DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT by and between ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION and COMBIMATRIX CORPORATION
EXHIBIT 10.2
by
and between
ACACIA
RESEARCH CORPORATION
and
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
December
21, 2006
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Article I DEFINITIONS |
Page
|
||
Section 1.01 | General |
1
|
|
Article II THE CONTRIBUTION |
1
|
||
Section 2.01 | Intercorporate Reorganization |
14
|
|
Section 2.02 | Financial Instruments |
16
|
|
Section 2.03 | Intercompany Accounts and Arrangements |
17
|
|
Section 2.04 | The CombiMatrix Board |
18
|
|
Section 2.05 | Resignations, Transfer of Stock Held as Nominee |
19
|
|
Section 2.06 | CombiMatrix Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws |
19
|
|
Section 2.07 | Consents |
19
|
|
Article III THE DISTRIBUTION |
20
|
||
Section 3.01 | The Distribution |
20
|
|
Section 3.02 | Fractional Shares |
21
|
|
Section 3.03 | Cooperation Prior to the Distribution |
21
|
|
Section 3.04 | Acacia Board Action Conditions to the Distribution |
22
|
|
Section 3.05 | Waiver of Conditions |
23
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|
Article IV MUTUAL RELEASE; INDEMNIFICATION; EXPENSES |
23
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||
Section 4.01 | Mutual Release |
23
|
|
Section 4.02 | Indemnification by Acacia |
24
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|
Section 4.03 | Indemnification by CombiMatrix |
24
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|
Section 4.04 | Limitations on Indemnification Obligations |
25
|
|
Section 4.05 | Procedures Relating to Indemnification |
26
|
|
Section 4.06 | Remedies Cumulative |
27
|
|
Section 4.07 | Indemnification Under Tax Allocation Agreement |
28
|
|
Section 4.08 | Expenses |
28
|
|
Article V CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS |
29
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||
Section 5.01 | Insurance |
29
|
|
Section 5.02 | Use of Names, Trademarks, etc. |
31
|
|
Section 5.03 | CombiMatrix Warrants |
32
|
|
Article VI ACCESS TO INFORMATION |
33
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||
Section 6.01 | Provision of Corporate Records |
33
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|
Section 6.02 | Access to Information |
33
|
|
Section 6.03 | Production of Witnesses |
34
|
|
Section 6.04 | Retention of Records |
34
|
|
Section 6.05 | Confidentiality |
35
|
|
Article VII MISCELLANEOUS |
35
|
||
Section 7.01 | Entire Agreement; Construction |
35
|
|
Section 7.02 | Survival of Agreements |
36
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|
Section 7.03
|
Governing Law |
36
|
|
Section 7.04 | Notices |
36
|
|
Section 7.05 | Dispute Resolution |
37
|
|
Section 7.06 | Consent to Jurisdiction |
37
|
|
Section 7.07 | Amendments |
38
|
|
Section 7.08 | Assignment |
38
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|
Section 7.09 | Captions; Currency |
38
|
|
Section 7.10 | Severability |
38
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|
Section 7.11 | Parties in Interest |
39
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|
Section 7.12 | Schedules |
39
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|
Section 7.13 | Termination |
39
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|
Section 7.14 | Waivers; Remedies |
39
|
|
Section 7.15 | Further Assurances |
39
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|
Section 7.16 | Counterparts |
39
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|
Section 7.17 | Performance |
40
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|
Section 7.18 | Interpretation |
40
|
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SCHEDULES
Schedule
1.01(a)
|
Acacia
Liabilities
|
|
Schedule
1.01(b)
|
-
|
Bylaws
|
Schedule
1.01(c)
|
-
|
Certificate
of Incorporation
|
Schedule
1.01(d)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix
Assets
|
Schedule
1.01(e)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix
Liabilities
|
Schedule
1.01(f)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix
Real Property
|
Schedule
1.01(g)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix
Subsidiary
|
Schedule
2.01(c)
|
-
|
Acacia
Actions
|
Schedule
2.03(a)
|
-
|
Elimination
of Intercompany Agreements
|
Schedule
2.03(b)
|
-
|
Intercompany
Agreements
|
Schedule
2.04
|
-
|
CombiMatrix
Board of Directors
|
Schedule
2.05
|
-
|
Exceptions
to Acacia Resignations
|
Schedule
5.03(a)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix/May
2003 Warrant
|
Schedule
5.03(b)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix/Piper
2005 Warrant
|
Schedule
5.03(c)
|
-
|
CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx
Warrant
|
This
Distribution Agreement
(this
“Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of December 21, 2006, by and between Acacia
Research Corporation,
a
Delaware corporation (“Acacia”),
and
CombiMatrix
Corporation,
a
Delaware corporation and, as of the date hereof, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of
Acacia (“CombiMatrix”).
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth
in
Section 1.01.
RECITALS
A. The
Acacia Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to distribute
all outstanding shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock on a pro rata basis to the
holders of CombiMatrix Tracking Stock.
B. Subject
to the terms and conditions contained herein, immediately prior to the
Distribution, Acacia and the Acacia Subsidiaries will transfer the CombiMatrix
Subsidiaries to CombiMatrix as more fully described in this Agreement (the
“Contribution”).
C. Acacia
and CombiMatrix have determined that it is appropriate and desirable to set
forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Contribution
and the Distribution and certain other agreements that will govern certain
matters relating to the Contribution and the Distribution and the relationship
of Acacia, CombiMatrix and the respective members of the Acacia Group and the
CombiMatrix Group following the Contribution and the Distribution.
AGREEMENT
Accordingly,
in
consideration of the premises and of the respective agreements and covenants
contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 General.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such
meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the
terms defined):
“Acacia”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Acacia
Assets”
means
the following:
(a) all
rights of any member of the Acacia Group under any Separation Agreement to
which
it is or becomes a party;
(b) all
Assets which are expressly allocated to any member of the Acacia Group pursuant
to the Employee Matters Agreement or the Tax Allocation Agreement;
(c) the
following specifically enumerated Assets which immediately prior to the Time
of
Distribution are owned by Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons
comprising the CombiMatrix Group), in each case whether or not such Assets
are
used in or relate to the Acacia Business or the CombiMatrix
Business:
(i) all
Acacia Bank Accounts;
(ii) all
Acacia Cash;
(iii) all
Accounts Receivable other than CombiMatrix Accounts Receivable;
(iv) all
Inventories other than CombiMatrix Inventories;
(v) all
Securities;
(vi) all
Machinery and Equipment other than CombiMatrix Machinery and
Equipment;
(vii) all
Real
Property other than CombiMatrix Real Property;
(viii) all
Patents and Trademarks other than those set forth on Schedule
1.01(d);
(ix)
all
rights in, and to the use of, the Acacia Marks, other than as provided for
in
Section 5.02;
(x)
all
Policies and all rights, benefits and privileges thereunder and related thereto
(including the right to receive any and all return premiums with respect
thereto), other than rights with respect to Policies to the extent provided
in
Sections 5.01(b) and 5.01(c); and
(d) all
other
Assets which immediately prior to the Time of Distribution are owned by Acacia
or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group)
that are not CombiMatrix Assets; and
(e) all
rights, causes of action and claims of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries
(including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) to the extent relating
to
any asset described in clauses (a) through (d) above.
Anything
contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, assets described in paragraphs
(b) and (c) of the definition of “CombiMatrix Assets” will not be included in
Acacia Assets.
“Acacia
Bank Accounts”
means
all bank accounts of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons
comprising the CombiMatrix Group) immediately prior to the Time of Distribution,
other than CombiMatrix Bank Accounts.
2
“Acacia
Board”
means
the Board of Directors of Acacia or a duly authorized committee
thereof.
“Acacia
Business”
means
(a) the businesses and operations engaged in prior to the Time of
Distribution by Persons comprising the Pre-Distribution Group (but with respect
to each such Person who has ceased to be an Affiliate of Acacia or its
predecessors, only businesses engaged in prior to the time that such Person
comprising the Pre-Distribution Group ceased to be an Affiliate of Acacia or
its
predecessors) of acquiring, developing, licensing and enforcing patents rights,
including (i) assisting patent holders in developing additional claims for
their patents, (ii) assisting patent holders in protecting their patented
inventions from unauthorized use, and (iii) generating revenue from the
licensing of patents and, if necessary, enforcing patents; and
(b) activities related primarily to the foregoing, other than any
businesses, operations or activities included in the CombiMatrix
Business.
“Acacia
Cash”
means
all (i) cash (including cash in bank accounts), cash on hand, cash equivalents,
funds, certificates of deposit, similar instruments and travelers checks held
by
Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates (including Persons comprising
the CombiMatrix Group) immediately prior to the Time of Distribution and (ii)
cash deposits held by third parties securing or otherwise collateralizing
obligations of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including
Persons comprising CombiMatrix Group) immediately prior to the Time of
Distribution, other than, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i)
and
(ii), CombiMatrix Cash.
“Acacia
Expenses”
means
all out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries
(including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) incurred prior to the
Time
of Distribution in connection with effecting the Contribution, the Distribution,
the preparation, execution and delivery of the Separation Agreements and the
consummation of the Contribution and the Distribution, other than CombiMatrix
Expenses.
“Acacia
Group”
means
Acacia and the Acacia Subsidiaries.
“Acacia
Indemnitees”
mean
each member of the Acacia Group and each of their respective Representatives
and
Affiliates and each of the heirs, executors, successors and permitted assigns
of
any of the foregoing.
“Acacia
Liabilities”
means
the following:
(a) all
Liabilities of any member of the Acacia Group under any Separation Agreement
to
which it is or becomes a party;
(b) all
Liabilities for which any member of the Acacia Group is expressly made
responsible pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement or the Tax Allocation
Agreement;
(c) the
specifically enumerated Liabilities of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries
(including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) identified on Schedule
1.01(a), in each case whether or not such Liabilities relate to the Acacia
Business, Acacia Assets, the CombiMatrix Business or CombiMatrix
Assets:
3
(d) all
other
Liabilities of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons comprising
the CombiMatrix Group) in respect of operations engaged in prior to the Time
of
Distribution that are not CombiMatrix Liabilities.
Anything
contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Liabilities described in
paragraphs (b) and (c) of the definition of “CombiMatrix Liabilities” will not
be included in Acacia Liabilities.
“Acacia
Marks”
means
the names, trademarks, trade names, domain names and service marks “Acacia”,
“Acacia Research Corporation”, Digital Media Technology”, “Digital Media” and
“DMT” and all corporate symbols and logos related thereto and all names,
trademarks, trade names, domain names and service marks which include the words
“Acacia”, “Acacia Research Corporation”, “Digital Media Technology” and “DMT” or
any derivatives thereof and any other name, xxxx or symbol of the Acacia Group,
including, without limitation, names, marks or symbols connoting “Acacia” or
“DMT” which constitute a formative thereof.
“Acacia
Subsidiary”
means
each Subsidiary of Acacia other than CombiMatrix and the CombiMatrix
Subsidiaries.
“Action”
means,
with respect to any Person, any actual or threatened or future action, suit,
arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental
Entity or any claims or other legal matters that have been or may be asserted
by
or against, or otherwise affect, such Person.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by,
or is
under common control with, such specified Person; provided,
however,
that
for purposes of the Separation Agreements, following the Time of Distribution,
neither Acacia nor any Acacia Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Affiliate
of
any member of the CombiMatrix Group and neither CombiMatrix nor any CombiMatrix
Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the Acacia Group.
For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the term “control”
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under
common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“American
Stock Exchange”
means
the American Stock Exchange LLC.
“Asset/Liability
Allocation Matter”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
“Assigning
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
4
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day when banks are authorized
or
required by law to be closed in California.
“Bylaws”
means
CombiMatrix’s amended Bylaws in the form attached hereto as Schedule
1.01(b).
“CBMX
Tracking Stock”
means
Acacia Research-CombiMatrix Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share.
“Certificate
of Incorporation”
means
CombiMatrix’s restated certificate of incorporation in the form attached hereto
as Schedule 1.01(c).
“Claims
Administration”
means
the processing of claims made under Policies, including the reporting of claims
to the insurance carrier, management and defense of claims, and providing for
appropriate releases upon settlement of claims.
“Claims
Made Policies”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(b)(ii).
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
legislation.
“CombiMatrix”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“CombiMatrix
Accounts Receivable”
mean
the Accounts Receivable set forth on the CombiMatrix Accounting Ledgers
immediately prior to the Time of Distribution.
“CombiMatrix
Assets”
means
the following:
(a) all
rights of any member of the CombiMatrix Group under any Separation Agreement
to
which it is or becomes a party;
(b) all
Assets which are expressly allocated to any member of the CombiMatrix Group
pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement or the Tax Allocation
Agreement;
(c) the
following specifically enumerated Assets which immediately prior to the Time
of
Distribution are owned by Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons
comprising the CombiMatrix Group):
(i) the
CombiMatrix Bank Accounts;
(ii) the
CombiMatrix Cash (subject to Section 2.04(b));
(iii) the
CombiMatrix Accounts Receivable;
(iv)
the
CombiMatrix Inventories;
(v) the
CombiMatrix Machinery and Equipment;
5
(vi) the
CombiMatrix Real Property;
(vii) the
Patents and Trademarks set forth on Schedule 1.01(d);
(viii) all
assets identified in Schedule 1.01(d) as CombiMatrix’s;
(d) the
following Assets (other than those described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the
definition of “Acacia Assets”) which immediately prior to the Time of
Distribution are owned by Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons
comprising the CombiMatrix Group) and which are used exclusively in or relate
exclusively to the CombiMatrix Business, as the same shall exist as of such
time:
(i) Contracts;
(ii) advances,
performance and surety bonds, and interests as beneficiary under letters of
credit and other similar instruments and all proceeds thereof;
(iii) Permits;
(iv) credits,
prepayments and prepaid expenses;
(v) claims,
causes of action, rights under express or implied warranties, guarantees and
indemnities and similar rights, rights of recovery, rights of set-off, rights
of
subrogation and all other rights of any kind (including the right to receive
mail and other communications); and
(vi) goodwill,
going concern value and other intangible assets not otherwise included in
clauses (a) through (q) of the definition of “Assets”;
(e) the
following Assets (other than those described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the
definition of “Acacia Assets”) which immediately prior to the Time of
Distribution are owned by Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons
comprising the CombiMatrix Group) and which are used 75% or more in or relate
75% or more to the CombiMatrix Business, as the same shall exist as of such
time:
(i) Data
and
Records; and
(ii) Trade
Secrets; and
(f) all rights, causes of action and claims of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries (including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) to the extent relating to any asset described in clauses (a) through (e) above.
Anything
contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, assets described in paragraphs
(b) and (c) of the definition of “Acacia Assets” will not be included in
CombiMatrix Assets.
6
“CombiMatrix
Bank Accounts”
means
all bank accounts which are solely in the name of one or more members of the
CombiMatrix Group immediately prior to the Time of Distribution.
“CombiMatrix
Board”
means
the Board of Directors of CombiMatrix.
“CombiMatrix
Business”
means
(a) the business and operations engaged in prior to the Time of
Distribution by the members of the Pre-Distribution Group (but with respect
to
each such member who has ceased to be an Affiliate of Acacia or its
predecessors, only businesses engaged in prior to the time that such member
of
the Pre-Distribution Group ceased to be an Affiliate of Acacia or its
predecessors) of (i) developing and licensing products for use by academic
and industrial researchers to develop various pharmaceutical, biotechnology
and
other applications and (ii) developing and licensing additional proprietary
products that have, and can be used for, such diverse applications as drug
target discovery and validations, genotyping, pathogen detection and/or
agricultural analysis; and (b) activities related primarily to the
foregoing.
“CombiMatrix
Cash”
means
(i) the following to the extent set forth on the CombiMatrix Accounting
Ledgers immediately prior to the Time of Distribution or located at Locations
of
the CombiMatrix Business at the Time of Distribution: cash in CombiMatrix Bank
Accounts, cash on hand, cash equivalents, funds, certificates of deposits,
similar instruments and travelers checks and (ii) cash deposits held by
third parties securing or otherwise collateralizing obligations relating to
the
CombiMatrix Business immediately prior to the Time of Distribution.
“CombiMatrix
Common Stock”
means
the common stock, par value $.00l per share, of CombiMatrix.
“CombiMatrix
Expenses”
means
the following out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses of Acacia or any of its
Subsidiaries (including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group), in each
case,
whether incurred and/or paid before, at or after the Time of Distribution:
all
out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar
for
the CombiMatrix Common Stock.
“CombiMatrix
Financial Instruments”
means
those credit facilities, guaranties, foreign currency forward exchange
contracts, comfort letters, letters of credit and similar instruments related
to
the CombiMatrix Business under which any member of the Acacia Group has any
primary, secondary, contingent, joint, several or other Liability.
“CombiMatrix
Group”
means
CombiMatrix and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries.
“CombiMatrix
Indemnitees”
means
each member of the CombiMatrix Group and each of their respective
Representatives and Affiliates and each of the heirs, executors, successors
and
permitted assigns of any of the foregoing.
“CombiMatrix
Inventories”
means
the Inventories set forth on the CombiMatrix Accounting Ledgers immediately
prior to Time of Distribution.
“CombiMatrix
Liabilities”
means
the following:
7
(a) all
Liabilities of any Person comprising the CombiMatrix Group under any Separation
Agreement to which it is or becomes a party;
(b) all
Liabilities for which any Person comprising the CombiMatrix Group is expressly
made responsible pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement or the Tax
Allocation Agreement;
(c) the
specifically enumerated Liabilities of CombiMatrix or any of its Subsidiaries
set forth on Schedule 1.01(e), in each case whether or not such Liabilities
relate to the Acacia Business, Acacia Assets, the CombiMatrix Business or
CombiMatrix Assets; and
(d) all
Liabilities (other than those described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the
definition of “Acacia Liabilities”) of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries
(including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) to the extent based upon,
arising out of or relating to the CombiMatrix Assets or the CombiMatrix
Business, including:
(i) all
Liabilities (including Liabilities arising out of any breaches or violations)
to
the extent relating to the CombiMatrix’s Business based upon, arising out of or
relating to Contracts (whether or not such Contracts constitute CombiMatrix
Assets) (including any primary, secondary, contingent or other obligations,
such
as under guaranties or indemnities, in respect of such Contracts); and
(ii) the
Actions set forth on Schedule 1.01(e).
Anything
contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Liabilities described in
paragraphs (b) and (c) of the definition of “Acacia Liabilities” will not be
included in CombiMatrix Liabilities.
“CombiMatrix
Machinery and Equipment”
means
the Machinery and Equipment set forth on the CombiMatrix Accounting Ledgers
immediately prior to the Time of Distribution.
“CombiMatrix
Real Property”
means
the Real Property set forth on Schedule 1.01(f)
“CombiMatrix
Subsidiary”
means
each Person listed on Schedule 1.01(g).
“CombiMatrix/May
2003 Warrant”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(a).
“CombiMatrix/Piper
2005 Warrant”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(b).
“CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx
Warrant”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(c).
“Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Consents”
means
consents, approvals, waivers, clearances, exemptions, allowances, novations,
authorizations, filings, registrations and notifications.
8
“Contracts”
means
all agreements, personal property leases, contracts (including employee
contracts), licenses, memoranda of understanding, letters of intent, sales
orders, purchase orders, open bids and other commitments, including in each
case, all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto and waivers and
consents thereunder, but excluding real property leases.
“Contribution”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Conveyance
Instruments”
means,
collectively, the various agreements, stock powers, certificates of title,
instruments of conveyance and assignment, and other instruments and documents
to
be entered into to effect the transfer of Subsidiaries contemplated by the
transactions described in Sections 2.01(b) and (c).
“Data
and Records”
means
financial, accounting, corporate, operating, design, manufacturing, test and
other data and records (in each case, in whatever form or medium, including
electronic media), including books, records, notes, sales and sales promotional
material and data, advertising materials, credit information, cost and pricing
information, customer, supplier and agent lists, other records pertaining to
customers, business plans, reference catalogs, payroll and personnel records
and
procedures, blue-prints, research and development files, data and laboratory
books, sales order files, litigation files, minute books, stock ledgers, stock
transfer records and other similar data and records.
“Dispute”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7.05.
“Distribution”
means
the distribution, on the basis provided for in Section 3.01, to the holders
of
CBMX Tracking Stock of the shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock owned by Acacia
on
the Distribution Date.
“Distribution
Agent”
means
the distribution agent selected by Acacia to distribute CombiMatrix Common
Stock
in connection with the Distribution.
“Distribution
Date”
means
the date determined by the Acacia Board in accordance with Section 3.01 as
the
date as of which the Distribution will be effected.
“Employee
Matters Agreement”
means
the Employee Matters Agreement dated as of the date hereof entered into prior
to
the Time of Distribution by and between Acacia and CombiMatrix.
“Former
Business”
means
any corporation, partnership, entity, division, business unit, business, assets,
plants, product line, operations or contract (including any assets and
liabilities comprising the same) that has been sold, conveyed, assigned,
transferred or otherwise disposed of or divested (in whole or in part) by any
member of the Pre-Distribution Group or the operations, activities or production
of which has been discontinued, abandoned, completed or otherwise terminated
(in
whole or in part) by any member of the Pre-Distribution Group.
9
“Governmental
Entity”
means
any government or any court, arbitral tribunal, administrative agency or
commission or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, federal,
state, local, domestic, foreign or international.
“Group”
means
the Acacia Group or the CombiMatrix Group, as applicable.
“Indemnifiable
Losses”
means
any and all losses, Liabilities, claims, damages, deficiencies, obligations,
fines, payments, Taxes, Liens, costs and expenses, matured or unmatured,
absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, known
or unknown, whenever arising and whether or not resulting from Third Party
Claims (including the costs and expenses of any and all Actions; all amounts
paid in connection with any demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and
compromises relating thereto; interest and penalties with respect thereto;
out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and other
experts’ fees and expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing for
or defending against any such Actions or in asserting, preserving or enforcing
an Indemnitee’s rights hereunder; and any losses that may result from the
granting of injunctive relief as a result of any such Actions).
“Indemnifying
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).
“Indemnitee”
means
any of the Acacia Indemnitees or the CombiMatrix Indemnitees who or which is
entitled to seek indemnification under this Agreement.
“Indemnity
Reduction Amounts”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).
“Information”
means
all records, books, contracts, instruments, computer data and other data and
information (in each case, in whatever form or medium, including electronic
media).
“Insurance
Proceeds”
means
monies (a) received by an insured from an insurance carrier, (b) paid by an
insurance carrier on behalf of an insured or (c) received from any third party
in the nature of insurance, contribution or indemnification in respect of any
Liability.
“Liabilities”
means
any and all claims, debts, liabilities, commitments and obligations of whatever
nature, whether fixed, contingent or absolute, matured or unmatured, liquidated
or unliquidated, accrued or not accrued, known or unknown, due or to become
due,
whenever or however arising and whether or not the same would be required by
generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected as a liability in
financial statements or disclosed in the notes thereto, including all costs
and
expenses relating thereto and those claims, debts, liabilities, commitments
and
obligations:
(a) based
upon, arising out of or relating to any law, statute, rule, regulation,
judgment, order, decision or consent decree of any Governmental Entity or any
noncompliance therewith or breach or violation of any thereof;
(b) in
respect of
accounts payable;
(c) in
respect of outstanding checks;
10
(d) based
upon, arising out of or relating to workers’ compensation, automobile liability,
general liability, product liability, intellectual property liability and other
claims and matters (whether direct or for indemnification of any Person or
otherwise, and whether insured or uninsured);
(e) based
upon, arising out of or relating to Actions or any award of any arbitrator
of
any kind;
(f) in
respect of salary, bonuses, incentive payments, severance payments and other
compensation payments and all Taxes and withholdings related
thereto;
(g) in
respect of employee welfare and fringe benefits (including claims for medical
and disability benefits);
(h) based
upon, arising out of or relating to environmental matters (including the
presence, release or threatened release of hazardous materials or any other
environmental conditions or the violation of any environmental laws), including
all removal, remediation and cleanup costs, investigatory costs, settlement
costs, governmental response costs, natural resources damages, property damages,
personal injury damages and all other costs and damages;
(i) based
upon, arising out of or relating to Contracts;
(j) based
upon, arising out of or relating to torts (whether based on negligence, strict
liability or otherwise) or infringements; and
(k) in
respect of products and services, including warranty liabilities, deferred
revenues, product liability claims and liabilities in respect of the return,
repair or replacement of products.
“Liability
Allocation Matter”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
“Lien”
means
any lien, security interest, pledge, mortgage, charge, restriction, retention
of
title agreement or other encumbrance of whatever nature.
“Machinery
and Equipment”
means
machinery, equipment, tooling, vehicles, furniture and fixtures (other than
real
property fixtures), leasehold improvements, repair parts, tools, plant,
laboratory and office equipment and supplies, computer hardware and software,
computer networking equipment, engineering and design equipment, test equipment
and other tangible personal property (other than tangible personal property
included in other categories of assets in the definition of “Assets”), together
with any rights or claims arising out of maintenance or service contracts
relating thereto or the breach of any express or implied warranty by the
manufacturers or sellers of any of such assets or any component part
thereof.
“Occurrence
Basis Policies”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(b)(i).
11
“Xxxxxxxxxxx
Warrant”
means
any warrant issued in Acacia’s registered direct offering in December 2006 in
which Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc. acted as the placement agent.
“Permits”
means
licenses, permits, authorizations, Consents, certificates, registrations,
variances, franchises and other approvals from any Governmental Entity,
including those relating to environmental matters.
“Person”
means
any individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability
entity, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity (including a
Governmental Entity).
“May
2003 Warrant”
means
any warrant issued in Acacia’s May 2003 private placement
transaction.
“Piper
2005 Warrant”
means
any warrant issued in Acacia’s registered direct offering in September 2005 in
which Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. acted as the placement agent.
“Policies”
means
all insurance policies, insurance contracts and claim administration contracts
of any kind of Acacia and its Subsidiaries (including Persons comprising the
CombiMatrix Group) and their predecessors which were or are in effect at any
time at or prior to the Time of Distribution (other than insurance policies,
insurance contracts and claim administration contracts established in
contemplation of the Distribution to cover only CombiMatrix and its Subsidiaries
after the Time of Distribution), including primary, excess and umbrella,
commercial general liability, fiduciary liability, product liability,
automobile, aircraft, property and casualty, business interruption, directors
and officers liability, employment practices liability, workers’ compensation,
crime, errors and omissions, special accident, cargo and employee dishonesty
insurance policies and captive insurance company arrangements, together with
all
rights, benefits and privileges thereunder.
“Pre-Distribution
Group”
means
(a) each of Acacia, the Subsidiaries of Acacia existing immediately prior to
the
Time of Distribution (including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) and
Persons that have ceased to be Subsidiaries of Acacia prior to the Time of
Distribution, (b) each of the predecessors of each of the foregoing and
(c) each of the Persons that have ceased to be Subsidiaries and other
Affiliates of each of the foregoing and their predecessors prior to the Time
of
Distribution.
“Privileged
Information”
means,
with respect to a Group, Information regarding a member of such Group, or any
of
its operations, employees, assets or Liabilities (whether in documents or stored
in any other form or known to its employees or agents) that is or may be
protected from disclosure pursuant to the attorney-client privilege, the work
product doctrine or other applicable privileges, that a member of the other
Group has or may come into possession of or has obtained or may obtain access
to
pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise.
“Real
Property”
means
real property (including land, plants, buildings, real property fixtures and
improvements) and real property interests (including real property leases,
easements and rights of way, occupancy or use).
“Recipient
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.
12
“Record
Date”
means
the close of business on the forty-fifth (45th)
Trading
Day following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
“Representative”
means,
with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees,
agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys and
representatives.
“Registration
Statement”
means
the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by CombiMatrix with the Commission
to effect the registration of the CombiMatrix Common Stock pursuant to the
Securities Act, including all amendments thereto filed by CombiMatrix with
the
Commission prior to the Time of Distribution.
“Securities”
means
all short-term and long-term investments, banker’s acceptances, shares of stock,
notes, bonds, debentures, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of interest
or
participation in profit-sharing agreements, collateral-trust certificates,
preorganization certificates or subscriptions, transferable shares, puts, calls,
straddles, options, investment contracts, voting trusts and certificates and
other securities of any kind (other than ownership interests in
Subsidiaries).
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Separation
Agreements”
means,
collectively, this Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Tax Allocation
Agreement, the Conveyance Instruments, and any other agreement entered into
between Acacia and CombiMatrix in connection with the Contribution and the
Distribution.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, of which such Person or any Subsidiaries of
such
Person controls or owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the stock
or
other equity interest, or more than 50% of the voting power entitled to vote
on
the election of members to the board of directors or similar governing body.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Subsidiary” shall also mean, with
respect to CombiMatrix, the following entities: (i) Leuchemix, a California
corporation, and (ii) CombiMatrix K.K., a Japanese corporation.
“Tax”
and
“Taxes”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the Tax Allocation Agreement.
“Tax
Allocation Agreement”
means
the Tax Allocation Agreement dated as of the date hereof entered into prior
to
the Time of Distribution by and between Acacia and CombiMatrix.
“Third
Party Claim”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(a).
“Time
of Distribution”
means
the close of business on the Distribution Date.
“Trade
Secrets”
means
(a) trade secrets and confidential business and technical information (including
ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technology, compositions,
manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical data,
engineering, production and other designs, drawings, engineering notebooks,
industrial models, mask works, semiconductor chip topographies, software and
specifications and any other information meeting the definition of a trade
secret under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act); (b) computer and electronic data
processing programs and software, both source code and object code (including
data and related documentation, flow charts, diagrams, descriptive texts and
programs, computer print-outs, underlying tapes, computer databases and similar
items), computer applications and operating programs; and (c) all copies and
tangible embodiments of any or all of the foregoing (in whatever form or medium,
including electronic media).
13
“Trading
Day”
shall
have the meaning as set forth in Acacia’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
ARTICLE
II
THE
CONTRIBUTION
Section
2.01 Intercorporate
Reorganization.
(a) Prior
to
the Time of Distribution, Acacia and CombiMatrix will take all actions necessary
to increase the outstanding shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock so that,
immediately prior to the Distribution, Acacia will hold a number of shares
of
CombiMatrix Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to
the
aggregate number of shares of CombiMatrix Tracking Stock (excluding treasury
shares held by Acacia) issued and outstanding as of the Record
Date.
(b) As
of the
Time of
Distribution
(i) Acacia
and each Acacia Subsidiary shall convey, assign and transfer, or cause to be
conveyed, assigned and transferred, to CombiMatrix any and all right, title
and
interest of Acacia and each of the Acacia Subsidiaries in the CombiMatrix
Subsidiaries;
(ii) CombiMatrix
and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries shall not have any right, title or interest
in
or to any Acacia Subsidiary or Acacia Asset;
(iii) Acacia
shall unconditionally assume and undertake to pay, perform and discharge, in
a
timely manner and in accordance with the terms thereof, all Liabilities of
CombiMatrix and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries that are Acacia Liabilities;
and
(iv) CombiMatrix
shall unconditionally assume and undertake to pay, perform and discharge, in
a
timely manner and in accordance with the terms thereof, all Liabilities of
Acacia and the Acacia Subsidiaries that are CombiMatrix
Liabilities.
If
at any
time or from time to time (whether at or after the Time of Distribution) any
member of the Acacia Group shall receive or otherwise possess any CombiMatrix
Asset or interest in a CombiMatrix Subsidiary, such member will promptly convey,
assign and transfer, or cause to be conveyed, assigned and transferred, such
CombiMatrix Asset or interest in a CombiMatrix Subsidiary to CombiMatrix. If
at
any time or from time to time (whether at or after the Time of Distribution)
any
member of the CombiMatrix Group shall receive or otherwise possess any Acacia
Asset or interest in an Acacia Subsidiary, such member will promptly convey,
assign and transfer, or cause to be conveyed, assigned and transferred, such
Acacia Asset or interest in an Acacia Subsidiary to Acacia. Prior to any such
transfer, the Person receiving or possessing such Asset or interest in a
Subsidiary will hold such Asset or interest in a Subsidiary in trust for the
benefit of the Person entitled thereto (at the expense of the Person entitled
thereto).
14
If
at any
time or from time to time (whether at or after the Time of Distribution) either
Acacia or CombiMatrix determines that the other party (or any member of such
other party’s respective Group) shall not have unconditionally assumed any
Liabilities that are allocated to such other party (or a member of such other
party’s respective Group) pursuant to this Agreement, the Employee Matters
Agreement or the Tax Allocation Agreement, such other party will promptly
execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents
and instruments and will take, or cause to be taken, all such actions as the
requesting party may reasonably request to unconditionally assume, or cause
to
be unconditionally assumed, such Liabilities.
Solely
for purposes of implementing the terms of this Agreement, during the period
beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending twelve months after the
Distribution Date, Acacia and CombiMatrix agree to discuss the allocation of
any
Asset or Liability of Acacia and its Subsidiaries (including Persons comprising
the CombiMatrix Group) that either of them reasonably believes should be or
should have been allocated differently than pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement (an “Asset/Liability
Allocation Matter”).
The
Acacia Chief Executive Officer will designate an employee of Acacia and the
CombiMatrix Chief Executive Officer will designate an employee of CombiMatrix
who will discuss an appropriate resolution of any Asset/Liability Allocation
Matter. If within thirty days of the receipt of the notification of an
Asset/Liability Allocation Matter by either Acacia or CombiMatrix pursuant
to
this paragraph, or such other time as Acacia and CombiMatrix may agree, the
designees have not reached a mutually acceptable resolution of the
Asset/Liability Allocation Matter, the matter will be referred for discussion
to
the Acacia Chief Executive Officer and the CombiMatrix Chief Executive Officer.
Should a mutually acceptable resolution of the Asset/Liability Allocation Matter
not be reached within thirty days following the referral to them, the terms
and
conditions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, unamended,
unmodified and unsupplemented. In no event shall the terms and conditions of
this Agreement be amended, modified or supplemented other than in accordance
with the provisions of Section 7.07. Nothing in this paragraph shall affect
the
right of any party to resort to the dispute resolution provisions of Section
7.05 in respect of any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of an alleged
breach of any provision of this Agreement.
(c) Acacia
will take, or cause to be taken, the actions described on Schedule 2.01(c)
in connection with the operation of the Acacia Business.
(d) In
connection with the transfers of Subsidiaries and the assumptions of Liabilities
contemplated by subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 2.01, Acacia
and CombiMatrix will execute or cause to be executed by the appropriate entities
the Conveyance Instruments. The transfer of capital stock contemplated by such
subsections will be effected by means of delivery of stock certificates duly
endorsed or accompanied by duly executed stock powers and notation on the stock
record books of the corporation or other legal entities involved and, to the
extent required by applicable law, by notation on appropriate
registries.
15
(e) Each
of
Acacia (on behalf of itself and each other member of the Acacia Group) and
CombiMatrix (on behalf of itself and each other member of the CombiMatrix Group)
understands and agrees that, except as expressly set forth in any Separation
Agreement or any other agreement or document contemplated by any Separation
Agreement, no party to any Separation Agreement, or any other agreement or
document contemplated by any Separation Agreement either has or is, in such
agreement or otherwise, representing or warranting in any way as to Assets,
Subsidiaries, businesses or Liabilities retained, conveyed, assigned,
transferred or assumed as contemplated hereby or thereby, as to any consents
or
approvals required in connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Separation Agreements, as to the value or freedom from any Lien of, or any
other
matter concerning any Assets, Liabilities or Subsidiaries of, such party, or
as
to the absence of any defenses or rights of setoff or freedom from counterclaim
with respect to any claim or other Assets or Subsidiaries of any party, or
as to
the legal sufficiency of any assignment, document or instrument delivered
hereunder or thereunder to convey title to any Asset or Subsidiary or thing
of
value upon the execution, delivery or filing thereof. Except as may expressly
be
set forth in any Separation Agreement, all Assets and Subsidiaries being
transferred or retained as contemplated by any Separation Agreement are being
transferred, or are being retained, on an “as is”, “where is” basis and the
respective transferees shall bear the economic and legal risks that any
conveyance shall prove to be insufficient or that the title to any Asset or
Subsidiary shall be other than good and marketable and free and clear of any
Lien.
(f) It
is the
intention of the parties that payments made by the parties to each other after
the Time of Distribution pursuant to this Agreement, the Employee Matters
Agreement or the Tax Allocation Agreement are to be treated as relating back
to
the transactions occurring prior to the Time of Distribution pursuant to this
Section 2.01 as an adjustment to the transfers of Assets, Subsidiaries and
Liabilities contemplated by this Section 2.01, and Acacia and CombiMatrix
will, and will cause the Acacia Subsidiaries and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries,
respectively, to, take positions consistent with such intention with any Tax
authority, unless with respect to any payment any party receives an opinion
of
counsel reasonably acceptable to the other party to the effect that there is
no
substantial authority for such a position.
Section
2.02 Financial
Instruments.
(a) CombiMatrix
will (from and after the Time of Distribution, at its expense) take or cause
to
be taken all actions, and enter into (or cause the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries
to
enter into) such agreements and arrangements, as shall be necessary to effect
the release of and substitution for each member of the Acacia Group, effective
as of the Time of Distribution, from all primary, secondary, contingent, joint,
several and other Liabilities in respect of CombiMatrix Financial Instruments
(it being understood that all Liabilities in respect of CombiMatrix Financial
Instruments are CombiMatrix Liabilities).
16
(b) CombiMatrix’s
obligations under Section 2.02(a) will continue to be applicable to all
CombiMatrix Financial Instruments identified at any time by Acacia, whether
before, at or after the Time of Distribution.
Section
2.03 Intercompany
Accounts and Arrangements.
(a) Elimination
of Intercompany Accounts.
(i) Except
as
set forth in Section 2.03(a)(ii) or on Schedule 2.03(a), Acacia, on behalf
of
itself and each other member of the Acacia Group, on the one hand, and
CombiMatrix, on behalf of itself and each other member of the CombiMatrix Group,
on the other hand, hereby settle and eliminate, by cancellation or transfer
to a
member of the other Group (whether to cancel or transfer and the manner thereof
will be determined by Acacia), effective as of the Time of Distribution, all
intercompany receivables, payables and other balances (including intercompany
cash management balances) existing immediately prior to the Time of Distribution
between Acacia and/or any Acacia Subsidiary, on the one hand, and CombiMatrix
and/or any CombiMatrix Subsidiary, on the other hand.
(ii) The
provisions of Section 2.03(a)(i) will not apply to any intercompany receivables,
payables and other balances arising under any Separation Agreement, including
those arising under Section 2.04 or incurred in connection with the payment
by
any party of any expenses which are required to be paid or reimbursed by the
other party pursuant to Section 4.08.
(b) Intercompany
Agreements.
(i) Except
as
set forth in Section 2.03(b)(ii), in furtherance of the releases and other
provisions of Section 4.01, CombiMatrix, on behalf of itself and each other
member of the CombiMatrix Group, and Acacia, on behalf of itself and each other
member of the Acacia Group, hereby terminate any and all agreements,
arrangements, commitments or understandings in existence as of the Time of
Distribution, whether or not in writing, between or among CombiMatrix and/or
any
CombiMatrix Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Acacia and/or any Acacia
Subsidiary, on the other hand. No such terminated agreement, arrangement,
commitment or understanding (including any provision thereof which purports
to
survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after the Time
of
Distribution.
(ii) The
provisions of Section 2.03(b)(i) will not apply to any of the following
agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any of the
provisions thereof): (A) the Separation Agreements and each other
agreement, instrument or document expressly contemplated by any Separation
Agreement to be entered into by any party hereto or any of the members of their
respective Groups; (B) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or
understandings listed or described on Schedule 2.03(b); (C) any agreements,
arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Person other than
the
parties hereto and their respective Affiliates is a party; and (D) any
other agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that any
Separation Agreement expressly contemplates will survive the Time of
Distribution.
17
(c) Funding
of Outstanding Checks.
(i) CombiMatrix
or a CombiMatrix Subsidiary will fund all amounts in respect of checks that
are
outstanding immediately prior to the Time of Distribution and presented for
payment at or after the Time of Distribution in CombiMatrix Bank
Accounts.
(ii) Acacia
or
an Acacia Subsidiary will fund all amounts in respect of checks that are
outstanding immediately prior to the Time of Distribution and presented for
payment at or after the Time of Distribution in Acacia Bank
Accounts.
(iii) The
provisions of this Section 2.04(c) with respect to funding of outstanding checks
will not affect in any way, and will be subject to, all other provisions of
this
Agreement providing for the reimbursement of any amounts or the allocation
of
any Liabilities, including Section 4.08.
(d) Payments.
(i) CombiMatrix
will, and will cause the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries to, forward to Acacia (for
the
account of Acacia or the applicable Acacia Subsidiary) any payments in respect
of accounts receivable constituting Acacia Assets received by CombiMatrix or
any
of the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries after the Time of Distribution, whether received
in lock boxes, via wire transfer or otherwise, by the first Business Day of
the
week after the week during which such payment is received. Such amounts will
be
forwarded by wire transfer (to an Acacia’s bank account designated in writing by
Acacia) in the case of payments received within thirty days after the Time
of
Distribution and by check in the case of payments received
thereafter.
(ii) Acacia
will, and will cause the Acacia Subsidiaries to, forward to CombiMatrix (for
the
account of CombiMatrix or the applicable CombiMatrix Subsidiary) any payments
in
respect of accounts receivable constituting CombiMatrix Assets received by
Acacia or any of the Acacia Subsidiaries after the Time of Distribution, whether
received in lock boxes, via wire transfer or otherwise, by the first business
day of the week after the week during which such payment is received. Such
amounts will be forwarded by wire transfer (to a CombiMatrix’s bank account
designated in writing by CombiMatrix) in the case of payments received within
thirty days after the Time of Distribution and by check in the case of payments
received thereafter.
Section
2.04 The
CombiMatrix Board.
Prior
to the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix and Acacia will take all actions which
may be required to elect or otherwise appoint as directors of CombiMatrix the
persons named on Schedule 2.04 to constitute the board of directors of
CombiMatrix at the Time of Distribution.
18
Section
2.05 Resignations,
Transfer of Stock Held as Nominee.
(a) Acacia
will cause all of its employees and directors and all of the employees and
directors of each other member of the Acacia Group to resign, effective not
later than the Time of Distribution, from all boards of directors or similar
governing bodies of CombiMatrix or any other member of the CombiMatrix Group
on
which they serve, and from all positions as officers of CombiMatrix or any
other
member of the CombiMatrix Group in which they serve, except as otherwise
specified on Schedule 2.05. CombiMatrix will cause all of its employees and
directors and all of the employees and directors of each other member of the
CombiMatrix Group to resign, effective not later than the Time of Distribution,
from all boards of directors or similar governing bodies of Acacia or any other
member of the Acacia Group on which they serve, and from all positions as
officers of Acacia or any other member of the Acacia Group in which they serve,
except as otherwise specified on Schedule 2.05.
(b) Acacia
will cause each of its employees, and each of the employees of the other members
of the Acacia Group, who holds stock or similar evidence of ownership of any
CombiMatrix Group entity as nominee for such entity pursuant to the laws of
the
country in which such entity is located to transfer such stock or similar
evidence of ownership to the Person so designated by CombiMatrix to be such
nominee as of and after the Time of Distribution. CombiMatrix will cause each
of
its employees, and each of the employees of the other members of the CombiMatrix
Group, who holds stock or similar evidence of ownership of any Acacia Group
entity as nominee for such entity pursuant to the laws of the country in which
such entity is located to transfer such stock or similar evidence of ownership
to the Person so designated by Acacia to be such nominee as of and after the
Time of Distribution.
(c) Acacia
will cause each of its employees and each of the employees of the other members
of the Acacia Group to revoke or withdraw their express written authority,
if
any, to act on behalf of any CombiMatrix Group entity as an agent or
representative therefor after the Time of Distribution. CombiMatrix will cause
each of its employees and each of the employees of the other members of the
CombiMatrix Group to revoke or withdraw their express written authority, if
any,
to act on behalf of any Acacia Group entity as an agent or representative
therefor after the Time of Distribution.
Section
2.06 CombiMatrix
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Prior
to the Time of Distribution, (a) the CombiMatrix Board will
(i) approve the Certificate of Incorporation and will cause the same to be
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (ii) adopt
the Bylaws, and (b) Acacia, as sole shareholder of CombiMatrix, will
approve the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section
2.07 Consents.
Prior
to and after the Distribution Date, Acacia and CombiMatrix will, and will cause
the Acacia Subsidiaries and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries, respectively, to,
use
their commercially reasonable efforts (as requested by the other party) to
obtain, or to cause to be obtained, all Consents necessary for the transfer
of
all Assets, Subsidiaries and Liabilities contemplated to be transferred pursuant
to this Article II; provided,
however,
that
none of Acacia (or any of the Acacia Subsidiaries) or CombiMatrix (or any of
the
CombiMatrix Subsidiaries) shall be obligated to pay any consideration or offer
or grant any financial accommodation in connection therewith. Anything contained
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement shall not constitute
an
agreement to assign any Contract or Permit if an assignment or attempted
assignment of the same without the Consent of any other party or parties thereto
or other required Consent would constitute a breach thereof or of any applicable
law or in any way impair the rights of any member of the Acacia Group or the
CombiMatrix Group thereunder. If any such Consent is not obtained or if an
attempted assignment would be ineffective or would impair any rights of any
member of either
19
Group
under any such Contract or Permit so that the contemplated assignee hereunder
(the “Recipient
Party”)
would
not receive all such rights, then after the Time of Distribution (x) the party
contemplated hereunder to assign such Contract or Permit (the “Assigning
Party”)
will
use commercially reasonable efforts (it being understood that such efforts
shall
not include any requirement of the Assigning Party to pay any consideration
or
offer or grant any financial accommodation) to provide or cause to be provided
to the Recipient Party the benefits of any such Contract or Permit and the
Assigning Party will promptly pay or cause to be paid to the Recipient Party
when received all moneys and properties received by the Assigning Party with
respect to any such Contract or Permit and (y) the Recipient Party will pay,
perform and discharge on behalf of the Assigning Party all of the Assigning
Party’s Liabilities thereunder in a timely manner and in accordance with the
terms thereof. If and when such Consents are obtained, the transfer of the
applicable Contract or Permit shall be effected as promptly following the Time
of Distribution as shall be practicable in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. To the extent that any transfers and assumptions contemplated by
this
Article II shall not have been consummated on or prior to the Time of
Distribution, the parties shall cooperate to effect such transfers as promptly
following the Time of Distribution as shall be practicable, it nonetheless
being
agreed and understood by the parties that no party shall be liable in any manner
to any other party for any failure of any of the transfers contemplated by
this
Article II to be consummated prior to the Time of Distribution.
ARTICLE
III
THE
DISTRIBUTION
Section
3.01 The
Distribution.
(a) Subject
to Section 3.04, prior to the Time of Distribution, Acacia will deliver to
the
Distribution Agent, for the benefit of holders of record of CombiMatrix Tracking
Stock as of the Record Date, a number of shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock
(rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to the number of shares of
CombiMatrix Tracking Stock issued and outstanding as of the Record Date
(excluding treasury shares held by Acacia), and Acacia will instruct the
Distribution Agent to make book-entry credits on the Distribution Date or as
soon thereafter as practicable for each holder of record of CombiMatrix Tracking
Stock as of the Record Date, or the designated transferee or transferees of
such
holder, for a number of shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock (rounded down to
the
nearest whole share) equal to the number of shares of CombiMatrix Tracking
Stock
so held by such holder of record as of the Record Date (excluding treasury
shares held by Acacia). The Distribution will be effective as of the Time of
Distribution.
20
(b) Acacia
and CombiMatrix each will provide to the Distribution Agent all information
(including information necessary to make appropriate book-entry credits) and
share certificates, in each case, as may be required in order to complete the
Distribution on the basis of one share of CombiMatrix Common Stock for every
one
share of CombiMatrix Tracking Stock (excluding treasury shares held by
Acacia).
Section
3.02 Fractional
Shares.
Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no fractional shares
of CombiMatrix Common Stock will be distributed to holders of CombiMatrix
Tracking Stock in the Distribution. Holders that are otherwise entitled to
receive less than one whole share of CombiMatrix Common Stock in the
Distribution will receive cash in lieu of such fractional share as contemplated
hereby. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Acacia will direct
the Distribution Agent to determine in accordance with its customary practice
the number of fractional shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock otherwise allocable
to holders of record or beneficial owners of CombiMatrix Tracking Stock as
of
the Record Date, to aggregate all such fractional shares and sell as soon as
practicable the whole shares obtained by aggregating such fractional shares
either in open market transactions or otherwise, in each case at then prevailing
trading prices, and to cause to be distributed to each such holder or for the
benefit of each such beneficial owner, in lieu of any fractional share, such
holder’s or owner’s ratable share of the proceeds of such sale, after making
appropriate deductions of the amount required to be withheld for federal income
tax purposes and after deducting an amount equal to all brokerage charges,
commissions and transfer taxes attributed to such sale. Acacia will direct
the
Distribution Agent to seek to aggregate the shares of CombiMatrix Tracking
Stock
that may be held by any such beneficial owner thereof through more than one
account in determining the fractional share allocable to such beneficial
owner.
Section
3.03 Cooperation
Prior to the Distribution.
Prior
to the Distribution:
(a) Acacia
and CombiMatrix will prepare the Registration Statement which will include
appropriate disclosure concerning CombiMatrix, its business, operations and
management, the Contribution, the Distribution and such other matters as Acacia
and CombiMatrix may determine and as may be required by law. Acacia and
CombiMatrix will prepare, and CombiMatrix will file with the Commission, the
Registration Statement. CombiMatrix will use its commercially reasonable efforts
to cause the Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities
Act
as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. Promptly after
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and prior to the Distribution,
Acacia will mail to the holders of CombiMatrix Tracking Stock the Registration
Statement.
(b) Acacia
and CombiMatrix will cooperate in preparing, filing with the Commission and
causing to become effective any registration statements or amendments thereof
which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any
employee benefit and other plans contemplated by the Employee Matters
Agreement.
(c) Acacia
and CombiMatrix will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate
under the securities or “blue sky” laws of the states or other political
subdivisions of the United States and the securities laws of any applicable
foreign countries or other political subdivisions thereof in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
21
(d) Acacia
and CombiMatrix will cause to be prepared, and CombiMatrix will file and use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to have approved, an application for the listing
on the American Stock Exchange or another exchange approved by each of Acacia
and CombiMatrix of the CombiMatrix Common Stock to be distributed in the
Distribution.
Section
3.04 Acacia
Board Action Conditions to the Distribution.
The
Acacia Board will in its discretion establish the Record Date and the
Distribution Date and all appropriate procedures in connection with the
Distribution, but in no event will the Distribution occur prior to such time
as
each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied or shall have been
waived by the Acacia Board in accordance with Section 3.05:
(a) the
Acacia Board shall be reasonably satisfied that (i) Acacia will have
sufficient surplus under Section 170 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
to
permit the Distribution and (ii) after giving effect to the Contribution
and the Distribution, each of Acacia and CombiMatrix will not be insolvent
and
will not have unreasonably small capital with which to engage in its respective
businesses;
(b) the
Acacia Board shall have given final approval of the Distribution;
(c) the
Acacia Board shall have received a favorable opinion issued by Xxxxxxxxx Traurig
LLP confirming that the Distribution should qualify as a tax-free reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a)(i)(d) of the Code;
(d) the
Acacia Board shall have received a favorable private letter ruling issued by
the
Internal Revenue Service confirming that the Distribution will qualify as a
tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(i)(d) of the
Code;
(e) all
material Consents which are required to effect the Contribution and the
Distribution shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect;
(f) the
Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities
Act;
(g) the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws each shall have been adopted and
be
in effect;
(h) the
transactions contemplated by Section 2.01, and Section 2.03(a) shall have
been consummated in all material respects;
(i) Acacia
and CombiMatrix shall have entered into each of the Separation Agreements to
which they are parties and each such agreement shall be in full force and
effect;
(j) no
order,
injunction or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other
legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the Contribution
or
the Distribution shall be in effect;
(k) no
suit,
action or proceeding by or before any court of competent jurisdiction or other
Governmental Entity shall have been commenced and be pending to restrain or
challenge the Contribution or Distribution, and no inquiry shall have been
received that in the reasonable judgment of the Acacia Board may lead to such
a
suit, action or proceeding; and provided, that the satisfaction of such
conditions will not create any obligation on the part of Acacia to effect or
seek to effect the Contribution or the Distribution or in any way limit Acacia’s
right to terminate this Agreement set forth in Section 7.13 or alter the
consequences of any such termination from those specified in
Section 7.13.
22
Section
3.05 Waiver
of Conditions.
Any or
all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.04 may be waived, in whole or
in part, in the sole discretion of the Acacia Board. The conditions set forth
in
Section 3.04 are for the sole benefit of Acacia and shall not give rise to
or create any duty on the part of Acacia or the Acacia Board to waive or not
waive any such conditions.
ARTICLE
IV
MUTUAL
RELEASE; INDEMNIFICATION; EXPENSES
Section
4.01 Mutual
Release.
Effective as of the Time of Distribution and except as otherwise specifically
set forth in the Separation Agreements, each of Acacia, on behalf of itself
and
each other member of the Acacia Group, on the one hand, and CombiMatrix, on
behalf of itself and each other member of the CombiMatrix Group, on the other
hand, hereby releases and forever discharges the other party and its
Subsidiaries, and its and their respective officers, directors, agents, record
and beneficial security holders (including trustees and beneficiaries of trusts
holding such securities), advisors and Representatives (in each case, in their
respective capacities as such) and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, of and from all debts, demands, actions,
causes of action, suits, accounts, covenants, contracts, agreements, damages,
claims and Liabilities whatsoever of every name and nature, both in law and
in
equity, which the releasing party has or ever had or ever will have, which
arise
out of or relate to events, circumstances or actions taken by such other party
occurring or failing to occur or any conditions existing at or prior to the
Time
of Distribution; provided,
however,
that
the foregoing general release shall not apply to (i) any Liabilities or
other obligations (including Liabilities with respect to payment, reimbursement,
indemnification or contribution) under the Separation Agreements or assumed,
transferred, assigned, allocated or arising under any of the Separation
Agreements (including any Liability that the parties may have with respect
to
payment, performance, reimbursement, indemnification or contribution pursuant
to
any Separation Agreement for claims brought against the parties by third Persons
or any Indemnitee), and the foregoing release will not affect any party’s right
to enforce the Separation Agreements or Financing Agreements in accordance
with
their terms or (ii) any Liability arising from or relating to any
agreement, arrangement, commitment or undertaking described in
Section 2.02(b)(ii), or (iii) any Liability the release of which would
result in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to
this Section 4.01 (provided,
that
the parties agree not to bring suit or permit any of their Subsidiaries to
bring
suit against any member of the other Group with respect to any Liability to
the
extent such member of the other Group would be released with respect to such
Liability by this Section 4.01 but for this
clause (iii)).
23
Each
of
Acacia and CombiMatrix acknowledges that it has been advised by its legal
counsel and is familiar with the provisions of California Civil Code
Section 1542, which provides as follows:
“A
GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW
OR
SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE,
WHICH
IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT
WITH
THE DEBTOR.”
Being
aware of such Code section, each of Acacia, on behalf of itself and each of
the
Acacia Subsidiaries, and CombiMatrix, on behalf of itself and each of the
CombiMatrix Subsidiaries, hereby expressly waives any rights it may have under
California Civil Code Section 1542, as well as any other statutes or common
law principles of similar effect.
Section
4.02 Indemnification
by Acacia.
Subject
to the provisions of this Article IV, Acacia shall indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the CombiMatrix Indemnitees from and against, and pay or
reimburse, as the case may be, the CombiMatrix Indemnitees for, all
Indemnifiable Losses, as incurred, suffered by any CombiMatrix Indemnitee to
the
extent based upon, arising out of or relating to the following:
(a) the
Acacia Liabilities (including the failure by Acacia or any other member of
the
Acacia Group to pay, perform or otherwise discharge the Acacia Liabilities
in
accordance with their terms), whether such Indemnifiable Losses are based upon,
arise out of or relate to events, occurrences, actions, omissions, facts,
circumstances or conditions occurring, existing or asserted before, at or after
the Time of Distribution;
(b) the
breach by any member of the Acacia Group of any agreement or covenant contained
in a Separation Agreement which does not by its express terms expire at the
Time
of Distribution; and
(c) the
enforcement by the CombiMatrix Indemnitees of their rights to be indemnified,
defended and held harmless under this Section 4.02.
Section
4.03 Indemnification
by CombiMatrix.
Subject
to the provisions of this Article IV, CombiMatrix shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless the Acacia Indemnitees from and against, and pay or reimburse,
as the case may be, the Acacia Indemnitees for, all Indemnifiable Losses, as
incurred, suffered by any Acacia Indemnitee to the extent based upon, arising
out of or relating to the following:
(a) the
CombiMatrix Liabilities (including the failure by CombiMatrix or any other
member of the CombiMatrix Group to pay, perform or otherwise discharge the
CombiMatrix Liabilities in accordance with their terms), whether such
Indemnifiable Losses are based upon, arise out of or relate to events,
occurrences, actions, omissions, facts, circumstances or conditions occurring,
existing or asserted before, at or after the Time of Distribution;
24
(b) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the
Registration Statement, or any omission or alleged omission to state in the
Registration Statement a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, except in each case with respect to
information relating to the Acacia Group provided by Acacia expressly for use
in
the Registration Statement;
(c) the
breach by any member of the CombiMatrix Group of any agreement or covenant
contained in a Separation Agreement which does not by its express terms expire
at the Time of Distribution; the
use
by members of the CombiMatrix Group of any names, trademarks, trade names,
domain names, service marks or corporate symbols or logos pursuant to
Section 5.02; and the
enforcement by the Acacia Indemnitees of their rights to be indemnified,
defended and held harmless under this Section 4.03.
Section
4.04 Limitations
on Indemnification Obligations.
(a) The
amount which any party (an “Indemnifying Party”) is or may be required to pay to
an Indemnitee in respect of Indemnifiable Losses or other Liability for which
indemnification is provided under this Agreement shall be reduced by any amounts
actually received (including Insurance Proceeds actually received) by or on
behalf of such Indemnitee (net of increased insurance premiums and charges
related directly and solely to the related Indemnifiable Losses and costs and
expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by such
Indemnitee in connection with seeking to collect and collecting such amounts)
in
respect of such Indemnifiable Losses or other Liability (such net amounts are
referred to herein as “Indemnity Reduction Amounts”). If any Indemnitee receives
any Indemnity Reduction Amounts in respect of an Indemnifiable Loss for which
indemnification is provided under this Agreement after the full amount of such
Indemnifiable Loss has been paid by an Indemnifying Party or after an
Indemnifying Party has made a partial payment of such Indemnifiable Loss and
such Indemnity Reduction Amounts exceed the remaining unpaid balance of such
Indemnifiable Loss, then the Indemnitee shall promptly remit to the Indemnifying
Party an amount equal to the excess (if any) of (A) the amount theretofore
paid by the Indemnifying Party in respect of such Indemnifiable Loss, less
(B) the amount of the indemnity payment that would have been due if such
Indemnity Reduction Amounts in respect thereof had been received before the
indemnity payment was made. An insurer or other third party who would otherwise
be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility with
respect thereto or, solely by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof,
have any subrogation rights with respect thereto, it being expressly understood
and agreed that no insurer or any other third party shall be entitled to any
benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the
indemnification provisions by virtue of the indemnification provisions
hereof.
(b) In
determining the amount of any Indemnifiable Losses, such amount shall be
(i) reduced to take into account any net Tax benefit realized by the
Indemnitee arising from the incurrence or payment by the Indemnitee of such
Indemnifiable Losses and (ii) increased to take into account any net Tax
cost incurred by the Indemnitee as a result of the receipt or accrual of
payments hereunder (grossed-up for such increase), in each case determined
by
treating the Indemnitee as recognizing all other items of income, gain, loss,
deduction or credit before recognizing any item arising from such Indemnifiable
Losses. It is the intention of the parties that indemnity payments made pursuant
to this Agreement are to be treated as relating back to the Distribution as
an
adjustment to capital (i.e.,
capital contribution or distribution), and the parties shall not take any
position inconsistent with such intention before any Tax Authority (as defined
in the Tax Allocation Agreement), except to the extent that a final
determination (as defined in Section 1313 of the Code) with respect to the
recipient party causes any such payment not to be so treated.
25
Section
4.05 Procedures
Relating to Indemnification.
(a) If
a
claim or demand is made against an Indemnitee, or an Indemnitee shall otherwise
learn of an assertion, by any Person who is not a party to this Agreement (or
an
Affiliate thereof) as to which an Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide
indemnification pursuant to this Agreement (a “Third Party Claim”), such
Indemnitee will notify the Indemnifying Party in writing, and in reasonable
detail, of the Third Party Claim reasonably promptly after becoming aware of
such Third Party Claim; provided, however, that failure to give such
notification will not affect the indemnification provided hereunder except
to
the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced as a
result of such failure. Thereafter, the Indemnitee will deliver to the
Indemnifying Party, promptly after the Indemnitee’s receipt thereof, copies of
all material notices and documents (including court papers) received or
transmitted by the Indemnitee relating to the Third Party Claim.
(b) If
a
Third Party Claim is made against an Indemnitee, the Indemnifying Party will
be
entitled to participate in or to assume the defense thereof (in either case,
at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party) with counsel selected by the Indemnifying
Party and reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee.
If
the
Indemnifying Party elects to assume the defense of a Third Party Claim, the
Indemnifying Party will not be liable to the Indemnitee for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense
thereof; provided,
that if
in the Indemnitee’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest exists in respect
of such claim or if the Indemnifying Party shall have assumed responsibility
for
such claim with any reservations or exceptions, such Indemnitee will have the
right to employ separate counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnifying
Party to represent such Indemnitee and in that event the reasonable fees and
expenses of such separate counsel (but not more than one separate counsel for
all Indemnitees similarly situated) shall be paid by such Indemnifying Party.
If
the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, the
Indemnitee will have the right to participate in the defense thereof and to
employ counsel, at its own expense, separate from the counsel employed by the
Indemnifying Party, it being understood that the Indemnifying Party will control
such defense. The Indemnifying Party will be liable for the fees and expenses
of
counsel employed by the Indemnitee for any period during which the Indemnifying
Party has failed to assume the defense thereof. If the Indemnifying Party
assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party will
promptly supply to the Indemnitee copies of all material correspondence and
documents relating to or in connection with such Third Party Claim and keep
the
Indemnitee fully informed of all material developments relating to or in
connection with such Third Party Claim (including providing to the Indemnitee
on
reasonable request updates and summaries as to the status thereof). If the
Indemnifying Party chooses to defend a Third Party Claim, the parties hereto
will cooperate in the defense thereof (such cooperation to be at the expense,
including reasonable legal fees and expenses, of the Indemnifying Party), which
cooperation shall include the retention in accordance with this Agreement and
(upon the Indemnifying Party’s request) the provision to the Indemnifying Party
of records and information which are reasonably relevant to such Third Party
Claim, and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide
additional information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder.
26
(c) No
Indemnifying Party will consent to any settlement, compromise or discharge
(including the consent to entry of any judgment) of any Third Party Claim
without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent (which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld); provided,
that if
the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, the
Indemnitee will agree to any settlement, compromise or discharge of such Third
Party Claim which the Indemnifying Party may recommend and which by its terms
obligates the Indemnifying Party to pay the full amount of Indemnifiable Losses
in connection with such Third Party Claim and unconditionally and irrevocably
releases the Indemnitee and its Affiliates completely from all Liability in
connection with such Third Party Claim; provided,
however,
that
the Indemnitee may refuse to agree to any such settlement, compromise or
discharge (x) that provides for injunctive or other nonmonetary relief
affecting the Indemnitee or any of its Affiliates or (y) that, in the
reasonable opinion of the Indemnitee, would otherwise materially adversely
affect the Indemnitee or any of its Affiliates. Whether or not the Indemnifying
Party shall have assumed the defense of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnitee
will
not (unless required by law) admit any liability with respect to, or settle,
compromise or discharge, such Third Party Claim without the Indemnifying Party’s
prior written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld).
(d) Any
claim
on account of Indemnifiable Losses which does not involve a Third Party Claim
will be asserted by reasonably prompt written notice given by the Indemnitee
to
the Indemnifying Party from whom such indemnification is sought. The failure
by
any Indemnitee so to notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party from any liability which it may have to such Indemnitee
under
this Agreement, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have
been
actually prejudiced by such failure.
(e) In
the
event of payment in full by an Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in
connection with any Third Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party will be
subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events
or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right or
claim
relating to such Third Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting
such Third Party Claim or against any other Person. Such Indemnitee will
cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost
and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right
or
claim.
Section
4.06 Remedies
Cumulative.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.05, the remedies provided in this
Article IV shall be cumulative and shall not preclude assertion by any
Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies
against any Indemnifying Party.
27
Section
4.07 Indemnification
Under Tax Allocation Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, indemnification
in
respect of Tax matters will be governed exclusively by the Tax Allocation
Agreement.
Section
4.08 Expenses.
(a) Except
as
otherwise set forth in any Separation Agreement, (i) all Acacia Expenses
will be charged to and paid by Acacia and (ii) all CombiMatrix Expenses will
be
charged to and paid by CombiMatrix.
(b) Within
ten days after the Distribution Date, CombiMatrix will reimburse Acacia (by
wire
transfer to a bank account designated in writing by CombiMatrix) for all amounts
in respect of CombiMatrix Expenses paid by Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries
(including Persons comprising the CombiMatrix Group) before or at the Time
of
Distribution and notified in writing by Acacia to CombiMatrix within five days
after the Distribution Date. From time to time thereafter, promptly after
Acacia’s request therefor, and in any event within ten days after any such
request, CombiMatrix will reimburse Acacia (by wire transfer to the same bank
account referred to in the preceding sentence) for all CombiMatrix Expenses
paid
by Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries before, at or after the Time of
Distribution (other than as previously reimbursed by CombiMatrix pursuant to
the
preceding sentence). Acacia will, at the request of CombiMatrix, provide
CombiMatrix with appropriate documentation to support CombiMatrix Expenses
required to be reimbursed to Acacia pursuant to this Section
4.08(b).
(c) Within
ten days after the Distribution Date, Acacia will reimburse CombiMatrix (by
wire
transfer to a bank account designated in writing by Acacia for all amounts
in
respect of Acacia Expenses paid by CombiMatrix or any of its Subsidiaries
(including Persons comprising the Acacia Group) before or at the Time of
Distribution and notified in writing by CombiMatrix to Acacia within five days
after the Distribution Date. From time to time thereafter, promptly after
CombiMatrix’s request therefor, and in any event within ten days after any such
request, Acacia will reimburse CombiMatrix (by wire transfer to the same bank
account referred to in the preceding sentence) for all Acacia Expenses paid
by
CombiMatrix or any of its Subsidiaries before, at or after the Time of
Distribution (other than as previously reimbursed by Acacia pursuant to the
preceding sentence). CombiMatrix will, at the request of Acacia, provide Acacia
with appropriate documentation to support Acacia Expenses required to be
reimbursed to CombiMatrix pursuant to this Section 4.08(c).
(d) Except
as
otherwise set forth in any Separation Agreement, and subject in all events
to
the provisions of Section 4.08(a), all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
following the Time of Distribution in connection with implementation of the
transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreements will be charged to and
paid by the party for whose benefit the expenses are incurred, with any
out-of-pocket expenses which cannot be allocated on such basis to be split
equally between Acacia and CombiMatrix.
(e) The
third-party costs and expenses of the Registration Statement shall be shared
between Acacia and CombiMatrix equally. Within a reasonable time Following
the
Time of Distribution and receipt of an invoice from Acacia, including any
back-up documentation reasonable requested by CombiMatrix, CombiMatrix shall
reimburse Acacia for its share of such costs and expenses.
28
ARTICLE
V
CERTAIN
OTHER MATTERS
Section
5.01 Insurance.
(a) Coverage.
Subject
to the provisions of this Section 5.01, coverage of CombiMatrix and the
CombiMatrix Subsidiaries under all Policies shall cease as of the Time of
Distribution. From and after the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix and the
CombiMatrix Subsidiaries will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining
all
insurance coverages in their own right.
(b) Rights
Under Shared Policies.
From
and after the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries
will have no rights with respect to any Policies, except that:
(i) CombiMatrix
will have the right to assert claims (and Acacia will use commercially
reasonable efforts to assist CombiMatrix in asserting claims) for any loss,
liability or damage with respect to CombiMatrix Assets or CombiMatrix
Liabilities under Policies with third-party insurers which are “occurrence
basis” insurance policies (“Occurrence
Basis Policies”)
arising out of insured incidents occurring from the date coverage thereunder
first commenced until the Time of Distribution to the extent that the terms
and
conditions of any such Occurrence Basis Policies and agreements relating thereto
so allow, and
(ii) CombiMatrix
will have the right to continue to prosecute claims with respect to CombiMatrix
Assets or CombiMatrix Liabilities properly asserted with an insurer prior to
the
Time of Distribution (and Acacia will use commercially reasonable efforts to
assist CombiMatrix in connection therewith) under Policies with third-party
insurers which are insurance policies written on a “claims made” basis
(“Claims
Made Policies”)
arising out of insured incidents occurring from the date coverage thereunder
first commenced until the Time of Distribution to the extent that the terms
and
conditions of any such Claims Made Policies and agreements relating thereto
so
allow,
provided,
that in
the case of both clauses (i) and (ii) above, (A) all of Acacia’s and each
Acacia Subsidiary’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the foregoing are promptly paid by CombiMatrix, (B) Acacia
and the Acacia Subsidiaries may, at any time, without liability or obligation
to
CombiMatrix or any CombiMatrix Subsidiary(other than as set forth in
Section 5.01(c)), amend, commute, terminate, buy-out, extinguish liability
under or otherwise modify any Occurrence Basis Policies or Claims Made Policies
(and such claims shall be subject to any such amendments, commutations,
terminations, buy-outs, extinguishments and modifications), (C) such claims
will be subject to (and recovery thereon will be reduced by the amount of)
any
applicable deductibles, retentions or self-insurance provisions, (D) such
claims will be subject to (and recovery thereon will be reduced
29
by
the
amount of) any payment or reimbursement obligations of Acacia, any Acacia
Subsidiary or any Affiliate of Acacia or any Acacia Subsidiary in respect
thereof and (E) such claims will be subject to exhaustion of existing
aggregate limits. In the event that claims submitted by Acacia and CombiMatrix
exhaust existing aggregate limits in any one policy year, the amount payable
under the Policies shall be allocated pro rata based on the amounts paid in
satisfaction of such claims or the amounts that would have been paid to satisfy
such claims absent exhaustion of Policy limits. To the extent the amount paid
to
CombiMatrix or Acacia, as the case may be, in satisfaction of claims exceeds
its
pro rata portion, CombiMatrix or Acacia, as the case may be, shall pay to the
other party an amount equal to such excess. Acacia’s obligation to use
commercially reasonable efforts to assist CombiMatrix in asserting claims under
applicable Policies will include using commercially reasonable efforts in
assisting CombiMatrix to establish its right to coverage under such Policies
(so
long as all of Acacia’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in
connection therewith are promptly paid by CombiMatrix). None of Acacia or the
Acacia Subsidiaries will bear any Liability for the failure of an insurer to
pay
any claim under any Policy. It is understood that any Claims Made Policies
will
not provide any coverage to CombiMatrix and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries for
incidents occurring prior to the Time of Distribution but which are asserted
with the insurance carrier after the Time of Distribution. If a claim or claims
submitted by CombiMatrix are paid under any Policy during any policy year in
which no claim or claims are paid to Acacia, and Acacia’s annual premium
increases in the next policy year in respect of the Policy, then the full amount
of such premium increase in the first policy year after such CombiMatrix claim
or claims are paid shall be deemed to be attributable to the CombiMatrix claim
or claims and charged to CombiMatrix. Promptly (and in no event later than
ten
(10) Business Days) after receipt of a written request by Acacia, CombiMatrix
shall reimburse Acacia for the full amount of such annual premium increase.
If
claims submitted by both Acacia and CombiMatrix are paid under the same Policy
during any policy year, and Acacia’s annual premium increases in the next policy
year in respect of the Policy, then the amount of the premium increase will
be
allocated between Acacia and CombiMatrix based on the amount of the claims
paid
to each party during the prior policy year. Promptly (and in no event later
than
ten (10) Business Days) after receipt of a written request by Acacia,
CombiMatrix shall reimburse Acacia for its pro rata portion.
(c) Acacia
Actions.
If,
after the Time of Distribution, Acacia or any Acacia Subsidiary proposes to
amend, commute, terminate, buy-out, extinguish liability under or otherwise
modify any Policies under which CombiMatrix has rights to assert claims pursuant
to Section 5.01(b) in a manner that would adversely affect any such rights
of CombiMatrix, (i) Acacia will give CombiMatrix prior notice thereof and
consult with CombiMatrix with respect to such action (it being understood that
the decision to take any such action will be in the sole discretion of Acacia)
and (ii) Acacia will pay to CombiMatrix its equitable share (which shall be
determined by Acacia in good faith based on the amount of premiums paid by
or
allocated to the CombiMatrix Business in respect of the applicable Policy)
of
any net proceeds actually received by Acacia from the insurer under the
applicable Policy as a result of such action by Acacia (after deducting Acacia’s
reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with such
action).
(d) Administration.
From
and after the Time of Distribution:
30
(i) Acacia
or
an Acacia Subsidiary will be responsible for the Claims Administration with
respect to claims of Acacia and the Acacia Subsidiaries under Policies;
and
(ii) CombiMatrix
or a CombiMatrix Subsidiary will be responsible for the Claims Administration
with respect to claims of CombiMatrix and the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries under
Policies.
(e) Insurance
Premiums.
From
and after the Time of Distribution, Acacia will pay all premiums
(retrospectively-rated or otherwise) as required under the terms and conditions
of the respective Policies in respect of periods prior to the Time of
Distribution, whereupon CombiMatrix will, upon the request of Acacia, promptly
reimburse Acacia for that portion of such premiums paid by Acacia as are
reasonably determined by Acacia to be attributable to the CombiMatrix
Business.
(f) Agreement
for Waiver of Conflict and Shared Defense.
In the
event that a Policy provides coverage for both Acacia and/or an Acacia
Subsidiary, on the one hand, and CombiMatrix and/or a CombiMatrix Subsidiary,
on
the other hand, relating to the same occurrence, Acacia and CombiMatrix agree
to
defend jointly and to waive any conflict of interest necessary to the conduct
of
that joint defense. Nothing in this Section 5.01(f) will be construed to
limit or otherwise alter in any way the indemnity obligations of the parties
to
this Agreement, including those created by this Agreement, by operation of
law
or otherwise.
Section
5.02 Use
of
Names, Trademarks, etc.
(a) From
and
after the Time of Distribution, subject to Section 5.02(b), Acacia will own
all rights of Acacia or any of its Subsidiaries in, and to the use of, the
Acacia Marks.
(b) From
and
after the Time of Distribution, except as permitted in this
Section 5.02(b), the CombiMatrix Group will not use or have any rights to
the Acacia Marks or any name, xxxx or symbol confusingly similar thereto, or
any
special script, type font, form, style, logo, design, device, trade dress or
symbol which contains, represents or evokes the Acacia Marks or any name or
xxxx
confusingly similar thereto. From and after the Time of Distribution, the
CombiMatrix Group will not hold itself out as having any affiliation with the
Acacia Group.
(c) No
member
of the CombiMatrix Group shall have any right, title or interest in, or to
the
use of the Acacia Marks, either alone or in combination with any other word,
name, symbol, device, trademarks, or any combination thereof. Anything contained
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event will any member of the
CombiMatrix Group use the Acacia Marks as a component of a company or trade
name. CombiMatrix will not, and will cause each other member of the CombiMatrix
Group not to, challenge or contest the validity of the Acacia Marks, the
registration thereof or the ownership thereof by the Acacia Group. CombiMatrix
will not, and will cause each other member of the CombiMatrix Group not to,
apply anywhere at any time for any registration as owner or exclusive licensee
of the Acacia Marks. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any member of the
CombiMatrix Group develops, adopts or acquires, directly or indirectly, any
right, title or interest in, or to the use of, any Acacia Marks in any
jurisdiction, or any goodwill incident thereto, CombiMatrix will, and will
cause
the CombiMatrix Subsidiaries, upon the request of Acacia, and for a nominal
consideration of one dollar, assign or cause to be assigned to Acacia or any
designee of Acacia, all right, title and interest in, and to the use of, such
Acacia Marks in any and all jurisdictions, together with any goodwill incident
thereto.
31
CombiMatrix
hereby constitutes and appoints Acacia the true and lawful attorney of
CombiMatrix and its Subsidiaries to act as their attorney-in-fact to execute
any
documents and to take all necessary steps to cause CombiMatrix and its
Subsidiaries to perform any of their obligations set forth in this
Section 5.02(c), provided,
however,
that
Acacia will provide CombiMatrix sixty days written notice prior to executing
such documents or commencing such steps.
Section
5.03 CombiMatrix
Warrants.
(a) Effective
as of the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix will issue to each holder of a
May
2003 Warrant a warrant to purchase shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock (the
“CombiMatrix/May
2003 Warrant”),
pursuant to the equitable adjustment and other provisions of such May 2003
Warrant. The number of shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock subject to the
CombiMatrix/May 0000 Xxxxxxx and the per-share exercise price of the
CombiMatrix/May 2003 Warrant will be determined as set forth in the May 2003
Warrant. The CombiMatrix/May 2003 Warrant will otherwise have substantially
the
same terms and conditions as the May 2003 Warrant, except that references to
Acacia will be changed to refer to CombiMatrix.
(b) Effective
as of the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix will issue to each holder of the
Piper 2005 Warrant a warrant to purchase shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock
(the
“CombiMatrix/Piper 2005 Warrant”), pursuant to the equitable adjustment and
other provisions of such Piper 2005 Warrant. The number of shares of CombiMatrix
Common Stock subject to the CombiMatrix/Piper 0000 Xxxxxxx and the per-share
exercise price of the CombiMatrix/Piper 2005 Warrant will be determined as
set
forth in the Piper 2005 Warrant. The CombiMatrix/Piper 2005 Warrant will
otherwise have substantially the same terms and conditions as the Piper 2005
Warrant, except that references to Acacia will be changed to refer to
CombiMatrix.
(c) Effective
as of the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix will issue to each holder of the
Xxxxxxxxxxx Warrant a warrant to purchase shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock
(the “CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx
Warrant”),
pursuant to the equitable adjustment and other provisions of such Xxxxxxxxxxx
Warrant. The number of shares of CombiMatrix Common Stock subject to the
CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx Warrant and the per-share exercise price of the
CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx Warrant will be determined as set forth in the
Xxxxxxxxxxx Warrant. The CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx Warrant will otherwise have
substantially the same terms and conditions as the Xxxxxxxxxxx Warrant, except
that references to Acacia will be changed to refer to CombiMatrix.
32
ARTICLE
VI
ACCESS
TO
INFORMATION
Section
6.01 Provision
of Corporate Records.
Prior
to or as promptly as practicable after the Time of Distribution, Acacia shall
deliver to CombiMatrix all minute books and other records of meetings of the
Board of Directors, committees of the Board of Directors and stockholders of
the
CombiMatrix Group and all corporate books and records of the CombiMatrix Group
in its possession, including, in each case, all active agreements and active
litigation files. From and after the Time of Distribution, all such books and
records shall be the property of CombiMatrix. Prior to or as promptly as
practicable after the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix shall deliver to Acacia
all corporate books and records of the Acacia Group in CombiMatrix’s possession
(other than the books and records described in the first sentence of this
Section 6.01), including, in each case, all active agreements and active
litigation files. From and after the Time of Distribution, all such books and
records shall be the property of Acacia.
Section
6.02 Access
to
Information.
(a) From
and
after the Time of Distribution, Acacia will, and will cause each Acacia
Subsidiary to, afford to CombiMatrix and its Representatives (at CombiMatrix’s
expense) reasonable access and duplicating rights during normal business hours
and upon reasonable advance notice to all Information within the Acacia Group’s
possession or control relating to CombiMatrix, any CombiMatrix Subsidiary,
any
CombiMatrix Asset, any CombiMatrix Liability or the CombiMatrix Business,
insofar as such access is reasonably required by CombiMatrix or any CombiMatrix
Subsidiary, subject to the provisions below regarding Privileged
Information.
(b) From
and
after the Time of Distribution, CombiMatrix will, and will cause each
CombiMatrix Subsidiary to, afford to Acacia and its Representatives (at Acacia’s
expense) reasonable access and duplicating rights during normal business hours
and upon reasonable advance notice to all Information within the CombiMatrix
Group’s possession or control relating to Acacia, any Acacia Subsidiary, any
Acacia Asset, any Acacia Liability or the Acacia Business, insofar as such
access is reasonably required, by Acacia or any Acacia Subsidiary, subject
to
the provisions below regarding Privileged Information.
(c) Without
limiting the foregoing, Information may be requested under this Article VI
for audit, accounting, claims, litigation, insurance, environmental and safety
and tax purposes, as well as for purposes of fulfilling disclosure and reporting
obligations and for performing this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.
In
furtherance of the foregoing:
(i) Each
party acknowledges that (A) each of Acacia and CombiMatrix (and the members
of the Acacia Group and the CombiMatrix Group, respectively) has or may obtain
Privileged Information; (B) there are or may be a number of Actions
affecting one or more of the members of the Acacia Group and the CombiMatrix
Group; (C) the parties may have a common legal interest in Actions, in the
Privileged Information, and in the preservation of the confidential status
of
the Privileged Information; and (D) each of Acacia and CombiMatrix intends
that the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreements and any transfer
of Privileged Information in connection therewith shall not operate as a waiver
of any potentially applicable privilege.
33
(ii) Each
of
Acacia and CombiMatrix agrees, on behalf of itself and each member of the Group
of which it is a member, not to disclose or otherwise waive any privilege
attaching to any Privileged Information relating to the business of the other
Group or relating to or arising in connection with the relationship between
the
Groups on or prior to the Time of Distribution, without providing prompt written
notice to and obtaining the prior written consent of the other, which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld. In the event of a disagreement between any
member of the Acacia Group and any member of the CombiMatrix Group concerning
the reasonableness of withholding such consent, no disclosure will be made
prior
to a final, nonappealable resolution of such disagreement by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
(iii) Upon
any
member of the Acacia Group or any member of the CombiMatrix Group receiving
any
subpoena or other compulsory disclosure notice from a court, other Governmental
Entity or otherwise which requests disclosure of Privileged Information, in
each
case relating to the business of the other Group or relating to or arising,
in
connection with the relationship between the Groups on or prior to the Time
of
Distribution, the recipient of the notice will promptly provide to the other
party (following the notice provisions set forth herein) a copy of such notice,
the intended response, and a description of all materials or information
relating to the other Group that might be disclosed. In the event of a
disagreement as to the intended response or disclosure, unless and until the
disagreement is resolved as provided in Section 6.02(c)(ii), the parties
will cooperate to assert all defenses to disclosure claimed by either Group,
at
the cost and expense of the Group claiming such defense to disclosure, and
shall
not disclose any disputed documents or information until all legal defenses
and
claims of privilege have been finally determined.
Section
6.03 Production
of Witnesses.
Subject
to Section 6.02, after the Time of Distribution, each of Acacia and
CombiMatrix will, and will cause each member of the Acacia Group and the
CombiMatrix Group, respectively, to, make available to the other party and
members of such other party’s Group, upon written request and at the cost and
expense of the party so requesting, its directors, officers, employees and
agents as witnesses to the extent that any such Person may reasonably be
required (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers,
employees and agents) in connection with any Actions, administrative or other
proceedings in which the requesting party may from time to time be involved
and
relating to the business of either Group or relating to or arising in connection
with the relationship between the Groups on or prior to the Time of
Distribution, provided
that the
same shall not unreasonably interfere with the conduct of business by the Group
of which the request is made.
Section
6.04 Retention
of Records.
Except
as otherwise required by law or agreed to by the parties in writing, if any
Information relating to the pre-Distribution business, Assets or Liabilities
of
a member of a Group is retained by a member of the other Group, each of Acacia
and CombiMatrix will, and will cause the members of the Group of which it is
a
member to, retain for the period required by the applicable Acacia records
retention policy in effect immediately prior to the Time of Distribution all
such Information in such Group’s possession or under its control. In addition,
if, prior to the scheduled date for destruction or disposal of such Information
under the applicable Acacia records retention policy, Acacia or CombiMatrix,
on
behalf of any member of its Group, requests in writing that any of the
Information scheduled to be destroyed or disposed of be delivered to such
requesting party, the party whose Group is scheduled to destroy or dispose
of
such Information will arrange for the delivery of the requested Information
to a
location specified by, and at the expense of, the requesting party, at or about
the time such Information would have otherwise been destroyed or disposed
of.
34
Section
6.05 Confidentiality.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.02, which shall govern Privileged
Information, from and after the Time of Distribution, each of Acacia and
CombiMatrix shall hold, and shall use reasonable efforts to cause members of
its
Group and its and their Affiliates and Representatives to hold, in strict
confidence all Information concerning the other party’s Group in its possession
or control prior to the Time of Distribution or furnished to it by such other
party’s Group pursuant to the Separation Agreements or the transactions
contemplated thereby and will not release or disclose such Information to any
other Person, except members of its Group and its and their Representatives,
who
will be bound by the provisions of this Section 6.05; provided,
however,
that
any member of the Acacia Group or the CombiMatrix Group may disclose such
Information to the extent that (a) disclosure is compelled by judicial or
administrative process or, in the opinion of such Person’s counsel, by other
requirements of law (in which case the party required to make such disclosure
will notify the other party as soon as practicable of such obligation or
requirement and cooperate with the other party (at the expense of the other
party) to limit the Information required to be disclosed and to obtain a
protective order or other appropriate remedy with respect to the Information
ultimately disclosed) or (b) such Person can show that such Information was
(i) available to such Person on a nonconfidential basis (other than from a
member of the other party’s Group) prior to its disclosure by such Person,
(ii) in the public domain through no fault of such Person or
(iii) lawfully acquired by such Person from another source after the time
that it was furnished to such Person by the other party’s Group, and not
acquired from such source subject to any confidentiality obligation on the
part
of such source known to the acquiror, or on the part of the acquiror. Each
party
acknowledges that it will be liable for any breach of this Section 6.05 by
its Affiliates, Representatives and Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
each of Acacia and CombiMatrix will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations
under this Section 6.05 with respect to any Information (other than
Privileged Information) if it exercises the same care with regard to such
Information as it takes to preserve confidentiality for its own similar
Information.
ARTICLE
VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
7.01 Entire
Agreement; Construction.
This
Agreement and the Separation Agreements, including any annexes, schedules and
exhibits hereto or thereto, and other agreements and documents referred to
herein and therein, will together constitute the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and will supersede
all prior negotiations, agreements and understandings of the parties of any
nature, whether oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Separation Agreements to the
contrary, (i) if and to the extent that there is a conflict between the
provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Employee Matters
Agreement or the Tax Allocation Agreement, the provisions of the Employee
Matters Agreement or the Tax Allocation Agreement, as appropriate, will control
and (ii) in the event and to the extent that there is a conflict between
the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Conveyance
Instruments, the provisions of this Agreement will control.
35
Section
7.02 Survival
of Agreements.
Except
as otherwise contemplated by the Separation Agreements (including
Section 7.13 of this Agreement), all covenants and agreements of the
parties contained in the Separation Agreements will remain in full force and
effect and survive the Time of Distribution. The obligations of each of Acacia
and CombiMatrix under Article IV will not terminate at any time and will
survive the sale or other transfer by any party of any assets or businesses
or
the assignment by any party of any Liabilities with respect to any Indemnifiable
Losses of the other related to such assets, businesses or
Liabilities.
Section
7.03 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal
laws
of the State of California applicable to contracts made and to be performed
entirely within such State, without regard to the conflicts of law principles
of
such State.
Section
7.04 Notices.
All
notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications required or
permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be delivered by
hand
or telecopied, e-mailed or sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified
or
express mail or reputable overnight courier service and will be deemed given
when so delivered by hand or telecopied, when e-mail confirmation is received
if
delivered by e-mail, or three Business Days after being so mailed (one Business
Day in the case of express mail or overnight courier service). All such notices,
requests, claims, demands and other communications will be addressed as set
forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in
writing by the party to receive such notice:
If
to
Acacia:
Acacia
Research Corporation
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx., 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxx, President
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
E-mail:xxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
with
a
copy to:
36
Acacia
Research Corporation
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx., 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Esq.
Chief
Operating Officer and General Counsel
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
E-mail:xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
If
to
CombiMatrix:
CombiMatrix
Corporation
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxx
Chief
Executive Officer
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
E-mail:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Section
7.05 Dispute
Resolution.
In the
event that from and after the Time of Distribution any dispute, claim or
controversy (collectively, a “Dispute”)
arises
out of or relates to this Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement or the
Tax
Allocation Agreement or any transaction contemplated thereby or the breach,
performance, enforcement or validity or invalidity of any thereof, the designees
of the Acacia Chief Executive Officer and the CombiMatrix Chief Executive
Officer will attempt a good faith resolution of the Dispute within thirty days
after either party notifies the other party in writing of the Dispute. If the
Dispute is not resolved within thirty days of the receipt of the notification,
or within such other time as they may agree, the Dispute will be referred for
resolution to the Acacia Chief Executive Officer and the CombiMatrix Chief
Executive Officer. Should they be unable to resolve the Dispute within thirty
days following the referral to them, or within such other time as they may
agree, Acacia and CombiMatrix will then attempt in good faith to resolve such
Dispute by mediation in accordance with the then-existing CPR Mediation
Procedures promulgated by the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution. If such
mediation is unsuccessful within sixty days after commencement thereof, any
party to the Dispute may pursue any other remedies available to it.
Section
7.06 Consent
to Jurisdiction.
Each of
Acacia and CombiMatrix irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of
(i) the Superior Court of the State of California, Orange County and
(ii) the United States District Court for the Central District of
California, for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising
out
of this Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement or the Tax Allocation
Agreement or any transaction contemplated thereby or the breach, performance,
enforcement or validity or invalidity of any thereof (and agrees not to commence
any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts). Each
of
Acacia and CombiMatrix further agrees that service of any process, summons,
notice or document hand delivered or sent by U.S. registered mail to such
party’s respective address set forth in Section 7.04 will be effective
service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in California with respect
to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence. Each of Acacia and
37
CombiMatrix
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue
of
any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement, the Employee
Matters Agreement or the Tax Allocation Agreement or the transactions
contemplated thereby or the breach, performance, enforcement or validity
or
invalidity of any thereof in (i) the Superior Court of the State of
California, Orange County or (ii) the United States District Court for the
Central District of California, and hereby further irrevocably and
unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such Court
that
any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought
in an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party agrees
that
a final judgment in any action, suit or proceeding so brought shall be
conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment in any jurisdiction
or in
any other manner provided in law or in equity.
