive remedy for any breach by Parent or Merger Sub of the terms of
this
Agreement, other than (i) actions for specific performance pursuant to
Section 10.9,
or
(ii) Seller Damages arising out of or relating to fraud, willful
misrepresentation or intentional breach. The right to indemnification, payment
of Seller Damages or other remedy will not be affected by any investigation
conducted with respect to, or any Knowledge acquired (or capable of being
acquired) at any time, whether before or after the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the Closing Date, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy
of or compliance with, any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
made
by Parent or Merger Sub or any other matter. The waiver of any condition based
on the accuracy of any such representation or warranty, or on the performance
of
or compliance with any such covenant or agreement, will not affect the right
to
indemnification, payment of Seller Damages, or any other remedy based on any
such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.
48
(c) Payments.
Any
indemnification payment paid pursuant to this ARTICLE IX
shall be
treated as an adjustment to the purchase price.
Section
9.2 Claims;
Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration
(a) In
the
event that a party entitled to indemnification hereunder (“Indemnitee”) seeks to
exercise its rights to obtain indemnification for Damages under Section 9.1,
Indemnitee shall deliver to the party obligated to indemnify Indemnitee
(“Indemnitor”) a written notice specifying in reasonable detail the nature of
the claim for which indemnification is being sought and the amount of Damages
(each, an “Officer’s Certificate”). Such amount shall become payable within ten
(10) Business Days of receipt of the Officer’s Certificate. Indemnitor shall
have the right to object to one or more of the claims set forth in any Officer’s
Certificate delivered by Indemnitee by serving written notice thereof within
fifteen (15) Business Days following the delivery of such Officer’s Certificate,
which notice shall specify in reasonable detail the basis for such objection.
In
the event that Indemnitor does not object to a claim in accordance with the
preceding sentence by the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) Business
Day
following receipt by Indemnitee of the Officer’s Certificate, Indemnitor shall
be deemed to have accepted and agreed to the claim set forth in such Officer’s
Certificate, and shall be precluded from raising any objection thereto following
such date.
(b) In
case
Indemnitor shall so object in writing to any claim or claims by Indemnitee
made
in any Officer’s Certificate, Indemnitee shall have fifteen (15) days after
receipt of an objection by Indemnitor to respond thereto in a written statement.
If after such fifteen (15) day period there remains a dispute as to any claims,
Indemnitee and Indemnitor shall attempt in good faith for sixty (60) days to
agree upon the rights of the respective parties with respect to each of such
claims. If Indemnitee and Indemnitor should so agree, the claims set forth
in
such Officer’s Certificate shall be modified as necessary to reflect such
agreement.
49
(c) If
no
such agreement can be reached after good faith negotiation, either Indemnitee
or
Indemnitor may, by written notice to the other, demand arbitration of the matter
unless the amount of the damage or loss is at issue in pending litigation with
a
third party, in which event arbitration shall not be commenced until such amount
is ascertained or both parties agree to arbitration; and in either such event
the matter shall be settled by arbitration conducted by three arbitrators.
Within twenty (20) days after such written notice is sent, Indemnitee and
Indemnitor shall each select one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so selected
shall select a third arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrators as to the
validity and amount of any claim in such Officer’s Certificate shall be binding
and conclusive upon the parties to this Agreement.
(d) Judgment
upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be held in Orange County, California
under the commercial rules then in effect of the American Arbitration
Association. All costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses)
incurred in connection with any such arbitration shall be paid by the party
incurring such expense. The fees and expenses of each arbitrator and the
administrative fee of the American Arbitration Association shall be allocated
by
the arbitrator or arbitrators, as the case may be (or, if not so allocated,
shall be borne equally by Indemnitee and Indemnitor).
Section
9.3 Third-Party
Claims
In
the
event that Indemnitee becomes aware of a third-party claim which Indemnitee
believes give rise to indemnification under this ARTICLE
IX
(a
“Third
Party Claim”),
Indemnitee shall promptly notify Indemnitor of such Third Party Claim;
provided,
however,
that
the failure to give prompt notice shall not affect the indemnification provided
hereunder except to the extent Indemnitor has been actually prejudiced as a
result of such failure. The notice of Third Party Claim shall include, based
on
the information then available to Indemnitee, a summary in reasonable detail
of
the basis for the claim and a reasonable estimate of the Damages. Indemnitor
shall be entitled, at its own expense, to participate therein; provided,
however,
Indemnitee shall have full control over the litigation, including settlement
and
compromise thereof; provided,
further
that any
such settlement shall not be determinative of the existence of or amount of
Damages relating to such claim, except with the consent of Indemnitor, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and which consent shall
be
deemed to have been given unless Indemnitor shall have objected within thirty
(30) days after a written request for such consent by Indemnitee. In the event
that Sole Shareholder has consented to any settlement of a Third Party Claim,
the Sole Shareholder shall not have any power or authority to object under
Section
9.4
or any
other provision of this ARTICLE IX
to any
claim by an Parent or Merger Sub for offset against the amounts payable to
Sole
Shareholder or for indemnity in the amount of such settlement (including,
without limitation, pursuant to Section
9.4).
Section
9.4 No
Right of Contribution
Sole
Shareholder shall not make any claim for contribution from the Company or the
Surviving Corporation with respect to any indemnity claims arising under or
in
connection with this Agreement to the extent that the Company, Surviving
Corporation or any Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder
for such claim, and the Sole Shareholder hereby waives any such right of
contribution from the Company or the Surviving Corporation it has or may have
in
the future.
