ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT Dated as of November 26, 2007 by and among Forward Air, Inc., Black Hawk Freight Services, Inc., and the Stockholders of Black Hawk Freight Services, Inc.
Dated
as
of November 26, 2007
by
and
among
Forward
Air, Inc.,
Black
Hawk Freight Services, Inc.,
and
the
Stockholders of Black Hawk Freight Services, Inc.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I. DEFINITIONS
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1
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Section
1.01. Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE
II. CONSIDERATION
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1
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Section
2.01. Sale and Delivery of Purchased Assets
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1
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Section
2.02. Excluded Assets
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3
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Section
2.03. Liabilities
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4
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Section
2.04. Purchase Price
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5
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Section
2.05. Escrow Agreement
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6
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Section
2.06. Allocation of Purchase Price
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6
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ARTICLE
III
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6
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Section
3.01. Closing
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6
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Section
3.02. Closing Deliveries
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7
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ARTICLE
IV
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8
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Section
4.01. Organization and Good Standing
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8
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Section
4.02. No Brokers
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9
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Section
4.03. Execution and Effect of Agreement
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9
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Section
4.04. Financial Statements
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9
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Section
4.05. No Undisclosed Liabilities
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9
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Section
4.06. Material Adverse Effect
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10
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Section
4.07. Taxes
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10
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Section
4.07. Taxes
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11
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Section
4.07. Taxes
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13
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Section
4.10. Real Property
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13
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Section
4.12 Material Agreements
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13
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Section
4.13 Property and Equipment
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14
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Section
4.14. No Conflicts; Consents
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15
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Section
4.15. Litigation
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15
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Section
4.16. Environmental Matters
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15
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Section
4.17. Compensation; Employment Agreements
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16
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Section
4.18. Collective Bargaining Agreements and Labor
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16
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Section
4.19. Benefit Plans; ERISA
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17
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Section
4.20. Transactions with Related Parties
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18
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Section
4.21. Customer and Supplier Relationships
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18
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Section
4.22. Certain Payments
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18
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Section
4.23. Disclosure
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18
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ARTICLE
V
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19
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Section
5.01. Organization and Good Standing
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19
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Section
5.02. Execution and Effect of Agreement
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19
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Section
5.03. No Violation
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19
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Section
5.04. Consents
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19
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Section
5.05. No Brokers
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19
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ARTICLE
VI. PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS
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20
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Section
6.01. Filings and Other Actions
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20
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Section
6.02. Continuing Access
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20
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Section
6.03. Cooperation
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20
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Section
6.04. Conduct of Business Pending Closing
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20
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Section
6.05. No Shop
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22
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Section
6.06. Notification of Certain Matters
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23
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Section
6.07. Public Announcements
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23
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Section
6.09. Expenses
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23
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Section
6.10. Further Assurances
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23
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ARTICLE
VII. POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
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24
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Section
7.01. Change of Name; Use of Intellectual Property
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24
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Section
7.02. Payment of Taxes
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24
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Section
7.03. Non-Competition
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24
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Section
7.04 Further Assurances
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25
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ARTICLE
VIII. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE
SELLER
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26
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Section
8.01. Representations and Warranties
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26
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Section
8.02. Performance of Obligations
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26
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Section
8.03. No Litigation
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26
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Section
8.04. Consents and Approvals
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26
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Section
8.05. Closing Deliveries
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27
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ARTICLE
IX. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BUYER
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27
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Section
9.01. Representations and Warranties
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27
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Section
9.02. Performance of Obligations
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27
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Section
9.03. No Litigation
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28
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Section
9.04. Officer’s Certificate
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28
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Section
9.05. No Material Adverse Effect
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28
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Section
9.06. Consents and Approvals
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28
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Section
9.07. Closing Deliveries
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28
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ARTICLE
X. INDEMNIFICATION
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28
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Section
10.01. Obligations of the Seller and the Stockholders
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28
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Section
10.02. Obligations of the Buyer
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29
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Section
10.03. Procedure
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29
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Section
10.04. Survival
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30
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Section
10.05. Limitations
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31
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Section
10.06. Remedies
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31
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Section
10.07. Exclusive Rights
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32
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ARTICLE
XI. TERMINATION
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32
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Section
11.01. Termination
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32
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Section
11.02. Consequences of Termination
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33
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ARTICLE
XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
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33
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Section
12.01. Cooperation
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33
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Section
12.02. Confidentiality
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34
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Section
12.03. Amendments and Waivers
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35
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Section
12.04. Successors and Assigns
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35
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Section
12.05. No Third Party Beneficiaries
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36
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Section
12.06. Choice of Law; Venue
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36
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Section
12.07. Waiver of Jury Trial
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36
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Section
12.08. Notices
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36
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Section
12.09. Severability
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37
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Section
12.10. Entire Agreement
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37
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Section
12.11. Construction
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37
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Section
12.12. Titles and Subtitles
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38
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Section
12.13. Time
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38
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Section
12.14. Counterparts
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38
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2
THIS
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of
November 26, 2007, is by and among Forward Air, Inc., a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of State of Tennessee, or an affiliate
thereof (the “Buyer”), Black Hawk Freight Services, Inc., a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Iowa (the “Seller”), and
each of the stockholders of the Seller listed on the signature pages hereto
(each, a “Stockholder” and collectively the “Stockholders”).
R
E C I T A L S
The
Seller is in the business of providing expedited line haul, local cartage,
roller bed, pool distribution services and other transportation service
offerings, which includes, without limitation, pickup-delivery,
freight-forwarding, etc. for customers in the general marketplace (the
“Business”). The Seller desires to sell, convey, transfer, assign and
deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer desires to purchase and acquire from the
Seller, all of the Seller’s right, title and interest in and to certain assets
of the Seller, as more particularly set forth herein, together with certain
obligations and liabilities relating thereto, free and clear of all Liens,
other
than Permitted Liens. In furtherance of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the parties desire to enter into
this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
expressly acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby,
agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01. Definitions.
Except
as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the capitalized terms used
in
this Agreement shall have the meanings specified in Exhibit
A hereto and shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms. Any agreement referred to in Exhibit
A shall mean such agreement as amended, supplemented
and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the applicable
provisions hereof and thereof.
ARTICLE
II.
CONSIDERATION
Section
2.01. Sale
and Delivery of Purchased Assets.
At
the
Closing and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Seller
shall sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to the Buyer, free and clear
of
all Liens other than the Permitted Liens, all of the Seller’s right, title and
interest in and to all of the assets, rights, claims, properties and interests
that the Seller owns or in which the Seller has any right, title or interest,
other than the Excluded Assets (collectively, the “Purchased Assets”) including,
without limitation, the following:
3
(a) Assumed
Contracts and Certain Other Rights of the Seller. All rights and
interests of the Seller in, to and under all contracts, agreements,
arrangements, commitments, bids, revenues in excess of xxxxxxxx on uncompleted
contracts and any other contract rights (collectively, “Contracts”) of the
Seller existing on the Closing Date, including, without limitation, those
Contracts specified on Schedule 2.01(a) (the “Assumed
Contracts”).
(c) Prepaid
Security Deposits. All of the Seller’s prepaid security deposits
with respect to the leasehold interests in real property only.
(d) Property
and Equipment. All of the Seller’s equipment and other tangible
personal property, whether owned or leased, including, without limitation,
the
Seller’s revenue equipment, furniture and fixtures, equipment and vehicles and
leasehold improvements, including, without limitation, the equipment and other
tangible personal property specified on Schedule 4.13 (the “Property and
Equipment”).
(e) Names. All
rights of the Seller to the name “Black Hawk Freight Services,”together with any
derivatives thereof and all logos, designs, phrases and other identifications
of
or relating to such names and the goodwill associated therewith (collectively,
the “Names”).
(f) Records. All
books, records and accounts, correspondence, technical, accounting,
manufacturing and procedural manuals, customer lists, mailing lists, employment
records, studies, reports or summaries relating to the Business or the Purchased
Assets (and including all records relating to tax, accounting and environmental
matters), and any confidential information which has been reduced to writing
relating to or arising out of the Business or the Purchased Assets (the
“Records”); provided that the Seller shall be entitled to retain copies of any
of the Records necessary or desirable for Seller's records.
(g) Intellectual
Property. All intellectual property rights of the Seller, including but not
limited to (i) inventions, designs, algorithms and other industrial
property, and all enhancements and improvements thereto, whether patentable
or
unpatentable, and whether or not reduced to practice, and all patents therefor
or in connection therewith (including all U.S. and foreign patents, patent
applications, patent disclosures, mask works, and all divisions, continuations,
continuations-in-part, reissues, re-examinations and extensions thereof);
(ii) trademarks, trade names and service marks, trade dress, logos,
internet domain names, and other commercial product or service designations,
and
all goodwill and similar value associated with any of the foregoing, and all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith;
(iii) copyrights (whether or not registered), Moral Rights, and all
registrations and applications for registration thereof, as well as rights
to
renew copyrights; (iv) trade secrets (as such are determined under
applicable law), know-how and other confidential business information, including
technical information, marketing plans, research, designs, plans, methods,
techniques, and processes, any and all technology, customer and supplier lists,
new business opportunities, computer software programs or applications, in
both
source and object code form, technical documentation of such software programs,
statistical models, e-mail lists, inventions, sui generis database rights,
databases, and data, whether in tangible or intangible form and whether or
not
stored, compiled or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically,
photographically or in writing; (v) any and all other rights to existing
and future registrations and applications for any of the foregoing and all
other
proprietary rights in, or relating to, any of the foregoing, including remedies
against and rights to xxx for past infringements, and rights to damages and
profits due or accrued in or relating to any of the foregoing; and (vi) any
and all other tangible or intangible proprietary property, information and
materials (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”).
4
(h) Permits. All
Permits, including, without limitation, those Permits specified on Schedule
4.09, to the extent such Permits are transferable.
(i) Goodwill. All
goodwill incident to the Business, including, without limitation, the value
of
the Names.
(j) Other
Assets. All other intangible assets (including all claims,
contract rights and warranty and product liability claims against third parties)
related to the Purchased Assets or the Business.
Section
2.02. Excluded
Assets.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.01 or elsewhere in this
Agreement, the following Assets (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”) shall not
be part of the sale and purchase contemplated by this Agreement, are excluded
from the Purchased Assets, and shall remain the property of Seller after the
Closing:
(a) Employee
Benefit Plans. All interests of the Seller in the Seller’s
Benefit Plans.
(b) Consideration. The
consideration paid to the Seller pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Cash
and Cash Equivalents. All of the Seller’s cash and cash
equivalents on hand or in bank accounts and short term investments (the “Cash
and Cash Equivalents”).
(d) Prepaid
Expenses. All of the Seller’s prepaid expenses and deposits other
than those set forth in Section 2.01(c).
(e) Accounts
Receivable. All of the Seller’s Accounts Receivable.
(f) Real
Property. All real property owned by the Seller and which is
described on Schedule 4.10(a) (the “Real Property”).
(g) Other
Assets. The assets owned by the Seller that are set forth on
Schedule 2.02(g).
5
Section
2.03. Liabilities.
(a) At
the Closing, the Buyer will assume liability for and agree to pay, perform
and
discharge, in a timely manner and in accordance with the terms thereof, the
following (collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”):
(i) the
Assumed Contracts with respect to all periods at and after the Closing (but
shall not assume any Liability arising from the Seller’s performance or
non-performance under any Assumed Contract at any time prior to the Closing,
whether asserted before or after the Closing);
(ii) all
payments to employees required under the WARN Act, if any, by virtue of actions
taken by Buyer on or after the Closing Date; and
(iii) the
provision of COBRA insurance coverage to employees of the Seller, or other
qualified COBRA participants currently on the Seller’s health plan, in
accordance with COBRA rules and regulations related to their termination of
employment by Buyer in connection with the Closing.
(b) Except
for the Assumed Liabilities, the Buyer shall not assume, and shall not be deemed
by anything contained in this Agreement to have assumed, any Liability of the
Seller whatsoever (the “Excluded Liabilities”). Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Buyer shall not assume, and shall not be deemed
by anything contained in this Agreement to have assumed:
(i) any
Liability for any Taxes that is due and payable as of the date of this Agreement
for periods beginning before the Closing Date, or any Liability for failure
to
report taxable income to the Stockholders;
(ii) (A)
any Liability, including but not limited to any Liability under any Benefit
Plan
and any successor liability arising under ERISA, or otherwise in connection
with
any Section 408(p) or other employee benefit plan or obligation of the
Seller, (B) all other Liabilities to any of the Seller’s employees or their
beneficiaries, including, without limitation, any Liability for wages (including
overtime required by federal or state law) and contributions or payments to
be
made under any employee benefit plan maintained for the employees of Seller
who
are participants therein or (C) all Liabilities arising in connection with
any
worker’s compensation claims arising out of the conduct of the Seller’s business
on or prior to the Closing Date;
(iii) any
Liability arising out of any Liability or pending litigation, arbitration or
other administrative proceeding regarding the Seller for periods ending on
or
prior to the Closing Date;
(iv) any
Liability arising out of any work, contract, joint venture or other undertaking
of the Seller for periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date, including,
without limitation, any warranty claims relating thereto;
6
(v) any
Liability for any principal, interest, fees, costs or expenses, including,
without limitation, any late charges or prepayment charges relating to any
outstanding notes payable, loans, debts or obligations of the Seller as of
the
Closing, or Taxes resulting from cancellation of such indebtedness;
(vi) any
Liability for any principal, interest, fees, costs or expenses incurred by
the
Seller in connection with any Liens, debts, loans or other obligations of any
nature of the Seller, or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
or the winding up of the Seller’s business, including without limitation,
attorneys’, accountants’ and consultants’ fees, finder’s fees, costs and
expenses, regardless of when incurred;
(vii) any
Liability arising out of any Environmental Laws with respect to actions of
the
Seller on or prior to the Closing Date;
(viii) any
Liability (A) with respect to the Seller’s Real Property (except as set forth in
any lease or other agreement between the Seller and the Buyer) or (B) under
any
mortgage or similar security agreement and any other instrument, document,
agreement encumbering Seller’s Real Property; and
(ix) any
Liability arising out of the litigation set forth on Schedule
4.14;
(x) any
Liability arising out of any claimed or actual violation by the Seller of the
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended;
(xi) any
Liability with respect to accounts payable and trade payables existing at the
Closing; and
(xii)
any
other Liens or Liabilities of the Seller that are not Assumed
Liabilities.
(c) Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including under Section 2.03(a)(ii)
and
(iii) and this Section 2.03(c)), the Buyer and the Seller agree that all
Liabilities imposed by WARN, COBRA, HIPAA, or any applicable state statute
having a similar effect, with respect to any former or current employees
(including their beneficiaries) of the Seller, shall be solely the
responsibility and Liability of the Seller, and the Buyer shall not assume
any
responsibility therefore. The Buyer agrees, to the extent required by
law, to provide a WARN notice and COBRA continuation coverage to all former
and
current employees (including their beneficiaries) of the Seller who terminate
coverage under the Seller’s group health plan, if any, whether or not such
employees become employees of the Buyer and become covered under the Buyer’s
group health plan.
Section
2.04. Purchase
Price.
(a) The
consideration for the Purchased Assets (the “Purchase Price”) shall be (i)
$35,000,000 and (ii) the assumption by the Buyer of the Assumed
Liabilities. At the Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller by
wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount equal to (1) $35,000,000
minus (2) the Escrow Amount to be delivered in accordance with
Section 2.06.
7
(b) A
portion of the Purchase Price shall be paid at the Closing on behalf of the
Seller to (i) Seller’s lenders and capital lessors that have liens upon any of
the Purchased Assets, and (ii) Seller's employees with respect to wages and
other amounts owed to such employees (such amounts, collectively, the “Debt
Payoff Amount”). The names of the parties and amounts to be paid to
each such party at Closing with respect to the Debt Payoff Amount are shown
on
Schedule 2.04(b).
Section
2.05. Escrow
Agreement.
At
the
Closing, the Buyer shall deposit into an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”)
with the Escrow Agent, by wire transfer in immediately available funds an amount
equal to $3,500,000 to be held by the Escrow Agent for a period of 12 months
after the Closing pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement attached hereto
as Exhibit B (the “Escrow Agreement”).
Section
2.06. Allocation
of Purchase Price.
The
Buyer
and the Seller agree to allocate the Purchase Price (and all other capitalizable
costs) among the Purchased Assets for all purposes (including financial,
accounting and Tax purposes) in accordance with the allocation schedule to
be agreed to by the Buyer and the Seller. The Buyer and the Seller shall
file all Tax Returns, reports and other documents, including an asset
acquisition statement on Form 8594, required by any competent taxing authority
in a timely manner consistent with such agreed-upon final
allocation. The parties will use their reasonable efforts to agree upon
such final allocation on or prior to December 31, 2007. The parties
acknowledge that the Purchase Price subject to allocation will be different
for
each of the Buyer and the Seller (e.g., due to inclusion of differing amounts
of
transaction cost).
ARTICLE
III.
CLOSING
Section
3.01. Closing.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall
take place at a location to be agreed to by the parties at 10:00 a.m. local
time
on the later of December 3, 2007 (unless another location, date or time is
otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Buyer and the Seller) and,
subject to Section 11.01, on the second Business Day following the
satisfaction or waiver of all conditions of the parties to consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby (other than conditions with respect to actions
that the parties shall take at the Closing itself). The date and time
of the Closing are herein referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Section
3.02. Closing
Deliveries.
(a) At
the Closing, the Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Buyer
each of the following:
(i) the
Purchased Assets;
8
(ii) the
Escrow Agreement duly executed by the Seller;
(iii) a
General Assignment and Xxxx of Sale in the form of Exhibit C
attached hereto (the “Xxxx of Sale”) duly executed by the Seller;
(iv) an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement in the form of Exhibit D attached
hereto (the “Assignment and Assumption Agreement”) duly executed by the
Seller;
(v) updated
Schedules showing changes from the date of this Agreement through the Closing
Date, if any;
(vi) an
Employment Agreement in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto (the
“Employment Agreement”) duly executed by each of the Stockholders;
(vii) a
lease agreement for the Seller’s Milan, Illinois facility on customary terms and
at market rent (the “Lease Agreement”), duly executed by the
Seller,
(viii) all
certificates of title for the Property and Equipment, duly endorsed for
transfer;
(ix) all
Permits listed on Schedule 4.09, to the extent transferable;
(x) duly
executed UCC-3 termination statements, mortgage releases and such other release
and termination instruments (or copies thereof) as the Buyer shall reasonably
request in order to vest all right, title and interest in and to the Purchased
Assets free and clear of all Liens;
(xi) the
certificates required by Sections 9.01, 9.02 and
9.04;
(xii) duly
executed payoff letters with respect to the Liabilities represented by the
Debt
Payoff Amount, all in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Buyer
(the
“Payoff Letters”); and
(xiii) the
Seller shall pay in full all broker and other professional and accounting fees
incurred in connection with this transaction.
(b) At
the Closing, the Buyer shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Seller
each of the following:
(i) $31,500,000,
in cash by wire transfer in immediately available funds, less
the Debt Payoff Amount;
(ii) $3,500,000
in cash to be deposited in the Escrow Account pursuant to
Section 2.05 by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the
Escrow Agent;
(iii) an
amount in cash equal to the Debt Payoff Amount by wire transfer in immediately
available funds pursuant to the instructions set forth in the Payoff
Letters;
9
(iv) the
Escrow Agreement duly executed by the Buyer;
(v) the
Xxxx of Sale duly executed by the Buyer;
(vi) the
Assignment and Assumption Agreement duly executed by the Buyer;
(vii) the
Employment Agreements duly executed by the Buyer;
(viii) the
Lease Agreement duly executed by the Buyer; and
(ix) the
certificates required by Sections 8.01 and 8.02.
ARTICLE
IV.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER AND THE STOCKHOLDERS
The
Seller and the Stockholders hereby represent and warrant to the Buyer that,
except as otherwise set forth in the schedules referred to in this
Article IV, the following representations and warranties are, as of
the date hereof, true and correct:
Section
4.01. Organization
and Good Standing.
The
Seller is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of
the State of Iowa, and is duly authorized and qualified to do business under
all
applicable laws, regulations, ordinances and orders of public authorities with
full corporate power and authority to carry on its business in the places and
in
the manner as now conducted to the extent any failure to be so qualified or
have
such authority would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect, to own or hold under lease the properties and assets it now owns or
holds under lease, and to perform all of its obligations under the Material
Agreements. To the knowledge of the Seller, it is duly qualified in
all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business or activities or its
ownership of assets requires qualification under applicable law, the absence
of
which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Schedule 4.01 sets forth a list of all jurisdictions
in which the Seller is qualified to do business.
Section
4.02. No
Brokers.
Neither
the Seller, the Stockholders nor any Person acting on behalf of the Seller
or
the Stockholders has agreed to pay a commission, finder’s or investment banking
fee, or similar payment in connection with this Agreement or any matter related
hereto to any Person, nor has any such Person taken any action on which a claim
for any such payment could be based, other than payments for which the Buyer
will have no liability or obligation.
Section
4.03. Execution
and Effect of Agreement.
(a) The
Seller has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Seller and the consummation by the Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Stockholders and the
Seller’s board of directors. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Seller and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with
its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and
remedies generally, and subject as to enforceability, to general principles
of
equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law
or
in equity) (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
10
(b) Each
Stockholder has all necessary legal authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform his obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by each Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid
and
binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder
in
accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability
Exceptions.
Section
4.04. Financial
Statements.
True,
complete and correct copies of each of the Financial Statements have been
delivered to the Buyer and are set forth on Schedule
4.04. Each of the Financial Statements (including the footnotes
thereto) is complete and correct in all material respects, is in accordance
with
the books and records of the Seller (which, in turn, are accurate and complete
in all material respects) and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and
presents fairly the financial position, assets and liabilities, results of
operations and cash flows of the Seller at the dates and for the periods
indicated (subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal,
recurring, year-end audit adjustments (none of which will be material) and
the
absence of footnotes thereto).
Section
4.05. No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The
Seller does not have any liabilities or obligations of any nature (contingent
or
otherwise), known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, accrued, contingent,
absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, other than liabilities or
obligations (i) disclosed in the Financial Statements, (ii) incurred in the
ordinary course of business after December 31, 2006 (none of which results
from,
arises out of, relates to, is in the nature of, or was caused by any breach
of
contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement or violation of any applicable
legal requirement, or results from, arises out of, or relates to any
Environmental Law, (iii) disclosed in the Schedules to this Agreement, or (iv)
arising under any Material Agreement.
(b) Schedule
4.05(b) sets forth, as of five (5) days prior to the date of this Agreement,
a true, complete and correct list of each of (i) the Seller’s accounts payable
and trade payables and the amounts owed by the Seller with respect thereto
and
(ii) the name of each employee of the Seller and the amount of wages and other
amounts owed by the Seller to each such employee. Schedule
4.05(b) shall be updated by the Seller at Closing to reflect all amounts set
forth thereon as of the Closing Date.
11
Section
4.06. Material
Adverse Effect.
Since
October 31, 2007, there has been no change in the Business or the financial
condition, properties or results of operations of the Seller which has had
or
would reasonably be expected to have (i) a Material Adverse Effect or (ii)
result in a Material Business Deterioration.
Section
4.07. Taxes.
(a) The
Seller has no unpaid liability for any Taxes in respect of any taxable period
ending on or before the Closing Date, or any Taxes in respect of the portion
of
any Straddle Period which ends on the Closing Date, for which the Buyer would
be
liable or to which the Purchased Assets would be subject. As used in
this Agreement, the term “Pre-Closing Tax Period” shall mean (i) any taxable
period ending on or before the Closing Date or (ii) the portion of any Straddle
Period which ends on the Closing Date and “Straddle Period” shall mean any
taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date.
(b) The
Seller has filed or will timely file all Tax Returns required to have been
filed
prior to the Closing Date (subject to any timely extensions permitted by law)
by
it with the appropriate taxing authority with respect to Taxes for any period
ending on or before the Closing Date. The Seller has paid, or made
provision for the payment of, all Taxes that have or may have become due for
all
periods covered by the Tax Returns or otherwise, or pursuant to any assessment
received by the Seller. The Seller has delivered to the Buyer a true,
complete and correct copy of the Seller’s Tax Returns for each of the five years
through December 31, 2006, each of which was timely filed by the Seller (after
receipt of appropriate extensions).
(c) (i)
No deficiency for any amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed by a taxing
authority against the Seller that remains unpaid, (ii) no notice of audit or
possible assessment has been received from any taxing authority by the Seller,
and (iii) the Seller has not agreed to any waiver or extension of the statute
of
limitations applicable to the assessment or collection of any Tax imposed in
respect of a Pre-Closing Tax Period.
(d) The
Seller has withheld or otherwise collected all Taxes or other amounts it was
required to withhold or collect under any applicable federal, state or local
law, including, without limitation, any amounts required to be withheld or
collected with respect to employee, state and federal income tax withholding,
social security, unemployment compensation, sales or use taxes (including any
sales or use taxes applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby),
workmen’s compensation or other similar Taxes, and all such amounts have been
timely remitted to the proper authorities.
Section
4.08. Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule
4.08(a) contains a complete and correct list of each material item of
Intellectual Property owned, licensed or otherwise used by the Seller in the
operation of the Business.
12
(b) The
conduct of the Business of the Seller, as now conducted, including, but not
limited to the use, sale, offering for sale, making, distribution, importation,
exportation, licensing or sublicensing of the products and services of the
Seller, to the knowledge of the Seller, does not infringe upon or misappropriate
any intellectual property right of any other Person and to the knowledge of
Seller, the Seller has never received any charge, complaint, claim, demand
or
notice alleging any such infringement or misappropriation (including any claim
that the Seller must license or refrain from using all or any portion of the
Intellectual Property).
(c) To
the knowledge of the Seller there has been no unauthorized use, infringement
or
misappropriation of any Intellectual Property by any third party, including
employees and former employees, consultants, customers or suppliers of the
Seller.
(d) The
Intellectual Property consists solely of items and rights which are:
(i) owned by the Seller; (ii) licensed by the Seller, (iii) in
the public domain; or (iv) rightfully used by the Seller.
(e) The
Seller has no registrations of any item of Intellectual Property.
(f) There
are no registrations of any item of Intellectual Property owned by the Seller
and used in the Business of the Seller. With respect to each item of
Intellectual Property owned by the Seller, (i) the item is not subject to any
outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling or charge that effects
the legality, validity or enforceability of the item; and (ii) no Proceeding
is
pending, or to the knowledge of the Seller, is threatened that challenges the
legality, validity or enforceability of the item.
(g) With
respect to each item of Intellectual Property owned by the Seller, (i) the
Seller possesses all right, title and interest in and to the item, free and
clear of all Liens, licenses, or other restrictions; (ii) the item is not
subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling or charge
affecting the Seller’s use or ownership of the item; and (iii) no proceeding,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Seller, is threatened that challenges the use or ownership
of
the item.
(h) The
Seller has not agreed nor is otherwise obligated to indemnify any Person from
or
against infringement or misappropriation of Intellectual Property owned by
the
Seller.
(i) Schedule
4.08(i) sets forth the parties to, together with the date of each agreement
for, each item of Intellectual Property licensed from or otherwise used by
the
Seller by authority of third persons (“Licensed Intellectual
Property”). The Seller has delivered true, complete and correct
copies of all such agreements to the Buyer, and, as applicable, has made
available for review true, complete and correct copies of all other written
documentation evidencing the Seller’s rights in each of the foregoing. With
respect to each item of Licensed Intellectual Property used in the Business
as
currently conducted: (A) the license, sublicense, agreement or permission
covering the item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and
effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions; (B) the license, sublicense,
agreement or permission will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable
and in full force and effect on identical terms following the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby; (C) to the knowledge of the Seller, (1)
no
party to the license, sublicense, agreement or permission is in breach or
default, and (2) no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would
constitute a breach or default or permit termination, modification or
acceleration thereunder; (D) to the knowledge of the Seller, no party to the
license, sublicense, agreement or permission has repudiated any provision
thereof; (E) with respect to each sublicense, the representations and warranties
set forth in clauses (A) through (D) above are correct with respect to the
underlying license; (F) the underlying item of Intellectual Property is not
subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling or
charge; (G) no proceeding, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand
is
pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened that challenges the
legality, validity, or enforceability of the underlying item of Intellectual
Property; and (H) the Seller has not granted any unauthorized sublicenses or
similar rights with respect to the license, sublicense, agreement or
permission.
13
(j) Each
item of Intellectual Property owned or used by the Seller immediately prior
to
the Closing will be owned or available for use by the Buyer on identical terms
and conditions immediately after the Closing. The transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not result in (i) to the knowledge of the
Seller, the infringement or misappropriation by the Buyer or the Seller of
any
Intellectual Property right of any other Person, (ii) a default under or a
breach or violation of the rights and benefits afforded to the Seller by any
agreements involving the grant to the Seller of any rights in the Licensed
Intellectual Property, or (iii) the requirement that the Seller obtain the
consent of any third party or Governmental Authority, except for consents
previously obtained.
(k) The
Seller has used commercially reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized
disclosure of each item of Intellectual Property owned by the Seller and that
derives its value from being kept in confidence (“Confidential
Information”).
Section
4.09. Permits;
Compliance with Law.
(a) The
Seller is in material compliance with all applicable federal, state, local
and
foreign laws, rules and regulations applicable to it and its
operations.
(b) The
Seller holds all material required Permits for the operation of the Business
in
all material respects. Schedule 4.09 describes all such
Permits. Such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, and the
Seller has not received any notice that any Governmental Authority intends
to
cancel, suspend, terminate or not renew any of such Permits. The
Seller has conducted and is conducting the Business in substantial compliance
with the requirements, standards, criteria and conditions set forth in such
Permits. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
result in a default under or a breach or violation of, or materially adversely
affect the rights and benefits afforded to the Seller by, any of the Permits,
except to the extent such Permits are not transferable to the
Buyer.
Section
4.10. Real
Property.
(a) The
Seller does not own any interest in real property other than that set forth
on
Schedule 4.10(a).
14
(b) Schedule
4.10(b) contains a true, complete and correct list of all leases, subleases,
license agreements or other rights of possession or occupancy of real property
to which the Seller is a party (each, a “Lease”). All of the Leases
are in full force and effect. True, complete and correct copies of
each Lease have been furnished to the Buyer.
(c) No
Proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened for the
taking or condemnation of all or any portion of the property demised under
the
Leases. The Seller owns good and marketable title to the leasehold
estates and to the Leases, free and clear of any Liens, except for real property
Taxes, if any, affecting properties of which the premises demised under the
Leases form a part, not yet due and payable. There is no unpaid
brokerage commission, finder’s fee or a similar payment due from the Seller with
regard to any of the Leases.
Section
4.11 Insurance.
Schedule
4.11 contains a true, complete and correct list of all policies of insurance
of any kind or nature now covering the Seller, including, without limitation,
policies of life, fire, theft, employee fidelity, workers’ compensation,
directors’ and officers’ and other casualty and liability insurance, and each
such policy is in full force and effect. True, complete and correct
copies of each such policy has been furnished to the Buyer.
Section
4.12 Material
Agreements.
(a) Schedule
4.12 lists the following agreements to which the Seller is a party or by
which it is bound (collectively, the “Material Agreements”): (i) all
documents relating to the Indebtedness or collateral therefor, including
guarantees; (ii) all collective bargaining, labor, employment, consulting,
termination, compensation, bonus, profit sharing, severance, stock option,
stock
purchase, retirement, pension, health, accident, group insurance, liability,
death benefit and other agreements or plans relating to compensation of or
benefits for officers or employees or independent contractors of the Seller;
(iii) all leases, contracts, commitments, or agreements for the sale of the
Seller’s inventory, assets, services or facilities; (iv) each contract for
the purchase of materials, supplies, services, merchandise or equipment in
excess of $10,000; (v) any contract, agreement, or instrument not entered
into in the ordinary course of the business of the Seller on a basis consistent
with past practice or that involves expenditures or receipts of the Seller
in
excess of $10,000; (vi) any contract containing restrictions on the
Seller’s operations or its ability to compete in any geographic region or in any
line of business; (vii) any lease of real property or personal property;
(viii) all agreements whereby any Person who is not an employee of the
Seller markets the Seller’s products or services or otherwise acts as an agent
for the Seller in connection with the Seller’s products or services; and
(ix) each and every other agreement under which the consequences of a
default would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. True, complete and correct copies of each such agreement have
been furnished to the Buyer.
(b) The
Seller is not, and to its knowledge, no other party to any Material Agreement
is, in default thereunder. All Material Agreements are in full force
and effect and are enforceable against all parties thereto in accordance with
their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Except as set
forth on Schedule 4.12, the Seller has not been notified that any party
to any Material Agreement intends to cancel, terminate, not renew or exercise
an
option under any Material Agreement, whether in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby or otherwise and no such action has been threatened or
contemplated.
15
Section
4.13 Property
and Equipment.
Schedule
4.13 lists: (a) each item of property and equipment with a
fair market value of $1,000 or more included (or that will be included) in
“depreciable plant, property and equipment” (or similarly named line item) on
the balance sheet of the Seller as of December 31, 2006, (b) each other
item of property and equipment owned or leased by the Seller with a value of
$1,000 or more (i) as of December 31, 2006, or (ii) acquired since
December 31, 2006. True, complete and correct copies of each Lease
with respect to any item of property and equipment leased by the Seller has
been
provided to the Buyer. All of the Seller’s personal property is
either owned by the Seller or leased by the Seller pursuant to a lease noted
on
Schedule 4.13, each of the items of property and equipment of the
Seller is in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted,
and all leases and agreements noted on Schedule 4.13 are in full
force and effect and constitute valid and binding agreements of each other
party
thereto. The Seller has good and marketable title to all of its
property and equipment shown as owned on the Balance Sheet or acquired
thereafter (except for assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business
since December 31, 2006 or as set forth on Schedule 4.13), free and
clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens. The Purchased Assets
constitute all of the property and assets, tangible and intangible, necessary
in
the current conduct and operation of the Business.
Section
4.14. No
Conflicts; Consents.
Neither
the execution or delivery of this Agreement by the Seller nor the consummation
by the Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby: (i) will violate in
any
material respect any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order,
decree, ruling, charge or restriction of any Governmental Authority to which
the
Seller is a party or to which is bound or subject, conflict in any material
respect with or result in a material breach of, or give rise to a right of
termination of, require consent under, or accelerate the performance required
by, the terms of any Assumed Contract to which the Seller is a party or to
which
it is bound or subject or (ii) constitute a default in any material respect
thereunder, or result in the creation of any Lien, except for Permitted Liens,
upon any asset of the Seller. No consent, approval, permit,
authorization of, declaration to or filing with any Governmental Authority
or
any other third party on the part of the Seller is required in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except for those listed on Schedule
4.14 (the “Consents”) or where the failure to obtain any of such items would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.15. Litigation.
There
are
no outstanding Orders of any Governmental Body involving the Purchased Assets
or
the Business. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, there are
no actions, suits, or legal, administrative or arbitral proceedings or
investigations (collectively, “Claims”) (whether or not the defense thereof or
Liabilities in respect thereof are covered by insurance), pending or, to the
knowledge of the Seller, threatened against or involving the Purchased Assets
or
the Business, and no material Claims have been instituted or, to the knowledge
of the Seller, threatened against or involving the Purchased Assets or the
Business.
16
Section
4.16. Environmental
Matters.
Except
as
disclosed in Schedule 4.16, (a) the Business is now and has at all
times been in compliance in all material respects with applicable Environmental
Laws, (b) the Seller is not subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of
the
Seller, threatened or contemplated Proceeding alleging violation of any
Environmental Law or alleging responsibility for any environmental condition
at
real property now or heretofore owned or leased by the Seller (each a “Site”),
(c) the Seller has not received any notice that it is potentially
responsible for any environmental condition at any Site or potentially liable
for any claim arising under Environmental Laws; (d) the Seller has not
received a request for information under CERCLA or any state or local
counterpart; (e) the Seller has not disposed of or released Hazardous
Materials in violation of any Environmental Laws nor are underground or
aboveground storage tanks, fuel tanks, asbestos containing materials or
polychlorinated biphenyls present on, in, at or under any Site; (f) the
Seller has not disposed of or released any Hazardous Materials in or at any
other real property in violation of any Environmental Laws; (g) the Seller
has all material permits and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct
the Business and the Seller has not received any notice that any Governmental
Authority intends to cancel, terminate or not renew any such permit or
approvals; (h) the Seller has not agreed to indemnify any predecessor or
other party, including a buyer, seller, landlord or tenant, with respect to
any
environmental liability nor has the Seller agreed to assume the environmental
liability of any person by contract, agreement, or operation of law; the
transactions contemplated hereby are not subject to any state environmental
transfer laws and no governmental approval, clearance or consent is required
under any Environmental Law for such consummation or for the Seller to continue
the Business after the Closing (provided that the Business is conducted by
the
Buyer in the same manner as the Seller prior to the Closing); (j) to the
knowledge of the Seller, no other Person has released Hazardous Materials at
any
Site or in a location that could threaten or contaminate such properties with
any Hazardous Materials; and (k) the Seller has previously delivered copies
to the Buyer of all environmental reports, permits, suits, information requests,
orders, notices of violation, closure letters, site status letters and similar
documentation in the Seller’s possession or control, and has disclosed to the
Buyer its waste practices and its transportation or use, if any, of Hazardous
Materials.
Section
4.17. Compensation;
Employment Agreements.
Schedule 4.17
sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all officers, directors,
managers, employees, independent contractors, owner-operators and consultants
of
or to the Seller, setting forth and summarizing the current compensation of
each
of such Person (separately identifying any non-discretionary bonus arrangement
or compensation arrangement with any such Person). The Seller has
provided to the Buyer true, complete and correct copies of all employment or
service agreements and bonus or other compensation plans to which the Seller
is
a party. Except as set forth herein, the Buyer will not be obligated
to assume the Seller’s obligations under any such employment or service
agreements and bonus or other compensation plans as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Since December 31, 2006, there have been no
increases in the compensation payable or any special bonuses to any officer,
director, key employee or other employee, independent contractor, owner-operator
or consultant of the Seller except as set forth on Schedule 4.17 or
outside the ordinary course of business. The Buyer will not have any
obligation to make severance, bonus or other payments to any such Person,
whether as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby or
otherwise. No salaried employee or salesperson has given notice that
they will, and none intend to, terminate their employment or services with
or to
the Seller.
17
Section
4.18. Collective
Bargaining Agreements and Labor.
(a) The
Seller is not a party to any labor, collective bargaining or similar agreement,
and there are no labor, collective bargaining or similar agreements covering
any
of the Seller’s employees. There are no pending strikes, work
stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts, arbitrations or other labor disputes pending
or,
to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened against the Seller.
(b) Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.18, there are no complaints, charges or claims
against the Seller pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened before
any Governmental Authority, based upon the employment, termination of employment
or non-employment by the Seller of any individual. Seller is in
compliance in all material respects with all laws, regulations and orders of
any
Governmental Authority relating to its employees, including all those relating
to wages, hours, WARN Act, COBRA, collective bargaining, discrimination, civil
rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation and the collection and payment
of withholding and/or social security taxes and any similar Tax
obligation. The Seller has classified all individuals who perform
services for it correctly under each Benefit Plan, ERISA, the Tax Code and
other
applicable law as common law employees, independent contractors or leased
employees, and there is no Proceeding pending or threatened that challenges
such
classification.
Section
4.19. Benefit
Plans; ERISA.
Schedule
4.19 contains a complete and correct list of each of the Seller’s Employee
Benefit Plans (as defined below). No action or failure to take an
action by the Seller, any affiliate of the Seller (including ERISA Affiliates),
or any other person, and no facts or circumstances exist that, could directly
or
indirectly subject the Buyer or any of its affiliates (or any of their employees
or directors) to any Liability relating to pre-Closing actions, of any nature
with respect to wages (including overtime required by federal or state law)
and
any pension, profit-sharing, welfare, hospitalization, insurance, bonus,
incentive, perquisite, paid time off, severance, employment or other benefit
plan, policy, practice or agreement which is now, or has been at any time,
sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by
the
Seller or any of its affiliates (including ERISA Affiliates), to which any
of
the Seller or any of its affiliates (including ERISA Affiliates) are a party,
or
with respect to which the Seller or any of its affiliates (including ERISA
Affiliates) has or could have any Liability of any nature (each such plan,
policy, practice or agreement is referred to herein as an “Employee Benefit
Plan”). Neither the Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever
sponsored, maintained, contributed to or had any obligation to contribute to
any
Employee Benefit Plan subject to Section 412 of the Tax Code or Title IV of
ERISA. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Tax Code is so qualified, and Seller has delivered
to Buyer a currently effective IRS determination or opinion letter covering
such
plan. No employee of the Seller is employed outside the United
States, and no Employee Benefit Plan is subject to the laws of any foreign
jurisdiction. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.19, there are
no actions, suits, or legal, administrative or arbitral proceedings or
investigations relating to Seller’s Employee Benefit Plans.
18
Section
4.20. Transactions
with Related Parties.
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.20, the Seller is not a party to any current
contract, agreement or other arrangement related to the Purchased Assets with
(a) any current or former officer or director; (b) any parent, spouse,
child, brother, sister or other family relation (by blood or marriage) of any
such officer or director; (c) any corporation, partnership or other entity
of which any such officer or director or any such family relation is an officer,
director, manager, partner, trustee or greater than 10% equity owner or
beneficiary; or (d) any Affiliate of the Seller. Each of the
transactions set forth on Schedule 4.20 is on terms no less favorable to
the Seller than could reasonably be obtained by the Seller from an unrelated
third party in an arm’s length negotiation.
Section
4.21. Customer
and Supplier Relationships.
Schedule 4.21
contains a complete and accurate list of the Seller’s top twenty suppliers
(measured by expense to date in 2007) and each of the Seller’s top twenty
customers (measured by revenue to date in 2007). The Stockholders are
not aware of any written notice that any such supplier or any customer plans
to
discontinue doing business with the Buyer, plans to reduce the level of business
done with Buyer or will not do business on substantially the same terms,
conditions and amounts subsequent to the Closing Date as such supplier or
customer did with the Seller prior to the Closing Date. All of the
Seller’s relationships with its customers require no performance by the
Sellerbeyond any written terms thereof, as disclosed to the Buyer, or as
required by custom and practice within the applicable industry.
Section
4.22. Certain
Payments.
None
of
the Seller, the Stockholders, or, to the knowledge of the Seller, any of the
Seller’s directors, officers, managers, employees or agents, has, directly or
indirectly in violation of any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or
other law, ordinance, regulation statute or treaty (a) made any
contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other
payment, whether in money, property, or services (i) to obtain favorable
treatment in securing business, (ii) to pay for favorable treatment for
business secured, or (iii) to obtain special concessions or for special
concessions already obtained, for or in respect of the Seller or any Affiliate
thereof, or (b) established or maintained any fund or asset that has not
been recorded in the books and records of the Seller.
19
Section
4.23. Disclosure.
None
of
the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement (as modified
by
the disclosure schedules thereto), the schedules, certificates and reports
furnished by the Seller or the Stockholders to the Buyer pursuant hereto, taken
as a whole, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a
material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein
not
misleading.
ARTICLE
V.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
The
Buyer
hereby represents and warrants to the Seller that the following representations
and warranties are, as of the date hereof, and will be, as of the Closing Date,
true and correct:
Section
5.01. Organization
and Good Standing.
The
Buyer
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the State of Tennessee. The Buyer has full corporate power
and authority to own its properties and carry on its business as it is now
being
conducted.
Section
5.02. Execution
and Effect of Agreement.
The
Buyer
has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform
its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Buyer and
the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Buyer,
and
no other corporate proceeding on the part of the Buyer is
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement, and each
other agreement contemplated by this Agreement to which the Buyer is a party,
has been duly executed and delivered by the Buyer and constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Buyer, enforceable against the Buyer in
accordance with its terms, except as limited by the Enforceability
Exceptions.
Section
5.03. No
Violation.
Neither
the execution or delivery of this Agreement by the Buyer nor the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby, will violate any statute, regulation,
rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge or restriction of
any
Governmental Authority, or court to which the Buyer or any of their subsidiaries
is a party or to which any of them is bound or subject, or the provisions of
the
charter or by-laws of the Buyer.
Section
5.04. Consents.
No
consent, approval, permit, authorization of, declaration to or filing with
any
Governmental Authority or any other third party on the part of the Buyer is
required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
20
Section
5.05. No
Brokers.
Neither
the Buyer nor any Person acting on behalf of the Buyer has agreed to pay a
commission, finder’s fee, investment banking fee or similar payment in
connection with this Agreement or any matter related hereto nor has the Buyer
taken any action on which a claim for any such payment could be
based.
ARTICLE
VI.
PRE-CLOSING
COVENANTS
Section
6.01. Filings
and Other Actions.
Upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, each of the parties hereto
agrees: (a) to cooperate with one another in determining whether
any filings are required to be made with, or consents or permits are required
to
be obtained from, any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction or any lender,
lessor or other third party in connection with the contracts, the proprietary
rights and leases, or otherwise, prior to the Closing Date in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and cooperate in making
any such filings promptly and in seeking timely to obtain any such consents
and
permits; (b) to use their commercially reasonable efforts to defend all
actions challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and use their commercially reasonable efforts to lift or
rescind any injunction or restraining order or other court order adversely
affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby; and (c) to use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to
be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all other things
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section
6.02. Continuing
Access.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Seller shall afford to
the
officers and other Representatives of the Buyer, upon reasonable notice, free
and full access during reasonable business hours to the properties, books and
records of the Seller and the right to consult with the officers and other
Representatives of the Seller in order that the Buyer may have full opportunity
to make such investigations as it shall deem necessary of the operations,
properties, business and financial condition of the Seller.
Section
6.03. Cooperation.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Seller will cooperate
with
the Buyer and its Representatives, including the Buyer’s auditors and counsel,
in the preparation of any documents or other materials reasonably required
in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
21
Section
6.04. Conduct
of Business Pending Closing.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement or with the prior written consent of
the
Buyer, the Seller shall:
(i) carry
on the Business only in the ordinary course substantially as heretofore
conducted;
(ii) not
amend or terminate any Assumed Contract, except for any Assumed Contract that
terminates in accordance with its terms;
(iii) promptly
notify the Buyer of the occurrence of any event that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or Material Business Deterioration,
including, without limitation, any significant customer loss or material
declines in revenue with any significant customer;
(iv) not
cause any Material Adverse Effect or any Material Business
Deterioration;
(v) not
make any loan or advance to any Person other than for services provided to
customers on credit in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(vi) not
declare or make any dividend or other distribution to the
Stockholders;
(vii) not
issue any notes, bonds, or other debt securities or capital stock of the Seller
or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of the
Seller;
(viii) not
change the accounting principles, methods or practices (including, without
limitation, any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates)
utilized by the Seller;
(ix) not
create or allow the creation of any Lien on any asset of the Seller, except
for
Permitted Liens;
(x) not
adopt, amend or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan, other than as required
by
law;
(xi) not
take any action which reasonably could be expected to give rise to a breach
of
any of the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV
hereof;
(xii) not
make, revoke or change any Tax election, or settle any matter relating to
Taxes;
(xiii) promptly
notify the Buyer of any Proceeding (whether or not the defense thereof or
liabilities in respect thereof are covered by insurance) initiated or threatened
by or against the Seller; and
(xiv) allow
the Buyer to contact the Seller’s employees regarding an offer of employment by
the Buyer after Closing and the Seller’s owner-operators regarding a service
relationship with the Buyer after the Closing, provided that nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to require the Buyer to make such
offers.
22
(b) Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement or with the prior written consent of
the
Buyer, for a period of seven (7) Business Days after the date of this Agreement,
the Seller shall:
(i) take
commercially reasonable steps to preserve existing relationships with all
Persons related to the Business, including, without limitation, relationships
with its customers, suppliers, employees, owner-operators and
agents;
(ii) not
enter into any agreement, contract, commitment, or arrangement that would be
a
Material Agreement;
(iii) not
enter into any single or series of contracts, agreements or commitments relating
to the Business, other than those contracts, agreements or commitments in the
ordinary course substantially as conducted heretofore;
(iv) not
negotiate, sell lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any individual
asset to be sold to the Buyer hereunder;
(v) not
incur any debt, liability or obligation, except current liabilities incurred
in
connection with or for services rendered or goods supplied in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past custom and practices, liabilities on
account of Taxes and other governmental charges (but not penalties, interest
or
fines in respect thereof) or obligations or liabilities incurred by virtue
of
the execution of this Agreement;
(vi) not
cancel, waive or release any debt, right or claim, except in each case in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(vii) not
make any capital expenditure or commitment therefor;
(viii) not
hire any additional salaried employees, owner-operators or salespersons;
and
(ix) not
increase the compensation or benefits provided to any employee or officer,
whether under any Employee Benefit Plan or otherwise;
Section
6.05. No
Shop.
In
consideration of the substantial expenditure of time, effort and expense
undertaken by the Buyer in connection with its due diligence review and the
preparation and execution of this Agreement, the Seller and the Stockholders
agree that neither they nor their Representatives will, after execution of
this
Agreement and until the earlier of December 17, 2007, or the termination of
this
Agreement, (a) solicit, initiate, encourage, enter into, conduct, engage in
or
continue, any discussions, or enter into any agreement or understanding, with
any Person other than the Buyer regarding the transfer, directly or indirectly,
of any interest in the Seller or any portion of the Seller’s assets or business
(including by way of license), or (b) disclose any non-public information
relating to Seller’s operations to (or otherwise cooperate with), or afford
access to the properties, books or records of the Seller, to any Person (other
than the Buyer) that may be considering acquiring, or has acquired, an interest
in the Seller or any portion of the Seller’s assets. If the Seller or any
Stockholder receives any written request for information or written indication
of interest from any Person regarding a possible acquisition involving the
Seller, its capital stock or the Purchased Assets, the Seller or such
Stockholder, as applicable, shall promptly disclose to the Buyer such receipt
of
such request or indication of interest.
23
Section
6.06. Notification
of Certain Matters.
The
Seller shall deliver written notice to the Buyer within three Business Days
of
(a) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event of which the Seller has
knowledge, the occurrence or non-occurrence of which has caused any
representation or warranty of the Seller or the Stockholders contained herein
to
become untrue or inaccurate in any respect at or prior to the Closing, and
(b)
any failure of the Seller or Stockholders to comply with or satisfy any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by such Seller
or the Stockholders hereunder. The Buyer shall give notice within
three Business Days to the Seller of (a) the occurrence or nonoccurrence of
any
event of which the Buyer has knowledge, the occurrence or non-occurrence of
which would cause any representation or warranty of the Buyer contained herein
to be untrue or inaccurate in any respect at or prior to the Closing and (b)
any
failure of the Buyer to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder. The
delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.06 shall not be deemed
to (a) modify the representations or warranties hereunder of the party
delivering such notice, (b) modify the conditions set forth in Articles
VIII and IX, or (c) limit or otherwise affect the remedies available
hereunder to the party receiving such notice, including, without limitation,
termination of this Agreement as contemplated by Article XI.
Section
6.07. Public
Announcements.
Prior
to
the Closing Date, the Seller, the Stockholders and the Buyer will consult with
each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public
statement with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and
will not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without
the prior approval of the other party, except as may be required by applicable
law in which event the other party shall have the right to review and comment
upon (but not approve) any such press release or public statement prior to
its
issuance.
Section
6.08. Employees
and Owner-Operators.
After
the
Closing, the Buyer shall have the right, but not the obligation, to solicit
any
employees and owner-operators used by the Seller in the Business.
Section
6.09. Expenses.
Except
as
provided in Sections 10.01 and 10.02 or as otherwise specifically
provided in this Agreement, the parties shall bear their respective expenses
incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including, without limitation, all fees and expenses of their respective
Representatives.
24
Section
6.10. Further
Assurances.
Each
party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and
delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other action
as
may be necessary or convenient to carry out the transactions contemplated
hereby. Each party hereto agrees to use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause those conditions to Closing that are within its control to
be
satisfied on or before the Closing Date.
ARTICLE
VII.
POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
Section
7.01. Change
of Name; Use of Intellectual Property.
Immediately
following the Closing, the Seller will file an amendment to its Articles of
Incorporation with the State of Iowa changing the Seller’s name to a dissimilar
name reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer. Following the Closing, the
Seller shall not challenge the validity, enforceability or exclusive ownership
of any of the Intellectual Property by the Buyer or its Affiliates or successors
or assigns, including, without limitation, the use of the Names.
Section
7.02. Payment
of Taxes.
(a) The
Buyer shall pay in a timely manner all transfer, stamp and sales Taxes resulting
from or payable in connection with the sale of the Purchased Assets pursuant
to
this Agreement.
(b) The
Seller and the Buyer shall cooperate fully with each other and make available
or
cause to be made available to each other in a timely fashion such data relating
to Taxes, prior Tax Returns and filings and other information as may be
reasonably required for the preparation by the Buyer or the Seller of any Tax
Returns, elections, consents or certificates required to be prepared and filed
by the Buyer or the Seller and any audit or other examination by any Taxing
Authority, or judicial or administrative proceeding relating to liability for
Taxes. The Buyer and the Seller will each retain and provide to the
other party all records and other information which may be relevant to any
such
Tax Return, audit or examination, proceeding or determination, and will each
provide the other party with any final determination of any such audit or
examination, proceeding or determination that affects any amount required to
be
shown on any Tax Return of the other party for any period. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Buyer and the Seller
shall
retain copies of all Tax Returns, supporting work schedules and other records
relating to tax periods or portions thereof ending prior to or on the Closing
Date.
Section
7.03. Non-Competition.
(a) The
Seller and the Stockholders each recognize that they have been instrumental
in
the success of the Business and in establishing and maintaining the Seller’s
customer relationships as well as having had access to, acquiring and assisting
in developing confidential and proprietary information relating to the Seller,
all of which are critical to the Business. This includes information with
respect to the Seller’s present and prospective products, services, clients,
customers, subcontractors, suppliers, pricing, cost and financial information
and sales and marketing methods. Each of the Seller and the
Stockholders acknowledges that such information is and will continue to be
of
significant value to the Buyer and that any use other than by the Buyer in
operating the Business after the Closing could cause substantial loss to the
Buyer and thereby to the investment the Buyer is making in the
Business.
25
(b) Each
of the Seller and the Stockholders accordingly agrees that, without the express
prior written consent of the Buyer, for a period of five years after the Closing
Date, anywhere within the United States, Canada or Mexico where the Seller
conducts business as of the Closing Date:
(i) Such
Person will not directly or indirectly engage in or conduct any business which
directly competes or interferes with the Business.
(ii) Such
Person will not directly or indirectly interfere with, or attempt to disrupt
the
Buyer's relationship (A) with any present client or customer or employee of
the
Seller in the Business or (B) with any past client or customer or employee
of
the Seller in the Business that has been a client, customer or employee, as
applicable, within the nine years preceding the date of this
Agreement.
(iii) Such
Person will not interfere with, attempt to interfere with or disparage the
Seller’s or the Buyer’s relationship with any vendor, client, customer,
contractor, supplier, employee, owner-operator or consultant (or the terms
relating to such relationships) of the Business.
(c) Each
of the Seller and the Stockholders acknowledges that (i) the Business is
international in scope; (ii) the Seller’s services are marketed throughout the
United States, Canada and Mexico; (iii) the Business competes with other
businesses that are or could be located in any part of the United States, Canada
and Mexico; (iv) the Buyer has required that the Stockholders make the covenants
set forth in this Section as a condition to the Buyer’s purchase of the
Purchased Assets; (v) the provisions of this Section are reasonable and
necessary to protect and preserve the Buyer’s interests in and right to the
ownership and operation of the Business after the Closing; and (vi) the Buyer
would be irreparably damaged if the Seller or any Stockholder were to breach
the
covenants set forth in this Section.
Section
7.04 Further
Assurances.
At
any
time and from time to time after the Closing, at the Buyer’s reasonable request
and without further consideration, the Seller promptly shall execute and deliver
such confirmatory instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment and
confirmation, and take such other reasonable action, as the Buyer may reasonably
request to more effectively transfer, convey and assign to the Buyer, and to
confirm the Buyer’s title to and interest in, all of the Purchased Assets, to
put the Buyer in actual possession and operating control thereof, to assist
the
Buyer in exercising all rights with respect thereto and to carry out the
purposes and intent of this Agreement. In addition, from and after
the Closing, at the Seller’s reasonable request and without further
consideration, the Buyer agrees (a) to use its reasonable efforts to provide
collection assistance to the Seller and/or the Stockholders with respect to
collecting all of the outstanding Accounts Receivable of the Seller retained
by
the Seller pursuant to the Excluded Assets, and (b) to allow the Seller to
have
reasonable access to and use of computer equipment and/or a computer server
that
constitute part of the Purchased Assets for any reasonable transition services,
including collection of Accounts Receivable and other ministerial
tasks.
26
ARTICLE
VIII.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLER
The
obligations of the Seller with respect to actions to be taken on the Closing
Date are subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date
of each of the conditions set forth in this Article VIII.
Section
8.01. Representations
and Warranties.
All
representations and warranties of the Buyer contained in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such
representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date; and a
certificate to the foregoing effect dated the Closing Date and signed by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Buyer shall have been delivered to the
Seller.
Section
8.02. Performance
of Obligations.
All
of
the terms, covenants and conditions of this Agreement to be complied with and
performed by the Buyer on or before the Closing Date shall have been duly
complied with and performed on or before the Closing Date; and certificates
to
the foregoing effect dated the Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Buyer shall have been delivered to the Seller.
Section
8.03. No
Litigation.
No
Proceeding before a court or any other Governmental Authority or body shall
have
been instituted or threatened seeking to restrain or prohibit the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and no Governmental Authority or body shall
have
taken any other action or made any request of the Seller as a result of which
counsel to the Seller deems it inadvisable to proceed with the transactions
hereunder.
Section
8.04. Consents
and Approvals.
All
necessary consents of and filings required to be obtained or made by the Buyer
with any Governmental Authority or agency relating to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained and
made.
27
Section
8.05. Closing
Deliveries.
The
Buyer
shall have delivered each of the documents specified in
Section 3.02(b).
Section
8.06 Offering
of Employment to Employees.
The
Buyer
shall have offered employment to an appropriate number of employees such that
the Seller was not, and is not, required to provide any WARN Act notices to
any
employees or otherwise comply with any provisions of the WARN Act in connection
with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
IX.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BUYER
The
obligations of the Buyer with respect to actions to be taken on the Closing
Date
are subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of
all
of the conditions set forth in this Article IX.
Section
9.01. Representations
and Warranties.
All
the
representations and warranties of the Seller and the Stockholders contained
in
this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same
effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as
of
such date; and the Seller and the Stockholders shall have delivered to the
Buyer
a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Seller and the
Stockholders to such effect.
Section
9.02. Performance
of Obligations.
All
of
the terms, covenants and conditions of this Agreement to be complied with or
performed by the Seller or the Stockholders on or before the Closing Date shall
have been duly complied with and performed on or before the Closing Date
(including, without limitation, the covenants contained in Section 6.01(a)
and
Section 6.01(b) (regardless of the seven (7) Business Day time period specified
therein)); and the Seller and the Stockholders shall have delivered to the
Buyer
a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Seller and the
Stockholders to such effect.
28
Section
9.03. No
Litigation.
No
action
or proceeding before a court or any other Governmental Authority or body shall
have been instituted or threatened to restrain or prohibit the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and no Governmental Authority or body shall
have
taken any other action or made any request of the Buyer as a result of which
counsel to the Buyer deems it inadvisable to proceed with the transactions
hereunder and which has caused or would reasonably be expected to cause a
Material Adverse Effect or a Material Business Deterioration.
Section
9.04. Officer’s
Certificate.
The Buyer
shall have received a certificate or certificates, dated the Closing Date and
signed by an officer of the Seller, certifying the truth and correctness of
attached copies of the resolutions of the board of directors and the
Stockholders approving the Seller’s entering into this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Seller
shall have delivered to the Buyer certificates, dated as of a date no earlier
than 10 days prior to the Closing Date, duly issued by the applicable
Governmental Authority in the State of Iowa and all other jurisdictions in
which
the conduct of such Seller’s business or activities or its ownership of assets
requires qualification under applicable law if the failure to so qualify would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, showing that
the
Seller is in good standing and authorized to do business in such
jurisdiction.
Section
9.05. No
Material Adverse Effect.
As
of the
Closing Date, no event or circumstance shall have occurred with respect to
the
Seller which has caused or would reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Effect or a Material Business Deterioration.
Section
9.06. Consents
and Approvals.
All
material Consents shall have been obtained. All necessary consents of
and filings required to be obtained or made by the Seller with any Governmental
Authority or agency relating to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein shall have been obtained and made.
Section
9.07. Closing
Deliveries.
The
Seller shall have delivered each of the documents specified in
Section 3.02(a).
29
ARTICLE
X.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
10.01. Obligations
of the Seller and the Stockholders.
Subject
to Section 10.05, as consideration for the commitment of the Buyer
hereunder, the Seller and the Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to
indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer, its successors and assigns, and each
of
their Affiliates, directors, officers, agents, representatives and employees
and
each other Person, if any, controlling such person (each a “Buyer Indemnified
Person”) from and against all Liabilities to which such Buyer Indemnified Person
may become subject as a result of, or based upon or arising out of, directly
or
indirectly, (a) any breach of any of the representations or warranties, or
any
nonperformance of any covenants or agreements made by the Seller or the
Stockholders in this Agreement (regardless of any notification after the Closing
pursuant to Section 6.06), or (b) the Excluded Liabilities; and (in
each case) will reimburse any Buyer Indemnified Person for all reasonable
expenses (including the reasonable fees of counsel) as they are incurred by
any
such Buyer Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, preparing or
defending any such action or claim pending or threatened, whether or not such
Buyer Indemnified Person is a party hereto.
Section
10.02. Obligations
of the Buyer.
As
consideration for the commitment of the Seller hereunder, the Buyer agrees
to
indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and each of its respective Affiliates,
directors, officers, agents and employees and each other Person, if any,
controlling the Seller or any of their respective Affiliates (each a “Seller
Indemnified Person”) from and against any Liability to which such Seller
Indemnified Person may become subject as a result of, or based upon or arising
out of, directly or indirectly, (i) any breach of any of the representations
or
warranties, or any nonperformance of any covenants or agreements made by the
Buyer in this Agreement (regardless of any notification after the Closing
pursuant to Section 6.06), (ii) the Assumed Liabilities, or (iii) any Liability
arising out of the ownership or operation of the Purchased Assets after the
Closing Date and (in each case) will reimburse any Seller Indemnified Person
for
all reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees of counsel) as they
are
incurred by any such Seller Indemnified Person in connection with investigating,
preparing or defending any such action or claim pending or threatened, whether
or not such Seller Indemnified Person is a party hereto.
Section
10.03. Procedure.
(a) Each
Buyer Indemnified Person and Seller Indemnified Person shall be referred to
collectively herein as an “Indemnified Person.” Any Indemnified
Person seeking indemnification with respect to any actual or alleged Liability
shall give notice to the Person from whom indemnification is sought (each,
an
“Indemnifying Person”) on or before the date specified in Section
10.04.
(b) If
any Liability is asserted by any third party against any Indemnified Person,
the
Indemnifying Person shall have the right, unless otherwise precluded by
applicable law, to conduct and control the defense, compromise or settlement
of
any action or threatened action brought against the Indemnified Person in
respect of matters addressed by the indemnity set forth in this Article X
(an “Action”).
(c) The
Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ counsel separate from counsel
employed by the Indemnifying Person in connection with any such Action or
threatened Action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel employed by the Indemnified Person shall be at the
sole
expense of the Indemnified Person, unless (i) the Indemnifying
Person shall have elected not, or, after reasonable written notice of any such
Action or threatened Action, shall have failed (within 10 days after the
Indemnifying Persons’ receipt of such written notice), to assume or participate
in the defense thereof, (ii) the employment thereof has been specifically
authorized by the Indemnifying Person in writing, or (iii) the parties to
any such Action or threatened Action (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying
Person shall have been advised in writing by counsel for the Indemnified Person
that there may be one or more defenses available to the Indemnified Person
that
are not available to the Indemnifying Person or legal conflicts of interest
pursuant to applicable rules of professional conduct between the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person (in which case, the Indemnifying Person shall
not have the right to assume the defense of such Action on behalf of the
Indemnified Person), in any of which events referred to in clauses (i), (ii)
and
(iii) the fees and expenses of one such separate counsel employed by the
Indemnified Person shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying
Person.
30
(d) The
Indemnifying Person shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnified
Person, settle or compromise any such Action or threatened Action or consent
to
the entry of any judgment which does not include as an unconditional term
thereof the giving by all other participants to the Indemnified Person a release
from all liability in respect of such Action or threatened Action. In
addition, the Indemnifying Person shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Indemnified Person, settle or compromise any such Action or threatened
Action or consent to the entry of any judgment which provides for injunctive
or
equitable relief with respect to any Indemnified Person. Unless the
Indemnifying Person shall have elected not, or shall have after reasonable
written notice of any such Action or threatened Action failed, to assume or
participate in the defense thereof, the Indemnified Person may not settle or
compromise any Action or threatened Action without the written consent of the
Indemnifying Person, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
(e) If,
after reasonable written notice of any such Action or threatened Action, the
Indemnifying Person does not affirmatively undertake to defend the Indemnified
Person, a recovery against the Indemnified Person for damages suffered by it
in
good faith provided, that, reasonable action has been taken by the Indemnified
Person to defend any Action or threatened Action, is conclusive in its favor
against the Indemnifying Persons; provided,
however, that no such
conclusive presumption shall
be made if the Indemnifying Person has not received reasonable written notice
of
the action against the Indemnified Person.
Section
10.04. Survival.
The
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by the Seller and
the
Stockholders in this Agreement, including the indemnification obligations of
the
Seller and the Stockholders set forth in this Article X, shall survive
the Closing and shall continue in full force and effect (including any claims
related to the Excluded Liabilities) without limitation after the Closing for
a
period of 18 months following the Closing Date, except that (a) claims related
to fraud or willful misconduct shall survive until the expiration of 10 Business
Days following the date on which the statute of limitations otherwise applicable
to such claims has expired, (b) claims arising from the breach of the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.07 (Taxes),
4.16 (Environmental Matters) and 4.19 (Employee Benefit Plans;
ERISA) shall survive until the expiration of 10 Business Days following the
date
on which the statute of limitations otherwise applicable to claims relating
to
the subject matter of such representations has expired and (d) claims arising
from the breach of the representations and warranties contained in Sections
4.01 (Organization and Good Standing), 4.02 (No Brokers), 4.03
(Execution and Effect of Agreement) and the breach of the representation in
Section 4.13 that the Seller has good and marketable title to all of the
Purchased Assets, shall survive indefinitely. Claims with respect to
matters described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d)
of this Section 10.04 are sometimes collectively referred to as the
“Special Matters.”
31
Section
10.05. Limitations.
The
Seller and the Stockholders shall have no indemnification obligation under
Section 10.01 until the aggregate amount of all indemnification
claims, individually or in the aggregate, exceeds $350,000 (the “Deductible”),
and in which case the Seller and the Stockholders shall be responsible for
the
amount of such claims in excess of the Deductible only. The Seller
and the Stockholders shall have no indemnification obligation under Section
10.01 for any amounts in excess of $12,250,000 (the
“Cap”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first two sentences of
this Section 10.05 shall not be applicable to any claims arising with
respect to any Special Matters, as to each of which the Seller and the
Stockholders shall have liability for the entire amount of such claim up to
the
Cap; provided, however, that any claims arising under Section 10.1(b) or
from any breach of the representations and warranties contained in Section
4.16 (Environmental Matters) shall be subject to the Deductible but shall
not be subject to the Cap. Upon final determination of an
indemnification obligation, such indemnification obligation may first be
satisfied from the Escrow Account in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement.
Section
10.06. Remedies.
(a) Each
party hereto acknowledges that irreparable damage would result if this Agreement
is not specifically enforced. Therefore, the rights and obligations
of the parties under the Agreement, including, without limitation, their
respective rights and obligations to sell and purchase the Purchased Assets
and
comply with the covenants set forth in this Agreement, shall be enforceable
by a
decree of specific performance issued by any court of competent jurisdiction,
and appropriate injunctive relief may be applied for and granted in connection
therewith. Each party hereto agrees that monetary damages would not
be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it
of
the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Closing and hereby agrees
to
waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate in any action for
specific performance or injunctive relief hereunder. Each party
hereto agrees to waive any rights to require the other party hereto to prove
actual damages or post a bond or other security as a condition to the granting
of any equitable relief under this Section 10.06.
(b) Except
as otherwise provided herein, no delay of or omission in the exercise of any
right, power or remedy accruing to any party as a result of any breach or
default by any other party under this Agreement shall impair any such right,
power or remedy, nor shall it be construed as a waiver of or acquiescence in
any
such breach or default, or of any similar breach or default occurring later;
nor
shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any
other
breach or default occurring before or after that waiver. All rights
and remedies of any party described in this Agreement are cumulative of each
other and of every right or remedy such party may otherwise have.
32
(c) All
disputes relating to matters after the Closing, including enforcement of the
Escrow Agreement, shall first be attempted through discussions between the
parties hereto with regard to any differences, disputes, or controversies which
may arise in connection with this Agreement, which discussions shall not exceed
20 days. The parties agree that any claim, dispute, or controversy
remaining after the discussion required above shall be submitted by the parties
to mediation in which each party selects a mediator with the two mediators
selected by the parties to select a third mediator. All mediation
proceedings shall be confidential. If the mediation is not
successful, any party may pursue the remedies provided, and subject to the
conditions of, in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Section 10.06(c) shall not preclude a party from seeking specific
performance or other injunctive relief.
Section
10.07. Exclusive
Rights. The Buyer and the Seller acknowledge and agree
that the provisions set forth in this Article X shall be the exclusive
remedy with respect to the Buyer and the Seller with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
XI.
TERMINATION
Section
11.01. Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing upon the occurrence
of any of the following:
(a) by
mutual written consent of the Buyer and the Seller;
(b) by
the Seller, on the one hand, or by the Buyer, on the other hand, if the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to take place at the Closing shall
not have been consummated by December 31, 2007, unless the failure of such
transactions to be consummated is due to the willful failure of the party
seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform any of its obligations under
this
Agreement to the extent required to be performed by it prior to or on the
Closing Date;
(c) by
the Seller, if: (i) there has been a material misrepresentation or breach by
the
Buyer of a representation or warranty contained herein and such material
misrepresentation or breach, if curable, is not cured within 10 days after
written notice thereof from the Seller; (ii) the Buyer has committed a material
breach of any covenant imposed upon it hereunder and, if curable, fails to
cure
such breach within 10 days after written notice thereof from the Seller; or
(iii) any condition to the Seller’s obligations hereunder becomes incapable of
fulfillment through no fault of the Seller or its Affiliates or Representatives
and is not waived by the Seller;
(d) by
the Buyer, on the one hand, or the Seller, on the other hand, if there shall
be
any law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited, or if any final, non-appealable
Order
enjoining the Buyer, on the one hand, or the Seller, on the other hand, from
finally consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is entered;
or
(e) by
the Buyer, if: (i) there has been a material misrepresentation or breach by
the
Seller or the Stockholders of a representation or warranty contained herein
and
such material misrepresentation or breach, if curable, is not cured within
10
days after written notice thereof from the Buyer; (ii) the Seller or the
Stockholders have committed a material breach of any covenant imposed upon
the
Seller or the Stockholders, as applicable, hereunder and, if curable, fails
to
cure such breach within 10 days after written notice thereof from the Buyer;
or
(iii) any condition to the Buyer’s obligations hereunder becomes incapable of
fulfillment through no fault of the Buyer or its Affiliates or Representatives
and is not waived by the Buyer.
33
Section
11.02. Consequences
of Termination.
In
the
event that this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to this Article
XI, (a) each party will redeliver all documents, work papers and other
material of any other party relating to the transactions contemplated hereby,
whether so obtained before or after the execution hereof, to the party
furnishing the same, and (b) all further obligations of the parties under
this Agreement shall terminate without further liability of any party to any
other party (except that each party shall remain liable for any breach or
default by such party of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
contained herein, as to which all remedies shall remain available, including,
but not limited to, the availability of specific performance or other injunctive
relief and reasonable legal and audit costs and out of pocket expenses, it
being
acknowledged that if the Buyer terminates this Agreement due to any Schedules
of
the Seller being updated by the Seller for events arising between the date
of
this Agreement and the Closing Date or due to any notice given by the Seller
pursuant to Section 6.06 prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall have
no Liability of any kind due to such termination); provided,
however, that the confidentiality provisions
contained in
Section 12.02 and the expenses provision contained in Section 6.09
shall survive such termination.
ARTICLE
XII.
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
12.01. Cooperation.
The
Seller, the Stockholders and the Buyer shall each deliver or cause to be
delivered to the other on the Closing Date, and at such other times and places
as shall be reasonably agreed to, such additional instruments as the other
may
reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
Section
12.02. Confidentiality.
(a) The
Buyer agrees to keep non-public information regarding the Seller confidential
until the Closing Date and agrees that it will only use such information in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and not disclose
any of such information other than (i) to the Buyer’s Representatives who
are involved with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) to
the extent such information presently is or hereafter becomes available, on
a
non-confidential basis, from a source other than the Seller or any of its
Representatives, and (iii) to the extent disclosure is required by law,
legal process, regulation or judicial order by any Governmental
Authority.
34
(b) The
Seller and the Stockholders agree to keep non-public information regarding
the
Buyer, the Purchased Assets or the business related to the Purchased Assets,
confidential and agrees that the Seller or the Stockholders, as applicable,
will
only use such information in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement and not disclose any of such information other than (i) to
the Seller’s Representatives who are involved with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, (ii) to the extent such information presently is or
hereafter becomes available, on a non-confidential basis, from a source other
than the Buyer or any of its Representatives and (iii) to the extent
disclosure is required by law, legal process, regulation or judicial order
by
any Governmental Authority.
(c) Prior
to any disclosure required by law, legal process, regulation or judicial order,
the Buyer or the Seller, as the case may be, shall advise the other of such
requirement so that it may seek a protective order.
(d) The
Seller and the Stockholders recognize and acknowledge that they have in the
past, currently have, and in the future may have, access to certain confidential
information of the Seller and/or the Buyer, such as operational policies, and
pricing and cost policies that are valuable, special and unique assets of the
Seller’s and/or the Buyer’s respective businesses. Each of the Seller
and the Stockholders agrees that it will not disclose such confidential
information to any Person for any purpose or reason whatsoever,
except (i) to authorized Representatives of the Buyer who need
to know information in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
and
(ii) to counsel and other advisors, provided that such advisers (other than
counsel) agree to the confidentiality provisions of this Section,
unless (A) such information becomes known to the public
generally through no fault of the Seller or the Stockholders, or (B) disclosure
is required by law, legal process, regulation or judicial order, provided,
that
prior to disclosing any information pursuant to this clause (C), the Seller
shall give prior written notice thereof to the Buyer and provide the Buyer
with
the opportunity to contest such disclosure. In the event of a breach
or threatened breach of the provisions of this Section, the Buyer shall be
entitled to an injunction restraining the Seller and/or the Stockholders from
disclosing, in whole or in part, such confidential
information. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the
Buyer from pursuing any other available remedy for such breach or threatened
breach, including the recovery of damages.
(e) Because
of the difficulty of measuring economic losses as a result of the breach of
the
foregoing covenants in this Section, and because of the immediate and
irreparable damage that would be caused for which they would have no other
adequate remedy, the parties hereto agree that, in the event of a breach by
any
of them of the foregoing covenants, the covenant may be enforced against the
other parties by any equitable remedies, including, without limitation,
injunctions and specific performance, and restraining orders without the
necessity of proving actual damages or posting a bond or other
security.
35
(f) The
obligations of the parties under this Section 12.02 shall survive the
termination of, or Closing under, this Agreement for a period of three
years.
(g) Upon
the Closing, any prior confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement between
the
parties with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
terminate.
Section
12.03. Amendments
and Waivers.
Any
term
of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only with the written
consent of the Buyer, the Seller and the Stockholders and the observance of
any
term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written
consent of the party against whom the waiver is sought to be
enforced. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall
be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether
or
not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless
otherwise expressly provided.
Section
12.04.Successors and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective legal representatives, successors, heirs, executors
and assigns; provided, however, that this
Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned or
transferred without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto,
except that the Buyer may assign its rights hereunder to a
direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Buyer, so long as the Buyer
remains liable for its obligations hereunder. Nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person other
than
the parties hereto or their respective legal representatives, successors, heirs,
executors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under
or
by reason of this Agreement.
36
Section
12.05. No
Third Party Beneficiaries.
The
rights created by this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and the respective successors or permitted assigns, and no other Person
shall have or be construed to have any legal or equity right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provision herein
contained; provided, however, that the
provisions of Article X above concerning indemnification are intended for
the benefit and burden of the parties specified therein, and their respective
legal representatives, successors, heirs, executors and assigns.
Section
12.06. Choice
of Law; Venue.
(a) This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under and the rights of the parties
determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without
reference to the choice of law provisions of the State of
Delaware).
(b) Each
of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the service of any process,
pleading, notices or other papers by the mailing of copies thereof by
registered, certified or first class mail, postage prepaid, to such party at
such party’s address set forth herein, or by any other method provided or
permitted under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(c) To
the extent that a party hereto has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service
or
notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution
or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, such party hereby
irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations pursuant to
this
Agreement.