Section
7.07 Amendments.
This
Agreement cannot be amended, modified or supplemented except by a written
agreement executed by Acacia and CombiMatrix.
Section
7.08 Assignment.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, neither party will convey, assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the
prior
written consent of the other party in its sole and absolute discretion.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may (without obtaining any consent)
assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations hereunder to
(i) the surviving entity resulting from a merger or consolidation involving
such party, (ii) the acquiring entity in a sale or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of such party as a whole or of any line
of
business or division of such party, or (iii) any other Person that is
created as a result of a spin-off from, or similar reorganization transaction
of, such party or any line of business or division of such party. In the event
of an assignment pursuant to (ii) or (iii) above, the non-assigning party shall,
at the assigning party’s request, use good faith commercially reasonable efforts
to enter into separate agreements with each of the resulting entities and take
such further actions as may be reasonably required to assure that the rights
and
obligations under this Agreement are preserved, in the aggregate, and divided
equitably between such resulting entities. Any conveyance, assignment or
transfer requiring the prior written consent of another party pursuant to this
Section 7.08 which is made without such consent will be void ab
initio.
No
assignment of this Agreement will relieve the assigning party of its obligations
hereunder.
Section
7.09 Captions;
Currency.
The
article, section and paragraph captions herein and the table of contents hereto
are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement
and will not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions
hereof. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to numbered articles
or sections are to articles and sections of this Agreement and all references
herein to schedules are to schedules to this Agreement. Unless otherwise
specified, all references contained in this Agreement, in any schedule referred
to herein or in any instrument or document delivered pursuant hereto to dollars
or “$” shall mean United States Dollars.
Section
7.10 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or
circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application
of
such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it
has
been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and
will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby. If the economic
or
legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is affected in any
manner adverse to any party as a result thereof, the parties will negotiate
in
good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute
provision to effect the original intent of the parties.
38
Section
7.11 Parties
in Interest.
This
Agreement is binding upon and is for the benefit of the parties hereto and
their
respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement is not made for
the
benefit of any Person not a party hereto, and no Person other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns will acquire or
have
any benefit, right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement, except
that the provisions of Sections 4.02 and 4.03 shall inure to the benefit of
and shall be enforceable by the Persons referred to therein.
Section
7.12 Schedules.
All
schedules attached hereto are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this
Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Capitalized terms used in the
schedules hereto but not otherwise defined therein will have the respective
meanings assigned to such terms in this Agreement.
Section
7.13 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated and the Distribution abandoned at any time prior
to
the Time of Distribution by and in the sole discretion of the Acacia Board
without the approval of CombiMatrix or Acacia’s shareowners. In the event of
such termination, neither party will have any liability of any kind to the
other
party on account of such termination.
Section
7.14 Waivers;
Remedies.
The
conditions to Acacia’s obligation to consummate the Distribution are for the
sole benefit of Acacia and may be waived in writing by Acacia in whole or in
part in Acacia’s sole discretion. No failure or delay on the part of either
Acacia or CombiMatrix in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder
will
operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any waiver on the part of either Acacia
or
CombiMatrix of any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver
of
any other right, power or privilege hereunder, nor will any single or partial
exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege
hereunder. Subject to Section 7.05, the rights and remedies herein provided
are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the parties
may otherwise have at law or in equity.
Section
7.15 Further
Assurances.
From
time to time after the Time of Distribution, as and when requested by either
party hereto, the other party shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed
and delivered, all such documents and instruments and shall take, or cause
to be
taken, all such actions as the requesting party may reasonably request to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Separation
Agreements.
Section
7.16 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each such counterpart being
deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together
constitute the same agreement. This Agreement may be executed and delivered
by
telecopier with the same force and effect as if it were a manually executed
and
delivered counterpart.
39
Section
7.17 Performance.
Acacia
will cause to be performed and hereby guarantees the performance of all actions,
agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Acacia
Subsidiary. CombiMatrix will cause to be performed and hereby guarantees the
performance of all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to
be
performed by any CombiMatrix Subsidiary.
Section
7.18 Interpretation.
Any
reference herein to any federal, state, local, or foreign law shall be deemed
also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the
context requires otherwise. For the purposes of this Agreement, (a) words
in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice
versa
and
words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context
requires, (b) the terms “hereof”, “herein”, and “herewith” and words of
similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement
and
(c) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this
Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation”.
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40
[Signature
page to Distribution Agreement]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
duly
authorized officers of the parties as of the date first hereinabove
written.
ACACIA
RESEARCH CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxx
Name: Xxxx
Xxxx
Title: Chief
Executive Officer,
|
|
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxx
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
|
41
Schedule
1.01(a)
Acacia
Liabilities
Audio/Video
Enhancement and Synchronization Technology
Image
Resolution Enhancement Technology
· |
IP
Innovation, LLC and Technology Licensing Corporation v. Lexmark
International, Inc. United States District Court for the Northern
District
of Illinois. Filed 10/23/02. Case No.
1:02-cv-07611.
|
· |
New
Medium Technologies, LLC and AV Technologies, LLC x. Xxxxx NV, Xxxxxxx
Technologies, LG Philips LCD, Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba America
Consumer Products, L.L.C., LG Electronics, Inc., and Syntax-Brillian
Corporation. United States District Court for the Northern District
of
Illinois. Filed 9/29/05. Case No. 1:05-cv-05620.
|
Broadcast
Data Retrieval Technology
· |
Broadcast
Data Retrieval Corporation v. Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. Transferred
to
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
7/6/06.
Case No. 1:06-cv-05135.
|
Computer
Memory Cache Coherency Technology
· |
Computer
Cache Coherency Corporation v. VIA Technologies, Inc., Via Technologies,
Inc. (USA) and Intel Corporation. United States District Court for
the
Northern District of California. Filed 12/2/04. Case No. 5:05-cv-01668.
|
Credit
Card Fraud Control Technology
· |
Ingenio
Inc. v. Acacia Patent Acquisition Corporation and Acacia Research
Corporation. United States District Court for the Northern District
of
California. Filed 10/13/06. Case No.
3:06-cv-06423.
|
Credit
Card Fraud Protection Technology
· |
Financial
Systems Innovation, LLC and Xxxx X. Xxxx v. Gap, Inc., Racetrac Petroleum,
Inc. and The Kroger Company. United States District Court for the
Northern
District of Georgia. Filed 3/3/04. Case No.
4:04-cv-00065.
|
· |
Financial
Systems Innovation, LLC and Xxxx X. Xxxx x. Xxxxxxxx-Sonoma, Inc.,
Linens
N Things, Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corporation. United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas. Filed 6/30/04. Case No.
4:04-cv-00479.
|
· |
Financial
Systems Innovation, LLC and Xxxx X. Xxxx v. Circuit City Stores,
Inc.,
Officemax Incorporated, Staples, Inc., Cracker Barrel Old Country
Store,
Inc., Fry’s Electronics, Inc., and Rite Aid Corporation. United States
District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Filed 7/19/05.
Case
No. 4:05-cv-00156.
|
· |
Reinalt-Xxxxxx
Corporation, dba Discount Tire Corporation, v. Acacia Research
Corporation, Xxxx X. Xxxx and Financial Systems Innovation, LLC.
United
States District Court for the District of Arizona. Filed 10/27/05.
Case
No. 2:05-cv-03459.
|
· |
Financial
Systems Innovation, LLC and Xxxx Xxxx v. Discount Tire Company of
Georgia,
Inc. and Reinalt-Xxxxxx Corporation, dba Discount Tire Company. United
States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Filed
11/21/05. Case No. 4:05-cv-00252.
|
· |
Lone
Star Steakhouse and Saloon, Inc. v. Acacia Technologies group and
Financial Systems Innovation, LLC. United States District Court for
the
District of Kansas. Filed 8/5/05. Case No.
6:05-cv-01249.
|
Computing
Device Performance Technology
· |
Computer
Acceleration Corporation vs. Microsoft Corporation. United States
District
Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Filed 7/6/06. Case No.
9:06-cv-0140.
|
Data
Encryption Technology
· |
Data
Encryption Corporation v. Microsoft Corporation and Dell Computer
Corporation. United States District Court for the Central District
of
California. On appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Court.
Lower Court Case No. 2:05-cv-05531.
|
Digital
Media Transmission Technology
In
accordance with the Transfer Order issued February 24, 2005, by the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, all of the following Digital Media
Transmission Technology cases have been transferred to the Northern District
of
California. The lead case number is 5:05-cv-01114.
· |
Acacia
Media Technologies Corporation v. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC,
Charter Communications, Inc., The DirectTV Group, Inc., Echostar
Communications Corporation, Xxx Communications, Inc., Hospitality
Network,
Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox that supplies hotel on-demand
TV
services), Mediacom, LLC, Xxxxxxxxx Group, Xxxxx Communication Systems,
Block Communications, Inc., Cable America Corporation, Cable One,
Inc.,
Xxxxxx Valley Communications, Inc., East Cleveland Cable TV and
Communications, LLC, Loretel Cablevision, Massillon Cable TV, Inc.,
Mid-Continent Media, Inc., NPG Cable, Inc., Savage Communications,
Inc.,
Xxxxxxx'x Cablevision, Inc., US Cable Holdings LP, and Wide Open
West,
LLC, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision Systems Corporation, Insight
Communications Company, Cebridge Communications and Bresnan
Communications.
|
· |
Acacia
Media Technologies Corporation v. New Destiny Internet Group, Inc.,
Audio
Communications Inc., VS Media Inc., Ademia Multimedia, LLC, International
Web Innovations, Inc., Offendale Commercial BV, Ltd., Adult Entertainment
Broadcast Network, Cybertrend, Inc., Lightspeed Media Corporation,
Adult
Revenue Services, Innovative Ideas International, XxxXX.xxx, Game
Link,
Inc., Club Jenna, Inc., Cybernet Ventures, Inc., ACMP, LLC, Global
AVS,
Inc. d/b/a DrewNet, and National A-1 Advertising.
|
High
Resolution Optics Technology
· |
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and High Resolution Optics Corporation v. The United States.
United States Court of Federal Claims. Filed 8/23/06. Case No.
1:06-cv-00601.
|
Interactive
Television Technology
· |
Broadcast
Innovation, LLC and IO Research, Ltd. v. Charter Communications,
Inc.
United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Case No.
1:03-cv-02223. On appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Court from 9/28/04 to 11/21/05. Remanded to the U. S. District Court
for
further proceedings on 11/21/05.
|
· |
Broadcast
Innovation, LLC v. Echostar Communications Corporation. United States
District Court for the District of Colorado. Filed 11/9/01. Case
No.
1:01-cv-02201.
|
Laptop
Connectivity Technology
· |
Computer
Docking Station Corporation v. Dell, Inc., Gateway, Inc., Toshiba
America,
Inc., and Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.. United States
District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Filed 1/17/06.
Case
No. 06-c-0032-c
|
Micromesh
Technology
· |
Micromesh
Technology Corporation v. American Recreation Productions, Inc.,
and
American Recreation Products, Inc., dba Kelty. United States District
Court for the Northern District of California. Filed 9/27/06. Case
No.
3:06-cv-06030.
|
· |
Micromesh
Technology Corporation v. Columbia Sportswear Company. United States
District Court for the Northern District of California. Filed 9/27/06.
Case No.3:06-cv-06031.
|
· |
Micromesh
Technology Corporation v. Red Wing Shoe Company and Red Wing Shoe
Company,
dba Vasque. United States District Court for the Eastern District
of
Texas. Filed 10/4/06. Case No.
2:06-cv-00421.
|
· |
Micromesh
Technology Corporation v. VF Corporation, VF Corporation, dba JanSport,
VF
Outdoor, Inc., dba The North Face. United States District Court for
the
Eastern District of Texas. Filed 10/4/06. Case No.
2:06-cv-00422.
|
Microprocessor
Enhancement Technology
· |
Microprocessor
Enhancement Corporation and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx v. Texas Instruments,
Incorporated. United States District Court for the Central District
of
California. Filed 4/7/05. Case No.
8:05-cv-00323.
|
· |
Microprocessor
Enhancement Corporation and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx v. Intel Corporation.
United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Filed
8/3/05. Case No. 2:05-cv-05667.
|
Multi-Dimensional
Bar Code Technology
· |
Cognex
Corporation v. VCode Holdings, Inc., VData LLC, Acacia Research
Corporation, and Veritec Inc. United States District Court for the
District of Minnesota. Filed 3/13/06. Case No.
0:06-cv-01040.
|
· |
VData
LLC and VCode Holdings, Inc. v. Aetna, Inc., PNY Technologies Inc.,
and
Merchant’s Credit Guide Co. United States District Court for the District
of Minnesota. Filed 5/8/06. Case No. 0:06-cv-01701.
|
Peer
to Peer Communications Technology
· |
Peer
Communications Corporation v. Skype Technologies SA, Skype, Inc.,
and
eBay, Inc. United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Texas.
Filed 8/22/06. Case No.
6:06-cv-00370.
|
Product
Activation Technology
· |
Product
Activation Corporation v. Abbyy USA Software House, Inc., Adobe Systems
Incorporated, Autodesk, Inc. United States District Court for the
Eastern
District of Texas. Filed 8/14/06 Case No. 2:06-cv-00326.
|
Resource
Scheduling Technology
· |
Epic
Systems Corporation v. Acacia Research Corporation and Resource Scheduling
Corporation. United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Filed 4/19/06. Case No. 1:06-cv-00255.
|
Spreadsheet
Automation Technology
· |
Spreadsheet
Automation Corporation v. Microsoft Corporation. United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Filed 3/28/05. Case No.
2:05-cv-00127.
|
User
Activated Internet Advertising Technology
· |
InternetAd
Systems, LLC x. Xxxxxx Broadcasting System, Inc., Xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx,
Inc.,
Knight Ridder Digital, Homestore, Inc., Condenet, Inc. and Tribune
Company. United States District Court for the Northern District of
Texas.
Filed 6/15/06. Case No. 3:06-cv-01063.
|
· |
InternetAd
Systems, LLC v. Opodo Limited, Amadeus Global Travel Distribution
S.A.,
Amadeus North America, LLC, and Opentable, Inc. United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas. Filed 6/19/06. Case No.
3:06-cv-01084.
|
Schedule
1.01(b)
Bylaws
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
a
Delaware corporation
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
ARTICLE
1
OFFICES
Section
1.1 Registered
Office.
The
registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the
City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.
Section
1.2 Other
Offices.
The
corporation may also have and maintain an office or principal place of business,
or offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware
as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of
the
corporation may require.
ARTICLE
2
STOCKHOLDERS’
MEETINGS
Section
2.1 Place
of Meetings.
(a) Meetings
of stockholders may be held at such place, either within or without this State,
as may be designated by or in the manner provided in these bylaws or, if not
so
designated, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
may,
in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any
place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as
authorized by paragraph (b) of this Section
2.1.
(b) If
authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to
such
guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders
and
proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means
of remote communication:
(1) Participate
in a meeting of stockholders; and
(2) Be
deemed
present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting
is
to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication,
provided that (A) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify
that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means
of
remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (B) the corporation shall
implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders
a
reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters
submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the
proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings,
and
(C) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting
by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall
be
maintained by the corporation.
1
(c) For
purposes of this Section
2.1,
“remote
communication” shall include (1) telephone or other voice communications
and (2) electronic mail or other form of written or visual electronic
communications, provided that the requirements of the Delaware General
Corporation Law are satisfied.
Section
2.2 Annual
Meetings.
The
annual meetings of the stockholders of the corporation, for the purpose of
election of directors and for such other business as may lawfully come before
it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time
to time by the Board of Directors, or, if not so designated, then at 10:00
a. m.
on May 31 in each year if a business day and not a legal holiday, and, if a
legal holiday, at the same hour and place on the next succeeding business day
not a holiday.
Section
2.3 Special
Meetings.
Special
Meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be called, for any purpose
or purposes, by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Board of
Directors at any time.
Section
2.4 Notice
of Meetings.
(a) Except
as
otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, written notice
of
each meeting of stockholders, specifying the place, if any, date and hour and
purpose or purposes of the meeting, and the means of remote communication,
if
any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in
person and vote at such meeting, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than
60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote
thereat, directed to his address as it appears upon the books of the
corporation; except that where the matter to be acted on is a merger or
consolidation of the Corporation or a sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of its assets, such notice shall be given not less than 20
nor
more than 60 days prior to such meeting.
(b) If
at any
meeting action is proposed to be taken which, if taken, would entitle
shareholders fulfilling the requirements of section 262(d) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares,
the
notice of such meeting shall contain a statement of that purpose and to that
effect and shall be accompanied by a copy of that statutory
section.
(c) When
a
meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of
the
adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote
communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed
to
be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the
meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless the adjournment is for more
than thirty days, or unless after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for
the adjourned meeting, in which event a notice of the adjourned meeting shall
be
given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the
meeting.
2
(d) Notice
of
the time, place and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived in
writing, either before or after such meeting, and, to the extent permitted
by
law, will be waived by any stockholder by his attendance thereat, in person
or
by proxy. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound
by
the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof
had
been given.
(e) Without
limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to
stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any
provision of Delaware General Corporation Law, the certificate of incorporation,
or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic
transmission. Notice given pursuant to this subparagraph (e) shall be deemed
given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at
which
the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail,
when
directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented
to
receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with
separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later
of
(A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by
any
other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An
affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent
or
other agent of the corporation that the notice has been given by a form of
electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence
of the facts stated therein. For purposes of these bylaws, “electronic
transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the
physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained,
retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly
reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated
process.
Section
2.5 Quorum
and Voting.
(a) At
all
meetings of stockholders except where otherwise provided by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly
authorized, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock
entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Shares, the voting of which at said meeting have been enjoined, or which for
any
reason cannot be lawfully voted at such meeting, shall not be counted to
determine a quorum at said meeting. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting
of
stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, by vote of the holders of
a
majority of the shares represented thereat, but no other business shall be
transacted at such meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the original meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called
or
convened meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business
until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to
leave less than a quorum.