50
ARTICLE
X
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
10.1 Survival
The
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company contained
in this Agreement as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedule or any exhibit
or schedule or certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
until the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Closing Date, except with
respect to the matters set forth in Sections
3.3
(Capitalization, Title to Shares), 3.12
(Title
to Property), 3.14
(Environmental Matters) and 3.16
(Taxes),
which shall survive until expiry of the applicable statute of limitations,
except for those certain covenants and agreements (such as those relating to
the
right to indemnification) that call for action after the Effective Time, which
survive indefinitely. In no case shall the termination of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements affect any claim for misrepresentation
or
breach thereof or default thereunder if written notice of such
misrepresentation, breach or default is given to the Sole Shareholder (including
under Section 9.3)
prior
to such termination.
Section
10.2 Notices
All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed received (i) on the date of delivery if delivered personally and/or
by messenger service, (ii) on the date of confirmation of receipt of
transmission by facsimile (or, the first Business Day following such receipt
if
(a) the date is not a Business Day or (b) confirmation of receipt is given
after
5:00 p.m., California Time) or (iii) on the date of confirmation of receipt
if delivered by a nationally recognized courier service (or, the first Business
Day following such receipt if (a) the date is not a Business Day or (b)
confirmation of receipt is given after 5:00 p.m., California Time), to the
parties at the following address or facsimile numbers (or at such other address
or facsimile number for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) |
if
to Parent or the Surviving Corporation,
to:
|
U.S.
Dry
Cleaning Corporation
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx
X.
Xxx, CEO
Facsimile
No.: (000)
000-0000
51
with
a
copy to (not notice):
Xxxxxxxxx
Traurig, LLP
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
No.: (000)
000-0000
(b) |
if
to the Company prior to the Closing,
to:
|
Cleaners
Club, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx.
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: (000)
000-0000
with
a
copy to (not notice):
Best
Best
& Xxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx.
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
No.: (000)
000-0000
(c) |
if
to the Sole Shareholder, to:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
00000
Xxxxxxx Xxx #0000
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000)
000-0000
with
a
copy to (not notice):
Best
Best
& Xxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx.
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
No.: (000)
000-0000
Section
10.3 Interpretation
When
a
reference is made in this Agreement to Exhibits, such reference shall be to
an
Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words “include,”
“includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be
followed by the words “without limitation.” The phrase “made available” in this
Agreement means that the information referred to has been made available if
requested by the party to whom such information is to be made available. The
phrases “the date of this Agreement”, “the date hereof”, and terms of similar
import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to
December 21, 2006. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
52
Section
10.4 Counterparts
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to
the
other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same
counterpart.
Section
10.5 Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest
This
Agreement and the certificates, documents and instruments and other agreements
specifically referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto, including the
Exhibits, the Schedules, including the Company Disclosure Schedule (a)
constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
(b) except by operation of the Merger, shall not be assigned by operation
of law or otherwise except as otherwise specifically provided, and (c) shall
be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Except with respect to the right to receive
payments by Sole Shareholder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
nothing in this Agreement shall create or be deemed to create any third party
beneficiary rights in any person or entity not a party to this
Agreement.
Section
10.6 Severability
In
the
event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes
or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force
and
effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances
will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto.
The parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of
this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to
the
extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or
unenforceable provision.
Section
10.7 Governing
Law
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of
the
State of California without reference to such state’s principles of conflicts of
law. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive
jurisdiction of any court located within the State of California, in connection
with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the matters
contemplated herein, and agrees that process may be served upon them in any
manner authorized by the Laws of the State of California for such persons and
waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might
otherwise have to such jurisdiction and such process.
53
Section
10.8 Rules
of Construction
The
parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the
negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive
the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction
providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed
against the party drafting such agreement or document.
Section
10.9 Specific
Performance
The
parties hereto agree that if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached,
irreparable damage would occur, no adequate remedy at law would exist and
damages would be difficult to determine, and that the parties shall be entitled
to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy
at
law or equity.
Section
10.10 Descriptive
Headings
The
descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience only and are not
intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
Section
10.11 Force
Majeure
No
party
shall be deemed to fail to perform its obligations or respond to any notice
on a
timely basis if its failure results solely from the following causes beyond
its
reasonable control, specifically: war, terrorism, strikes, natural disaster
or
acts of God. Any delay resulting directly from any of said causes shall extend
accordingly the time to perform or respond by the length of the delay. For
avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall in no event relieve any party of its
obligations hereunder or permit a party to fail to respond to notice beyond
the
extension described in the preceding sentence.
Section
10.12 Attorneys’
Fees
Should
any party hereto institute any action or proceeding in court or otherwise to
enforce any provision hereof or for damages by reason of alleged breach of
any
provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to receive
from the non-prevailing party such reasonable out of pocket expenses (including
attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the prevailing party in connection
with any such action or proceeding.
[Signature
page follows]
54
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, and the Sole Shareholder
have
executed and delivered this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first written above.
U.S.
Dry Cleaning Corporation
|
Cleaners
Club Acquisition Sub, Inc.
|
||
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx
|
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx
|
||
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxx
|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxx
|
||
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
Title: President
|
Cleaners
Club, Inc.
|
Sole
Shareholder
|
||
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
||
Title: President
|
EXHIBIT
A
AGREEMENT
OF MERGER
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
EXHIBIT
C
FORM
OF BYLAWS
EXHIBIT
D
FORM
OF COMPANY COUNSEL LEGAL OPINION
EXHIBIT
E
FORM
OF NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
F
FORM
OF CONSULTING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
G
FORM
OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT