VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS
VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of April 5, 2007 (this “Agreement”)
is
made by and between AVP Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”)
and
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (the “Stockholder”).
RECITALS
Pursuant
to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 5, 2007 (as amended, modified,
supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms, the
“Merger
Agreement”),
by
and among AVP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
Parent and AVP Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Acquisition Corp.”),
it is contemplated that Acquisition Corp. shall merge with and into the Company
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the
“Merger”).
Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings set
forth in the Merger Agreement.
As
of the
date hereof, the Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the number
of
shares of the Company’s Common Shares and the Company’s Preferred Shares set
forth on Schedule 1
attached
hereto (the “Existing
Shares”
and,
together with any shares of Company Shares acquired by the Stockholder after
the
date hereof, whether upon the exercise of warrants, options or rights, the
conversion or exchange of any Existing Shares or convertible or exchangeable
securities or by means of purchase, dividend, distribution or otherwise, the
“Subject
Shares”).
As
a
condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent and
Acquisition Corp. have requested that the Stockholder enter into this
Agreement.
In
order
to induce Parent and Acquisition Corp. to enter into the Merger Agreement,
the
Stockholder is willing to enter into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
To
implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements contained
herein, the parties agree as follows:
1.
Covenants
of the Stockholder.
Until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section
3,
the
Stockholder agrees as follows:
(a)
Agreement
to Vote.
At any meeting of stockholders of the Company called for the approval of the
Merger, however called, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in
connection with any action or approval by written consent of the holders of
Company Shares, or in any other circumstances in which the Stockholder is
entitled to vote, consent or give any other approval with respect to the Merger,
the Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares under
the
Stockholder’s control:
(i)
in
favor
of adoption and approval of the Merger;
1
(ii)
in
favor
of adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby;
(iii)
in
favor
of any other matter necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement which is considered at any such meeting of stockholders
or in such consent, and in connection therewith to execute any documents which
are necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the foregoing, including
the
ability for Parent, Acquisition Corp. or any of their respective nominees to
vote such Subject Shares directly;
(iv)
against
approval of any proposal made in opposition to or competition with consummation
of the Merger and the Merger Agreement;
(v)
against
any proposal that is intended to, or is reasonably likely to, result in a breach
of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement
of the Company under the Merger Agreement or the conditions to Parent’s or
Acquisition Corp.’s obligations under the Merger Agreement not being
fulfilled;
(vi)
against
any change in the directors of the Company, any change in the present
capitalization of the Company, any amendment of the Company’s certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or any other material change in the Company’s corporate
structure or business that is not requested or expressly approved by
Parent;
(vii)
against
any Acquisition Proposal by any Person other than Parent or Acquisition Corp.;
and
(viii)
against
any action which could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay,
postpone or materially adversely affect the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement or the likelihood of such transactions being
consummated.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section
1
shall
restrict the Company from terminating the Merger Agreement in accordance with
Article 7 thereto, and nothing in this Section
1
shall
require the Stockholder to take any action, or restrict the Stockholder from
taking any action, in connection with the Company’s termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with Article 7 thereto.
(b)
Agreement
to Cause Vote.
The Stockholder, as the holder of voting stock of the Company, shall be present,
in person or by the proxy contemplated in Section
2
at all
meetings of stockholders of the Company at which the matters referred to in
Section
1(a)
are to
be voted upon so that all Subject Shares are counted for the purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum at such meetings.
(c)
Transfer
Restrictions.
The Stockholder agrees not to (i) sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, assign
or
otherwise dispose of (including by gift or by contribution or distribution
to
any trust or similar instrument or to any beneficiaries of the Stockholder
(collectively, “Transfer”))
any
of the Subject Shares, (ii) enter into any contract, option or other arrangement
or understanding (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect
to the
Transfer of any of the Subject Shares, unless prior to making such Transfer,
the
transferee of the Subject Shares has agreed to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement to the same extent as the Stockholder with respect to the Subject
Shares so transferred, (iii) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney or other
authorization in or with respect to the Subject Shares, (iv) deposit the
Subject
Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement
with
respect to the Subject Shares, or (v) take any other action that would in
any
way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of the Stockholder’s
obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Merger
Agreement.
2
(d)
Waiver
Of Appraisal Rights.
Stockholder hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from
the
Merger.
(e)
No
Solicitation.
The Stockholder shall not, nor shall it permit or authorize any of its agents
or
representatives (collectively, the “Representatives”)
to,
(i) solicit or initiate, or encourage, directly or indirectly, any inquiries
regarding or the submission of, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) participate
in
any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any
information or data with respect to, or take any other action to knowingly
facilitate the making of any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be
expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) enter into any agreement
with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or approve or resolve to approve any
Acquisition Proposal. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Stockholder
shall, and it shall cause its Representatives to, immediately cease any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore
with respect to any of the foregoing. The Stockholder will promptly notify
Parent of the existence of any proposal, discussion, negotiation or inquiry
received by the Stockholder, and the Stockholder will immediately communicate
to
Parent the terms of any proposal, discussion, negotiation or inquiry which
it
may receive (and will promptly provide to Parent copies of any written materials
received by it in connection with such proposal, discussion, negotiation or
inquiry) and the identity of the Person making such proposal or inquiry or
engaging in such discussion or negotiation. Notwithstanding the forgoing,
(i) Parent and Acquisition Corp. acknowledge that the Stockholder is an officer
and director of the Company, and (ii) none of the provisions of this
Section
1(e)
shall
restrict Stockholder from taking any actions in the furtherance of the
fulfillment of his duties as an officer and director of the Company, nor shall
Stockholder be restricted in any way from taking any of the actions contemplated
in Section 5.08 of the Merger Agreement in his capacity as an officer and
director of the Company.
(f)
Representations
and Warranties of the Stockholder.
The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer as of the date
hereof that:
(i)
the
Stockholder has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform this Agreement, to appoint Parent and Acquisition Corp. as its Proxy
and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
(ii)
this
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the
Stockholder and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its
terms;
(iii)
the
Existing Shares of the Stockholder constitute all of the shares of Company
Stock
owned of record or beneficially by the Stockholder as of the date
hereof;
3
(iv)
the
Stockholder has sole voting power, sole power of disposition, sole power to
issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1(a)
and sole
power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case
with respect to all of the Existing Shares of the Stockholder, and will have
sole voting power, sole power of disposition, sole power to issue instructions
with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1(a)
and sole
power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case,
with respect to all of the Subject Shares of the Stockholder as of the Effective
Time, in each case with no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such
rights, subject to applicable federal securities laws and the terms of this
Agreement;
(v)
the Stockholder has good and valid title to the Existing Shares of the
Stockholder and at all times during the term hereof and on the Effective Time
will have good and valid title to the Subject Shares of the Stockholder, in
each
case, free and clear of all Liens, subject to applicable federal securities
laws
and the terms of this Agreement;
(vi)
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the
performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder will not, (i) conflict with,
violate, result in breach of, constitute a default (or an event that with notice
or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any
rights of termination or cancellation, or result in the creation of a lien
or
encumbrance on any assets of the Stockholder, including the Subject Shares,
pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease,
license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which the stockholder
is a
party or by which the Stockholder or any of the Stockholder’s assets are bound
or (ii) conflict with or violate any law applicable to the
Stockholder;
(vii)
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the
performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder will not, require any consent,
approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any
governmental or regulatory authority (other than any necessary filing under
the
HSR Act or the Exchange Act), domestic or foreign, except where the failure
to
obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such
filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay the performance by the
Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement; and
(viii)
no
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled to
any
broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Stockholder.
(g)
Consent
to the Management Rollover Transaction.
The Stockholder acknowledges that (i) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, the Company’s chairman and
Chief Executive Officer will, in connection with the Merger (A) become a
director and officer of Parent, (B) contribute to parent the Company Shares
he
owns, in exchange for shares of preferred and common stock of Parent, (C)
invest
a portion of the proceeds he receives from the cash-out of his Options in
the
Merger into Parent in exchange for shares of preferred and common stock of
Parent, (D) become a party to an employment agreement with Parent (entitling
him
to cash and non-cash compensation, including bonuses and benefits), and (ii)
the
foregoing rights in Parent that are being made available to Xx. Xxxxxx will
not
be available to the Stockholder (and likely will not be made available to
any
other stockholders of the Company on these or any other terms). The
Stockholder hereby consents to the foregoing transactions and waives any
rights
in connection with the foregoing transactions.
4
2.
Grant
of Irrevocable Proxy Coupled with an Interest.
(a)
Proxy.
Solely in the event of a failure by the Stockholder to act in accordance with
its obligations as to voting or executing a written consent pursuant to
Section
1(a)
of this
Agreement, the Stockholder hereby revokes any and all other proxies or powers
of
attorney in respect of any Subject Shares and agrees that during the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date this Agreement terminates
in accordance with Section
3,
the
Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints Parent, Acquisition Corp. or any
individual designated by Parent or Acquisition Corp. as the Stockholder’s agent,
attorney-in-fact and proxy (with full power of substitution), for and in the
name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to vote (or cause to be voted) the
Subject Shares held of record by the Stockholder, in the manner set forth in
Section
1(a),
at any
meeting of the shareholders of the Company, however called, or in connection
with any written consent of the shareholders of the Company, in each case,
solely at the time the Stockholders fails to act in accordance with its
obligations as to voting or executing a written consent pursuant to Section
1(a)
of this
Agreement.
(b)
Termination
of Proxy.
The Stockholder hereby affirms that the proxy set forth in this Section
2
is
irrevocable, is coupled with an interest, and is granted in consideration of
Parent and Acquisition Corp. entering into the Merger Agreement; provided
that,
for the avoidance of doubt, the proxy set forth in this Section
2
shall
terminate automatically upon termination of this Agreement.
(c)
Conflict.
The vote of the proxyholder shall control in any conflict between the vote
by
the proxyholder of the Stockholder’s Subject Shares and a vote by the
Stockholder of its Subject Shares.
3.
Termination.
This Agreement shall terminate, and no party shall have any rights or
obligations hereunder and this Agreement shall become null and void and have
no
further effect upon the earlier to occur of (a) the written mutual consent
of the parties hereto, (b) the Effective Time and (c) termination of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. No such termination of this
Agreement shall relieve any party hereto from any liability for any breach
of
this Agreement prior to termination.
4.
General
Provisions.
(a)
Further
Assurance.
From time to time, at another party’s request and without consideration, each
party hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all
such further action as may be necessary or desirable to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)
Amendment.
This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument signed by Parent
and
the Stockholder.
5
(c)
Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall
be
deemed given when delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or
sent
by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the
following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be
specified by like notice):
(i)
if
to
Parent or Acquisition Corp.:
AVP
Holdings, Inc.
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c/o
Shamrock Capital Advisors
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0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
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Attention:
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxx
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Facsimile
No.:
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(000)
000-0000
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with
a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
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Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxx LLP
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000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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Attention:
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Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
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Facsimile
No.:
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(000)
000-0000
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(ii)
if
to the
Stockholder:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
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c/o
AVP Holdings, Inc.
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0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
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Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
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with
a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
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The
Water Garden
0000
00xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
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Attention:
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
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Facsimile
No.:
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(000)
000-0000
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(d)
Interpretation.
Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this
Agreement they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation.”
(e)
Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by
facsimile or electronic transmission), 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.
6
(f)
Entire
Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and is not intended to confer upon any
Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder.
(g)
Severability.
If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or
incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other
conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full
force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions
contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any
party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner
in
order that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as originally
contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
(h)
No
Waiver.
The
failure of any party hereto to exercise any right, power, or remedy provided
under this agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its
obligations hereunder, or any custom or practice of the parties at variance
with
the terms hereof shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right to
exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.
(i)
Expenses.
Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, all fees, costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such
fees,
costs and expenses.
(j)
Attorneys’
Fees.
In the event that any action or proceeding, including without limitation
arbitration, is commenced by any party hereto for the purpose of enforcing
any
provision of this Agreement, the parties to such action, proceeding or
arbitration shall receive as part of any award, judgment, decision or other
resolution of such action, proceeding or arbitration their costs and reasonable
attorneys’ fees as determined by the person or body making such award, judgment,
decision or resolution. Should any claim hereunder be settled short of the
commencement of any such action or proceeding, including arbitration, the
parties in such settlement shall be entitled to include as part of the damages
alleged to have been incurred reasonable costs of attorneys or other
professionals in investigation or counseling on such claim.
(k)
Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder
shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law
or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject
to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors,
heirs, agents, representatives, trust beneficiaries, attorneys, affiliates
and
associates and all of their respective predecessors, successors, permitted
assigns, heirs, executors and administrators.
7
(l)
Enforcement;
Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(i)
The
parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any
provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms
hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions
to
prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific performance of the terms
hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity.
(ii)
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding any conflict of law rule
or
principle that would refer to the laws of another jurisdiction). EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION
OR PROCEEDING ARISING HEREUNDER.
*
*
*
* *
8
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Stockholder have caused this Voting Agreement
to be executed as of the date first written above.
PARENT:
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AVP
HOLDINGS, INC.
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/s/
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
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By:
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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Its:
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President
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ACQUISITION
CORP.:
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AVP
ACQUISITION CORP.
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/s/
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
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By:
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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Its:
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President
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STOCKHOLDER:
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/S/
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
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Signature
Page - Xxxxxx Voting Agreement
Schedule 1
Stockholder
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Shares of Company
Common Stock
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Shares of Company
Preferred Stock
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
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1,795,798
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