(d) Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any federal or state
court located in Denver County, Colorado and Xxxxxx County, Tennessee (and
any
appellate court therefrom) over any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement. Each party hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead, to the fullest extent provided
by law, any objection it may have to venue and the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in such
courts.
Section
12.07. Waiver
of Jury Trial.
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION OR AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY
OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION,
PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
37
Section
12.08. Notices.
Unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notice required or permitted under
this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given
upon the earlier of (a) personal delivery to the party to be notified or
(b) the next Business Day after dispatch via nationally recognized
overnight courier, all addressed to the party to be notified at the address
indicated for such party below, or at such other address as such party may
designate by 10 Business Days’ advance written notice to the other
parties. Notices should be provided in accordance with this
Section 12.07 at the following addresses:
If
to the
Buyer,
to: With
a copy to:
Forward
Air,
Inc. DLA
Piper US LLP
000
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx 0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx
00000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx,
Esq. Attn: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If
to the
Seller or the Stockholders,
to: With
a copy to:
c/o
Xxx Xxxxxx
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
|
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
0000 00xx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX
00000 Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Section
12.09. Severability.
If
one or
more provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, such provision shall, to the extent possible, be modified in
such
manner as to be valid, legal and enforceable but so as to most nearly retain
the
intent of the parties, and if such modification is not possible, such provision
shall be severed from this Agreement. In either case, the balance of
this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so modified or
excluded, as the case may be, and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
Section
12.10. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement, together with the exhibits and schedules hereto, constitutes the
entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and
supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral,
and
no party shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any
warranties, representations or covenants except as specifically set forth
herein.
Section
12.11. Construction.
The
parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring
or
disfavoring any party by virtue of authorship of any provision of this
Agreement.
38
Section
12.12. Titles
and Subtitles.
The
titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and
are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this
Agreement.
Section
12.13. Time.
Time
is
of the essence with respect to this Agreement.
Section
12.14. Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same
instrument.
[Signatures
appear on the following page]
39
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Asset Purchase
Agreement as of the date first above written.
“BUYER” FORWARD
AIR, INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Chairman, President and CEO
“SELLER” BLACK
HAWK FREIGHT SERVICES, INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
President
“STOCKHOLDERS”
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
40
EXHIBIT
A
DEFINITIONS
“Accounts
Receivable” shall mean all of the Seller’s accounts, accounts
receivable, notes and notes receivable, including all rights of the Seller
to
payment for services rendered that are payable to the Seller.
“Action”
has the meaning specified in Section 10.04 of this
Agreement.
“Affiliate”
as to a specified Person, means a Person that directly, or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by or is under common
control with, the Person specified.
“Agreement”
has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Assignment
and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning specified in
Section 3.02 of this Agreement.
“Assumed
Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of
this Agreement.
“Assumed
Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03 of
this Agreement.
“Balance
Sheet” shall mean the audited balance sheet of the Seller at December
31, 2006.
“Xxxx
of Sale” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02 of this
Agreement.
“Business”
has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this Agreement.
“Business
Day” shall mean any weekday on which commercial banks in New York City
are open for business. Any action, notice or right which is to be
exercised or lapses on or by a given date which is not a Business Day may be
taken, given or exercised, and shall not lapse, until the end of the next
Business Day.
“Buyer”
has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer
Indemnified Person” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01
of this Agreement.
“Cash
and Cash Equivalents” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.02 of this Agreement.
“Cap”
has the meaning specified in Section 10.06 of this
Agreement.
“CERCLA”
has the meaning specified in the definition of Hazardous Materials.
A-1
“Claims”
as defined in Section 4.16 of this Agreement.
“Closing”
has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 of this Agreement.
“Closing
Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 of this
Agreement.
“COBRA”
means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended.
“Confidential
Information” has the meaning specified in Section 4.08 of this
Agreement.
“Consents”
has the meaning specified in Section 4.14 of this Agreement.
“Contracts”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this Agreement.
“Debt
Payoff Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04 of this
Agreement.
“Deductible”
has the meaning specified in Section 10.06 of this
Agreement.
“Employee
Benefit Plan” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.19
of this Agreement.
“Employment
Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02 of this
Agreement.
“Enforceability
Exceptions” has the meaning specified in Section 4.03 of this
Agreement.
“Environmental
Laws” means all applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local
or foreign laws, rules and regulations, bylaws, orders, decrees, judgments,
permits, filings and licenses relating (i) to protection and clean-up of the
environment, natural resources or human health activities or conditions related
thereto, including those relating to the generation, handling, disposal,
recycling, transportation or release of Hazardous Materials and (ii) to the
heath or safety of employees in the workplace environment, all as amended from
time to time, and shall also include any common law theory based on nuisance,
trespass, negligence or other tortuous conduct.
“ERISA”
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate” shall refer to any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated, in a controlled group with or under common control of any Seller
within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Tax Code and, solely for
the purposes of potential liability under Section 302(c)(11) of ERISA and
Section 412(c)(11) of the Tax Code and the lien created under Section
302(f) of ERISA and Section 412(n) of the Tax Code, within the meaning of
Section 414(m) or (o) of the Tax Code.
A-2
“Escrow
Account” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05 of this
Agreement.
“Escrow
Agent” shall mean Regions Bank, as escrow agent under the Escrow
Agreement.
“Escrow
Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06 of this
Agreement.
“Escrow
Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06 of this
Agreement.
“Excluded
Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03 of
this Agreement.
“Financial
Statements” shall mean (a) the unaudited financial statements of the
Seller as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, and (b) the unaudited
financial statements of the Seller as of and for the ten months ended October
31, 2007.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles as applied to the Seller on
a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby.
“Governmental
Authority” shall mean any governmental, regulatory or administrative
body, agency, subdivision or authority, any court or judicial authority, or
any
public, private or industry regulatory authority, whether national, Federal,
state, local, foreign or otherwise.
“Hazardous
Materials” shall mean any pollutant, contaminant, substance, material
or waste (regardless of physical form or concentration) that is regulated,
listed or identified under any Environmental Law and any other substance,
material or waste (regardless of physical form or concentration) which is
hazardous or toxic to living things or the environment, including without
limitation hazardous wastes as presently defined by the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et. seq., as amended, and
regulations promulgated thereunder and hazardous substances as presently defined
by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
of
1980, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq., as amended (“CERCLA” or “Superfund”) and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“HIPAA”
means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as
amended.
“Indemnified
Person” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04 of this
Agreement.
“Indemnifying
Person” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04 of this
Agreement.
“Intellectual
Property” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this
Agreement.
“knowledge
of the Seller” means the actual knowledge of the Stockholders,
including knowledge the Stockholders would have acquired after due inquiry
of
management-level employees of the Seller.
“Lease”
has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 of this
Agreement.
“Lease
Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02 of this
Agreement.
A-3
“Liability”
means any direct or indirect indebtedness, liability, assessment, claim, demand,
loss, damage, deficiency, obligation or responsibility, expense (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, accountants’ fees,
environmental consultants’ fees, laboratory costs and other professionals’
fees), Order, settlement payments, Taxes, fines and penalties, fixed or unfixed,
xxxxxx or inchoate, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, accrued,
absolute, actual or potential, contingent or otherwise (including any liability
under any guaranties, letters of credit, performance credits or with respect
to
insurance loss accruals).
“Lien”
means, with respect to any Purchased Asset, any lien (including mechanics,
warehousemen, laborers and landlords liens), charge, claim, hypothecation,
pledge, security interest, mortgage, preemptive right, right of first refusal,
option, judgment, title defect right of first refusal, easement or conditional
sale or other title retention agreement or other restriction or encumbrance
of
any kind in respect of or affecting such asset; provided,
however, that Liens shall not include any Permitted
Lien.
“Licensed
Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 4.08
of this Agreement.
“Material
Adverse Effect” means a materially adverse effect on the Seller’s
business, condition (financial or other), properties or results of operations,
taken as a whole, whether as a result of an act of God, fire, flood, accident,
casualty, war, labor disturbance, legislation or other event, occurrence or
non-occurrence, or the ability of the Seller to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, but shall not include a general business
downturn that impacts the Seller (unless such downturn has a disproportionate
impact on the Seller’s business).
“Material
Business Deterioration” the cancellation, discontinuation or reduction
of business with any Seller by customers (or the announcement of any intent
to
cancel, discontinue or reduce such business) that collectively represented
in
excess of $6,000,000 of the Seller’s revenue during the 12 months preceding the
relevant date.
“Material
Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 4.12 of this
Agreement.
“Moral
Rights” means, collectively, rights to claim authorship of a work, to
object to or prevent any modification of a work, to withdraw from circulation
or
control the publication or distribution of a work, and any similar rights,
whether existing under judicial or statutory law of any country or jurisdiction
worldwide, or under any treaty or similar legal authority, regardless of whether
such right is called or generally referred to as a “moral right.”
“Names”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this
Agreement.
“Order”
means any order, judgment, preliminary or permanent injunction, temporary
restraining order, award, citation, decree, consent decree or writ.
“Permits”
means any approval, consent, license, permit, waiver or other authorization
issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority
of
any Governmental Authority.
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“Permitted
Lien” shall mean, (a) Liens imposed by any Governmental Authority
for Taxes, assessments or charges not yet due and payable (excluding any Lien
arising under ERISA Section 4068) or which are set forth on Schedule 4.13
and being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP;
(b) inchoate, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s,
repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business;
(c) pledges or deposits in connection with worker’s compensation,
unemployment insurance and other social security legislation; (d) deposits
to secure the performance of any or all of the following: bids, trade
contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety
and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (e) easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances on real property
incurred in the ordinary course of business.
“Person”
means any natural person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, other
business organization, trust, union, association or Governmental
Authority.
“Personnel”
has the meaning specified in Section 4.08 of this Agreement.
“Pre-Closing
Tax Period” has the meaning specified in Section 4.07 of this
Agreement.
“Proceeding”
means any action, arbitration, mediation, audit, hearing, investigation,
litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative
or
informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before or otherwise
involving any Governmental Authority, arbitrator or mediator.
“Property
and Equipment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of
this Agreement.
“Purchased
Assets” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this
Agreement.
“Purchase
Price” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04 of this
Agreement.
“Records”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this Agreement.
“Representative”
as to a specified Person shall mean any officer, director, agent, employee,
attorney, accountant, consultant or other representative of the Person
specified.
“Seller”
has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Seller
Indemnified Person” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02
of this Agreement.
“Site”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16 of this Agreement.
“Straddle
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.07 of this
Agreement.
"Stockholders"
has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
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“Tax”
or “Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or
other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income, franchise,
profits, minimum, alternative minimum, gross receipts, capital, sales, use,
ad valorem, value added, transfer,
transfer gains, inventory, intangibles, capital stock, license, withholding,
payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, real or personal property, abandoned property assessment, and
estimated taxes, water, rent and sewer service charges, customs duties, fees,
assessments and charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest
and
any penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts thereon, imposed
by
any taxing authority (federal, state, local or foreign) and shall include any
transferee liability in respect of Taxes.
“Tax
Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
“Tax
Return” means all returns, declarations, reports, estimates,
information returns and statements required to be filed in respect of any
Taxes.
“WARN”
means the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended.
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