(b) Except
as
otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
all
action taken by the holders of a majority of the voting power represented at
any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be valid and binding upon the
corporation.
3
Section
2.6 Voting
Rights.
(a) Except
as
otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares entitled to vote
stand on the stock records of the corporation on the record date for determining
the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting shall be entitled to vote
at
such meeting. Shares standing in the names of two or more persons shall be
voted
or represented in accordance with the determination of the majority of such
persons, or, if only one of such persons is present in person or represented
by
proxy, such person shall have the right to vote such shares and such shares
shall be deemed to be represented for the purpose of determining a
quorum.
(b) Every
person entitled to vote or to execute consents shall have the right to do so
either in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a written proxy executed
by such person or his duly authorized agent, which proxy shall be filed with
the
Secretary of the corporation at or before the meeting at which it is to be
used.
Said proxy so appointed need not be a stockholder. No proxy shall be voted
on
after three (3) years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer
period. Unless and until voted, every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure
of the person who executed it or of his legal representatives or assigns, except
in those cases where an irrevocable proxy permitted by statute has been
given.
(c) Without
limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or
persons to act for him as proxy pursuant to subsection (b)
of this
section, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder
may
grant such authority:
(1) A
stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to
act
for him as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or his
authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing
his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means
including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(2) A
stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as proxy
by
transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telephone, telegram,
cablegram, email or other means of electronic transmission to the person who
will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support
service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be
the
holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such
telephone, telegram, cablegram, email or other means of electronic transmission
must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be
determined that the telephone, telegram, cablegram or other electronic
transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Such authorization can be
established by the signature of the stockholder on the proxy, either in writing
or by a signature stamp or facsimile signature, or by a number or symbol from
which the identity of the stockholder can be determined, or by any other
procedure deemed appropriate by the inspectors or other persons making the
determination as to due authorization.
(3) If
it is
determined that such telegrams, cablegrams, emails or other electronic
transmissions are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such
other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon
which
they relied.
4
(d) Any
copy,
facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or
transmission created pursuant to subsection (c)
of this
section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or
transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or
transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication
or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original
writing or transmission.
Section
2.7 Voting
Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.
(a) The
corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or
more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The
corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace
any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act
at a
meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint
one
or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon
the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best
of
his ability.
(b) The
inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting
power of each, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the
validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots,
(iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the
disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors,
and
(v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the
meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint
or
retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance
of
the duties of the inspectors.
(c) The
date
and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which
the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by
the
person presiding over the meeting. The board of directors may adopt by
resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of
stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent
with such rules and regulations as adopted by the board of directors, the person
presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority
to
convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and
procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person,
are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations
or procedures, whether adopted by the board of directors or prescribed by the
presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following:
(i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii)
rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of
those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the
meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized
and
constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting
shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed
for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to
questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting
of
stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be
appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly
brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine,
such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or
business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or
considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the board of directors or
the
person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be
required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary
procedure.
5
(d) In
determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors
shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted
with
those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Sections 211(e)
or
212(c)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or any information provided
pursuant to Section 211(a)(2)(B)(i) or (iii) thereof, ballots and the regular
books and records of the corporation, except that the inspectors may consider
other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and
ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar
persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized
by
the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record.
If
the inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose
permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification
pursuant to subsection (b)(v)
of
this section shall specify the precise information considered by them including
the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the
information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and
the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and
reliable.
Section
2.8 List
of Stockholders.
The
officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare
and
make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list
of
the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical
order, showing the address of and the number of shares registered in the name
of
each stockholder. The corporation need not include electronic mail addresses
or
other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open
to
the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for
a
period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably
accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain
access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or
(ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of
the corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list
available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps
to
ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the
corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting
is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall
also
be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the
meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information
required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the
meeting.
Section
2.9 Stockholder
Proposals at Annual Meetings.
At
an
annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as
shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought
before an annual meeting, business must be specified in the notice of meeting
(or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors, or otherwise properly brought before the meeting
by a
stockholder. In addition to any other applicable requirements for business
to be
properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder
must
have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation.
To
6
be
timely
a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 120 days nor
more
than 180 days prior to the date on which the corporation first mailed its
proxy
materials for the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders (or the date on
which the corporation mails its proxy materials for the current year if during
the prior year the corporation did not hold an annual meeting or if the date
of
the annual meeting was changed more than 30 days from the prior year). A
stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting
and
the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the
name and record address of the stockholder proposing such business,
(iii) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are
beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (iv) any material interest of
the stockholder in such business.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the
annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Section
2.1
and this
Section
2.9,
provided, however, that nothing in this Section
2.9
shall be
deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any business properly
brought before the annual meeting in accordance with said
procedure.
The
Chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in
accordance with the provisions of Section
2.1
and this
Section
2.9,
and if
he should so determine he shall so declare to the meeting, and any such business
not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Nothing
in this Section
2.9
shall
affect the right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in the
corporation’s proxy statement to the extent that such right is provided by an
applicable rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section
2.10 Nominations
of Persons for Election to the Board of Directors.
In
addition to any other applicable requirements, only persons who are nominated
in
accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as
directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of
the
corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders by or at the direction
of
the Board of Directors, by any nominating committee or person appointed by
the
Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the corporation entitled to vote
for
the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures
set forth in this Section
2.10.
Such
nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary
of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or
mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation,
not
less than 80 days nor more than 120 days prior to the date on which the
corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the previous year’s annual
meeting of shareholders (or the date on which the corporation mails its proxy
materials for the current year if during the prior year the corporation did
not
hold an annual meeting or if the date of the annual meeting
7
was
changed more than 30 days from the prior year). Such stockholder’s notice shall
set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate
for election or re-election as a director, (i) the name, age, business
address and residence address of the person, (ii) the principal occupation
or employment of the person, (iii) the class and number of shares of the
corporation which are beneficially owned by the person, and (iv) any other
information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Rule 14a
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (b) as to the stockholder
giving the notice, (i) the name and record address of the stockholder, and
(ii) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are
beneficially owned by the stockholder. The corporation may require any proposed
nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by
the
corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve
as a
director of the corporation. No person shall be eligible for election as
a
director of the corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures
set forth herein. These provisions shall not apply to nomination of any persons
entitled to be separately elected by holders of preferred
stock.
The
Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to
the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting
and
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Section
2.11 Action
Without Meeting.
Any
action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be effected
by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting of
stockholders.
ARTICLE
3
DIRECTORS
Section
3.1 Number
and Term of Office.
The
number of directors of the corporation shall not be less than five (5) nor
more
than nine (9) until changed by amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation
or
by a Bylaw amending this Section
3.1
duly
adopted in accordance with ARTICLE
11
hereof.
The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the
limits specified in the Certificate of Incorporation or in this Section
3.1,
by the
Board of Directors or by a bylaw or amendment thereof duly adopted in accordance
with ARTICLE
11
hereof.
Subject to the foregoing provisions for changing the number of directors, the
number of directors of the corporation has been fixed at five (5).
Section
3.2 Powers.
The
powers of the corporation shall be exercised, its business conducted and its
property controlled by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors.
8
Section
3.3 Vacancies.
Vacancies
and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized
number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office,
although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director
so elected shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the
director whose place shall be vacant and until his successor shall have been
duly elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed
to exist under this section in the case of the death, removal or resignation
of
any director, or if the stockholders fail at any meeting of stockholders at
which directors are to be elected (including any meeting referred to in
Section
3.4
below)
to elect the number of directors then constituting the whole Board.
Section
3.4 Resignations
and Removals.
(a) Any
director may resign at any time by delivering his resignation to the Secretary
in writing or by electronic transmission, such resignation to specify whether
it
will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at
the
pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made it shall
be
deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When one or more
directors shall resign from the Board effective at a future date, a majority
of
the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have
power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when
such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director
so
chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director
whose place shall be vacated and until his successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
(b) At
a
special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose in the manner hereinabove
provided, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed
from
office, with or without cause, and a new director or directors elected by a
vote
of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote
at
an election of directors.
Section
3.5 Meetings.
(a) The
annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after the
annual stockholders’ meeting and at the place where such meeting is held or at
the place announced by the Chairman at such meeting. No notice of an annual
meeting of the Board of Directors shall be necessary, and such meeting shall
be
held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business
as
may lawfully come before it.
(b) Except
as
hereinafter otherwise provided, regular meetings of the Board of Directors
shall
be held in the office of the corporation required to be maintained pursuant
to
Section
1.2
of
ARTICLE
1
hereof.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held at any place, within
or without the State of Delaware, which has been designated by resolutions
of
the Board of Directors or the written consent of all directors.
(c) Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place within
or
without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board
or,
if there is no Chairman of the Board, by the President, or by any of the
directors.
9
(d) Written
notice of the time and place of all regular and special meetings of the Board
of
Directors shall be delivered personally to each director or sent by telegram
or
facsimile transmission or other form of electronic transmission at least
24 hours before the start of the meeting, or sent by first class mail at
least 120 hours before the start of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may
be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived
by any director by attendance thereat.
Section
3.6 Quorum
and Voting.
(a) A
quorum
of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the exact number of
directors fixed from time to time in accordance with Section
3.1
of
ARTICLE
3
of these
Bylaws, but not less than one; provided, however, at any meeting whether a
quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn
from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the
Board
of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the
meeting.
(b) At
each
meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present, all questions and business
shall be determined by a vote of a majority of the directors present, unless
a
different vote be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these
Bylaws.
(c) Any
member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate
in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communication equipment
by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person
at such meeting.
(d) The
transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof,
however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had
at
a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum be present and
if,
either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall
sign
a written waiver of notice, or a consent to holding such meeting, or an approval
of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed
with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the
meeting.
Section
3.7 Action
Without Meeting.
Unless
otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any
action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of
Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all
members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto
in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or
electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if
the
minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the
minutes are maintained in electronic form.
10
Section
3.8 Fees
and Compensation.
Directors
and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their
services, and such reimbursement for expenses, as may be fixed or determined
by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section
3.9 Committees.
(a) Executive
Committee:
The
Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee of not less than one
member, each of whom shall be a director. The Executive Committee, to the extent
permitted by law, shall have and may exercise when the Board of Directors is
not
in session all powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs
of the corporation, except such committee shall not have the power or authority
to amend these Bylaws or to approve or recommend to the stockholders any action
which must be submitted to stockholders for approval under the General
Corporation Law.
(b) Other
Committees: The
Board
of Directors may, from time to time appoint such other committees as may be
permitted by law. Such other committees appointed by the Board of Directors
shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the
resolution or resolutions creating such committee, but in no event shall any
such committee have the powers denied to the Executive Committee in these
Bylaws.
(c) Term:
The
members of all committees of the Board of Directors shall serve a term
coexistent with that of the Board of Directors which shall have appointed such
committee. The Board, subject to the provisions of subsections (a)
or (b) of this Section
3.8,
may at
any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate
the existence of a committee; provided that no committee shall consist of less
than one member. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the
date of his death or voluntary resignation, but the Board may at any time for
any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board may fill any
committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the
number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one
or
more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in
the
absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members
thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or
not
he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the
Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or
disqualified member.
(d) Meetings:
Unless
the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, regular meetings of the
Executive Committee or any other committee appointed pursuant to this
Section
3.8
shall be
held at such times and places as are determined by the Board of Directors,
or by
any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of
such committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given
thereafter; special meetings of any such committee may be held at the principal
office of the corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section
1.2
of
ARTICLE
1
hereof;
or at any place which has been designated from time to time by resolution of
such committee or by written consent of all members thereof, and may be called
by any director who is a member of such committee upon written notice to the
members of such committee of the time and place of
11
such
special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of written notice
to
members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings
of
the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any committee may
be
waived in writing at any time after the meeting and will be waived by any
director by attendance thereat. A majority of the authorized number of members
of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business,
and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum
is
present shall be the act of such committee.
ARTICLE
4
OFFICERS
Section
4.1 Officers
Designated.
The
officers of the corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, who shall be
the
President of the corporation, a Chief Financial Officer, who shall be the
Treasurer of the corporation, a Secretary and a Chief Operating Officer. The
Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may also appoint a Chairman
of
the Board, one or more Vice-Presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant
treasurers, and such other officers and agents with such powers and duties
as it
or he shall deem necessary. The order of the seniority of the Vice- Presidents
shall be in the order of their nomination unless otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles
to
one or more of the officers as they shall deem appropriate. Any one person
may
hold any number of offices of the corporation at any one time unless
specifically prohibited therefrom by law. The salaries and other compensation
of
the officers of the corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated
by
the Board of Directors.
Section
4.2 Tenure
and Duties of Officers.
(a) General:
All
officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until
their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless sooner
removed. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be
removed at any time by the Board of Directors. If the office of any officer
becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of
Directors. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed as creating any kind
of
contractual right to employment with the corporation.
(b) Duties
of the Chairman of the Board of Directors: The
Chairman of the Board of Directors (if there be such an officer appointed)
when
present shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of
Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate
from
time to time.
(c) Duties
of Chief Executive Officer (President):
The
Chief Executive Officer shall be the President of the corporation and shall
preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board
of
Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed
and
is present. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform such other duties and
have
such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to
time.
12
(d) Duties
of Chief Financial Officer (Treasurer):
The
Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer of the corporation. The Chief
Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the
corporation in a thorough and proper manner, and shall render statements of
the
financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required
by
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Financial
Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody
of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer
shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform
such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the
Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive
Officer may direct any assistant treasurer to assume and perform such duties
in
the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each assistant
treasurer shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time
to
time.
(e) Duties
of Secretary:
The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of
Directors and any committee thereof, and shall record all acts and proceedings
thereof in the minute book of the corporation, which may be maintained in either
paper or electronic form. The Secretary shall give notice, in conformity with
these Bylaws, of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the
Board of Directors and any Committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary
shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of
Directors shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer may
direct any assistant secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary
in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each assistant secretary
shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to
time.
(f) Duties
of Chief Operating Officer.
The
Chief Operating Officer shall perform all duties commonly incident to his office
and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board
of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to
time.
ARTICLE
5
EXECUTION
OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS, AND
VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
Section
5.1 Execution
of Corporate Instruments.
(a) The
Board
of Directors may in its discretion determine the method and designate the
signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute any
corporate instrument or document, or to sign the corporate name without
limitation, except where otherwise provided by law, and such execution or
signature shall be binding upon the corporation.
13
(b) nless
otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise
required by law, formal contracts of the corporation, promissory notes, deeds
of
trust, mortgages and other evidences of indebtedness of the corporation, and
other corporate instruments or documents requiring the corporate seal, and
certificates of shares of stock owned by the corporation, shall be executed,
signed or endorsed by the Chairman of the Board (if there be such an officer
appointed) or by the President; such documents may also be executed by any
Vice-President and by the Secretary or Treasurer or any assistant secretary
or
assistant treasurer. All other instruments and documents requiring the corporate
signature but not requiring the corporate seal may be executed as aforesaid
or
in such other manner as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
(c) All
checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit
of
the corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be signed by
such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to
do.
(d) Execution
of any corporate instrument may be effected in such form, either manual,
facsimile or electronic signature, as may be authorized by the Board of
Directors.
Section
5.2 Voting
of Securities Owned by Corporation.
All
stock
and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the corporation
for
itself or for other parties in any capacity shall be voted, and all proxies
with
respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by
resolution of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such authorization,
by the Chairman of the Board (if there be such an officer appointed), or by
the
President, or by any Vice-President.
ARTICLE
6
SHARES
OF STOCK
Section
6.1 Form
and Execution of Certificates.
The
shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that
the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or
all
of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares.
Any
such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until
such certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Certificates for the shares
of stock of the corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with the
Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in the
corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name
of
the corporation by, the Chairman of the Board (if there be such an officer
appointed), or by the President or any Vice-President and by the Treasurer
or
assistant treasurer or the Secretary or assistant secretary, certifying the
number of shares owned by him in the corporation. Any or all of the signatures
on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent,
or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon
a
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar
before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as
if
he were such officer, transfer agent,
14
or
registrar at the date of issue. If the corporation shall be authorized to
issue
more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers,
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set
forth
in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the
corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided
that, except as otherwise provided in section 202 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set
forth
on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue
to
represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation
will
furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or
rights.
Section
6.2 Lost
Certificates.
The
Board
of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place
of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged
to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact
by
the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost or destroyed. When
authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of
Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance
thereof, require the owner of such lost or destroyed certificate or
certificates, or his legal representative, to indemnify the corporation in
such
manner as it shall require and/or to give the corporation a surety bond in
such
form and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be
made
against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been
lost or destroyed.
Section
6.3 Transfers.
Transfers
of record of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only upon its
books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and
upon
the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares,
properly endorsed.
Section
6.4 Fixing
Record Dates.
(a) In
order
that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or
to
vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of
Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10
days
before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of
Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice
of or
to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the
day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived,
at
the close of business on the day next preceding the date on which the meeting
is
held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled notice of or to vote
at
a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for
the
adjourned meeting.
15
(b) In
order
that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment
of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action,
the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted,
and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action.
If no
record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any
such
purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section
6.5 Registered
Stockholders.
The
corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person
registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to
vote
as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim
to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether
or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise
provided by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE
7
OTHER
SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
All
bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the corporation, other
than
stock certificates, may be signed by the Chairman of the Board (if there be
such
an officer appointed), or the President or any Vice-President or such other
person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors and the corporate seal
impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested
by
the signature of the Secretary or an assistant secretary, or the Treasurer
or an
assistant treasurer; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture
or
other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature of
a
trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other
corporate security shall be issued, the signature of the persons signing and
attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security
may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest
coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security,
authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or
an
assistant treasurer of the corporation, or such other person as may be
authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile
signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested
any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature
shall appear thereon has ceased to be an officer of the corporation before
the
bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have
been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless
may be adopted by the corporation and issued and delivered as though the person
who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon
had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.
16
ARTICLE
8
CORPORATE
SEAL
The
corporate seal shall consist of a die bearing the name of the corporation and
the state and date of its incorporation. Said seal may be used by causing it
or
a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or
otherwise.
ARTICLE
9
INDEMNIFICATION
OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
Section
9.1 Right
to Indemnification.
Each
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is
involved (as a party, witness, or otherwise), in any threatened, pending, or
completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he, or
a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer,
employee, or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of
the
corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation
or
of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service
with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of the Proceeding
is
alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, or
agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee,
or agent (hereafter an “Agent”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted (but, in
the
case of any such amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such
amendment or interpretation permits the corporation to provide broader
indemnification rights than were permitted prior thereto) against all expenses,
liability, and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise
taxes or penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and any
interest, assessments, or other charges imposed thereon, and any federal, state,
local, or foreign taxes imposed on any Agent as a result of the actual or deemed
receipt of any payments under this Article) reasonably incurred or suffered
by
such person in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in,
or
participating in (including on appeal), or preparing for any of the foregoing
in, any Proceeding (hereinafter “Expenses”); provided,
however,
that
except as to actions to enforce indemnification rights pursuant to Section
9.3
of this
Article, the corporation shall indemnify any Agent seeking indemnification
in
connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only
if
the Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of
the
corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall be
a
contract right.
Section
9.2 Authority
to Advance Expenses.
Expenses
incurred by an officer or director (acting in his capacity as such) in defending
a Proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final
disposition of such Proceeding, provided, however, that if required by the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, such Expenses shall be advanced
only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of
such
director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined
that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized
in
this Article or otherwise. Expenses incurred by other Agents of the corporation
(or by the directors or officers not acting in their capacity as such, including
service with respect to employee benefit plans) may be advanced upon such terms
and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. Any obligation
to
reimburse the corporation for Expense advances shall be unsecured and no
interest shall be charged thereon.
17
Section
9.3 Right
of Claimant to Bring Suit.
If
a
claim under Section
9.1
or
Section
9.2
of this
Article is not paid in full by the corporation within 60 days after a
written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any
time
thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of
the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled
to be paid also the expense (including attorneys’ fees) of prosecuting such
claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought
to
enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance
of
its final disposition where the required undertaking has been tendered to the
corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make
it
permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the corporation
to
indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. The burden of proving such a
defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper under the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware
General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) that the claimant had not met such applicable standard of conduct,
shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has
not
met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section
9.4 Provisions
Nonexclusive.
The
rights conferred on any person by this Article shall not be exclusive of any
other rights that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, agreement, vote of stockholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in an official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. To
the
extent that any provision of the Certificate, agreement, or vote of the
stockholders or disinterested directors is inconsistent with these bylaws,
the
provision, agreement, or vote shall take precedence.
Section
9.5 Authority
to Insure.
The
corporation may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any Agent
against any Expense, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify the Agent against such Expense under applicable law or the provisions
of this Article.
18
Section
9.6 Survival
of Rights.
The
rights provided by this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased
to
be an Agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and
administrators of such a person.
Section
9.7 Settlement
of Claims.
The
corporation shall not be liable to indemnify any Agent under this Article
(a) for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected
without the corporation’s written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; or (b) for any judicial award if the corporation was
not given a reasonable and timely opportunity, at its expense, to participate
in
the defense of such action.
Section
9.8 Effect
of Amendment.
Any
amendment, repeal, or modification of this Article shall not adversely affect
any right or protection of any Agent existing at the time of such amendment,
repeal, or modification.
Section
9.9 Subrogation.
In
the
event of payment under this Article, the corporation shall be subrogated to
the
extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Agent, who shall
execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to
secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to
enable the corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such
rights.
Section
9.10 No
Duplication of Payments.
The
corporation shall not be liable under this Article to make any payment in
connection with any claim made against the Agent to the extent the Agent has
otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, agreement,
vote, or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable
hereunder.
19
ARTICLE
10
NOTICES
Whenever,
under any provisions of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any
stockholder, the same shall be given either (1) in writing, timely and duly
deposited in the United States Mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to his
last known post office address as shown by the stock record of the corporation
or its transfer agent, or (2) by a means of electronic transmission that
satisfies the requirements of Section
2.4(e)
of these
Bylaws. Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by either
of the methods hereinabove stated, except that such notice other than one which
is delivered personally, shall be sent to such address or (in the case of
electronic communication) such e-mail address, facsimile telephone number or
other form of electronic address as such director shall have filed in writing
or
by electronic communication with the Secretary of the corporation, or, in the
absence of such filing, to the last known post office address of such director.
If no address of a stockholder or director be known, such notice may be sent
to
the office of the corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section
1.2
of
ARTICLE
1
hereof.
An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee
of
the corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of
stock affected, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses
of
the stockholder or stockholders, director or directors, to whom any such notice
or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall
be conclusive evidence of the statements therein contained. All notices given
by
mail, as above provided, shall be deemed to have been given as at the time
of
mailing and all notices given by means of electronic transmission shall be
deemed to have been given as at the sending time recorded by the electronic
transmission equipment operator transmitting the same. It shall not be necessary
that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all directors,
but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and
any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other
or others. The period or limitation of time within which any stockholder may
exercise any option or right, or enjoy any privilege or benefit, or be required
to act, or within which any director may exercise any power or right, or enjoy
any privilege, pursuant to any notice sent him in the manner above provided,
shall not be affected or extended in any manner by the failure of such a
stockholder or such director to receive such notice. Whenever any notice is
required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate
of Incorporation, or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by
the
person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic
transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the
time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Whenever notice is required
to be given, under any provision of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation
or Bylaws of the corporation, to any person with whom communication is unlawful,
the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall
be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or
permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall
be
taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is
unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly
given. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is such as to
require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice
is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice
except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
ARTICLE
11
AMENDMENTS
These
Bylaws may be repealed, altered or amended or new Bylaws adopted at any meeting
of the stockholders, either annual or special, by the affirmative vote of 66
2/3% of the stock entitled to vote at such meeting, unless a larger vote is
required by these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board of
Directors shall also have the authority to repeal, alter or amend these Bylaws
or adopt new Bylaws (including, without limitation, the amendment of any Bylaws
setting forth the number of directors who shall constitute the whole Board
of
Directors) by written consent or at any annual, regular, or special meeting
by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of directors, subject
to
the power of the stockholders to change or repeal such Bylaws and provided
that
the Board of Directors shall not make or alter any Bylaws fixing the
qualifications, classifications, or term of office of directors.
20
CERTIFICATE
OF SECRETARY
The
undersigned Secretary of Combimatrix Corporation, a Delaware corporation, hereby
certifies that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the Amended
and
Restated Bylaws of said corporation, with all amendments to date of this
Certificate.
WITNESS
the signature of the undersigned this ___ day of February, 2006.
________________________________________
__________________,
Secretary
21
Schedule
1.01(c)
Certificate
of Incorporation
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
_____________________,
2006
CombiMatrix
Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
FIRST:
The
original Certificate of Incorporation of CombiMatrix Corporation was filed
under
the name Combi Acquisition Corp. with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware on March 15, 2002.
SECOND:
Combi
Acquisition Corp. merged with and into CombiMatrix Corporation and
simultaneously changed its name to CombiMatrix Corporation via the filing of
a
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
on
December 13, 2002.
THIRD: The
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CombiMatrix Corporation
in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A
has been
duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and sole
stockholder of CombiMatrix Corporation.
FOURTH:
The
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation so adopted reads in full
as
set forth in Exhibit
A
attached
hereto and is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, CombiMatrix Corporation has caused this Certificate to be
signed by its Chief Financial Officer as of the date first written
above.
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
Title:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
1
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
COMBIMATRIX
CORPORATION
ARTICLE
I
NAME
The
name
of the corporation is CombiMatrix Corporation (the "Corporation").
ARTICLE
II
ADDRESS
OF REGISTERED OFFICE;
NAME
OF
REGISTERED AGENT
The
address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware
is
Registered Agent Solutions, Inc., 00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx
of
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The name of its registered agent at that address is
Registered Agent Solutions, Inc.
ARTICLE
III
PURPOSE
The
purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which
corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL").
ARTICLE
IV
CAPITAL
STOCK
Section
1. Authorization.
The
total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is
authorized to issue is Two Hundred and Ten Million (210,000,000) shares,
consisting of One Hundred and Eighty Million (180,000,000) shares of Common
Stock with a par value of $.001 per share, and Thirty Million (30,000,000)
shares of Preferred Stock with a par value of $.001 per share. Upon the
effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each
outstanding share of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be split and divided
into four (4) shares of Common Stock.
No
fractional shares shall be recorded in the stock ledger of the Corporation
as a
result of the stock split provided for above. Any fractional share (a
“Fractional
Interest”)
that
would otherwise be issuable to a holder of Common Stock (a “Fractional
Share Holder”)
shall
be treated as described in the following sentence: The Fractional Interest
shall
be cancelled and the Fractional Share Holder shall be entitled to receive an
amount in cash equal to the product of the Fractional Interest to which such
Fractional Share Holder would otherwise have been entitled, multiplied by the
fair market value of one share of Common Stock immediately following the
effectiveness of the stock split provided for above, as determined by the Board
of Directors. Whether or not a Fractional Interest is to be recorded as a result
of the stock split provided for above shall be determined on the basis of the
total number of shares of Common Stock held by the record holder at the time
the
stock split occurs.
2
Section
2. Preferred
Stock.
The
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each
with
such distinctive designation as may be stated in the Certificate of
Incorporation or in any amendment hereto, or in a resolution or resolutions
providing for the issue of such stock from time to time adopted by the Board
of
Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. The resolution or resolutions
providing for the issue of shares of a particular series shall fix, subject
to
applicable laws and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, for
each
such series the number of shares constituting such series and the designation
and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or
other special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such
provisions as may be desired concerning voting, redemption, dividends,
dissolution or the distribution of assets, conversion or exchange, and such
other subjects or matters as may be fixed by the Board of Directors or a duly
authorized committee thereof under the DGCL. Except as otherwise required by
law, or as otherwise fixed by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors with respect to one or more series of Preferred Stock, the entire
voting power and all voting rights shall be vested exclusively in the Common
Stock, and each stockholder of the Corporation who at the time possesses voting
power for any purpose shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such
stock
standing in his name on the books of the Corporation.
Section
3. Common
Stock.
(a) Voting
Rights.
Except
as may otherwise be provided in the certificate of incorporation of the
corporation (including any certificate filed with the Secretary of State of
the
State of Delaware establishing the terms of a series of Preferred Stock pursuant
to the provisions of Article
IV,
Section
2
hereof)
or by applicable law, each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled
to
one (1) vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on
all
matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, and no holder
of
any series of Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled to any voting powers
in respect thereof.
(b) Dividends.
Subject
to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding
series of Preferred Stock provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions
of
Article
IV,
Section
2
hereof,
dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock at such times and in
such
amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall
determine.
(c) Liquidation;
Dissolution.
Upon
the dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the corporation, subject to
applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series
of Preferred Stock provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of
Article
IV,
Section
2
hereof,
the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of
the
corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion
to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
ARTICLE
V
BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS
Section
1. Number
of Directors and Election.
Subject
to any rights of holders of the Corporation’s preferred stock, the number of
directors will be fixed from time to time by action of not less than a majority
of the directors then in office, but in no event shall the number of directors
be less than five (5) nor more than nine (9).
3
Section
2. Powers
of the Board of Directors.
In
furtherance, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by the laws of
the
State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt,
alter, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.
Section
3. Removal.
Directors may be removed, with or without cause, only upon the affirmative
vote
of holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all then outstanding
shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class, subject to any rights of holders of the
Corporation’s preferred stock; provided, however, that where such action is
approved by a majority of the directors the affirmative vote of only a majority
of the holders of all outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock will
be required for approval of such action.
ARTICLE
VI
STOCKHOLDER
ACTIONS
Section
1. Meetings
and Records.
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware,
as
the Bylaws of the Corporation may provide. The books of the Corporations may
be
kept (subject to the DGCL) outside of the State of Delaware at such place or
places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or
in
the Bylaws of the Corporation.
Section
2. Special
Meetings.
Special
meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors
or
by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President, and may not be
called by any other person or persons.
Section
3. Written
Consents.
No
action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be effected
by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting of
stockholders.
Section
4. Vacancies.
Subject
to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred
Stock as
provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article
IVSection 2
hereof,
newly
created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of
directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause shall be
filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board
of Directors. Any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election
of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or
her
successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors
shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
4
ARTICLE
VII
LIMITATION
ON LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
No
person
shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including without limitation
for serving on a committee of the Board of Directors, except to the extent
such
exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL
as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. If the DGCL is amended after
the
date of the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate
action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors,
then
the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited
to
the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended. Any amendment, repeal
or
modification of this Article
VII
shall
not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation
existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such
amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
The
Corporation may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person
made
or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal,
civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person,
his or her testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee
of
the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation or serves or served at
any
other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the
Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation. No amendment, repeal or
modification of this Article
VIII
by the
stockholders shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director of
the
Corporation existing by virtue of this Article
VIII
at the
time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENT
OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The
Corporation hereby reserves the right from time to time to amend, alter, change
or repeal any provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, and
other
provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force
may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law,
and
all rights, preferences, and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon
the
stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by or pursuant to this
Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are
granted subject to the right reserved in this Article
IX.
ARTICLE
X
CREDITORS
Whenever
a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its
creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its
stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within
the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this
Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof, or on the application
of
any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions
of
Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of
trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this
Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the
Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or
of
the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case
may
be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority
in
number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of
creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this
Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and
to
any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise
or
arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization
shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made,
be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the
stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may
be,
and also on this Corporation.
5
Schedule
1.01(d)
CombiMatrix
Assets
1) |
Ownership
Interest in Advanced Material Sciences,
Inc.
|
2) |
Ownership
Interest in CombiMatrix, K.K.
|
3) |
Any
net proceeds received by Acacia from any future settlement or disposition
of the lawsuit between Acacia Research Corporation and National
Union
|
4) |
Any
net proceeds received by Acacia from the sale of AR-CombiMatrix stock
as
the result of a financing event or exercise of an option or warrant
to
purchase AR-CombiMatrix stock prior to the Time of
Distribution
|
[end]
Schedule
1.01(e)
CombiMatrix
Liabilities
1) |
Dent
/ Xxxxxxxxxx matter
|
2) |
Xxxxxxxx
matter
|
3) |
Xxxx
Xxxxx matter
|
[end]
Schedule
1.01(f)
CombiMatrix
Property
NONE.
Schedule
1.01(g)
CombiMatrix
Subsidiaries
Advanced
Materials Sciences, Inc.
CombiMatrix
International Holdings Corp.
CombiMatrix
Molecular Diagnostics, Inc.
CombiMatrix
K.K.
Leuchemix,
Inc.
[end]
Schedule
2.01(c)
Acacia
Actions
[to
be
attached]
Schedule
2.03(a)
Elimination
of Intercompany Agreements
NONE.
Schedule
2.03(b)
Intercompany
Agreements
NONE.
Schedule
2.04
CombiMatrix
Board of Directors
Xxxx
Xxxxx, Ph.D
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Ph.D
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, MD
|
[end]
Schedule
2.05
Exceptions
to Acacia Resignations
NONE
Schedule
5.03(a)
CombiMatrix/May
2003 Warrants
Warrant
Date
|
No.
of Warrant Shares
|
No.
of Warrant Shares Outstanding
|
5/20/03
|
67,500
|
67,500
|
5/20/03
|
45,455
|
45,455
|
5/20/03
|
170,455
|
170,455
|
Schedule
5.03(b)
CombiMatrix/Piper
2005 Warrants
WARRANT
LEDGER - MAY 20, 2003 PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Warrant
No.
|
Warrant
Date
|
No.
of Warrant Shares
|
No.
of Warrant Shares Outstanding
|
W-1
|
9/21/05
|
6,061
|
6,061
|
W-2
|
9/21/05
|
60,606
|
60,606
|
W-3
|
9/21/05
|
84,849
|
84,849
|
W-4
|
9/21/05
|
60,606
|
60,606
|
W-5
|
9/21/05
|
303,030
|
303,030
|
W-6
|
9/21/05
|
151,515
|
151,515
|
W-7
|
9/21/05
|
75,758
|
75,758
|
W-8
|
9/21/05
|
151,515
|
151,515
|
W-9
|
9/21/05
|
37,879
|
37,879
|
W-10
|
9/21/05
|
20,000
|
20,000
|
W-11
|
9/21/05
|
105,000
|
105,000
|
W-12
|
9/21/05
|
75,000
|
75,000
|
W-13
|
9/21/05
|
113,636
|
113,636
|
W-14
|
9/21/05
|
61,250
|
61,250
|
W-15
|
9/21/05
|
62,500
|
62,500
|
W-16
|
9/21/05
|
121,212
|
121,212
|
W-19
|
9/21/05
|
37,879
|
37,879
|
W-20
|
9/21/05
|
21,591
|
21,591
|
W-21
|
9/21/05
|
3,788
|
3,788
|
W-22
|
9/21/05
|
12,500
|
12,500
|
W-23
|
9/28/06
|
7,576
|
7,576
|
W-24
|
9/22/06
|
22,727
|
22,727
|
Schedule
5.03(c)
CombiMatrix/Xxxxxxxxxxx
Warrants
No.
of Warrant Shares
|
Warrant
#
|
Date
Issued
|
||||
3,529,411
|
WA-001
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
288,000
|
WA-003
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
576,000
|
WA-004
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
288,000
|
WA-005
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
411,764
|
WA-006
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
204,000
|
WA-007
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
390,720
|
WA-008
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
60,960
|
WA-009
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
544,320
|
WA-010
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
300,000
|
WA-011
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
124,560
|
WA-012
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
45,480
|
WA-013
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
1,029,960
|
WA-014
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
28,800
|
WA-015
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
90,000
|
WA-016
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
12,000
|
WA-017
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
120,000
|
WA-018
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
24,000
|
WA-019
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
12,000
|
WA-020
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
12,000
|
WA-021
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
12,000
|
WA-022
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
12,000
|
WA-023
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
6,000
|
WA-024
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
488,416
|
WA-025
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
1,200,000
|
WA-026
|
12/13/2006
|
||||
2,400,000
|
WA-027
|
12/13/2006
|